Peculiarities of a Particular Place

Some of you may recall from Jim Thomas’ History and Theory course my obsession with Heidegger - his thinking on:

Experience, place and consciousness.

While Frampton has his own ideas that differ, I cannot help but bring up some points that struck me and I discussed in this previous class. Because to me… there is something to Heidegger's consciousness and Framptons desire to criticize the modern and strive for acknowledging various points when designing that find a linkage.

Critical Regionalism contains strategies for resisting the impacts of universal civilization. Global modernization continues to reduce the relevance of varying cultures and breaks connections to past ways of life as regionalist tendencies are overpowered. Frampton points us towards actual components of architecture such as topography, tactile, light, climate, and tectonic that should be brought back to build a better environment through balance in remoteness and participation in modern civilization. The ultimate aim being to “mediate the impact of universal civilization with elements derived indirectly from the peculiarities of a particular place.”

This is dependent upon maintaining a high level of self-consciousness, so utility does not become established and result in meaning generating meaninglessness.

He also states that when creating an architectural structure on the natural environment, the two elements should be merged with each other to achieve a relationship.

Every location having a distinct and decisive ecology, climate, and aspect of place that is revealed through architecture.

Architecture also has a way of allowing participation and deeper experience through the senses.

Tactile being decoded in terms of experience and as you experience a space it makes it more notable, more personal.

Cooperation between all the senses in architecture makes it deeper and unique, as sensory experiences are created through visuals and touch. For me, what is important about Critical Regionalism is its push for a sense of consciousness or awareness. An awareness of the site and its features, of the community and its people, of a building's materials and texture. Paired with deeper thought, unlike what happened in much modern architecture, there can be a greater awareness of the experience of the architecture.

Okay, tangent over. Let that percolate and ’ll leave Heidegger out of it in the future.

This vs. That | Imagining experience based off of place and people, the considerations made across points and if the designers were self aware or aware (maybe even cared) about their surroundings. What message are they sending out?

This vs. That | Imagining experience based off of place and people, the considerations made across points and if the designers were self aware or aware (maybe even cared) about their surroundings. What message are they sending out?