Thesis-Jason Sun- Improvisation Architecture-An architecture that plays

Improvisation Architecture, An architecture that plays...

Zhehui Sun Advisor: Hannibal Newsom May 2020 Syracuse University School of Architecture

CONTENTS 01

Introduction................................................................................... Abstract

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Research............................. Relationship between music and Architecture

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Research.......................... Mass Production, Uniformity and Identity Crisis

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Research................................... Improvisation in music and ‘Yes, and’ rule

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Research....................................................................... How to Improvise?

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Research............................. Research questions and significance of study

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Research...................... Imprivisation Architecture and Playful Architecture

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Design............................................................................. A stair to nowhere

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Design................................. Space suggest improvisation and their stories

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Design.................................................................................The wonderland

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The end................................................................................... Mediography

Acknowledgement I would like to give special acknowledgement to my supervisor Professor Newsom,, who continuously instruct and influence me. I can not finish this project without you.

This p[roject is dedicated to love of my life,,my ex-girfriend, Lingyi Zhu ((1993 Jan 20- 2017 November 20)

0Introduction 1/

Abstract Built form is a tool of cultural, social, political, and historical expression. This must be understood in order to extract symbols and create meaningful art forms. However, in today’s world, design culture is tending toward creating a monotonous, “any place” standard rather than enhancing a sense of heritage and tradition. This monotonous standard result in a lack of creativity in urban and building design Arts speak to each other. Music and architecture historically had a strong relationship, and often developed in tandem—from Gothic cathedrals, whose ceilings reaching to a highest power created vast acoustical resonance chambers that hampered speech and in turn led to the development of the Gregorian chant, to the Fort Wayne Theatre of Performing Arts, whose auditorium Louis Kahn conceptualized as a violin enclosed in a concrete case. Both disciplines reflect and acknowledge the cultural, social, political, and historical background in which they originated.

Of all the musical practices , improvisation may be among the most compelling.

Instead of a final form, there is a perpetual state of development and change in playing that facilitates a leap into the unknown. It is open ended, it allows mistakes and it rejects repetition and uniformity. Rather than look critically at techniques of musical composition, this project will investigate the relationship between improvisation in music and the potential for improvisation in architectural design. In order to develop this relationship, this project examines the similarities and differences in the creative approaches of the two fields in this context. This thesis examines the capacity of improvisation techniques in architecture to create meaning, and whether this can be a relevant technique for architects today who are facing an “creativity crisis.”

0Music2 and/ Architecture

Fig1, Elbphil harmonie by von Valeria

Fig2, Wayne Theatre of Performing Arts

Arts speak to each other, throughout history, music and architecture have a strong relationship and developed in tandem. Since 6th century BC, music and architecture have been intimately joined by a cosmic connection. ‘The idea that they both are generated by an underlying code. This order, revealed by mathematics and geometry, was first espoused by Pythagoras who lived in southern Italy, and it led to many Greek temples designed on proportional principles revealing not only supreme beauty but ‘the music of the heaven1 ly spheres’ − either God or nature.’ (Charles Jencks)

There are many examples in the history showing that architects fascinated with music and tried to incoporate music into their building design. Wayne Theatre of Performing arts is one of Louis Kahn’s masterpiece which he conceptualised as a violin enclosed in a concrete case. The stretto house designed by steven holl architects in Dallas is another example. Sited adjacent to three ponds with existing dams, the house projects the character of the site through a series of concrete “spatial dams” with metal framed “aqueous space” flowing through them.

There are many things in common in this two fields.

Based on senior’s research, rhythm has relations with patterns, texture has much to do with materials, harmony can be from balance in a musical work or it can also be through a balance of a part to a whole. Additionally, proportion, and dynamics those are all common characteristic of music and Architecture.

1. Charles Jencks, Architecture Becomes Music

Fig 3, Notre Dame Nave Width to height ratio- 1/2.7 enhance its spiritual meaning. Music is experienced over time, whereas architecture is grasped as a spatial whole

Fig 4, Beijing street view, photoed by Eric Cheung

S i t ua t ion

There is a noticeable repetition of plain, square structures made almost entirely of glass and steel.

Fig 5, Toronto street view, photoed by author

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Fig 6, The assembly line in Ford

Mass Production, Uniformity and Identity crisis • ‘Architecture is consequently more intimately involved in the economic cycle than 2 any of the other arts.’ (Berrin Chatzi Chousein) Embracing high efficiency and productivity, International style is tending to lead to a uniform style which is a chronic of identity crisis for both architecture and cities all over the world. In some cities, urban distinct features including historic heritages have been badly damaged in the rapid process of urbanization and economic growth, new modern districts sprout up but with less innovation and characteristics. This have become a huge issue in architecture field.

