A FUNCTIONAL BOOK ABOUT PHENOMENOLOGICAL FUNCTIONALISM

A FUNCTIONAL BOOK ABOUT PHENOMENOLOGICAL FUNCTIONALISM Breaking The Limits Of Human Evolution Through Functional Architecture And How To Implement It

You can choose to either read only the black pages or white pages of this book. The white pages are a detailed description of architectural function theory formatted similar to traditinal architectural books. The black pages are a simplified condensed version of the white pages, aimed to pass knowledge to the reader as fast as possible. By the end of this book, which ever side you choose to read, you will gain the same knowledge and infomation.

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By either reading only the black pages or only the white pages, you will receive the same infomation by the end of this book.

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

Aesthetics Need To Be Functional To Contribute To Humanity’s Adavancement Currently, architects are lost in their own aimless pursuit for beauty as seen in experiential spaces and artistic decorations on buildings not being related to the building’s function. This is clear in historical architectural styles from Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical, Victorian to more contemporary styles such as Postmodernism, all mostly focusing on surface level building aesthetics or human experience¹ [Fig. 1.1]. The basic building in its most primordial form, which was originally used to protect people, is now used as decorative expressionism. By focusing purely on experiences as the core aspect of design, architects cannot contribute to human societal advancement nor would they negate any threats that humans face (covid, poverty, rising sea levels etc).

Despite the importance of functionality, the human experience is also an integral part of spatial necessity since the built environment requires experiential qualities to aid the functioning of societal systems and human activities. For example, a library won’t be as productive without integrating a sound proof system supporting a tranquil experience or a commercial district won’t be as effective without implementing exciting and colorful spaces which attract people’s attention to a product. It is the aimless beauty/experience or aimless phenomenological implementation in buildings that is leading human society to become extremely fragile in the wake of unexpected crises. There needs to be a new architectural era which focuses on the function of spatial form and the function of experience to allow people to further adapt to global change; this way, aesthetics would not be exploratory or experimental, but a useful aspect of spatial practicality. This manifesto presents a new logic for architectural perception, exploring functional phenomenology and functional beauty as a new justificatory approach to design.

The dangers of only focusing on beauty can be reflected by looking at the evolutionary line of exotic birds. Many exotic bird species use beauty as a derivative to success as females will choose males with brighter or longer feathers even though it doesn’t provide any evolutionary advantages.² As the future generations adopt these beautiful traits, they will become vulnerable in the face of climate 1. Yvonne, “Richard Prum: How Does Beauty Evolve?”

2. Jovic. “How I Fell in Love with the “Brutalist” Footscray Psychiatric Centre”

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Architects who are focusing only on pure aesthetics, are not contributing to humanity's future. The dangers of only focusing on aesthetics can be seen in the eradication of exotic bird species. Similar to the aimless aesthetics of some buildings, the beautiful features that the birds have developed are not aiding it in its survival¹ [Fig. 2.1].

Figure 2.1. Image created by Harry Guan 2021.

Endangered Birds & Man are are unprepared for the future when focousing on aesthetics.

1. Yvonne, “Richard Prum: How Does Beauty Evolve?”

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

change, environmental destruction, introductory predators or any other threats. The birds will face eradication since their evolved assets would either be unbeneficial or become an obstacle. Like the birds, humans too are continuing to evolve, however they are evolving through the advancement of their societal structure (or rather their phenomenological perception of physically built forms and the functions in it) [Fig. 1.2]. This is why it is important for architects to direct buildings towards a more functional standpoint as to avoid being unprepared for unexpected future crises.

Figure 1.1. Brenda The Old Footscray Psychiatric Hospital designed by James Fong and completed in 1977. Photography by Simon Schluter 2019 Brenda The Old Footscray Psychiatric Hospital is a brutalistic building that conveys foreboding experience.¹ The aesthetics of this building contradicts the purpose of the building's function; to help mental health patients.

Modes of Combining Function & Aesthetics

Figure 1.2. Image created by Harry Guan 2021.

A play on Le corbusier’s Modulor Man: Humans & birds who are focusing on evolving through beauty will suffer the same future consequences.

