Theories of Architecture and Urbanism - Synopsis to 4 Readers / Text ft. ‘The Metropolis and Mental Life’ by Georg Simmel, ‘Intentions in Architecture’ by Christian Norberg-Schulz , ‘Space, Place, Memory and Imagination: The Temporal Dimension of Existential Space’ by Juhani Pallasmaa, ‘Towards Critical Regionalism ' by Kenneth Frampton

1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)
Name: Tan Jingwei ID No.: 032137
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 1100~1200
Reader/Text Title: ‘The Metropolis and Mental
Life’
Synopsis No: 1
Author: Georg Simmel
Simmel describe the contrast between urban and the rural communities with the influence of the culture
within each of the communities on the individual and relationships they develop. Two main forms of
culture that were focused on are those which are found either in a small town or in a large city.
In a large urban, which has an objective culture, the people are not fully engaged in the culture of the
community, it can even been said that they are detached and segregated from the community. Differ
from the objective culture, in the small town which is prevalent with subjective culture, means a lot
more to the individual. The interaction between individuals are also more than in the objective culture.
Simmel proposed that the entrepreneurship in the urban environment is leading to the features of
increasing in division in labor and money, rather than a communal effort. Here comes the commercial
activities, followed by the urbanization. The individuals specialized in certain field to obtain money,
which reduces the emotional attachments and intimate ties between the individuals. Simmel believed
the quality of relationships varied between rural towns and urban cities and this variability greatly
impacted psyche. Simmel describe the urban settings as “the metropolis has always been the seat of
money economy”.
In small towns, individuals have more organic social networks that develop naturally based on traditional
groups of the family. The relationships are more intimate and more meaningful, and the ties between
members of small groups are rather strong.
Unlike in small towns, individuals choose their relationships and social groups for rational reasons in
the city. The group chose are tend to be with some objective. Complex groups and relationships found
in here can increase the level of stimuli and contribute to the blasé metropolitan attitude. We can only
invest ourselves into any group. If we experience too many groups in the urban environment, the
overload of stimuli can make us retreat and withdraw.
As I live in a small town while study in an urban area, I agree to what is stated by Simmel, that the
psyche between these two types of culture is rather different from each other. By finding a fort point
which Simmel is trying to bring to light, the blasé attitude is a defense mechanism to help us preserve
emotional energy. I also agree as Simmel believes that, culture becomes less subjective as the size of
community grows. Interaction between individuals decreased. The relationship between individuals
become more rational and less emotional.
Word Count: 418 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.

2. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)
Name: Tan Jingwei ID No.: 032137
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 1100~1200
Reader/Text Title: ‘Intentions in Architecture’ Synopsis No: 2
Author: Christian Norberg-Schulz
Norberg-Schulz states a question, how can an architecture able to register relevant variations in the
building task, and at the same time maintain a certain visual order? He claimed that we need a
differentiation of the buildings corresponding to the functional differences of the building tasks. Yet, he
also stated that so far there is no any answer to whether particular forms to particular functions, with
the purpose of ‘representing’ a cultural structure.
Norberg-Schulz clarified that we need a conscious clarification of the definition of our building tasks
and the means to their solution. He states that it is necessary to inquire whether particular forms ought
to be correlated with particular tasks. The buildings from the history has a particular form from a
particular period. The study of the history should not lead to a new historicism based on copying of
forms from the past. He also encourage, by putting the problem as the point of departure for
investigation of architecture’s role in the society.
The technical difficulties which have to be surmounted in connection with any building task are not
being considered at the first place. The problem of defining the task, and of deciding whether a planned
or completed solution is satisfactory rather comes in the mind. In both cases, consideration on 'practical'
and 'artistic' which concern the architect as well as society and the individual user, needs to be taken in
mind.
In my opinion, it is a subjective thoughts to say that the form of the buildings should be response to
the particular tasks of the building. In my thoughts, modern architecture could be responding to the
sites and the communities’ spirit, or to the genius loci, but not necessary to have a particular looks
which is relevant to its tasks. Yet, referring back to the history, when the ancient Greek has a particular
form and pattern of building for the temples, and the ancient Egypt has a certain form to build their
tomb, which differentiates the functions of the buildings. Although the study of history should not lead
to coping the forms from the past, states by Norberg-Schulz, maybe not a particular form for a particular
type of function of a building, but the differentiation between buildings with different functions should
be though, by developing through human experiences and fight against the ideal of ‘borrowing motives’
from the past.
Word Count: 394 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.

3. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)
Name: Tan Jingwei ID No.: 032137
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 1100~1200
Reader/Text Title: ‘Space, Place, Memory and
Imagination: The Temporal Dimension of
Existential Space’
Synopsis No: 3
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
According to Pallasmaa’s saying, memory is the ground of self-identity. Our reminiscences are situational
and spatialized memories, which means that our memories are attached to places and events.
Pallasmaa starts that in the globalized world, newness is not only an aesthetic and artistic value, it is a
strategic necessity of the culture of consumption, and hence, it is an inseparable ingredient of the
surreal materialist culture. He believes that human construction also have the task of preserving the
past. He describes that we do not only exist in a spatial and material reality, we also inhabit cultural,
mental and temporal realities Built structures serve as vital memory devices in different ways, which are
by materialize and preserve the course of time and make it visible; concretize remembrance by
containing and projecting memories; stimulate and inspire the people to recall and imagine. We are not
capable of deep imagination in outdoor such as wild nature, due to profound imagination is presumably
requires the focusing intimacy of a room. Lived existential space is structured on the basis of meanings,
intentions and values reflected upon by an individual, it could be either consciously or unconsciously. It
is also an unique quality interpreted through the memory and experience of the individual.
Remembering is not only a mental event, it is also an act of embodiment and projection.
In architectural structure, domesticate space for human occupation by turning anonymous, uniform and
limitless space into distinct places for human significance. Landscapes and built structures or buildings
are amplifiers of emotions. They strengthen the sense of belonging and alienation, invitation or rejection,
tranquility or despair. Through their authority and aura, they evoke and reinforce the individual’s
emotions and project them back to the individual as if it had an external source.
As said in a phenomenological study, there is no memory without body memory, it relates back to what
Pallasmaa believes in, our recollections are situational and spatialized. I totally agreed what is stated by
Pallasmaa. Our memories are attached to places, hence an architecture that slows down and focuses
human experience is absolutely more convincing than an architecture that seems to be diffusing or
speeding human experience up. The preservation of the past in human construction is vital and essential
because it enable us to experience and grasp the continuum of culture and tradition.
Word Count: 388 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.

4. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)
Name: Tan Jingwei ID No.: 032137
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time: 1100~1200
Reader/Text Title: ‘Towards Critical Regionalism Synopsis No: 4
Author: Kenneth Frampton
Frampton describes the universalization of civilization as a subtle destruction on great traditional
cultures, while being an advance of mankind. He critics that modernism jettison the old cultural past
which has been the raison d'être of the nation.
According to Frampton, he mentioned that the technology that creates the modern buildings has limited
the urban forms to become significant, lead to the universalization of the civilization. He claims that the
thoughts of architecture nowadays are categorized into: profits of technological predication of the
product, and the other one is the provision of a compensatory facade to cover the harsh realities of
this universal system. Twenty years ago, the dialectical interplay between civilization and culture still
controls the shape and significance of the urban fabric. Yet, the typical downtown has now become a
cityscape which has the universal civilization over locally inflected culture.
Frampton states that, as the Gothic Revival and the Arts-and-Crafts ideas take up a categorically negative
attitude, the movements in the architecture in the mid-19th century, with the starting of industrial
process and neoclassical form, was the reaction to the tradition part to the modernization.
According to Frampton, he states that the fundamental strategy of Critical Regionalism is to moderate
the impact of universal civilization with the elements that are originated indirectly from the unique
features of the particular place.
States by Frampton, Critical Regionalism depends upon maintaining a high level of critic self-
consciousness. Governance inspiration can be found in the range and quality of the local light, or in
tectonic derived from a peculiar structural mode, or in the topography of a given site.
In my thoughts, taking parts in universal civilization does not mean that the civilization is entirely being
taken over by universalization, and it also does not mean that the old culture past is necessary to be
jettison. By agreeing with what is stated by Frampton, the advanced technology nowadays has creates
modern building that is universalized, and set up a narrow limitation for the buildings in the places to
create unique and significance urban forms. But also by agreeing with him, the impact of universal
civilization can be mediated. Unique urban fabric can still be created by using of the unique elements
derived from the specific place. Hence, referring to the paradox states by Frampton, in order to get on
to the road towards modernization, jettisoning the old cultural past is not necessary. On the other hand,
building up modernized places, the impact of universalization can still be mediated.
Word Count: 416 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.