2. Berrin Chatzi Chousein, Architects Who Improvise And Innovate

Language and bill board Landmark

Fig 7, ShangHai in 1990s by Yann Layma

Race of people Vehicles with local identity

Fig 8, Toronto street view with CN Tower drawing, by author

Fig 9, Toronto street view without race of people, signage, language and landmarks. drawing, by author

0Improvisation 4 / in music and

Fig 10, 2 chairs

‘Yes, and’ Of all the musical practices , improvisation may be among the most compelling. ‘Instead of a final form, there is a perpetual state of development and change in playing that facilitates a 3 leap into the unknown.’ (David Brown) It is open ended and creative, it allows mistakes and it rejects repetition and uniformity. It is also instantaneous, has temporality, and the only rule in improvisation is ‘Yes, and’. Which is to say: When the first person does something, the only choice for the next person is accept it no matter what the first person did at previous step. ‘Okay, I will take it, and here is what I think...’

3. David Brown, Noise Orders: Jazz, Improvisation, and Architecture, (Univ Of Minnesota Press; 1st edition,2006), 13

There is also no absolutely right and wrong in improvisation,

Fig 11, Bass Master Victor Wooten

‘Theory is a tool, it only come in if I need it, and like riding in a car the tools are in the trunk, they’re not in the passenger seat, and I hope I never need the tools. People here, they don’t want to hear my theory, they want to hear my passion, my emotion, my feel. BB. King, how much theory does he know? You don’t think about it, you feel him. So If you play what ever you play, I’m gonna see what it feels like to me, then I’m going to answer it with feeling, I will only use theory if I need to.’

Victor Wooten’s speech about his theory in Improvisation.

When he played a wrong note not in the key in a jam, he explained: We learned theory in order to be right but the coolest part that gets your attention is the wrongness. So we need to learn theory well enough that we can be wrong with it because it’s the wrongness that grabs your emotions.

Fig 12, The Second City in Chicago

0How5to Improvise? /

Fig 13. : Dancing on the piano

Who can do improvisation?

Anyone

There is no 100% right and wrong in Improvisation

People with professional skills The first improvisation The constrains, background, and atmosphere

You feel it, you touch it, the emotion, the passion.

The second person.

‘Yes, and’ rule.

You accept it, and do your improvisation based on the first person’s

More people jump in

Tacit is important

Endless, forever, unrepetitable, creative, nonobjectivity and contamination

Self motivation, uncosciousness Who we are is what we do

We learned theory in order to be right but the coolest part that gets your attention is the wrongness. So we need to learn theory well enough that we can be wrong with it because it’s the wrongness that grabs your emotions.

Fig 15, Aldo Van Eyck, Circle Terrace (Amsterdam Orphenage, 1958-1961), n. d. Š Aldo van Eyck—from the Aldo van Eyck archive

0Research 6 /Questions What is improvisation architecture?

How could Improvisation Architecture address the problem which is a seeming lack of creativity in urban building design?

Fig 14, Children play with structure by decroly civa

Significance of study Exploring methods and approaches, Envolving playfulness and less seriousness in architecture field. Making connections between improvisation and architecture. Designing different scenes that everybody can engage, and do improvisation by themselves, so that find common characteristics of space that can suggest improvisation.

Exploring different fields of Architecture below: 1.Architecture of trial and error.

2.Architecture of excess, which have 3.fulfilled its functionality, goes further.

4.Improvisation Architecture 5.Vernacular Architecture, which is unexperienced architecture that you can do in the backyard.

0People7 Creating / Worlds--

Fig 15, Broome Street NYC Summer 1980 (Soho)

Improvisation Architecture and Playfulness Architecture

Fig 16, Urban hacktivists set up a DIY swing at a bus station in Moscow.

Photo by Shriya Malhotra.

‘A playful city can be envisioned as a system of spaces or open-ended moments that exist to 4 support exploration and movement within urban life.’ According to ‘Toward a playful city’. Human’s creativity enriches the world, interactions between building components, spaces and people make the urban a fun place to live.

4. “Towards A Playful City - Rios Clementi Hale Studios”. 2020. Rios Clementi Hale Studios. https://www. rchstudios.com/projects/towards-a-playful-city/.

