Diversity and Homogenity & Making Place Around the World.

Diversity and Homogenity & Making Place Around the World.

Diversity and Homogenity:

- To read: The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
‘The world is flat’ map shows the global mapping of internet traffic at a moment in time which suggests that in todays world we are becoming much more ‘dichotomous’, meaning that people are searching for their meaning, history and roots. However, global corporations are striving to modernise the world (e.g. McDonald’s as the archetype of homogenisation as previously touched upon in last weeks blog in ‘Jihad vs McWorld’).

Nimes in France demonstrates the Roman Empire supporting not only their culture but within this, their architecture. Behind this is another export which is from the UK designed by Norman Foster, which is an example of high tech modernism. The Moors from North Africa did the same…


- The dichotomy between sameness and particularly large corporations such as Google, Amazon, Uber. 

- Richard Lesplatrier, Australia ‘draws from place’, understands structure, and relies upon understanding the layers of sediment etc which informs his work.
- Sverre Fehn, Norway.
- Snohetta, Lascaux 4 France.
- Peter Zumthor, Thermal Baths, Vals, Switzerland
- Jorn Utzon, Kingo Housing, Denmark
- To contrast, Le Corbusier, Villa Savoye, 1931 - Towards an Architecture 
- Wawasan 2020, Malaysia. Calls for the country to achieve self sufficient industrialised statement by 2020.

- Architecture and interior architecture is one way by which we identify the location on the planet.
- Historic buildings at the Weald and downland Museum constructed of local found materials (wood, clay bricks etc…)
- Brick work in London comprises of ‘London stock bricks’ which are made from the clay from the bed of the River Thames, demonstrating the use of local materials.
- Monuments also locate us.

Making Place Around the World:

Exploring on from last weeks blog on the three fundamental conditions for making place (retreat, prospect and reason) and that these conditions are embodied in each of us and somehow universal. However, these conditions have manifested themselves throughout history differently across different parts of the globe in response to many different factors such as a culture, climate, religion and physical contexts. This weeks blog will be an exploration of these differences and the utter importance of context.

- Oslo Opera House, Norway, Snohetta Architects (‘Snohetta’ named because of a snowy mountainous area in Norway). They believe that place and landscape are central to our understanding of the world of design. Designed to be a piece of landscape itself, being able to walk over.


- Pergomas, South of France. Locals have provided shade for themselves and visitors which act as a character of these types of locations in these climates.
- Rick Leplastrier’s house, Pittwater NSW, Australia. Opens like a flower to provide natural cross-ventilation as the house is located in a hot and humid place.
- Traditional Aboriginal people would build shelters on stilts to encourage ventilation using local found materials.
- In Thailand ‘moongates’ are raised on a threshold to prevent ‘bad spirits’ from entering on and along the floor.
- Glenn Murcutt house opens like flower, on stilts inspired by traditional Australian buildings.
- Bangkok, Thailand places timber column on stone to raise it from the ground to prevent residual water.
- Beijing, China. Floating roofs inspired the Sydney Opera House by Jorn Utzon. He was also inspired by the idea of ‘platforms’ to raise the structure.
- Ait Benhaddou, Morocco. Ancient fortified hill village in the Atlas Mountains as one with the landscape.

I have found the different characteristics of architecture around the world fascinating. Many I didn’t know were so recognisable and characteristic of a certain country which is somewhat eye opening to see different cultures, religions and adaptations to climate etc differ from one another.

Maggie’s Centres:

Maggie Centres are centres designed to help anyone who has been affected by cancer. They act as an environment to offer care, support, information and advice (not treatment). The idea was envisioned by Margaret Kewswick Jencks, who was terminally ill with cancer and found hospitals to be a daunting and uncomfortable place to be nd believed that cancer treatment environments needed good design. Therefore, Maggie’s centres were formed to offer a tranquil, calm drop-in centre for those affected by cancer.

Locations:
- Aberdeen
- Barr’s - London (City & East)
- Cambridge
- Cardiff
- Cheltenham 
- Coventry
- Dundee
- Edinburgh
- Fife
- Forth Valley
- Glasgow
- Highlands
- Lanarkshire
- Manchester
- Newcastle
- Northampton 
- Nottingham
- Oldham
- Oxford
- Southampton 
- Swansea
- Taunton
- West London
- Wirral
- Yorkshire
- The Royal Free
- The Royal Marsden
- Kailida Barcelona 
- Hong Kong
- Tokyo
 
Who Designed Maggie Centres?: Examples
- Rem Koolhaas
- Frank Gerry
- Zaha Hadid
- Dow Jones Architects
- Snohetta 



 


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