Site-specific architecture

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Site-specific architecture (SSA) is architecture which is of its time and of its place. It is designed to respond to both its physical context, and the metaphysical context within which it has been conceived and executed. The physical context will include its location, local materials, planning framework, building codes, whilst the metaphysical context will include the client's aspirations, community values, and architects ideas about the building type, client, location, building use, etc.

Contents

History

The first examples seen of site-specific architecture orient around Spain, Italy and China in ancient cave and cliff dwellings dating back to the Neolithic period. [1] Architecture of the Neolithic period is the first example of site-specific architecture, the buildings being dedicated to religion or social practices. Buildings of this time were made for purposes beyond the physical constructs but rather for the significance of the site they were created on. These early examples of site-specific architecture can be seen to use local materials that were available to humans at the time such as clay, stone, tree trunks and mudbrick. [2] This use of the natural elements allows for the structures to seamlessly blend into their environments.

Following this period there was a move towards more ornamental architectural structures as seen in the Roman and Byzantine era. [3]

Kibyra East Roman bath 9929 Kibyra East Roman bath 9929.jpg
Kibyra East Roman bath 9929

For several centuries architecture was concerned mainly with decorative and cosmetic structures that stood out from their environments. [4] This for example seen in the Renaissance period, whereby structures were dedicated to symmetry and proportion rather than organic lines and shapes. [5]

More recent iterations of architectural styles eventually moved away from the styles of classical architecture as moved towards modernism. [6] This shift happened as a result of art periods such as the Bauhaus and De Stijl which introduced the idea of function into architecture. [7] Modernist architecture can be seen in many movements such as expressionist, constructivist and art deco. [8] The American Modernist period saw the re-emergence of site-specific architecture where architects considered the forms of their structures and how they would blend into their surrounding environments. Contemporary interpretations of site-specific architecture are notably seen in the 1950s when Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term organic architecture, [9] this interpretation of site-specific architecture revolves around design that coexists with the pre-existing elements of a site.

21st century ‘contemporary architecture’ structures are no longer limited to the boundaries of previous centuries. There are now innovative materials and tools which can assist architects in their designs making it easier to create buildings in unprecedented forms. [10] Sustainability is at the forefront of contemporary architects thinking due to the climate change emergency, this move towards eco-conscious buildings has assisted in the re-emergence of site-specific designs. [11]

Theory

Site-specific architecture surrounds the practice of creating a structure which cohesively blends with the space that it was intended, through this style buildings do not only exists in the physical but also inspire spiritual connection. This theory concludes that when designing and creating a building, the use of the space and area in which it is intended must be at the forefront of the designers thinking. [12] The components that are important in this way of thinking include the location, local materials, environment and weather of the region as well as the community values, experiences and aspirations of the client or intended users. This genre of architecture is aimed to integrate with its surrounding, surrounding the concept that all components of the design must support one another, and grow with the environment rather than against it. [13] American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright is often dubbed ‘the father of modernism’, practiced architecture through the theory that “form follows nature”. [14] Lloyd Wright took this notion a step further insinuating that “form and function are one”. Site specific architecture is primarily associated with the aim to promote sustainable design solutions, due to the failings of late modernist planning to respond to local characteristics site specific architecture has emerged as a crucial genre.

Malta - Siggiewi - Misrah Ghar il-Kbir - Cave dwellings 10 ies Malta - Siggiewi - Misrah Ghar il-Kbir - Cave dwellings 10 ies.jpg
Malta - Siggiewi - Misrah Ghar il-Kbir - Cave dwellings 10 ies

Beyond cohesively blending buildings into their surroundings, site-specific architecture also involves the curation of space in relation to its purpose. This can entail religious and spiritual spaces. Historically examples of this can be seen in the original cave dwellings of areas in Malta, more recent examples can be seen in the development of spiritual sanctuaries and retreats. [15]

Site-specific architects

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright portrait, Los Angeles Daily News Frank Lloyd Wright portrait, Los Angeles Daily News.jpg
Frank Lloyd Wright portrait, Los Angeles Daily News

