Template and Instructions for Preparation of Assignment 2 ...€¦ · Web viewEssay Word Count: 2945 (excluding ... The meaning of structuralism would be given first as it holds

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Name: Phoebe Sze Ching Wong

Student ID 1 1 0 0 4 6 6 9 9

Email: [email protected]

Course code and title: ARCH 2021 Contemporary Design Theory

School: Art, Architecture and Design Program Code: DBAE

Course Coordinator: Dr. Chris Brisbin Tutor: Livia Cocetta

Day, Time, Location of Tutorial/Practical: Monday 1pm – 3pm

Assignment number: 3 Due date: 11th November, 2013

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ARCH2021 — CONTEMPORARY DESIGN THEORY : : ASSIGNMENT 3 : : ESSAY

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How can Andresen O’Gorman’s Mooloomba House be understood in relation to the binary opposition theory of structuralism its application of representation

Essay Word Count: 2945 (excluding abstract, reference and footnotes)

Abstract: The main focus question to this paper is how the Mooloomba House designed by Andersen O’Gorman can be understood in relation to structuralism and its application of representation. The paper is basing this representation on structuralism theory of Ferdinand de Saussure’s binary opposites, where the argument for this given case study purpose is underlining the good and bad for the building in general. For the understanding of this, it is to be presented in ways that the unforseen stages in the processes of construction where its definements in each aspect would be developed in the proper manner. For the arguments of this context it looks in terms of first good, bad in areas of technology and form, which in technology would be the material and way of construction; and in form would be the spatial planning. Moreover the given style to viewers is also looked into. The topic also covers areas in terms of representation which would be best shown or presented as it is most suited and would give deeper meaning to the languages explain in context. For the standings to this Mooloomba House it would be given as a source of insight to what can be foretelling as a way to proceed in construction where it’s following bad would be told as the polar opposites. As a new conventional way of seeing the building Mooloomba house the proposal of its direction of impact to the relation to structuralism, it would provide a meaning to this era of constructive goods and bad to the source. It gives better understanding to which the areas of focus in its interior and exterior, where this allows a needed direction in thinking in design and also as this would lead to believe there is a certain type of morals or ethics to be followed.

For a better understanding of the contents of the following research paper, a

short discussion on structuralism will be given. It will be followed by a short description

of the Mooloomba House, to which can be defined to those of that in structure of

Saussure’s theories of binary of opposites. In relations to this matter, the binary of

opposites can be said to have a main focus in areas of structure and spatial or the moral

code to the timber tectonics of the Mooloomba House. This research paper would also

consists principles that were based on the reading “timber tectonic” provided through

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the course and other additional sources. To define the matter and issues discussed the

research paper will be presented as follows.

The meaning of structuralism would be given first as it holds great importance to

the understanding to this following research paper. The origins of the theory dates back

to the start of 1900 in the publishment by Ferdinand de Saussure which presents it to be

a theoretical paradigm posting that forms of human culture to be understood in their

respected terms of a larger system or structure.1 As respectively it is summarised by the

philosopher Simon Blackburn that “Structuralism is a form of belief that phenomena of

human life are not intelligible except through their interrelations. Though these

relations constitute a structure, and behind local variations in the surface phenomena

there are constant laws of abstract culture”2. This therefore provides the insight to the

sources of details or foundation to the knowledge of the given research to be given in the

paper. As a matter also in relation to this the binary of opposites can be said to have

their beginning source to this also.

The Mooloomba House consists a two storey holiday structure in classification as

a special beach house in the community of the Point Lookout on the North Stradbroke

Island which is located just off the south eastern coast of Queensland.3 The Main part of

the building or the west wing comprises of a simple narrow two floored gallery. This

linear element of the two rooms would separate by the small courtyard to the west side

and allowing it to overlook the main courtyard. The courtyard contains mature banksias

to the eastern side. The northern façade of the structure in turn would face the great

ocean view.4 The inspiration intended by the designers was that this Mooloomba House

