Architecture, Design and Materials Spring 05Spike WolffProject 0 Materials ExplorationPerceptual Typologies of Material (page one)Architects suffer from the same studio syndrome. They work out of their offices, terrace thelandscape and place their building into the carved-out site. As a result the studio-designedthen site adjusted buildings look like blown-up cardboard models.- Richard Serra, ‘A Picturesque Stroll Around Clara-Clara’, by Yve-Alain Bois, from RichardSerra, edited by Ernst-Gerhard Guse, Galerie m Bochum, published by Rizzoli, 1988.Material, space, and color are the main aspects of visual art. Everyone knows that there ismaterial that can picked up and sold, but no one sees space and color. Two of the mainaspects of art are invisible; the basic nature of art is invisible. The integrity of visual art is notseen. The unseen nature and integrity of art, the development of its aspects, the irreducibilityof thought, can be replaced by falsifications, and by verbiage about the material, itself inreality unseen. The discussion of science is scientific; the discussion of art is superstitious.There is no history.Color is like material. It is one way or another, but it obdurately exists. Its existence as it is isthe main fact and not what it might mean, which may be nothing. Or rather, color does notconnect alone to any of the several states of the mind. I mention the word “epistemology”and stop. Color, like material, is what art is made from. It alone is not art.- Donald Judd, ‘Some Aspects of Color in General and Red and Black in Particular’, byDonald Judd, 1993, from Donald Judd: Colorist, by Donald Judd, edited by Dietmar Elger,published by Hatje Cantz, 2000. For there to be presence, does something have to be present?For there to be absence, does something have to be absent?Spaces do not need to be defined by walls,Sense of mass does not need to be conveyed by the presence of an object.- Chang ZhangArchitecture, Design and Materials Spring 05Spike WolffProject 0 Materials ExplorationPerceptual Typologies of Material (page two)Materials may be thought of in the following basic perceptual typologies:OpacityNo transmission or reflection of lightAssociated characteristics: gravity, mass, stabilityAssociated materials: concrete, rock, stone, wood, brickTranslucencyTransmission, modulation or diffusion of lightAssociated characteristics: planar surfaceAssociated materials: plastic, resin, treated glass, fabricTransparencyTransmission of light and imageAssociated characteristics: planar surface, smooth surfaceAssociated materials: glassReflectivityReflection of light and image; coexistence of virtual and real imageAssociated characteristics: shiny surface Associated materials: metal, glassMaterials will be researched and explored with the following considerations in mind:What are the typical physical, perceptual and experiential characteristics associatedwith these materials?What are some characteristics which transcend these associated meanings and perceptions?How is perception influenced by the ontological (nature of its existence),phenomenological (via the senses) and synesthetic (subjective sensation or image ofa sense occurring when another sense is stimulated ) experience of these materials?How do these materials operate in relation to other materials?How do these materials operate in relation to the scalar proximity of the viewer?Architecture, Design and Materials Spring 05Spike WolffProject 0 Materials ExplorationPerceptual Typologies of Material (page three)Examples (in-studio discussion):StoneAssociated Characteristics - OpacityZumthor -Thermal Spa ValsAtypical Characteristics - TranslucencyHerzog+DeMeuron -Dominus WineryMetalAssociated Characteristics - ReflectiveGehry -Weisman Art MuseumAtypical Characteristics - TranslucencyHerzog+DeMeuron -DeYoung MuseumGlassAssociated Characteristics - Planar surfaceSejima -Day Care CenterRem Koolhaas/OMA -IITAtypical Characteristics - Curvilinear surfaceGehry -Conde NastMoss -UmbrellaConcreteAssociated Characteristics - OpacityLeCorbusier -LaTouretteAtypical Characteristics - TranslucencyLitraCon Transparent ConcreteBrickAssociated Characteristics - Planar surfaceWright -Robie HouseAtypical Characteristics - Curvilinear surfaceGehry -Case WesternArchitecture, Design and Materials Spring 05Spike WolffProject 0 Materials ExplorationPerceptual Typologies of Material (page four)Additional Resource Suggestions:FA Reference729.1 I35In Detail: Building Skins, Concepts, Layers, Materials (Schittich)721.02 W34MModern Construction Handbook (Watts)721.044 C744Concrete Construction Manual721.04496 G5492Glass Construction Manual724.6 D479Details in ArchitecturePeriodicalsCurrent Shelf on Hunt 4 (A+U, Architecture, Architectural Record, Croquis,Domus, Lotus, Techniques + Architecture, International Architectural Review,Architectural Review UK, DU, GA)Architectural Record, Metropolis, etc, monthly product sections (also checktheir websites for product reports)Architectural Record, annual product review (Dec issues, typically)Assignment:PresentationSlide Powerpoint presentation in studio, documenting your materialsexplorationBinder For reference in studio, binder cataloging your materials exploration.Include all images of materials, at various scales (i.e. full shot of buildinginstallation and close up of material surface). Label images (architect, project, location).Include your notes on discovery.Materials samplesActual materials samples, for physical experimentation and construction of fullscale mock