The Modernist era of architecture was the closest thing humans had to purely practical architecture as it was when architects rejected both classical and vernacular experience as well as aesthetics because both were seen as superfluous decorations on a building. A building designed through modernism was considered as a machine, a machine to study in, a machine to work in etc. The resulting architecture was a highly simplified and functional aesthetic.³ Despite this, the downfall of modernist architecture and replacement with Postmodernist 3. Erlendsson, ‘The End of Modernism in Architecture”

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The architectural Modernist era allowed buildings to become functional similar to a machine² however it also prevented architects from expressing themselves hence resulting in its downfall.

As it is human nature to desire beauty and experience [Fig. 2.2], in order to get functional buildings to be accepted within human societies, aesthetics need to be juxtaposed with the function of buildings.

Figure 2.2. Image created by Harry Guan 2021.

A building that is designed to look good beside the sea is more desirable than a building that is designed to prepare for rising sea levels. Despite this, only the building that is prepared for rising sea levels will survive when the sea levels rise.

2. Erlendsson, ‘The End of Modernism in Architecture”

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

architecture is an example of humanity’s stubbornness to let go of artistic expressionism in building design. It is the disconnection between the ability for the architect to express and the functional aspect of building design which lead to the avant garde of modernist architecture.

Although the functional and aesthetics/experiential aspects of appreciating buildings are often seen as incompatible, that does not need to be the case, rather so it is important for the two aspects to be juxtaposed with one another in order to allow functionalism to be accepted into the architectural culture; a culture that is so intrigued with aesthetics and experience.

There are some contemporary theorists that try to give grounds for the convergence of function and aesthetics/experience, however, their definition does not evoke the means to incorporate beauty or experience in a way that gratifies human desire for expressionistic beauty. For example, within the book ‘Functional Beauty’, Glenn Parsons and Allen Carlson argue that the background knowledge of the purpose of a building or structural form may influence its aesthetic judgements.

If a building’s non-aesthetically designed features are well-suited to its function, it can be seen as beautiful in its functional elegance as long as it does not include ‘contra-standard features’⁴. For instance, “a museum which has the function of ‘an institution that provides a congenial environment for the appreciation and discussion of works of art’; if the museum’s non-aesthetic features are well-suited to this function, it can be seen as ‘looking fit’.”⁵ Here, it is shown that Parsons and Carlson consider the museum’s utilitarian function of appreciation and discussion to be the space’s experience and beauty. Although Parsons and Carlson’s idea embraces functional building design, other theorists may consider their definition of beauty as confusing plainness with elegance.⁶ In the case of unifying functionalism with experiential design to replace counterproductive pure aesthetics/experience, it is impossible to link that ‘plainess’ to humans’s expressionistic desires hence it would be difficult to be accepted as the new architectural logical norm.

Contrastingly, another method of bringing practicality to aesthetics and experience is to allow it to enhance a building’s function through imagination. Larry Shiner supports this idea in his Journal ‘On Aesthetics and Function in Architecture’ The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism.’

4. Sauchelli, “Functional Beauty, Architecture, And Morality: A Beautiful Konzentrationslager?”, 132 5. Parsons and Carlson, “Functional Beauty - Glen Parsons and Allen Carlson” 6. Sauchelli, “Functional Beauty, Architecture, And Morality: A Beautiful Konzentrationslager?”, 136

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Exploring Modes Of Combining Aesthetics & Function: 1. Logic from Glenn Parsons and Allen Carlson’s book, ‘Functional Beauty’: The utilitarian use of functional spaces is deemed beautiful.

The actions encouraged due to a particular set up for a function should be considered the visual and the experience for the space. Thus the aesthetics and experience of a space should be optimised to benefit the function without needing any extra 'contra-standard features'.³ The concern for this method is that architects are still not able to make expressive design decisions using this logic.

Logic Example Figure 2.3. Image created by Harry Guan 2021.

The tall bookshelves in a library seperates a space into segments, creating a private and peacefull experiential areas for reading.

Design decisions can be made such as making the shelves longer or taller to enhance the reading function of the space.

3. Sauchelli, “Functional Beauty, Architecture, And Morality: A Beautiful Konzentrationslager?”, 132

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

Shiner proposed that empirical features may have the function of either forgiving any functional shortcomings or enhancing a function. A beautiful representation of the building may evoke people’s imagination, which would either enhance the function or to mend practical failures of the building.⁷ A good representation of this theory would be the exterior design for the Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry. Its grandiose curved steel facade is a tribute to Walt Disney’s devotion to the arts.⁸ Although the aesthetics of the building do not directly contribute to the musical function of the interior, by Shiner’s logic, it evokes the emotion of excitement and hence elevates the function of the space; which is to provide the users a luxurious experience and expectation for the performative arts [Fig. 1.3]. The problem with Shiner’s idea for functional beauty, despite it allowing people to freely utilize design expressionism, is that the expressionistic aspect can overshadow the function.