1 Jonathan Culler, Ferdinand de Saussure. New York: Cornell University Press, 1986.2 Simon Blackburn, Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Second edition revised. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. 3 Timber, “Mooloomba House”. Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://oak.arch.utas.edu.au/projects/aus/407/mool.html4 Robert Riddel Architect, “Significant Queensland 20th century architecture”. Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://www.architecture.com.au/docs/default-source/qld-notable-buildings/

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http://www.architecture.com.au/docs/default-source/qld-notable-buildings/20c_arch_final_report_for_review-(1).pdf?sfvrsn=2





http://oak.arch.utas.edu.au/projects/aus/407/mool.html


would fulfil a basic living standards to which would provide a resting place and that to

give also refreshments to that likes of showering and catering.

The binary opposition theory in structuralism is applied into the Mooloomba

House. It is a theory that has a pair of related concepts which are against each other. 5 It

would begin with the good and bad of the structure or the binary of opposites in

qualities of the house. The House is presented in ways of being interconnected from the

inside to gain access to the surroundings and the outside of rooms to have facing in the

centre the courtyard to which gain in views of the groves of banksia trees and ferns of

vegetation.6 This gives in prospect that the given access to each area would consists of

spatial grounds of both inside and out. As speaking in relation of the opposites it would

be in provides a term of greys as the spacing gives both areas to access so the term good

or bad would relatively be based on the viewers of the structure.

The structural frame work of the gallery wing representing to have also an

expression of inside and out, to which it has a regular ordering of geometrical and

dressed timber adherents to a relatively small sections of the house wing. These features

give a gain in the central view of the house as a whole to which it can be represents the

expression or style of this would vary depending on some perspective of view and

emotion.7 As another would offer the opposites of the style begins to centralise view

given and that it needs less emotion development in prospects. The walls high and

together with the ceiling to the northern room would be mostly transparent or

translucent to embrace the remaining of freeness and have the design in which has been

transposed into the upper level aedicule that gives in further detail of the interiority of

the given bower spaces. This therefore means that the building would also be that of

20c_arch_final_report_for_review-(1).pdf?sfvrsn=25 Tahira Manji, Binary Oppositions. The Dr.Z Network, 2005. 6 “Fryer Folios”, Stradbroke Island Special Issue7, no. 1 (2012): 22-23. 7 Tahira Manji, Binary Oppositions. The Dr.Z Network, 2005.

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transparency as a whole in which the areas of public and private are of a mix which

intensifies the needed feel into freedom or freeness of spacing.8 The areas would offer

more ease to the eyes and ears to those living in there, meaning the feeling of the

personal vision and emotional statues can due to change in this area. But as spoken of

this again gives an area of greyness to this form as both public and private are being

compiled together and there may not be enough of separation between the two. As this

further would develop as the projects intentions of which pieces from material to the

structure becomes an expression itself to those living or staying at the Mooloomba

House, which opposites of the expression of those there may also give that it doesn’t

hold the needed comfort of a structure that holds private gatherings to be private in

total and not in the related area of greyness of both.9

In the intentions of the house given for the structure it is to be divided into 3

more ideas in which to be said in short the Harmony, space as constructional form and

the inherent tectonic form.10 To elaborate more, the harmony is given as in term of the

forms that derives for its Greek ancestry meaning patterns of sounds, visuals, colour etc.

The meaning of which would be much of the same to which the Mooloomba House is

expressed by the structural design. The idea of the second in relations to this structure

of design can be said to which the space of the entire place to be characterised in the

form of constructional aid. The house is lead to believe space of interior and exterior to

be same with not much separation. It may only serve as a small gap to which outside is

to be inside and inside to be outside. As it develops the interior spacing allows for its

general application of the variance to happen.11 The final idea to this would be

8 ArchitectureAU, “Stradbroke Space Frame.” Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://architectureau.com/articles/stradbroke-space-frame/9 ArchitectureAU, “Stradbroke Space Frame.” Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://architectureau.com/articles/stradbroke-space-frame/10 Andresen O’Gorman, “Andresen O’Gorman: Mooloomba House (1995)”, UME22 (2011): 116-131. Accessed 9th November, 2013. http://www.umemagazine.com/scrollSpreads.aspx 11 “Fryer Folios”, Stradbroke Island Special Issue7, no. 1 (2012): 22-23.