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) was an American architect famed for his revolutionary designs in the 20th century, 8 of his designs including, Fallingwater, the Guggenheim Museum and Unity Temple are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Lloyd Wright was known largely for the coining of the term ‘organic architecture’ which saw the cohesion of environment and buildings using texture, earthy tones and a sensitive attention to materials in architectural design. [16] Throughout his career Lloyd Wright published several articles and books expanding upon the philosophy of organic architecture and the importance in the relationship between a site, building and time, “No house should ever be on a hill or on anything. It should be of the hill. Belonging to it. Hill and house should live together, each the happier for the other” [17] (Lloyd Wright, 1932, p 168). Lloyd Wrights approach towards architecture was not aesthetic nor stylistic but rather philosophical, he designed in alignment with the principles of site-specific architecture principles to create a space in which blends seamlessly with its surroundings. [18]

NOA (network of architecture)

Network of Architecture is a collaborative architecture firm that was founded by Lukas Rungger and Stefan Rier, the firm works with the philosophy of designs that centres round the natural landscape of a space. Their goal is not to build houses to but design stories, the network approaches each project with specific research and an “intense learning in process” in order to understand the traditional culture of an area as well as looking towards the ways of modern life. [19]

R. Buckminster Fuller

Domes geodesiques 254-2-006 Domes geodesiques 254-2-006.jpg
Dômes géodésiques 254-2-006

Richard Buckminster Fuller was an American architect who works across a variety of fields including architecture, design, geometry, science, engineering and cartography in order to create designs for 100% of humanity. [20] Fuller who throughout his career perfected his design of the ‘geodesic dome [21] believed in cultivating design solutions to create structures that moulded with the environment rather than against it. Fuller was able to understand the complex relationship between society, technology and the environment and thus through this understanding created architecture in which intended to exist with both humankind and eco-systems.

R. Buckminster Fuller with his domed city design R. Buckminster Fuller with his domed city design.jpg
R. Buckminster Fuller with his domed city design

His approach to site-specific theories saw a specific study of the elements of nature and how structures interacted with them. [22] He was able to promote responsible protection of the environment through his designs and theories.

Notable examples

Hal Salfieni Hypogeum

Richard Ellis, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (one of the painted rooms) Richard Ellis, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (one of the painted rooms).jpg
Richard Ellis, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (one of the painted rooms)

Hal Salfieni Hypogeum is an underground burial site that was discovered in 1902, the remains of the site date back to 4000 BC. The underground cemetery is located on a hill overlooking the Grand Harbour of Valletta in Malta. [23] Hal Salfileni Hypogeum is an early example of site-specific architecture whereby the builders of the site have considered both the pre-existing environmental structure of the area as well as the purpose of the space. The expanse of the space was carved entirely of solid limestone, the excavation the space was only able to be achieved by the rudimentary technology of the Stone Age people. [23] It is estimated that there were more than 6000 bodies buried within the site, some historian's hypothesis that the ritual of burying saw bodies left to decompose until the flesh fell off the bones. The bones were then collected and stacked within the hypogeum.

Fallingwater

Fallingwater - DSC05639 Fallingwater - DSC05639.JPG
Fallingwater - DSC05639

Frank Lloyd Wright designed Fallingwater in 1935 for Edgar J. Kaufmann and his wife Liliane, the site has been referred to as one of the best examples of American architecture. The house was commissioned as a summer house for the couple to escape from their lives in Pittsburgh.  Lloyd Wright designed the home to complement the site, wanting to integrate the pre-existing waterfall into the home so that the Kaufmann's lived ‘with’ the waterfall as an ‘integral’ part of their lives. [24] Originally the Kaufmann's had been disappointed with the plans of Lloyd Wright as they had wanted to have a view of the waterfall from their home. [24] However, Lloyd Wright ignored the desires of his client and followed his own vision. Fallingwater is described as a place that “effectively unites architecture and nature as one” (Laseau and Tice, 1992, 94). [25] The concrete and limestone exterior seamlessly blends into the environment surrounding, this naturalistic aesthetic extends inside through house using stone floors.

