LECTURE 10

ARTICLE READING

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?

It is important for contempory architecture to considerations relationship between social, economic and

environmental. Site context show the characteristics of the site that can be integrated into the design solution.

Information about context helps solve the needs of the client the community and environment. In my option,

architecture today, context plays a role of connecting, and balance and provide convenience the community.

Just like what Jane Jacobs mention about context of a city should “ intricate and close grained diversity of uses” giving each other constant mutual support, physically ,socially and economically.

Context has been the literal foundation of building design. It is important to understand the unique context of the place before starting the environment design and strategic planning. Context is more than just a building, it is the environment, social, economic, transportation, human activity and other external elements that influence the site. It is important to use these elements to strategist and create a functional building and public spaces for the site and to improve it to be more effective, politically and socially.

Fisher Pavilion is an example of effective city neighborhood planning. It located in the Seattle City Center, the

pavilion is a thoughtfully designing public spaces, that build on the unique local character and the best qualities

as a city center. Jane Jacobs mention in the article that "consider city parks deprived places that need the

boon of life and appreciation conferred on them." Parks become lively and successful for the same reason as

sidewalks: "because of functional physical diversity among adjacent uses, and hence diversity among users

and their schedules."

We can see that the Fisher Pavilion in located in the center of Seattle that surround by commercial area and

residential area, the pavilion become the focal point and creating a lively neighborhood. The pavilion consider

the circulation for people to access Jane Jacob mention that a healthy city the need for mixed primary uses,

putting residential, commercial, industrial, and public uses within close proximity will create symbiotic

relationships and increase the life of a city. People will be on the streets throughout the day.

Besides, Fisher Pavilion successfully bring out the context of predominantly a physical, social and economic by

opening up a civic green on the roof top that shown in the section, that will increasing civic space for the

community. It provide a urban infill square connects interior and exterior.

Jade Bamboo Culture Plaza is located in Shenzhen. It is a place that was formerly hilly country, but today, it is

difficult to see the original land form distinguished from the even city pattern.The Jade Bamboo Garden, which

has become a connections with the surrounding streets, is one of the few areas partly retaining the original

land form and vegetation in the urban center in Shenzhen. Therefore, the designer keep the original hill land

form and design a traditional form of the Chinese courtyards that plant bamboo throughout the site.

The plaza also apply the historical context such as planting bamboo, flowers and trees are mixed together to

form amazing Chinese painting pieces. Also, the walking in the corridor,is a series of spatial experience is the

essence of the traditional Chinese garden.

All in all, I think architecture designs today should fulfill the context locally .context for any site, any place or any

era will be different, as a designer it is a challenge to design according the specific site context. Site history,

location, and climate, human activity and etc. is always important and to be consider. And using all the context

elements to provide to the community according to the needs, the human activity, connection between places

to places, a public spaces and etc. and I think that is the key of context. As Jane Jacobs said “Cities have the

capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by

everybody.”