Group 1 Architecture or architecture components cannot satify current needs

Fig 17, Yamashina house by Alts Design

Fig 18, Yamashina house by Alts Design

Group 2 Just for fun, human being are supposed to be creative

Fig 19, Swarovski Kristallwelten by Snohetta

Group 3 Interactive

Fig 22, Children play with structure

Group 4 The space characteristics suggest improvisation and creativity

Fig 25, Installation by sports collaborative

Fig 26, Space that suggest Improvisation

Uncertainty, coincidence and architectural error

Arts and Installation

Fig 28, RedDot Hotel & Culture in Taiwan

Fig 20, Six Events Amsterdam

Fig 23, S-Mahal in India

Fig 27, Space that suggest Improvisation

Fig 21, A tree Installation

Fig 24, Interactive installation by author

08 / It all starts with this: A stair to nowhere

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02 Abandoned

Can’t meet users’ needs

A stair for architecture student

A border wall which segregate great relationship between US and Mexico Citizens

Abandoned/ Runis

04 Fun elements/ Architectural components make no sense A door of nowhere and a double height step

An abandoned grand stand in a football court, which became a shelter for homeless artist

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06 Architectural components cannot satisfy current needs

Fun elements

A street under the social distancing rule

A door of nowhere, and a fake beach story

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Space that suggests improvisation There are 8 scenes showing in this section, with in them, different space and architectural components show different characteristics which all suggest improvisation by different group of people.

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08 Architectural error/ Fun elements

Original space characteristics suggest improvs by certain people

An architectural error.

A play area designed for children

A roof top Live house

The Staircase of Milstein Hall The architectural component that is not functioned as its intended use

The Milstein Hall extension project was designed by OMA, and this staircase is located at the west wing of the building, the staircased was intended to connect outdoor space to the building, however, it is locked for most times now. In this scenario, I take architecture student as the role to do the improvisation to satisfy different needs of them.

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

The staircase was literally abandoned at the beginning.

It became a space for dumping architecture student’s waste materials gradually.

Added structure and fans were construted lately, which makes a perfect space for spraying.

Rotated boards, extend structures and trees form a private space for dating.

Competition posters can be hanged on the original stair case structure.

Now, we can do a bungee jumping if we feel too much pressure from studio.

Guess what, transport model material can never be so much easy!

Let’s do some sunbathing.

Added Structures form to different kinds of spaces which are lit up according to different activities

Extended slab is built on the original structure

Posters are hanged on the original structure, dimensions are pre-determinated. Beach chairs are made by architecture students using recycled materials

Rotated exhibition boards and extended streucture are built by architecture students

The Improvisation of staircase of Milstein Hall Improvised by architecture student General Specification 01 Mind clearing bungee jumping 02 Competition poster 03 Model materials carrier 04 Spray room 05 Information board 06 Dating space 07 Wood shop 08 Sunbathe beach chair

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The Trump’s border wall The architectural component that can not satisfy potential users’ needs

The trump’s border wall plan is a strategy to secure the border and prevent illegal immigrants from Mexico to US. However, this border wall won’t divide the great relationship that among people in this 2 countries. The people lived near the border started to do their improvisations.

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

The wall was eventually built although opposed by many people living nearby. An opening was cut by a girl using a hammer.

A ladder was mounted using abandoned handrail.

More fun elements were added!

Nothing can stop us!

Paper cup telephone used by people near the border to communicate with each other

Ladders, lights, basketball hoop are all made by recycled materials for different uses

Holes are filled up with bricks, a ‘catapult’ made of elastic cord for ex- A child cut an opening using her dad’s hammer changing cannabis

The improvisation of Trump’s border wall

For great citizens of US and Mexico who have good relationships General Specification 01 A ladder built by abandoned hand rail 02 Morse code machine made by bucket and drum stick to send information to the people across the wall 03 An opening cut by a hammer 04 Bricks brought by children 05 A tin can telephone 06 Painted basketball hoop 07 Chair is made of abandoned wood panel and mounted to the wall 08 Catapult for exchanging goods

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The runied grandstand at football court Ruined, abandoned structure.

The characteristic of the space suggest improvs by certain group of people.

This is a ruined grandstand in a football field in a park near Syracuse University, because of the characteristic of the space, it became a perfect shelter for homeless people. A homeless artist started his improvisation.

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

A homeless artist found this place at the beginning, he thought it could be a good place to live.

He started to collect some abandoned furniture and building materials, also with his artist palette.

He got a chair at the beginning, now he has a bed and some plotted flowers.

Sometimes, he paints alone, some times, he talks with people walking by.

Sometimes, he felt lonely until he mets his love of his life...

Now, he has a family... Things getting change quickly, he realized he had to build a place for his children.

Growing...

Don’t forget this was a grand stand before.

Slabs and plastic boards was built on the original stand structure to enclose the space

Rain collection system was made by pots and abandoned sinks with tubes and shower head connected. Extended slab function as clothes rack

Canopy was made of boat sail and mast

Home! Sweet home...

