What is the role of context in architecture today? Is context predominantly a physical, social, economic, or political issue; some combination of these; or something else?
ARTICLE READING
LECTURE 10
I believe that context in architecture has always been a crucial factor, and a core value to design. Function and forms of building might change from time to time, but not context. Context is like characteristics of a site, physical or non-physical. Context may include subjects of climatic, cultural, economic, political computational and environmental factor that exist within the site. I believe that even after all this time and changes in culture and in the architecture world, context is something that is still as important in today’s architecture. But what role does it play in architecture today? I believe that not every context plays the same role to architectures today, that is solely because each site has different environmental factors and elements that contribute to the site context text, therefore I think context is different in every design that is why it is so unique and important.
Space of the house are carefully located to complement to the site and to ensure that the building solve the issue of the site a allow user to have a good experience to the surroundings.
Gabriela House
Gabriela House, is a very recent project by TACO taller de arquitectura contextual, I think that this project is a notable example that showcase the consideration of surrounding context locally and globally. This project is located in Mexico, a nation with extreme climate conditions.
Gabriela House is a single-family house located in an area in the process of urban development of the city of Merida, Mexico. The aim was to provide the user with a serene yet convenient haven, which had security considerations, thermal comfort and energy efficiency, and low cost of construction and maintenance. As time goes on, the world had change in many ways, and that certainly affects the context of architecture in some ways, therefore I think it is important to address to these problems and architect today should consider these contexts, as they help to provide understanding to the site, and generally allows us to provide a response to them through architecture.
This (left image) is the space before access to the house, which is accentuated by a water feature formed by an area of organic elements that works as a control for mosquitoes and provides oxygen by natural means to another area that is accessible for recreational use. This element is viewed from all social areas of the house, with special interaction with the entrance hall.
​
The house is tucked away from the street. Along with the walls of the adjoining properties, it generates a small square, which was designed as a public space with the goal of producing a use to the public street, a feature of traditional Yucatan architecture contributing to neighborhood safety. Besides the considerations of surrounding factors, I think that public are also a crucial context consideration, that should be well looked into by architects these days. As this context help create spaces in purpose of attracting and welcoming interaction of the public with the building itself, connect the building with the public as one, by providing public spaces in according to the public needs.
The architectural program also considers a social area where the kitchen and the dining room converge; an intermediate services area where the bathroom and laundry closet are located; and finally, a bedroom. Both the social area and the bedroom have rear semi-outdoor terraces which are perceived as extensions of the rooms. From the social terrace one can reach the back garden and an open rooftop courtyard.
​
The climate of the region allows multiple openings to be closed only with mosquito net, allowing a constant natural ventilation. Double heights have openings that allow the evacuation of hot air, achieving a comfortable interior temperature without using artificial means. The building system is the most common in the area, made of concrete blocks, beams and slabs. These are manifested in the lower side of the slabs covering the double heights. Low ceilings are thermally insulated with polystyrene panels. Vibro-compressed concrete lattices protect the interior of the house from sunshine, rain, vandalism and hurricanes. I believe when an architect design in the sense of the surrounding, it acts as a response to the surrounding and complement it the best way possible. In this case, we can clearly understand how the architect design based on the context of the site, provide a solution in the design of the house
Ventilation and light penetration are provided throughout the houses to complement to the situation of the surrounding locally and also globally, which includes the factors of climate, environmental an cultural contexts.
Architectural finishes are exposed. The floors are concrete, as are the pre-cast in place plates with which the fixed furniture was assembled. All walls and low ceilings have a waterproof cement based stucco. The proposed vegetation is mostly endemic. Iconic species of the local culture, which attract other wild birds, and finally fruit trees, vegetables and herbs for human consumption were considered. Color is present on the thresholds at the front and rear access, as well as functional furniture and home accessories. They were chosen from a range found in craft elements of local culture, as well as their ability to dialogue with the different shades of blooms in the gardens. Besides the function and spaces of the building, context in architecture also affects the materials, finishes, and colour of the building. In this project, we can see the architect chooses these elements carefully based on his knowledge and understanding to the site context.
Various of colours used through out the design are inspired by the craft products of the local people.
All in all, it is clear that context till this day are key factors to design. although it varies from different place and location, but I believe it all serve the purpose of complementing the building to its surrounding. "A building is like a soap bubble. This bubble is perfect and harmonious if the breath has been evenly distributed from the inside. the exterior is the result f an interior" (Le Corbusier). It allows the building to be as one with its surrounding and thus, shows the uniqueness and harmonious of not only the building itself but also its surrounding elements and people, and that the building should be where it is and no place else. That is what I think of how the context affect architecture today, and I believe to achieve that is the ultimate goal that an architect today should aim for.