Reading Comprehension #1

[1] Select an object or a building from any time period that you believe meets Wotton’s

definition (as cribbed from Vitruvius) of commodity, firmness, and delight. With an

annotated image, take care to EXPLAIN the ways in which you see the definition

realized through the object or building. Use design language and concepts discussed

in class for dealing with precedents (5 points).

When this quote was written by Vitruvius and then translated by Sir Henry Wooten in 1624 to say "well building hath three conditions: firmness, commodity, and delight” I don’t know if Vitruvius was applying this to everyday things especially in the 21st century. But it says “well building” and I think anything that is well built can be measured by those three words. And I believe that the Embody Chair by Herman Miller, designed by Bill Stumpf exemplifies this feeling of commodity, firmness and delight. The chair is made with one person in mind and that is the user, it’s ergonomically structured. Herman Miller claims that the chair will reduce stress, help circulation, lower your heart rate, and improve your overall posture. And the backrest throughout this beautiful chair has individual supports. But this chair accommodates the person by basically improving their overall comfort, and it’s a solid object and heavy therefore giving it some firmness for sure. And lastly this chair is made to delight people and to be a most comforting chair for anyone and everyone. The only thing that’s not delighting would be the price tag, ranging at around $1,600. 

[2] Working from Harwood et al’s concept of cultural precedents, select one of the

contemporary textiles illustrated above and PINPOINT the influences you see from the

eastern world on the production of fabric in the west. Concentrate on motifs and

patterns provided in Harwood’s text (5 points).

I think this textile clearly represents more Japanese style motifs, Harwood suggests that they are more geometric and feature whirlpool designs. It works in a grid sort of manner just as Harwood states and also uses colors which are present in nature. 

[3] When considering perceptions of personal and social space, Hall and others

suggest that different cultures have different space needs and attitudes. Most

consider that citizens of the U.S. generally feel a need for more space. How does this

play out in the classroom in which we gather for iar222? (5 points)

Hall ponders the question of what happens when two different cultures meet and become involved; and he answers by saying that communication occurs on different levels then ranging from full awareness to out-of-awareness. And I think as designers this where we have to base our ideas around. It’s not just thinking about ourselves anymore and considering our space and what we’d prefer. It’s bringing a third party and catering to their needs because ultimately that is who we are building for and selling an idea to the majority of the time. Sure we can start by using things we know to be true by what we know and have experienced in our own life. But at some point we may have to adjust to accommodate someone else's preferences and this is where we have to be open minded. And I think design needs to be somewhere in that medium of pleasing ourself and staying true to our ideas but also it needs to be an object/building that pleases the persons as well. 

[4] SPECULATE about whether or not there can be an architecture of happiness, as de

Botton writes in the work by the same title. Provide a juicy quote that helps give

evidence to your views from the passage that you read. Include an annotated image of

a happy object, space, building, or place and specify WHY and HOW your example

exudes happiness (5 points)

“Architecture is perplexing, too, in how inconsistent is its capacity to generate the happiness on which its claim to our attention is founded. While an attractive building may on occasion flatter an ascending mood, there will be times when the most congenial of locations will be unable to dislodge our sadness or misanthropy.” One building that comes to mind off the top of my head really is case study eight which would be the Eames House in California. The Eames we’re amazing designers and wanted design to be fun and I think they captured that very thing in nearly every product ever produced, all of this was done was an elegance too. But the Eames House in particular is colorful and full of little trinkets lying around and just a spectacular space. In a house that was founded on happiness I do believe until this day it remains a happy place.