SPIR

ITUAL

TEC

TONI

CS

CHAD SCHWARTZ | SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE | SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY | SPRING 2014

PRIM

ARY

CONC

EPTS

systemic thinking = architecture as a series of intersecting systems

studying and building relationships and emphasizes connectedness

PRIM

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CONC

EPTS

PRIM

ARY

CONC

EPTS

desi

gn

tech

nic

al

theo

ry

architectural academia

PRIM

ARY

CONC

EPTSarchitectural academia

desi

gn

tech

nic

al

theo

ry

PRIM

ARY

CONC

EPTSarchitectural tectonics is a systemic endeavor

KENNETH FRAMPTON | RAPPEL A L’ORDRE: THE CASE FOR THE TECTONIC

PRIM

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CONC

EPTSarchitectural tectonics is a systemic endeavor

Tectonics is the formal amplifi cation of the structural presence in relation to the assembly of which it is a part.

GOTTFRIED SEMPER | FROM CAROLINE VAN EYCK | FIGURATION, TECTONICS, AND ANIMISM

PRIM

ARY

CONC

EPTSarchitectural tectonics is a systemic endeavor

The origin of architecture is not construction, but the visible representation of closed space originating from human dress.

KARL BOTTICHER | FROM KENNETH FRAMPTON | BOTTICHER, SEMPER, AND THE TECTONIC

PRIM

ARY

CONC

EPTSarchitectural tectonics is a systemic endeavor

There are two components within a tectonic construction: the ontological kernform (work form) and its cladding of the representational kunstform (art form).

PRIM

ARY

CONC

EPTSarchitectural tectonics depicts the poetic integration of

assembly, materiality, representation, space, and environment.

SACR

ED +

TEC

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C

SACR

ED +

TEC

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C

T E C T O N I C

STEREOTOMIC

tectonic + stereotomic

tectonic = frame or assembly (sky, light, dematerialize)

stereotomic = mass or piled (earth, dark, solidity)

duality and spirituality

Sacred architecture must recognize its position at the center, on an axis between earth and sky.

The power of the sacred radiates from this center with centrifugal force, but it also returns centripetally.

SACR

ED +

TEC

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C

EMILE TOWNES | CONSTRUCTING THE IMMATERIAL

EARTH

SKY

sacred center

The sacred center also appears in tectonic theory prominently in Semper’s four elements.

- framework- enclosing membrane- earthwork- hearth

The hearth incorporated into a single element the public and spiritual nexus of the built domain. SA

CRED

+ T

ECTO

NIC

IMAGE: KENNETH FRAMPTON | BOTTICHER, SEMPER AND THE TECTONIC

ROBERT VISCHER | ON THE OPTICAL SENSE OF FORM

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TONI

Cempathy

We have the ability to develop empathy with static form:

A looming cliff face stands proudly at attention and seemingly in defi ance; its outward projection instills the feeling of a lunging forward, perhaps in curiosity, perhaps in anger.

SACR

ED +

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TONI

Cempathy

THE

STUD

IO

structure

- fi ve linked problems

- centered on the study of sacred space

- multiple scales and mediums

- varied working perspectives

- each problem began with a critical reading and written response

THE

STUD

IO

CASE STUDY

INTERVENTION

SITE ANALYSIS

CHAPEL

DETAIL

P1:

CASE

STU

DY

task 1

Select a project to study

P1:

CASE

STU

DY

P1:

CASE

STU

DY

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK

P1:

CASE

STU

DYtask 2

Analyze the project to learn its essential lessons, focusing on the tectonic

DRAWINGS: D. AMISI

P1:

CASE

STU

DYtask 2

Analyze the project to learn its essential lessons, focusing on the tectonic

DRAWINGS: A . NEAL

P1:

CASE

STU

DYtask 2

Analyze the project to learn its essential lessons, focusing on the tectonic

DRAWINGS: B. BECKMAN

P1:

CASE

STU

DYtask 2

Analyze the project to learn its essential lessons, focusing on the tectonic

DRAWINGS: D. GRANT

P1:

CASE

STU

DYtask 2

Analyze the project to learn its essential lessons, focusing on the tectonic

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TION

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 1

Identify a location in the case study to which can be added a place for a visitor to pause and rest.

- zooming in

- assembly

- attention to detail

- bodily interaction with architecture

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 2

Design the intervention paying close attention to the relationship between the new element and both the tectonics of place and the human body: two key contexts.

CONSTRUCTIONS: A . NEAL + W. CHURCHILL

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 3

Build the intervention at full scale as accurately as possible.