The improvisation of a ruined grandstand at football court For homeless artist

General Specification 01 Canopy made by boat sail 02 Canopy structure made by mast 03 Added wood slab 04 Artist palette 05 Rain collection system with shower head 06 Extended wood slab with clothes rack 07 Fast assembled basketball stand 01

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The door of nowhere and the stair of error The architectural error

There is a door on a elevated platform, heading to nowhere , and a stair which one step of it is double height of what it should be. The space is improvised by a group of artists and painters.

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

There was only some exhibition board here at the beginning.

Several months later, more and more artists gathered together.

The door above is the door to success, only the master piece could be exhibited on the platform above.

Someone succeeded climbing onto that platform, but ended up with falling into the ball pit.

There is a ruler on the ground!

People tried every methods to get close to the master piece.

The architectural error, but also became a space for people to gather around.

The story continues.

A podium was added. We are ready for a speech

Exhibition space is important for artist to communicate with each other

There is no short cut to success, a master piece is a master piece, even Do not touch the master piece if you take the short cut to get the door of success, you will end up with falling in the ball pit

The improvisation of a door of nowhere and a stair of error For painters and artists.

General Specification 01 Exhibition boards that can be rotated 02 A fake door 03 Ball Pit 04 A stair step that is double height 05 An add-on ramp 06 Dating space 07 A telescoper 08 A broken door 09 A umbrella

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A street under the social distancing rule A street be improvised to meet people’s need under the cronavirus crisis

The Milstein Hall extension part was designed by OMA, and this staircase is located at the west wing of the building, the staircased was intended to connect from outdoor space to the building, however, it is locked for most times now. I take architecture student as the role to do the improvisation to satisfy different needs of them.

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

Jump Jump

Prepare soil first, then choose the perfect seed.

You have to jump between rocks!

If you cannot wear a mask, a social distance shield is a must.

Watch for wildlife.

People can only walk on the rock now. The distance between rocks is 6 feet, and everyone has to jump from one rock to another rock

The CDC said: This is a measure corresponding to the new guideline for those people who have to go out during this pandemic. It could reduce people’s risk of disease, also reduce the possibilities of going out of old people and disabled people, so those people would not get infected

If you couldn’t wear a mask, you have to get a social distancing shield

Hedge was added to split side walk and road

The improvisation of a street under the social distancing rule For everyone under the cronavirus crisis General Specification 01 Grass and soil 02 Rock 03 Social distancing shield 04 Watch for wildlife sign 05 Hedge

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The fake beach, a door on the desert The door of nowhere architectural error

The door on the desert is another project of architectural error. An improvisation by a group of people who living in this desert but dreamed to have a beach started.

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

Look at that door!

Let’s bring a chair!

Copy paste, and scale.

I feel like I’m getting smaller and smaller.

Ahaaa! Sea, sunshine, and beach!

And a palm tree!

Wait a second, it’s a painting?

I want to see people’s reaction when they find this is a lie!

A door installation and a time tunnel was built!

A hide camera which used to record people’s reaction when they see the fake beach

Ahahh! The beach was painted!!!

Am I getting smaller?

The improvisation of a door on the desert For people who lived in a desert but dreamed of having a beach General Specification 01 A door of nowhere 02 A real palm tree 03 A huge beach picture 04 Door installation 05 Palette 06 A camera to record people’s reaction when they find it’s a fake beach 07 Growing chair installation which makes people feel they got smaller 08 Time Tunnel 03

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The Children’s play area A space for fun

The space was orginally an installation project by an artist, the scene filled with different fun elements that makes no sense, then it was transformed into a children’s play area.

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

It’s a space that full of unresonable architecture components

It gradually became a playing area for children nearby.

Play and learn.

Everything can be improvised.

Let’s go rock climbing

Let’s go swimming

Adding a trampline here

More fun to explore here

The improvisation of children’s play area For children

General Specification 01 A swing mounted on the original structure 02 Trampline 03 A stair of nowhere 04 A pool for learning swimming 05 A rope 06 Shoe Boxes 07 Rock climbing

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The roof of abandoned apartment building The architectural component that is not functioned as its intended use

This is an abandoned apartment building, the roof space was occupied by mechnical system including different mechnical units and HVAC ducts, the space was found by a rock band, and gradually turned it to a live house space with stage and bar area,

Fun elements used to do the improvisation

It’s a great space for my band to rehearsal. We don’t have to pay rent any more!!!

Our fans are coming

More and more fans, let’s set up our bar area!!

Bring those abandoned tires to prevent injuries while they are pogoing!

The LED lights are mounted on the original structure.

