Document Type
Thesis Prep
Degree
B. ARCH
Date
Fall 2016
Keywords
character, feature, reframing, Quatremère de Quincy, Bob Somol, Andrew Zago
Language
English
Disciplines
Architecture
Description/Abstract
This thesis reconsiders Quatremère de Quincy’s definitions of character from his Encyclopedia by synthesizing it with discussions of character in the discourse today, specifically as written by Bob Somol and Andrew Zago. Using these recontextualized definitions, this thesis takes a second look at the photographic series of Bernd & Hilla Becher to reframe the everyday with digital media. This thesis proposes to analyze and design architecture through a focus on architecture’s features as opposed to its formal and spatial composition. Quatremère described character in architecture as “the idea of an alphabet composed of abstract units that can endlessly be combined to create specific meaning1.” Re-contextualized into our postmodern world, this definition becomes not about reading specific meanings but about perceiving projective associations.2 This thesis is a collection, classification, and curation of architectural features through images that then operationalizes character by designing with said features through experimental digital media and techniques, proposing alternate understandings and perceptions of architecture.
Recommended Citation
Lee, Paul, "Character & Features: Reframing the Everyday Through What It's Not and What It's Near" (2016). Architecture Thesis Prep. 343.
https://surface.syr.edu/architecture_tpreps/343
Source
local input
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