CONSTRUCTIONS: A . NEAL + W. CHURCHILL

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 3

Build the intervention at full scale as accurately as possible.

CONSTRUCTIONS: C. SMITH

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 3

Build the intervention at full scale as accurately as possible.

CONSTRUCTIONS: A . EILERS + A. NEAL

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 3

Build the intervention at full scale as accurately as possible.

CONSTRUCTIONS: A . EILERS + A. NEAL

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 3

Build the intervention at full scale as accurately as possible.

CONSTRUCTIONS: S. ABELL

P2:

INTE

RVEN

TIONtask 3

Build the intervention at full scale as accurately as possible.

P3:

SITE

ANA

LYSI

S

task I: groupwork

Analyze the city of Carbondale, IL through the lenses of the sacred, infrastructure, socio-political, and environmental contexts

- zoom out

P3:

SITE

ANA

LYSI

S

task II: individual

Select and analyze a site within the context zone for the building of a new chapel for the town.

P3:

SITE

ANA

LYSI

S

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK

P3:

SITE

ANA

LYSI

S

DRAWINGS: B. BECKMAN

task II: individual

Select and analyze a site within the context zone for the building of a new chapel for the town.

P4: C

HAPE

L

P4: C

HAPE

Ltask I

Building on the fi rst three problems, design a new chapel for Carbondale, IL.

- analysis of the case study- construction of the intervention- context of the site

Develop a program for this small space building on the given outline.

P4: C

HAPE

Ltask II

Contemplate the questions:

- What is the purpose of a chapel?

- What is the narrative of the place?

- How does the tectonic expression of the chapel refl ect its purpose?

- How is the project contextually driven?

P4: C

HAPE

Ltask III

Design the chapel.

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK

P4: C

HAPE

L

DRAWINGS: A . NEAL

P4: C

HAPE

L

DRAWINGS: D. AMISI

P4: C

HAPE

L

DRAWINGS: D. AMISI

P4: C

HAPE

L

DRAWINGS: B. MACANDER

P4: C

HAPE

L

DRAWINGS: B. MACANDER

P4: C

HAPE

L

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK

P4: C

HAPE

L

P5: D

ETAI

L

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask I

Select a critical moment in the design of project 4 to investigate in greater detail.

- zooming back in

- tectonic assembly

- part to whole relationships

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask II

Analyze this area of the building and fi gure out how it is constructed.

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask II

Analyze this area of the building and fi gure out how it is constructed.

DRAWINGS: D. AMISI

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask II

Analyze this area of the building and fi gure out how it is constructed.

DRAWINGS: B. BECKMAN

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask II

Analyze this area of the building and fi gure out how it is constructed.

DRAWINGS: B. MACANDER

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask II

Analyze this area of the building and fi gure out how it is constructed.

DRAWINGS: A . NEAL

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask II

Analyze this area of the building and fi gure out how it is constructed.

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask III

Zoom in further and build one key detail from the zone of investigation at full scale.

CONSTRUCTION: R. LEX

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask III

Zoom in further and build one key detail from the zone of investigation at full scale.

CONSTRUCTION: W. CHURCHILL

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask III

Zoom in further and build one key detail from the zone of investigation at full scale.

CONSTRUCTION: J. WEST

P5: D

ETAI

Ltask III

Zoom in further and build one key detail from the zone of investigation at full scale.

CONSTRUCTION: P. MCKISSACK

REFL

ECTI

ONS

REFL

ECTI

ONSsuccesses

- rigorous investigation was well received by students

- plenty of moments of success from each student in the class

- tangible connections to architecture through full scale work

REFL

ECTI

ONSchallenges

- diffi culty in translating lessons of the case study to the problem 4 chapel

- intensive case study driving the project caught some of them off guard

- need more time for problem 4 to allow for more contemplation throughout the design

REFL

ECTI

ONSchallenges

- the site selection in problem 3 was poor

- problem 3, in general, was relatively disconnected from the rest of the series

- created a fi ssure in the semester

- this problem needs to be much more tightly controlled as far as selection goes

REFL

ECTI

ONSTectonics depends on the

fundamental aspects of the world: gravity, the structure of the materials we use, and the ways in which we put these materials together.

CARLES VALLHONRAT | TECTONICS CONSIDERED

REFL

ECTI

ONS

DRAWINGS: A . NEAL

REFL

ECTI

ONS

DRAWINGS: D. AMISI

REFL

ECTI

ONS

DRAWINGS: B. MACANDER

REFL

ECTI

ONS

DRAWINGS: Y. SUN

REFL

ECTI

ONS

DRAWINGS: P. MCKISSACK