Speakers also functioned as stair to the roof top stage.

There are a seating area, also a standing area for pogo and moshing.

Drummer’s view.

The improvisation of building roof For rock & roll fans

General Specification 01 LED 02 HVAC ducts as seating area 03 Roof top stage 04 Pogo area 05 Speaker system also as stair to stage 06 Abandoned tires for safty consideration

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The wonderland

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Mediography Textual media 1. Jencks, Charles. 2020. “Architecture Becomes Music”. Architectural Review. https://www.architectural-review.com/essays/architecture-becomes-music/8647050.article.

2. “Architects Who Improvise And Innovate”. 2020. World Architecture Community. https:// worldarchitecture.org/architecture-news/pgnep/architects-who-improvise-and-innovate.html.

3. David Brown, Noise Orders: Jazz, Improvisation, and Architecture, (Univ Of Minnesota Press; 1st edition,2006), 13 4. “Towards A Playful City - Rios Clementi Hale Studios”. 2020. Rios Clementi Hale Studios. https://www.rchstudios.com/projects/towards-a-playful-city/.

Other Media Fig1, Elbphil harmonie by von Valeria, https://littlecity.ch/besuch-in-der-unfassbaren-elbphilharmonie-in-hamburg/ Fig2, Wayne Theatre of Performing Arts, by Jeffery C. Johnson, https://www.archdaily. com/891939/ad-classics-arts-united-center-louis-kahn/5ac5093af197cca45f00049f-ad-classicsarts-united-center-louis-kahn-photo Fig 3, Notre Dame Nave, https://lifeinastateofwanderlust.wordpress.com/tag/champagne-ardenne/ Fig 4, Beijing street view, photoed by Eric Cheung, https://oma.eu/projects/cctv-headquarters Fig 5, Toronto street view, photoed by author Fig 6, The assembly line in Ford, https://timbovee.com/2018/09/01/the-week-ahead-jobs-manufacturing-global-trade Fig 7, ShangHai in 1990s by Yann Layma, https://www.scoopnest.com/user/CNTraveler/539947183206707200-in-the-mood-for-a-big-city-vacation-these-are-top-20-cities-in-theworld-for-tourists Fig 8, Toronto street view with CN Tower drawing, by author Fig 9, Toronto street view without race of people, signage, language and landmarks. drawing, by author Fig 10, 2 chairs, https://gramho.com/explore-hashtag/Andersenfurniture Fig 11, Bass Master Victor Wooten, https://robertyocum2016.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/victor-wooten-2-jpgw949.jpeg Fig 12, The Second City in Chicago, https://www.timeout.com/chicago/things-to-do/bestthings-to-do-this-week-in-chicago Fig 13. : Dancing on the piano, https://saveig.org/p/Bx_1SKjnB0K/

Other Media Fig 14, Children play with structure by decroly civa by Aldo Van Eyck, Circle Terrace (Amsterdam Orphenage, 1958-1961), n. d. © Aldo van Eyck—from the Aldo van Eyck archive, https:// www.mu-inthecity.com/architects-at-play-civa-bruxelles Fig 15, Broome Street NYC Summer 1980 (Soho), https://begin.tattoomly.com/robert-hermanbroome-street-new-york-city-summer-1980-soho/ Fig 16, Urban hacktivists set up a DIY swing at a bus station in Moscow. Photo by Shriya Malhotra. http://stadslente.blogspot.com/2014/08/we-own-city.html Fig 17, Yamashina house by Alts Design, https://www.archdaily.com/797221/yamashina-house-alts-design-office Fig 18, Yamashina house by Alts Design Fig 19, Swarovski Kristallwelten, https://www.archilovers.com/projects/155342 Fig 20, Tubing Frederiksplein, Amsterdam (part of the ‘Six Events’) (1969) Eventstructure Research Group. Photo: Pieter Boersma, https://www.apollo-magazine.com/art-diary/amsterdam-magical-centre-art-and-counterculture-1967-70/ Fig 21, A tree Installation, https://www.designboom.com/design/glasir-framlab-tree-assembles-brooklyn-vertical-farming-modular-agriculture-system-02-09-2020/ Fig 22, Children play with structure, Fig 23, S-Mahal by Moon Hoon in India, https://www.archdaily.com/357210/s-mahal-housemoon-hoon Fig 24, Interactive installation by author Fig 25, City Thread by sports collaborative, http://www.sportscollaborative.com/projects#/citythread/ Fig 26, Space that suggest Improvisation, https://www.metalocus.es/en/search/node/%3C/ h%3C/body%3E%3C/%3C/body%3E%3C/html%3E?page=105