1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN
ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2017)
Name: Schani Daniel Bharat ID No.: 0318788
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time:
Reader/Text Title: “IN THE CAUSE OF
ARCHITECTURE” 1908
Synopsis No:
Author:
They way in which I depicted this reading, is categorized by what is architecture and design in his terms.
Based on that, he has touched upon four main categories, which cover organic architecture, what are the
new guidelines for architecture, the industrialization & patriotism and finally back to the idea of nature with
a mentor.
Wright views nature in a way that “there is no source so fertile, so suggestive, so helpful aesthetically for
the architect as a comprehension of natural law.” I find the way in which he uses nature as the fundamentals
of design is fascinating, From what I understand there is no design without nature, the considerations of sun
paths, wind directions the vegetation, type of soil, orientation etc. furthermore I utterly agree with the fact
that has a huge role in design, its marriage between practicality and application. In correlation, one of
Wrights most famous designs, the “Falling Water” examples his ideologies of nature and art as one. The
connectivity between the structure and stream is seamless. The creation of the stream within the geomet ric
structure forces it to blend with nature even though the form may seem inorganic at first sights.
From the combination with nature, he drew new guidelines or ‘propositions’. Briefly, I agree with his
approach to art, simplicity, much like how he combines horizontal and vertical geometry in the falling water
house, to compliment the orientation of the landscape. The propositions he implemented To exude
simplicity, individualism, connectivity with nature and site growth, not obscene colors nor ornaments or art,
use of appropriate materials and integrity. These so called propositions I feel, they are hit the jackpot for a
nature perspective, but then seem less likely if they were applied to a more industrialized context, situation
or perspective.
“In hope someday America may live her own life in her own buildings, in her own way”, Patriotism I like this
concept because this is where the vulnerability ends and drive begins. The idea of looking at design as a
whole country using the prairie style vs looking at designs in a more selfish manner is greatly reasonable. I
then would understand the application of the ‘propositions’ here to create a more unique America, simple
but contextual.
With that being said, Wright’s approach to architecture is beautiful, despite the contending and opposing
industrialization, in addition, “For seven years it was my good fortune to be the understudy of a great teacher
and a great architect, to my mind the greatest of his time -- Mr. Louis H. Sullivan. Principles are not invented;
they are not evolved by one man or one age…” the best part of this essay, is the fact that even Wright had
a mentor, and that the learning process never ends, and no one man can change architecture, but a group
of men can.
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Assessed by: Date Page No.
