Arch 1201 - Week 1 Notes

ARCH 1201 - Week 1 Notes:

The course will deal with the dwelling + the landscape ie the dwelling and its situation, the relationship between them. WHY is a house designed in a particular way? WHY did the architect think this was right?

How should we live? The connectionbetween architecture and our way of life, between architecture and function.

The first exercise, due Week 3, will be done in groups of about 3, and each tutorial group will cover the 5 houses. Why are these houses important (and radical)?

Guest lecturer-John Gamble

Villa Savoyenear Paris 1928-1931Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier's5 points of architecture:

The raised building, so permeable at ground level;

The roof garden, recoveringthe ground you’ve built on up into the air;

Free plan-columns holding the buildingup so you can organize spaces on each level as you wish, instead of using load-bearing walls;

Horizontal windows, for light and outlook;

Free facade-external wall is freed up because not load-bearing, columns are set from external wall.

Le Corbusier did not invent new building methodslike reinforced concrete,or ideas about light, air, sun. But he saw the potential of reinforced concrete for making possible his five points of architecture.

The raised living areas look out over the landscape. There are 3 levels-basement,habitation and sky/sun. His houses have a sense of containment.