The failure of an architectural work to embody its expected function can outweigh its other positive formal features too. This is counterproductive in the overarching theme, which is to allow architecture to embrace functionalism through the means of the usage of aesthetics, not the other way around.

Figure 1.3. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry’s Curvaceous, Stainless Steel In Los Angeles. Photographer: Philipp Rümmele.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall evokes the emotion of excitement and hence elevates the function of the space.⁸

7. Shiner, “On Aesthetics and Function in Architecture: The Case of the “Spectacle”, 36 8. ‘Brenda, “The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry’s Curvaceous, Stainless Steel in Los Angeles”

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Exploring Modes Of Combining Aesthetics & Function: 2. Logic from Larry Shiner’s book , ‘On Aesthetics and Function in Architecture’: Aesthetics and experience can generate the emotion of excitement and evokes imagination which elevates the function/s of the space or mend its practical failures.⁴ The concern for this method is that despite it allowing people to freely utilize design expressionistic build features, the expressionistic aspect can overshadow the function.

Logic Example Figure 2.4. Image created by Harry Guan 2021.

Visual elements can be added into a library to enhance the reading experience as well as create a unique identity for the space.

4. Shiner, “On Aesthetics and Function in Architecture: The Case of the “Spectacle”, 36

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

The Best Method Of Intergrating Functionalism Rather than to only reduce a building’s experience and aesthetics to its basic function or to only rely on aesthetic design to enhance functional experience, a good example of architecture would do both. This can be achieved if architects understand the function of the building first and design non-aesthetical/non-experiential features that adhere or become an addition to the function. The subsequent experiential qualities of these functional features, although not intentionally designed to provide experience, can add expressionistic value to the building’s design through its innovation to function and resulting unintentional experiential qualities to people. For example, the Barnes Foundation Building by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, on top of functioning as a standard art exhibition, contains an extra light feature that has the function of preventing exposure of indirect light on the artworks [Fig. 1.4].⁹ This designed feature of the building can be said to be expressionistic in the form’s ability to dapple light. The indirect light created by the reflecting architectural form adheres to the purpose of preserving artworks; since oil paintings displayed within the building are sensitive to direct sunlight and would fade over long intensive light exposure. Here, a calming and relaxing experience is also achieved for the building’s inhabitants, since like the artworks, people too are not exposed to harsh lighting. Coincidentally, the phenomenological aspects of the building’s features are justified by its purpose.

This method of thinking embodies Parsons and Carlson’s idea of Figure 1.4. Photography credit to The Barnes Foundation Association The Barnes Foundation Building by Tod Williams and Billie Tsien: Feature used to prevent direct exposure of sunlight⁹

9. Arch Daily, “The Barnes Foundation / Tod Williams + Billie Tsien”

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Proposal Combining Glenn Parsons/Allen Carlson’s and Larry Shiner’s method, architects can design additional features to aid the utilitaristic function of a building. This additional feature can be what the architects express themselves through. As they can indirectly create experiences and aesthetics within a space which is also related to the function.

Logic Example Figure 2.5. Image created by Harry Guan 2021.

Features can be added into a library which serves the function of seperating space similar to the bookshelves. These features can also serve as the visual element for the space hence creating experience for the users and a sense of identity for the library.

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

seeing the beauty of a building in its ability to become a utilitarian object. It also adds another dimension of indirect experience, which subsequently enhances the function; an idea advocated by Shiner.

Throughout architectural history, this functional phenomenology method is reliable in its ability to show the advancement of human/societal evolution. This can be demonstrated by observing historical theatres and their design development over time by incorporating certain functional features. One historical precedent that likely utilized this functional phenomenology method is the Herodes Atticus Theatre; oldest theatre known to man. The raising of the seating platform areas entrapped sound and the curvature of the space around a central stage provided equal views to all the audiences. At the time, the placement of these features was an innovative spatial design which was only implemented to optimise the visual reception of performances. Despite this, the new spatial formation resulted in an unfamiliar experience, one that made the performance seem more dramatic by having space enclosed on the central stage. The design was so successful that it became a revelation that influenced the design of more theatres all around Europe and later on the globe.¹⁰ The curvature spatial form and raised seating placement aided by its subsequent dramatisation of space, although once an innovative feature, has become a given for performative spaces today, hence becoming a fundamental in its development to human performative culture [Fig. 1.5].

