Title

Beyond Architecture: Architecture’s alternative role in architecture image

Author(s)/Creator(s)

Zexi Tang, Syracuse UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis, Senior

Degree

M. ARCH I

Date

Spring 2019

Keywords

images, drawings, spatial qualities, Chinese architecture, craftmanship, memory, typology

Language

English

Disciplines

Architecture

Description/Abstract

Images/drawings of architecture primarily act as documentation of structures to help the audience (architects or clients) understand how architecture functions: the sense of space, physical relationship with the context, and circulation through different programs. Nevertheless, architectural images that focus not on functionally determine spaces but rather on an idea or provocation, also play a significant role in the representation of architecture. The role of architecture in these kinds of images can be beyond a shelter or accommodation. It can set up a stage to deliver messages; discuss historical, social, economic or political issues; or to express emotion or desire. Architects/artist have been using architecture images with perplexing spatial qualities as provocative, topical responses to actuality throughout history. For example, in the 18th century, Étienne-Louis Boullée sought to overthrow traditions of architectural drawings and use the drawings to celebrate the greatness of picture, the greatness satisfies human’s soul and eager to extend its joys in every. In the 60s, Superstudio used a series of architecture collages to fight against market-driven architecture, and establish their goal to produce a system of infinite multiplications divisions and dimensions. Later on, Lebbeus Woods used his prominent drawings to evoke people’s awareness of the provocative characteristic of architecture oppose to its retrospective presentation or documentation purpose.

As a knowledge of base, this thesis project would research why and how the architects/ artists make the images in certain way to accomplish their expected effect by comparing the chosen images particularly on architects/artists’ decision making on the scale of architecture pieces, not functionally determined spaces, materiality and pictorial perspective of the images and how these decisions result in different effect or affect.

This thesis proposal is to call on the audiences (architects and non-professionals) to consider architecture’s alternative role in architecture image beyond retrospective presentation. Also, to engage the audiences in awareness and discussion of the topical communication with the architects/artists. Based on the knowledge to set up a framework for this thesis project. What framework should be set to avoid documentation potentials of architecture? What to resist and or embrace to avoid the architecture image become functionally determined? And eventually, use this framework to produce images with speculative architecture on a ruin with potentially healing necessity as a mean to deliver personal desire of hope and joy and evoke personal responses from the audiences.

Additional Information

Thesis Advisors:

Terrance Goode

Brian Lonsway

Recommended Citation

Tang, Zexi, "Beyond Architecture: Architecture’s alternative role in architecture image" (2019). Architecture Senior Theses. 458.
https://surface.syr.edu/architecture_theses/458

Source

Local Input

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