Nurul Atiqah BT Mohd Ghazali SEM 5

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Nurul Atiqah Binti Mohd Ghazali ID No.: 0325630
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 11 – 12pm
Reader/Text Title: Towards a New Architecture
‘Architecture of Revolution’ (1985)
Synopsis No: 1
Author: Le Cobusier
“Revolution can be avoided” (p. 289). This last quote from Le Cobusier’s book, Toward a New Architecture,
highlight on Le Cobusier’s argument throughout the reader. He discusses the problems of a contemporary society and
the ground that paved the way for revolution to take place, such as industrialization, new materials introduced or
opposing the past. Le Cobusier looked at architecture as a way of avoiding revolution, not because he was opposed
to it, but because he was a supporter of reform – to ease social problem and create a new and better world.
The term “revolution” used by Le Cobusier is used in the context of architecture. In this context, it does not
mean to overthrow a government or social order, but instead it could be when new design standards and styles meet
the changing built environment. In a changing built environment, Le Cobusier focuses on industry, business,
materials, construction methods and architecture. He argued that each has adapted new ways of thinking and
discovered new methods for the new era. For example, Le Cobusier mention that in this contemporary society,
“construction has undergone innovations so great that the old “styles” which still obsess us, can no longer clothe it” (p.
286). He argues that the past is no longer a concern for us and no longer of any interest (p.288). It has now been
modified in a way that a revolution can take place.
Le Cobusier caught my attention by emphasizing that “if we set ourselves against the past,” we have
revolution. This phrase was repeated many times near the end, which to me, act as a concern and advice to future
designers. In my experience, I have been told to design something “more” modern for my projects, a design that
would require less of the old architectural elements. And during that time, I was also not interested in past century’s
architecture. I realized that I am also guilty of not valuing the past, which makes me feel embarrassed as someone
who is studying architecture. But that makes me more aware of the issues that Le Cobusier is voicing out and more
accepting to what he is saying. I strongly believe that these issues should be taken into consideration, as it will be the
pavement towards our future society.
Word Count: 379 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Oct. 20, 2018 Page No. 1

2. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Nurul Atiqah Binti Mohd Ghazali ID No.: 0325630
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 11 – 12pm
Reader/Text Title: Complexity and Contradiction
in Architecture (1966)
Synopsis No: 2
Author: Robert Venturi
Robert Venturi likes complexity and contradiction in architecture, based on its “richness and ambiguity of
modern experience, including that experience which is inherent in art”(p.16). Compared to Le Cobusier’s argument in
Reader 1 on issues of a revolutionary society, Venturi address a similar issue to how revolutionary architects
(reformers) are separating and excluding some elements. He argues that modernism is rejecting the complexity of
architecture and excluding elements of a building for “expressive purpose”. Fundamentally, being highly selective on
what they want to solve to create wonderful buildings.
The complex architecture has many layers, emerged from the previous and old methods of architecture. The
layers contradict each other but should be addressed together, not excluding one or the other for the sake of clarity or
simplification. “It must embody the difficult unity of inclusion rather than the easy unity of exclusion” (p.16). It is
important to recognize the different parts of architecture such as programs or function and how it should be
recognized for the complexity by addressing the architecture as a whole. Venturi was able to embrace contradiction
and complexity by recognizing the various paradoxes present in architecture and the society that accommodates
architecture. He suggested on including the desire for visual stimulation and experiences in architecture by having
more variety instead of oversimplification, since it could lead to a “bland architecture”.
To be honest, this reader was a very complex read for me since it has many layers of points, but I was able
to slowly understand it when I focused on his main argument. I also believed that each element of architecture should
not be excluded and be taken into consideration as a whole, and this also includes the people that will experience it.
To me, I think that having multiple complex layers of different elements is similar to when we do our site analysis. We
have to analyze everything from macro to micro and not exclude any information out, as it could be a vital key to our
design. The information could contradict with each other but in the end, it will be address as a whole. It will be
analyzed as one whole site and effect with the beginning of our design.
Word Count: 367 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Oct. 22, 2018 Page No. 2

3. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Nurul Atiqah Binti Mohd Ghazali ID No.: 0325630
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 11 – 12pm
Reader/Text Title: The Geometry of Feeling: A
Look at the Phenomenology of Architecture
(1996)
Synopsis No: 3
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
People are only focusing on the visual image of architecture, rather than how it will be experienced. This is
an argument made by Juhani Pallasmaa in Geometry of Feeling, where he discusses the issue of architecture
straying away from its origins, architecture becoming a play with form and architecture shaped by the people inside.
“As architects we do not primarily design buildings as physical objects, but the images and feelings of the people who
live in them” (p. 450). Compared to Venturi in Reader 2 who suggests having a richness in architecture through
complexity and contradiction, Juhani Pallasmaa suggest on focusing on the consciousness of the people experiencing
the building for a meaningful architecture. Although they both also discusses on the importance of architecture’s
origin, art.
“Architecture has it own origins, and if it moves too far away from them it loses its effectiveness”(p.450).
Juhani Pallasmaa argued that architecture has disconnected with its background by becoming a field of technology.
We are playing around with forms and geometry, thinking that we have “restore the richness of architectural idiom
through diversity of form” (p. 449), even though we have lack of consideration towards the essence of art. But the
richness of architecture lies in how an image is transmitted to the consciousness of the person experiencing it.
Juhani Pallasmaa also argues that if the architecture “lacks contact with the sensory memories that live in
our subconscious and link our various senses,” (p.450) it would be nothing but a “meaningless ornamentation”. The
experiences in the space are an interaction between the person and the space itself, and thus, this means that the
spaces inside are shaped accordingly to the person experiencing it.
I strongly believe that buildings should be design to stimulate senses and for the people experiencing it. But
that doesn’t mean that all buildings that I have looked at or experienced have evokes some kind of emotion. Why
does a building need to have a sense of meaning when it can just merely be a building? Even though I am fully
accepting Juhani Pallasmaa’s arguments, I am slowly gaining curiosity to what a meaningless building is. Every
individual are different, meaning that their experiences and reaction to things are also different. So how can a building
be design to cater these different experiences? Would it be successful if it doesn’t stimulate feelings for all? There are
so many questions that I have after reading this book and it will surely make me more aware of how I will feel when I
am in a building.
Word Count: 425 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Oct. 23 2018 Page No. 3