Figure 1.5. Image photographer: Jessie Thompson and Emilio Santacoloma, modified by Harry Guan 2021 Olivier Theatre 1976 AC Compared To Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens 160 AD: Retaining Functional Features Over Time

10. Gross and Hildy, “History of the Theatre. 9th ed”

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Historically there are buildings that utilize this method and over time these buildings have developed into successful typologies.⁵ For example the ‘Herodes Atticus Theatre’, which was the first stage that used a curvature seating arrangement, was designed to provide the viewers with equal views; a function. However subsequently it also resulted in the dramatization of space; an experience.

5. Gross and Hildy, “History of the Theatre. 9th ed”

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

Further illustrating the point of functional experience being an effective method, on the note of performative art spaces, many contemporary performative theatres which still follow the raised and curved seating formation, have additional functional features to spread noise and reduce echoing. Guided by the advancement of modern technology, allowing for a better understanding of sound, outwardly concave shell panels in the internal space of modern concert halls are necessary for optimal sound reverberation. This system, although serves a feature which aids in the building’s function, is designed as aesthetically unique in many famous projects such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Elbphilharmonie Hamburg (and not limited to them). Subsequently, these design features create an atmosphere that applies to the function of the space, hence becoming the aesthetics that is a necessary part of preventing echoing functional features guised as interior decor [Fig. 1.6]. The accumulation or development of these functional features overtime defines the evolution of a functional space, its resulting unique atmospheres further justifies its design to a culture longing for unique experience/aesthetics.

Figure 1.6. Interiors of Elbphilharmonie Hamburg ,Walt Disney Concert Hall and Sydney Opera House. Photographers: Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Philipp Rümmele and Herzog & de Meuron respectively. Images modified by Harry Guan 2021 Panels On The Roof Of Modern Theatres With The Function Of Controlling Sound Provides Unique Experiences Through Their Individual Aesthetics

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There are contemporary buildings that also utilize this functional phenomenology method. For example, many concert halls such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg utilize shell panels in the internal space for optimal sound reverberation. This sound system, although serves as a feature which aids in the building’s function, is designed as aesthetically unique in each hall, hence resulting in each one to have its own expressive aesthetic [Fig. 2.6].

Function

Function + Aesthetic

Figure 2.6. Image created by Harry Guan 2021.

Sound reverberation panels in modern concert halls are unique in design. The aesthetic is intergrated into the function hence the aesthetic feature becomes neccessary for the concert hall to function.

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21st Century Architecture - Manifesto

Conclusion The design of functional spaces has always coincided with the evolution of humans through their societal advancement. Therefore, within the practice of architecture, it is crucial to differentiate between designing purely for the sake of unproductive phenomenological expressionism/ experimentation or designing to link the phenomenological expressionistic aspect of the space to the actual function of the space. Humans, through the advancement of their built environments, are still developing alongside the advancement of technology and new knowledge, which aids today’s functions. It is only when architects understand how the new technologies can be implemented to aid functions of a building that can the function evolve. Furthermore, it is the accumulation of functional features that would cause the resulting experience/aesthetics which surrounds the function to change too. This indirect experience/aesthetics can become the expressionistic aspect of design and allow people to design according to culture or identity. Overall, the overarching theme is to allow humans to bypass the illusion of continuity, something that many other species don’t account for, hence resulting in their downfall. If architects do not design to prepare for the future, that will make them redundant to prepare humanity for future obstacles.

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Overall it is important to consider how to link the function of a building to its aesthetics or experience.

With new technologies being developed, there would be more and more ways for architects to integrate architectural features hence resulting in unique phenomenological integrations. This would justify building’s functionalist style and not deprive architects of their expressionistic freedom.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Bang, Yvonne. “Richard Prum: How Does Beauty Evolve?” JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2019, https://daily.jstor.org/richard-prum-how-does-beautyevolve/.

