Monday, February 16, 2009
Landscape/Site/Time
After listening to Mr. Brook's lecture, I wonder how could a great architect make such a mistake in terms of landscape? I'm speaking of the Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe. I know everyone makes mistakes but why build a home with a lack of understanding? Do you think that landscape was a concern of Mies and his team? Was it just a bad mistake? or Do you think landscape is an important element in the eyes of an architect?
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Well, in regards to the Farnsworth House, in defense of Mies, who always needs to be defended, there was no way for the architect to predict the flooding that happened, in the manner in which it did. What i mean is, there was no way for them to know that the water would rise as high as it did and then that it would be subject to so many constant renovations because of it. I think landscape was an issue and given the design of the building and how open and engaging it is with the landscape, I think it was a huge issue. As architects, we have to use the surroundings and context of our projects, not as a means to an end, or just a place to put our "sweet buildings" as Brooks would say, but as an opportunity to make our buildings and structures more meaningful and timeless.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to have to disagree with you. I'm pretty sure that the history of that site was provided, but there may have been a lack of research on the firm's part. I don't think that that was the first time that the site had been flooded due to the numerous renovations that the house endured because of numerous flooding incidents. I may be wrong, but I don't think so. I think that this is just one example of many that we as "architects in training" can learn from, and we will always know that even the greats make mistakes sometimes.
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