Unit 2:Point:Explorations

Vanna Venturi House

Louvre Pyramid

Sydney Opera House

The Explorations Unit really brought the whole year together. Modernism in my opinion is the simplification of all former style periods. It is also the magnification of some of the elements introduced within those periods.
For example, the Louvre Pyramids is a modern reflection in conjunction with the ancient pyramids of the Egyptians. It is not only like it with it’s outward appearance, but with it’s inner affects as well. The Egyptians buried their pharaohs inside along with their most prized possessions. After death, the pharaohs were thought to move into a new life and be one with the gods. For this day and age, the Louvre Pyramids hold the same concept. Inside are shops which hold possessions. These possessions help the consumer transform themselves into something they feel to be more superior.
The Sydney Opera House is another modern structure derived from historical concepts. The shape is based on what appears to be the wings of a bird or a symbolic representation of an egg.,Therefore, bringing in the classical elements that nature is the root of all design. Also, the wing-like structure is also a manipulation of the Roman arch.
In an artifactual sense, Le Corbusier’s ribbon windows can be depicted as a developed clerestory window. They are strung together with mullions in between to manipulate the amount of light as well and the direction.
However, as the designs have been simplified, many feel that they have lost their validity. More so, they seem to be so minimalistic that they have become disposable. Expanding on that you can relate design to the classics such as the Hypostyle Hall, House of Vetti, Parthenon, Pantheon and so on. After hundreds of years, they are still standing and are still praised. Designs today are built so that if they aren’t successful they can be deconstructed and rebuilt into something more pleasing to the consumer. This poses a huge issue for designers today and in the future. Should we revert back to the highly embellished classics, or is it even worth it to put so much effort into something if it can be so easily destroyed?