Critical Studies Analysis

Critical Studies Analysis

Article 1: Violence of Architecture

This article is written by Bernard Tschumi and is excerpted from Architecture and Disjunction which was published in 1983. The article mainly revolves around the violence of architecture and shows the significance of relationship between events and architecture. It also proposes that violence is unavoidable part of architecture. The author has explained the meaning of violence as the metaphor for the intensity of relationship that exists between humans and surroundings in which the individuals are living. The author has explained how the buildings relate to the users and how the spaces relate to events. The author has also noted the nature of relationship that can be independent or dependent. The examples of independent relationship are given by Crystal Palace and Great Exhibitions. At other times the relationship between spaces and programs is completely dependent and in such cases, the view of architect matters in making architectural decisions which are according to the needs of users.

Article 2: Transparency: Literal and Phenomenal

This article is written by Colin Rowe and Robert Slutzky and was published in Perspecta, Vol. 8 in 1963. In this article, the authors have analyzed the meanings of transparency in various aspects. The study has explored the literal as well as phenomenal definitions of transparency. The authors classify transparency as the state or quality which is a material condition and also an intellectual imperative. Authors claim that transparency also exists when two or more figures overlap. Thus, the authors define transparency not only in perfectly clear dimensions but also in ambiguous objects. In case of ambiguity of objects, each object claims for the overlapped part which authors also consider as the definition of transparency. Authors have also explained that transparency is also inherent quality of both organizations and of substances. Thus the literal and phenomenal transparency can be differentiated (Bell, 2002). The authors have clearly established the literal transparency from two sources of cubist paintings and machine aesthetic. Authors have reviewed the work of different researchers and architectures in explaining the basic differences between the two transparency types and associated literal transparency with naturalistic space and l'oeil effect of the translucent objects while associated the phenomenal transparency with the presentation of the painter that is articulated through objects in an abstracted and shallow space.

Article 3: Aspects of Modernism: Maison Domino and the Self Referential Sign

This article is written by Peter Eisenman and was published in the Journal for Ideas and Critism in Architecture. The article reviews the modernity in architecture by arguing if the changes in architecture can be related to the cultural and social changes. Also the article assesses the impacts of technology on architecture. Author suggests that new conditions of architecture are now used and rituals have changed which have also affected the domain of performances (Hersey, 2000). The author evaluates the work of Le Corbusier which was considered as the most modern architect in terms of painterly and abstract. The author proposes from his analysis that these architects do ...