Organic Architecture?
Yes my Bio states I'm an Organic Architect. No, it doesn't have to do with nuts, berries, or Birkenstocks. It's a good thing too, because Birkenstocks make my feet hurt like hell.
Organic Architecture is most closely identified in the public mind with Frank Lloyd Wright. As Mr. Wright often pointed out, he did not invent Organic Architecture, it was practiced by Louis Sullivan before him, and before Sullivan, by Frank Furness. There were Organic architects before them, and there are Organic Architects now. O.K well so that's nice, but still what is it you ask? Fair enough.
Organic Architecture is a way of being, a philosophy of life whose practice is close to religion, and a series of specific Architectural Acts that bend a building towards an expression of our Organic Faith. O.K. Still confused?
A brief bit, really the merest outline and fragment that can suffice, about our philosophy, a Credo, if you will:
1. I believe the Universe is one product of an intelligent designer being.
2. I believe this designer designed creation to be both functional and beautiful. In fact functionality is in and of itself beautiful, and beauty has itself the function of creating joy.
3. I believe the creator takes great joy in function and beauty.
4.I believe the Earth and everything on or in or surrounding the Earth is designed to function as a part of the whole planet and the whole universe.
5. I believe all life creates structures, because all life was created by a structure building creator and all life being from the creator is like the creator.
6. I believe in creating any structure, a designer of that structure, or it's Architect, if you will, may either do good or evil. Good being design that is functional and beautiful, evil being a non functional and or ugly structure. An Organic Architect has an obligation to himself, the Creator , Society and the Client, do good and not evil.
7. I believe all structures to be good and not evil must exist in harmony with the larger creation (The earth and universe) of the Creator.
O. K. You say, that's nice, you have a religious design philosophy...You're kind of a Architecture monk or freak or something...but what is Organic Architecture?
Well there are several intentional components, Acts of Architecture if you will, that are expressions of this philosophy:
1. The building will be designed from the inside out, meaning that the functions of the building and the interplay and flow of space will be first designed.
2. The building will express it's construction.
3. The facade (exterior) of the building will express its functionality and constructive technique.
4. The building will in the main be oriented and landscaped for passive solar heating and cooling.
5. The building in the main will be daylighted.
6. There will be a entry that takes the user through a psychological rebirth process. Ask me.
7. The building will be heated and cooled in such a manner that is both energy efficient and relies on fresh air.
8. The building will reflect, respect , and push forward local, regional building practices that are in concert with the earth.
9. The building in its floorplan, materials, detailing and construction techniques will be designed to last as long as possible.
10. The space within will have a "transcendental" effect upon the user. (As a Supreme Court Justice once said "I cant define it, but I know it when I see it.")
11. When moving through the space, it will be so designed as to cause the user to be aware of her/his movement through space and time.
12. The space will have multiple ceiling heights used for psychological effects.
13. The building will have built in furniture and lighting.
14. The details will express the construction of, and be individual to, the building. There are no "Borrowed" or stolden effects.
15. The user will be able to easily and comfortably flow through the space.
16. Building will abstract the environment humans existed within throughout the majority of our time on Earth, the meadow. There will be places of shelter (protection) that provide views outward (prospect) There will be abstractions of tree branches (generally lighting soffits) Bushes or stones (Built ins) cave fires (Inglenook with skylight near chimney to recall the smokehole of the cave)
There are of course more. Each Organic Architect has her/his own list, but most will have most of these. The more present, the more "Organic" a particular piece of Architecture is.
I hope that helped.
Organic Architecture is most closely identified in the public mind with Frank Lloyd Wright. As Mr. Wright often pointed out, he did not invent Organic Architecture, it was practiced by Louis Sullivan before him, and before Sullivan, by Frank Furness. There were Organic architects before them, and there are Organic Architects now. O.K well so that's nice, but still what is it you ask? Fair enough.
Organic Architecture is a way of being, a philosophy of life whose practice is close to religion, and a series of specific Architectural Acts that bend a building towards an expression of our Organic Faith. O.K. Still confused?
A brief bit, really the merest outline and fragment that can suffice, about our philosophy, a Credo, if you will:
1. I believe the Universe is one product of an intelligent designer being.
2. I believe this designer designed creation to be both functional and beautiful. In fact functionality is in and of itself beautiful, and beauty has itself the function of creating joy.
3. I believe the creator takes great joy in function and beauty.
4.I believe the Earth and everything on or in or surrounding the Earth is designed to function as a part of the whole planet and the whole universe.
5. I believe all life creates structures, because all life was created by a structure building creator and all life being from the creator is like the creator.
6. I believe in creating any structure, a designer of that structure, or it's Architect, if you will, may either do good or evil. Good being design that is functional and beautiful, evil being a non functional and or ugly structure. An Organic Architect has an obligation to himself, the Creator , Society and the Client, do good and not evil.
7. I believe all structures to be good and not evil must exist in harmony with the larger creation (The earth and universe) of the Creator.
O. K. You say, that's nice, you have a religious design philosophy...You're kind of a Architecture monk or freak or something...but what is Organic Architecture?
Well there are several intentional components, Acts of Architecture if you will, that are expressions of this philosophy:
1. The building will be designed from the inside out, meaning that the functions of the building and the interplay and flow of space will be first designed.
2. The building will express it's construction.
3. The facade (exterior) of the building will express its functionality and constructive technique.
4. The building will in the main be oriented and landscaped for passive solar heating and cooling.
5. The building in the main will be daylighted.
6. There will be a entry that takes the user through a psychological rebirth process. Ask me.
7. The building will be heated and cooled in such a manner that is both energy efficient and relies on fresh air.
8. The building will reflect, respect , and push forward local, regional building practices that are in concert with the earth.
9. The building in its floorplan, materials, detailing and construction techniques will be designed to last as long as possible.
10. The space within will have a "transcendental" effect upon the user. (As a Supreme Court Justice once said "I cant define it, but I know it when I see it.")
11. When moving through the space, it will be so designed as to cause the user to be aware of her/his movement through space and time.
12. The space will have multiple ceiling heights used for psychological effects.
13. The building will have built in furniture and lighting.
14. The details will express the construction of, and be individual to, the building. There are no "Borrowed" or stolden effects.
15. The user will be able to easily and comfortably flow through the space.
16. Building will abstract the environment humans existed within throughout the majority of our time on Earth, the meadow. There will be places of shelter (protection) that provide views outward (prospect) There will be abstractions of tree branches (generally lighting soffits) Bushes or stones (Built ins) cave fires (Inglenook with skylight near chimney to recall the smokehole of the cave)
There are of course more. Each Organic Architect has her/his own list, but most will have most of these. The more present, the more "Organic" a particular piece of Architecture is.
I hope that helped.
posted by Red Taliesin at 3:17 PM
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