Learning from Existing is Revolutionary
Denise Scott Brown is a highly influential architect, planner, and scholar who has made significant contributions to the field of urban design and architecture. A key concept of hers is learning from existing landscapes and this holds that the built environment can provide valuable lessons for architects, urban designers, and planners in the creation of new spaces and environments.
Brown argues that existing landscape should be studied and analyzed to understand patterns and systems that exist in a given space. This can provide invaluable information on how the built environment functions, how people use the space, and the cultural, historical significance of the space. By designing off of existing, spaces can be more responsive to context and needs of the people who use it.
Brown emphasizes on the importance of looking at the urban fabric as a whole, rather than an individual building. The elements around the site are important in themselves and the holistic approach to design helps to create environments that are integrated, functional, and sustainable.
After looking into Denise Scott Brown's work, an example of her idea of learning from existing is evident in her design of the Guild House (senior citizen residence in Philly). This project was designed to fit perfectly into its context rather than enacting a new. Street patterns and public spaces were designed to fit building into the existing. The building not only provides housing for senior citizens but also contributes to overall livability of surrounding neighborhood
At what point does the constraint of designing to fit into the surrounding urban context become distasteful. I think we need to study the context and do a proper site analysis, but there are ways to add to the site and its culture without copy and pasting what is around it. Glenn Murcutt comes to mind when I think of vernacular architecture. While he is respectful of the site and deeply studies its context, his architecture is unique, beautiful and functional for the user. Another project that goes along those thoughts is the children village designed by Rosenbaum + Aleph Zero because of the function, innovation, and use of material. It not only fits in with its concept, but the innovation of the architecture benefits the community immensely.
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