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http://www.umemagazine.com/scrollSpreads.aspx

http://architectureau.com/articles/stradbroke-space-frame/



considered in the tectonic spacing or stereotomic space to the form in which Aldo van

Eyck would reply for it as the “reciprocity”. This generates the potentials for which the

spatial transparencies would begin. It is a begin to opportune bridging of technology

with materials and technique, territoriality is the plan, light and last with the

relationship of the landscape gives birth to what Colin Rowe would define as the

“phenomenological transparency”.12 This is all due to the above conditions all layered

upon each other and together.

The design of the Mooloomba House is done to have explored the landscape or

the propositions of it. In doing so it would elude the mythical landscape together with a

created constructed landscape to give an intensified of the house in its place of wide

settings. As such it provides more greyness to the opposites as it gives both areas to be

examined and which not enough to separate the two in their definements13. The

Mooloomba House with small space would need to provide as much as possible in term

of not only space but in its greater game of the three ideas. The last part to touch would

be that of the structure of exterior, its movement paths are presented in ways of curious

and mostly indirect. It contains opening views of the landscape and would often need

the people staying at the house to redirect outside to gain access to other rooms and

areas.14 The finish of the accommodation can be said that in size it is Spartan, but to

which it also gives or possesses a form of generosity in spirits and richness into

architecture inventiveness. Thus it makes the house truly luxurious. But as touched by

that of it, the materials does provide an opposite of that in which of spatial would be

consist a number of needed togetherness with the two.15 It doesn’t give clear separation

12 Fryer Folios”, Stradbroke Island Special Issue7, no. 1 (2012): 22-23.13 Andresen O’Gorman, “Andresen O’Gorman: Mooloomba House (1995)”, UME22 (2011): 116-131. Accessed 9th November, 2013. http://www.umemagazine.com/scrollSpreads.aspx14 “Fryer Folios”, Stradbroke Island Special Issue7, no. 1 (2012): 22-23.15 ArchitectureAU, “Stradbroke Space Frame.” Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://architectureau.com/articles/stradbroke-space-frame/

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of oppositions which allows the greyness to exist with intentions. As the research

suggests with the binary of opposites to be consider with the points of the above.

At the House, the designers also intended to give reflection to that of binary pairs

of culture/nature and inside /outside. It reflects upon the materials that were collected

in the place of involvement as the interiors are constructed from the materials that are

normally given in an external environment.16 The placement of the House itself gives an

intention the binary pairs of culture/nature as it situates itself at a beach instead of an

urban area. Without any regards to the viewer’s point in speculation of the house it is

given that the house itself is both in and out. The construction of basing the site of the

beach together with the direction of the wind, sun and seasons positions it to be

invariant and universal in buildings. The structural core complies together the internal

and external environments with laminated hard and plywood. This in turns provides the

invariance of the boundaries between interior and exterior.17 The house in respect gives

more identity and forms expression of unconscious and/or invisible social link patterns

that sought to be permanent and invariant. This form of concept can be said to be

comply with those of Peter and Alison Smithson where it is commonly known for their

concepts of “patterns of association”.18 To have the building treated as a signature object

of communication it is filled concepts it which ideas can remain invariant and invisible.

As intended the plan is greatly influenced by ideas of structuralism where this sought a

form of depart from mental patterns and physical forms.

With the description of the Mooloomba House to be given in further detail the

design usage of construction and materials in focus of timber tectonics will be needed.

