ch 8 resposne
Chapter 8:
Discuss why Eisenman says Koolhaas’s use of the diagram has gone from symbolic to iconic.
-In Koolhaa’s earlier work such as the New York athletic club, the building only represents a clear diagram of disconnected uses into one continuous building making it a symbolic diagram. As Koolhaa’s work progresses throughout his career the diagram is not only symbolic but iconic as a strong architectural gesture. Eisenman seems to frown upon that use of the diagram.
What does Eisenman mean by ‘inversion of poche’? And, what does this have to do with ‘the strategy of the void’?
-In a typical building the spaces are created around the solid or poches of a wall, however in Koolhaas’s buildings the voids are what create the spaces and the structure seems to be built around them.
Eisenman says the diagram of the NY Downtown Athletic Club and Koolhaas’s La Villette entry are similar. How? How are they also different?
-The New York Athletic club and La Villette are similar in the sense that they are both a section diagram that reflect a discontinuous program that is connected together. The difference is that at the Athletic club the section is taken in elevation and at La Villette it is taken in plan.
Discuss Koolhaas’s section diagrams. How do they work? How do they relate to previous work?
What does Eisenman think about Koolhaas’s more recent work? What do you think?
-Eisenman believes that Koolhaas’s use of the diagram in recent work is too literal and does not require a closer extensive look to understand the building. I believe that Koolhaas’s recent work is very beautiful and the fact that he is able to draw such strong architectural elements through a simple diagram is great, this allows all users not just those with an architectural background to understand his buildings.
Anthony Van Dao
pauldelatorre
Sallie Hambright
scpaz
tjgavlick