Kenneth Frampton discusses critical regionalism as a new theory that balances universal and local architectural styles. Critical regionalism mediates universal civilization's impact to maintain local elements while achieving a high level of critical self-consciousness. The student agrees that critical regionalism helps retain balance between postmodernism and modernism, but it is difficult for new generations to achieve due to strong modern influences that cause placelessness. However, the theory may still impact the architecture field.

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2016) [10 MARKS]
NAME: Tay Jia Jian ID: 0315508
LECTURER: Nicholas Ng TUTORIAL TIME: 2-4
SYNOPSIS NO: 4 READER TITLE: Toward A Critical Regionalism
AUTHOR: Kenneth Frampton
In this reading, Kenneth Frampton talks about the critical regionalism and world culture and the
resistance of the place-form. Kenneth Frampton suggest a new type of theory to break down two
extreme style of architecture and also mention about the reason of publish this new theory.
I agree that regionalism has uphold the individual and local architectonic features against more
universal and abstract ones. Regionalism mediate the impact of universal civilization and derived the
local architectonic elements to maintain a high level of critical self-consciousness which describe it
has been maintain it specific identity very well. For example, Tadao Ando who is the famous
Japanese architect due to his design fit into context very well but in a modern way. For, example, the
Koshino house which reflect it building context, culture and function in a modern way.
I agree with Martin Heidegger about the impact of universal cause the placelessness this
phenomenon. He mention about the essence of such a place lost it. The international style became
the domain architectural style proliferate throughout the world. The buildings become more and more
identity less and lost the essence of response to site. For example, In early 20th century, America is
fill up with the international style buildings, less is more and form follow function which ignore the
essence of the site context just focus of the user group. This cause the design building just a
combination of the function space.
In the nutshell, I think critical regionalism help the architecture field retain a balance between two
extremes, postmodernism and modernism. Critical regionalism is a theory that hard to achieve by
new generation. That is because the balance between the modernism and postmodernism is hard to
achieve by architect in this century because they are influence by the modern too much. The impact
of universal is fill up around us. But I also expect this theory will bring how much impact to this
industry.
WORD COUNT 322
Key points (2.5)
Appropriateness of
Terminologies (2.5)
Clarity in Opinions and
Reactions (2.5)
Logical Progression (2.5)
DATE: TOTAL MARK & GRADE
ASSSESSED BY: