Function and Form
adative reuse
"Architecture is aesthetically distinctive because it is an art of design and its is a useful art "- Richard Hill
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The relationship between form and function in architecture is always between each others. Form in building architecture is the final output. But it is also more than that. In building architecture form can be readily understood at a visceral level. Value is based on elements that most humans can ‘feel’ if not conceptualize. Functionalism is the principle that architects should design a building base on the purpose of the building. Its focus purpose function and usage. Program and form were once understood as polar opposite design considerations. With the rise of industrialization the balance between form and function was disrupted.
The meaning of "function" in architecture is the essential act that an object, ideas or space should carry out, which can also be simplified as the "usage", in terms of structures, ornaments, surfaces and openings of every particular building. From Adrian Forty's text about "Function", different philosopher has their own opinion and definition on function. From Horatio Greenough's words, function was biological "as the first step in our search after the great principles of construction.....observe the skeletons and skins of animals." Besides, "function was the inner spiritual force that determined organic form" by Louis Sullivan's opinion. From my own opinion, what I think the function is the purpose of the architecture.
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Undoubtedly, the relationship between form and function in architecture today cannot be divided and defined very clearly whether form follows function of function follows form. They are relied on each other to form a real building. Different design has different way to communicate, has different purpose.
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"Usefulness and design are not related in a problem - solution manner ; the real relationship is one where design and usefulness constitute each other and consider designing with usefulness in mind as a process. "- Richard Hill
JALAN
MESUI
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Take one of the best examples of adaptive reuse and renovation which located in Jalan Mesui ,Changkat, Kuala Lumpur. The row of shop is mostly residential purpose last time and now its becoming a cafe or home stay . Take my favourite breakfast place in changkat feeka as example. They making the car porch area to becoming outdoor dining area and smoking area. They separate the function of ground and first floor , ground floor as cafe and first floor as a event area to generate more income . They keeping the void courtyard area and putting the cafe counter under the void to create the hierarchy of the cafe. Steel structure to introduced in to enhance the old structure for more loading support . They keeping all the old element of the building as much as possible such as the old steel window, ventilation block and the timber roof structure . on the renovation part they did a great job that they keep the old and create the new which giving a new life for the old and again introduce several function into the structure .
"Purpose and function are related, but only in such successful cases. "- Richard Hill
In changkat , they area creating new purpose for the function . Such as creating new sky bar on the roof of the house . which the use of humanity will be full fill. Most of them are doing to introduce a new facade or doing extension for the old structure but at the same time keeping the old material without much on destroying the structure but renovated it . but there some sad case which the whole building are taken down and rebuild also , which totally forget the idea of adaptive reuse.
In conclusion , purpose take part in function ,function take part of usage , usage take part of purpose its to create a useful art not just an unfunctional art piece .
798 Art Zone , or Dashanzi Art District, comprise a complex of 50-year-old decommissioned military factory buildings boasting a unique architectural style, located in Dashanzi, Chaoyang District of Beijing, that houses a thriving artistic community. The area is often called the 798 Art District or Factory 798 although technically, Factory 798 is only one of several structures inside a complex formerly known as 718 Joint Factory.
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It is an excellent example of adaptive reuse of a cluster of industrial buildings.... The whole zone covers an area of 0.6 square kilometer, with Jiuxianqiao Road to its west, Beijing-Baotou railway to its east, Jiangtai Road to its south and Jiuxianqiao Road North to its north. 798 Art Zone, characterized by modern art, has become the exhibition center of Chinese culture and art, and also a world- famous cultural and creative industries centralized area...
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“Usefulness & design are not related in problem-solution manner ,”
Richard Hill
When there is a way , there must be a hidden issue.Building nowadays are designed based on the functionality, the importance of the architecture is to merge them together with other expects just like humanism , form & purpose , so the system can only be considered as complete but not perfect.To my mind, functionality is necessity as it becomes a widen range which goes beyond humanism in today 's time.