I am doing a thesis write up on a recreation centre in a mountainous region of my place. the main problem statement is how to successfully creat a harmony between the existing natural features of the place with man made features. the site is full of rocks and is slopy, alot of green vegetation.
2006-07-27 00:02:17 · 5 answers · asked by MUDASSIR L 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Quite seriously - - - learn to talk to rocks & trees. To harmonize with the enviroment you need to consult with the enviroment. You need to spend a solid week or more in a TENT or similar structure on the site- - - in the end you will discover that a combination of underground digging and minimal damage to existing vegetation works best - - - in other words do not fall into the trap of leveling the entire site like a strip mine operation. The Earth will talk to you but are you willing to listen? PS - - - The Sun and The Moon will guide you as well, which is why you must spend at least a week on site, camping out, walking about, getting a true feel for the land.
2006-07-27 00:06:22 · answer #1 · answered by JVHawai'i 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There isn't one right or wrong answer to this as there are a myriad of different ways to do it.
Yes, lots of natural materials such as timber, slate, etc. can work (the obvious Frank Lloyd Wright), but it can also be equally wrong. Likewise, metal or concrete and glass can look horrendous in a setting with lots of trees, rocks, etc., but if done right can look just like it's meant to be there (example Richard Meier, Tadao Ando).
What's more important than the literal use of materials is the designer's sensitivity to the strengths and weaknesses of the site. What are the views, to and from the building? What are the elements immediately close to and farther away from the building? What message does the designer want to convey with his design?
There is no one formula in architecture. Nothing designed in a vaccuum can be applied in every situation. Do some reading on the importance of appreciating the genus loci. See The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard.
2006-07-27 07:25:47 · answer #2 · answered by k² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The SCALE of Man's intervention becomes important here, along with TYPOGRAPHY - having the building follow the landform and being respectful of the land through the building's MASS and IMPACT on the land. How you then use the natural resources available around you help to power your building can come into play. Here, I'm thinking of wind generators etc. which can harness natural energy and generating it as electricity. This is done on a technological and poetic level, and allowing the building to function and harmonize with the natural surroundings ---> the building and landscape working as one. It also helps in pushing your building towards the carbon neutral, which is becoming increasingly important to us now.
The CHOICE OF MATERIALS USED also allow the building to blend in with the natural surroundings - eg. the use of reclaimed cedar/timber cladding, timber structures, glass (which is transparent and neutral), and concrete (which bring out the greenery). We are starting to see buildings being 'tucked' into the land or of course underground) so as to allow the building to follow the profile of the land and particularly slopes. There are also instances where the building, if it surfaces or emerge out of the land, is seen to 'grow out' of the land, or are covered in vegetation. An example of this can be found in the reference stated in the source, or in The Architectural Review - the April 2005 Edition (the Foreign Office Architects' Technological Transfer Centre), you may find it on their website now.
ORGANIC FORMS ---> a lot of these projects tend to be quite linear forms which can twist and turn to follow the pattern/profile of the land, and are often low, horizontal forms which accent the horizontality of the land. Alternatively, buildings within landscapes take on natural, organic forms where curves and non-rigid forms can be explored.
This is what I can think of at the minute. But the book below will go to great lengths to help you!! Good luck with the thesis!! : )
2006-07-27 07:52:47 · answer #3 · answered by Yinhung 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Alo of wood and glass and slate hun. nothing too man made looking e.g steel, iron etc
2006-07-27 07:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by kelly d 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do a google on 'Frank Lloyd Wright', it was his thing!
2006-07-27 07:11:03 · answer #5 · answered by peter b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