The design consists two main intentions where first is to gain the intensified presence of 16 ArchitectureAU, “Stradbroke Space Frame.” Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://architectureau.com/articles/stradbroke-space-frame/17 “Fryer Folios”, Stradbroke Island Special Issue7, no. 1 (2012): 22-23. 18 Eco Umberto, “Social life as a sign system” InStructuralism: an introduction, 1973

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the landscape and the second would be to continue the examination of the material

properties, geometry and metaphor of the capacity of hardwood.19 In the Mooloomba

House, there was a simple strategy incorporated to overcome the excessive lateral

movements of the vertically laminate thin hardwood of opposing grain formation, a

combination of a 1.2 x 2m wall panel of 18mm waterproof plywood sheeting that is

sandwiched between the frames which simultaneously form enlargement cover that

battens to the joints of the sheets. Which this technique also consist a prefabrication

process.20

The methods mentioned provides the expression of the three ideas which results

to a greater meaning to the poetic interpretation of the mathematical proportioning

systems that gives the visual integrity. In the ancient beliefs the nature and the entire

living universe would form the harmonic whole, as such it would be better recognised

that the humble timber frame of the genius in work of a profound sequence thought is

exposing the architectural potential. To add upon this, the house has three different

constructional forms that added into it where in three different segments of the building

applied by hardwood are held together in the forms of what Aldo van Eyck would apply

as ‘reciprocity’.21 The House designs would also explore the proposition to that of

deferring of the existing landscape and by so, creating a new landscape that is able to

provide the house to be a placement of the small site and apply the island setting alike.

The design also givens a deeper exploration to the inclusion of the mythical and

metaphorical landscapes, together also with a small shelters much like that of children’s

tree house. The perch of the sleeping alcoves together with the lookout nest creates an

19 Andresen O’Gorman, “Andresen O’Gorman: Mooloomba House (1995)”, UME22 (2011): 116-131. Accessed 9th November, 2013. http://www.umemagazine.com/scrollSpreads.aspx20 Brit Andresen and Peter O’Gorman, “Timber Tectonic.” UME22 (2011): 28-39.21 Brit Andresen and Peter O’Gorman, “Timber Tectonic.” UME22 (2011): 28-39.

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open recollected design of experiences in mind.22 In correlation between the spatial

concept and the framing concept, the House is to be constructed to include both the

articulation of the building to provide views onto and into nature as a togetherness. It

can be identify that the spatial experience is literal and phenomenal in terms of

transparency where the primary functions of the House are also kept to simple but also

sceptical visual opportunities.23 The tectonics of form in this Mooloomba House is then

can be represented to be built upon the articulated pieces which is assembled stick on

stick. The frames of the house is both exposed inside and outside as to offer a wider

range of potentially difference in character which in simple expression could also be

understood.

The overall research of this paper in considering the Mooloomba House with the

understanding of structuralism together with the application of representation can

present in ways of the points in the above. The House provides in many and much of the

various ways of representation as the binary of opposites as a main focus area to

consider the formalities that allows for a presentation of the house itself. The given

values of the opposites in areas of consideration presented allows for the needed

consideration that the Mooloomba House is constant dwellings in the areas of greyness.

The intention of the House gives occupants another feeling of living as the effects of

inside and outside or internal and external are matched together, generated a newer

availabilities to spatial and visual contents of the House itself. The added effects was

then mentioned to have the application of given grounds and an allowance for the

environment itself to become an additional feature of the House.24 The House can then

be said as it is representing in language a focus of expression in giving to the

22 Andresen O’Gorman. “Andresen O’Gorman: Mooloomba House (1995)”, UME22 (2011): 116-131. Accessed 9th November, 2013. http://www.umemagazine.com/scrollSpreads.aspx23 Brit Andresen and Peter, O’Gorman. “Timber Tectonic.” UME22 (2011): 28-39.24 Patrick Binghamn-Hall. A short history of Brisbane architecture. Sydney: Pesaro Publishing, 2001.

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surrounding environment instead of standing separate from it. This is much to be so that

it would give in feeling of the House to have no separate or clear definements between

the public and private areas. As it comes to understanding the House would be rated as

different viewers or the current mood and feeling of the dwellers. There is no clear one

sided binaries as it comes to understandings, as it is a ‘dweller of greyness’.

