Architecture through pattern: A museum of architecture technology

Abstract

Thesis Process Initial Research: Geometry in Architecture Emergent Direction: Exploration into the time, technologies, and circumstances which come together to create architecture. Looking into the ways geometry is and was used within the framework of the latest building techniques and technologies. Thesis I beheve architecture should celebrate and enlarge the pattems of the present while making connections with the pattems of the past and future. Architecture through Pattern. Pattern The foUowing is the defmition for pattem I have synthesized. Pattems are a composite of traits, features, technologies, and habits characteristic of a particular culture, context, and time. Pattem takes into account spaces, forms, and geometries utilized in history. It addresses how technology is combined with geometry to create new stmctural and transportation systems. Pattems are social statements and economic impHcatíons of a particular time and place. They are present in the natural environment as well as the built environment. Pattems of science, psychology, and sociology of a people and time come together to impact architecture. Pattems do have their limitations in that they cannot reproduce the crrcumstances which recreated them. They serve as monuments of a particular time and place. Leaming to recognize pattems helps to identify forms of transition, futurism, time signals, the esthetics of time, biologicai rhythm, time perception, disaster, renewal, and revolution. (Lynch, What Time is This Place?. pp. 1-4) Time The time of something involves tíie entire set of pattems which surround it. Do you preserve, create or destroy the residuals of the past? What can be leamed from them? What instígated the technology or discovery? What were the circumstances in the world at the time which had an influence? These are issues to be addressed during the design process. Time can be retained, imitated, or removed. Thus knowing the tíme of a place or event allows proper appreciatíon and appropriate design consideration. According to Kevin Lynch, personal image of time is crucial for individual well-being and also for our success in managing environmental change. He goes on to say that it is ratíonal to control the present tíme, to act for nearfuture ends, and to keep the longer future open in order to explore new possibUities and respond to change. Place Context The West End Historic District DaUas, Texas Vehicle Theme: What time is this place? Vehicle: Interactíve Museum of Architecture Technology The building wUl stand as a permanent exhibit, an interactive element from a specific time and place. The faciUty wiU demonstrate and seek to explain technological advances and their effects on architecture, whUe demonstrating them. It wiU describe the time of each technology and time of each aspect of scientific discovery displayed. The point in time at which scientific discoveries were made had a profound influence on the usage of that particular discovery. Knowing the context that these discoveries were bom into or derived from can foster a greater appreciation and knowledge of the discovery. This vehicle wiU incorporate existing fabric, thus demonstrating that historic buUdings can survive evolution, live, and thrive in a significandy different time.

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Keywords

Architecture, Museum buildings -- Design, Architecture -- Museums, Industrial museums, Dallas (Tex.)

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