Aloni

Designed by architectural team DECA, Aloni is a house that was built entirely for its site. Located on the Greek island of Antiparos the house is moulded to the shape of the land. The design for Aloni responds specifically to the topography of the rural landscape as well as the historical artefacts that are found on the Island. There are endless terraces that have been built into the landscape of the Aegean islands in order to create flat surfaces that would allow for agricultural production. [26] DECA responded to these stone walls by creating a house that blends with the earth. The underground home is built with natural materials to maintain a serenity among the landscape. Through studying the site DECA was able to minimise the boundaries associated with building on the delicate terrain of the Cycladic landscape, [27] instead of creating homes DECA transforms the landscape so that it can be inhabited.

High desert house

Kendrick Bangs Kellogg designed High Desert House on the edge of Joshua Tree National Park for artists Jay and Bev Doolittle. The house is composed of 26 concrete columns that are sunk into the bedrock. The large natural boulders of the area are incorporated into the design creating a monolithic aesthetic within the space. [28]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Lloyd Wright</span> American architect (1867–1959)

Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements of the twentieth century, influencing architects worldwide through his works and hundreds of apprentices in his Taliesin Fellowship. Wright believed in designing in harmony with humanity and the environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture. This philosophy was exemplified in Fallingwater (1935), which has been called "the best all-time work of American architecture".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fallingwater</span> House in Pennsylvania designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Fallingwater is a house designed by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, about 70 miles (110 km) southeast of Pittsburgh in the United States. It is built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run in the Mill Run section of Stewart Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. The house was designed to serve as a weekend retreat for Liliane and Edgar J. Kaufmann, the owner of Pittsburgh's Kaufmann's Department Store.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robie House</span> U.S. National Historic Landmark in Chicago

The Frederick C. Robie House is a U.S. National Historic Landmark now on the campus of the University of Chicago in the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park in Chicago, Illinois. Built between 1909 and 1910, the building was designed as a single family home by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is considered perhaps the finest example of Prairie School, the first architectural style considered uniquely American.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude Fayette Bragdon</span> American architect

Claude Fayette Bragdon was an American architect, writer, and stage designer based in Rochester, New York, up to World War I, then in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unity Temple</span> Historic site in Oak Park, Illinois

Unity Temple is a Unitarian Universalist church in Oak Park, Illinois, and the home of the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation. It was designed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and built between 1905 and 1908. Unity Temple is considered to be one of Wright's most important structures dating from the first decade of the twentieth century. Because of its consolidation of aesthetic intent and structure through use of a single material, reinforced concrete, Unity Temple is considered by many architects to be the first modern building in the world. This idea became of central importance to the modern architects who followed Wright, such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and even the post-modernists, such as Frank Gehry. In 2019, along with seven other buildings designed by Wright in the 20th century, Unity Temple was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organic architecture</span> Philosophy of architecture

Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world. This is achieved through design approaches that aim to be sympathetic and well-integrated with a site, so buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated composition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prairie School</span> Architectural style

Prairie School is a late 19th- and early 20th-century architectural style, most common in the Midwestern United States. The style is usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands, integration with the landscape, solid construction, craftsmanship, and discipline in the use of ornament. Horizontal lines were thought to evoke and relate to the wide, flat, treeless expanses of America's native prairie landscape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgar J. Kaufmann</span> American businessman (1885–1955)

Edgar Jonas Kaufmann was an American businessman and philanthropist who owned and directed Kaufmann's Department Store, in Pittsburgh. He is also known for commissioning two modern architectural masterpieces, Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Kaufmann Desert House in Palm Springs, designed by Richard Neutra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope–Leighey House</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

The Pope–Leighey House, formerly known as the Loren Pope Residence, is a suburban home in Virginia designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The house, which belongs to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has been relocated twice and sits on the grounds of Woodlawn Plantation, Alexandria, Virginia. Along with the Andrew B. Cooke House and the Luis Marden House, it is one of the three homes in Virginia designed by Wright.