Then as it moves on the materials in use are clear to be that of timber only as the

main and focus of the structure tectonics, this would be the same as many houses in and

around Australia. As the contemporary materials gives a higher increase to the

possibilities of transparency but would be in sorts of a basic characteristics of

modernity, the Mooloomba House in return needs a more expression of egalitarian

space to be defined as a ‘phenomenal transparency’ so the material to be used in

construction for this would be that of timber.25 The fluctuating optical focus of the

overlapping figures would give newer meaning to each and as a whole as well. So as the

House is presented in the current area of landscape it provides articulation of views

onto and into the surrounding environment.

A conclusion would shows that the Mooloomba House gives in detail of many

contracted areas and as of focus for this paper, the focus area of structuralism and the

application of representation of it. The Mooloomba House gives out the need to first

understanding of structuralism in terms of the binary of opposites. The opposites in the

paper can be separated into the good/bad, interior/exterior and nature/culture.

Presenting it as sorts, the variation of each of them are not clear to dividing it into one or

the other categories but a mixture or combination of the two together to make the

Mooloomba House to dwell in the area of greyness between the two. Correlations of the

two can still be separate as some of the features like the bedrooms and living quarters

25 Brit Andresen and Peter O’Gorman, “Timber Tectonic.” UME22 (2011): 28-39.

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are still fenced off from the public area but the access to these places are designed in

mixture with the environment or the public area. In sharing of the views that this

Mooloomba house would sustain, it provides a needed grain in the process where the

methodology of construction gives another type of meaning to that of a tree house or a

holiday home on the island setting. Materials used in the Mooloomba House would then

be considered as the same as much of those around Australia where timber would be

used for structuring. The shaping for transparency using these materials however can be

recognised as something done very efficiently, as it provides the needed transparency

through a newer form of technique in which allowing for the better mixture of the

effects. Without some careful consideration the Mooloomba House itself cannot be

define easily as a result of all the combination in design structure from which would

derive itself from the source of structuralism as a whole.

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A perspective drawing showing the structure and the interior space

- The experience that gives the people

Spatial arrangements of the house, which shows how the public space blinds with the

private space

- Blue: Public space- Green: Outdoor space- Brown: Deck- Red: Private space

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A drawing showing the structure of the Mooloomba House

- expressive use of Australian hardwood

The space in the Mooloomba House

- Providing an interior space but at the same time the uncovered roof gives people a feeling that they are outside of the house

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LIST OF CITATIONS IN ESSAY (BIBLIOGRPAHY)- Andresen O’Gorman. “Andresen O’Gorman: Mooloomba House (1995),” UME22 (2011): 116-131. Accessed 9th November, 2013. http://www.umemagazine.com/scrollSpreads.aspx- Andresen, Brit., and Peter, O’Gorman. “Timber Tectonic.” UME22 (2011): 28-39.- ArchitectureAU. “Stradbroke Space Frame.” Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://architectureau.com/articles/stradbroke-space-frame/- Binghamn-Hall, Patrick. A short history of Brisbane architecture. Sydney: Pesaro Publishing, 2001.- Blackburn, Simon. Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Second edition revised. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.- Culler, Jonathan. Ferdinand de Saussure. New York: Cornell University Press, 1986.- Eco Umberto. “Social life as a sign system” In Structuralism: an introduction, ed. Robey

David, 57-72. London: Oxford University Press, 1973.- “Fryer Folios”. Stradbroke Island Special Issue7, no. 1 (2012): 22-23.- Manji, Tahira. Binary Oppositions. The Dr.Z Network, 2005. - Robert Riddel Architect. “Significant Queensland 20th century architecture”. Accessed 7th November, 2013. http://www.architecture.com.au/docs/default-source/qld-notable-buildings/20c_arch_final_report_for_review-(1).pdf?sfvrsn=2- Timber. “Mooloomba House.” Accessed 6th August, 2013. http://oak.arch.utas.edu.au/projects/aus/407/mool.html

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http://oak.arch.utas.edu.au/projects/aus/407/mool.html





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Template and Instructions for Preparation of Assignment 2 ...€¦ · Web viewEssay Word Count: 2945 (excluding ... The meaning of structuralism would be given first as it holds