Brockett, Oscar G., and Franklin J. Hildy. 2003. History of the Theatre. 9th ed. Allyn and Bacon. https://search.ebscohost.com/login. aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=cat00006a&AN=melb.b3009283&site=eds-live&scope=site.

‘Elbphilharmonie Hamburg: Sculpting Sound’. 2018. ArchiExpo E-Magazine. 10 February 2018. https://emag.archiexpo.com/elbphilharmoniehamburg-sculpting-sound/.

Erlendsson, Gudjon. 2020. ‘The End of Modernism in Architecture’. Thor Architects (blog). 30 January 2020. https://www.thorarchitects.com/ the-end-of-modernism-in-architecture/.

G. Parsons and A. Carlson. “Functional Beauty - Glen Parsons and Allen Carlson.” PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY -EDINBURGH-, 2011. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=edsbl&AN=RN292538686&site=eds-live&scope=site.

‘History of the Theatre, 10th Edition’. n.d. Accessed 7 October 2021. https://www.pearson.com/content/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/us/en/ higher-education/program.html.

Jovic, John. 2019. ‘How I Fell in Love with the “Brutalist” Footscray Psychiatric Centre’. The Age. 27 July 2019. https://www.theage.com.au/ national/victoria/how-i-fell-in-love-with-the-brutalist-footscray-psychiatric-centre-20190725-p52arn.html.

Nyawara, Brenda. ‘The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry’s Curvaceous, Stainless Steel in Los Angeles’. 2015. Archute (blog). 28 September 2015. https://www.archute.com/walt-disney-concert-hall-frank-ghery/.

‘Odeon of Herodes Atticus’. n.d. Athens. Accessed 10 November 2021. http://fysathens.weebly.com/odeon-of-herodes-atticus.html.

Sauchelli, Andrea. (2012). Functional Beauty, Architecture, And Morality: A Beautiful Konzentrationslager?. The Philosophical Quarterly. 62.

128-147. 10.2307/41426872.

Shiner, Larry. (2011). On Aesthetics and Function in Architecture: The Case of the “Spectacle” Art Museum. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. 69. 31 - 41. 10.1111/j.1540-6245.2010.01444.x.

‘The Barnes Foundation / Tod Williams + Billie Tsien’. 2012. ArchDaily. 28 May 2012. https://www.archdaily.com/238238/the-barnesfoundation-building-tod-williams-billie-tsien.

Thompson, Jessie. 2020. ‘The House Is Now Open: The Story behind the National Theatre’s Return’. 21 October 2020. https://www.standard. co.uk/culture/theatre/national-theatre-reopening-pandemic-death-of-england-delroy-a4572182.html.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Bang, Yvonne. “Richard Prum: How Does Beauty Evolve?” JSTOR Daily, 31 Aug. 2019, https://daily.jstor.org/richard-prum-how-does-beautyevolve/.

Brockett, Oscar G., and Franklin J. Hildy. 2003. History of the Theatre. 9th ed. Allyn and Bacon. https://search.ebscohost.com/login. aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=cat00006a&AN=melb.b3009283&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Erlendsson, Gudjon. 2020. ‘The End of Modernism in Architecture’. Thor Architects (blog). 30 January 2020. https://www.thorarchitects.com/ the-end-of-modernism-in-architecture/.

G. Parsons and A. Carlson. “Functional Beauty - Glen Parsons and Allen Carlson.” PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY -EDINBURGH-, 2011. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=sso&db=edsbl&AN=RN292538686&site=eds-live&scope=site.

‘History of the Theatre, 10th Edition’. n.d. Accessed 7 October 2021. https://www.pearson.com/content/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/us/en/ higher-education/program.html.

Nyawara, Brenda. ‘The Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry’s Curvaceous, Stainless Steel in Los Angeles’. 2015. Archute (blog). 28 September 2015. https://www.archute.com/walt-disney-concert-hall-frank-ghery/.

Sauchelli, Andrea. (2012). Functional Beauty, Architecture, And Morality: A Beautiful Konzentrationslager?. The Philosophical Quarterly. 62.

128-147. 10.2307/41426872.

Shiner, Larry. (2011). On Aesthetics and Function in Architecture: The Case of the “Spectacle” Art Museum. The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. 69. 31 - 41. 10.1111/j.1540-6245.2010.01444.x.

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