Edgar Kaufmann Jr. was an American architect, lecturer, author, and an adjunct professor of architecture and art history at Columbia University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graycliff</span> Historic house in New York, United States

The Graycliff estate was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1926, and built between 1926 and 1931. It is approximately 17 miles southwest of downtown Buffalo, New York, at 6472 Old Lake Shore Road in the hamlet of Highland-on-the-Lake, with a mailing address of Derby. Situated on a bluff overlooking Lake Erie with sweeping views of downtown Buffalo and the Ontario shore, it is one of the most ambitious and extensive summer estates Wright designed. It is now fully restored and operates as a historic house museum, open for guided tours year round. There is also a summer Market at Graycliff, free and open to the public on select Thursday evenings. Graycliff Conservancy is run by Executive Director Anna Kaplan, who was hired in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank L. Smith Bank</span> Building in Illinois, United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House</span> House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House, commonly referred to as Jacobs I, is a single family home located at 441 Toepfer Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Designed by noted American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it was constructed in 1937 and is considered by most to be the first Usonian home. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003. The house and seven other properties by Wright were inscribed on the World Heritage List under the title "The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright" in July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massaro House</span>

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bachman–Wilson House</span> House in New Jersey, New Jersey

The Bachman–Wilson House, built in and originally located in Millstone, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States, was originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1954 for Abraham Wilson and his first wife, Gloria Bachman. Ms. Bachman's brother, Marvin, had studied with Wright at Taliesin West, his home and studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. In 2014 the house was acquired by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas and has been relocated in its entirety to the museum's campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles L. Manson House</span> House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

The Charles L. and Dorothy Manson home is a single-family house located at 1224 Highland Park Boulevard in Wausau, Wisconsin. Designated a National Historic Landmark, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 5, 2016, reference Number, 16000149.

Charles Allan Haertling was an American architect, whose works often combined elements of modernism and organic architecture. He is best known for his distinctive residential projects in and around Boulder and Denver, Colorado.

Endless House is a conceptual work of architecture by Frederick Kiesler. Kiesler used the project to express an elaborate, personal metaphysics based on the concepts of ‘connectivity’, ‘correality’ and ‘biotechnique’. The project was an attempt to merge the spiritual and practical into a new housing typology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverview Terrace Restaurant</span> Restaurant in in Iowa County, Wisconsin

The Riverview Terrace Restaurant, also known as The Spring Green Restaurant, is a building designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1953 near his Taliesin estate in Wisconsin. He purchased the land on which to build the restaurant as, "a wayside for tourists with a balcony over the river." Construction began the next year, with the roof being added by 1957. The building was incomplete when he died in 1959, but was purchased in 1966 by the Wisconsin River Development Corporation and completed the next year as The Spring Green restaurant. In 1968, Food Service Magazine had an article about the newly opened restaurant:

... [W]hen a restaurant is designed by such a giant in his profession as the late architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it's important to find out what makes it a thing of beauty—to analyze in detail the elements of its design and appointments in search of principles that can be applied to food service facilities elsewhere.

No one in the past century has influenced architecture as an art and science more profoundly than Frank Lloyd Wright. Basic to his philosophy of "organic" architecture was the tenet that a building and its environment should be as one—that the structure, through proper blending of native materials and creation of appropriate linear features, should be in perfect harmony with its surroundings.

"Organic architecture comes out of nature," Wright said in a Food Service Magazine interview shortly before he died. He believed that each detail of the architecture and interior should be related to the building's overall concept. Each design element should reflect the whole environment, as opposed to having each design component reflect a separate idea all its own. ...

The Spring Green is a very subtle structure. It does not impose brash neon signs or harsh vertical lines upon an essentially horizontal rolling countryside. The structure is built, for the most part, only of those materials that come from the vital riverscape which is the site of the restaurant.

Wright's disciple, William Wesley Peters ... observes, "The building and its forms arise from the use of natural materials to their specific properties. For example, the rich, buff-colored limestone was quarried only a few miles away. It was laid in great horizontal courses with long, thin, projecting ledges that symbolically represent the character and quality of the stone at the quarry."

The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of a selection of eight buildings across the United States that were designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. These sites demonstrate his philosophy of organic architecture, designing structures that were in harmony with humanity and its environment. Wright's work had an international influence on the development of architecture in the 20th century.

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