I think that the most revolutionary of transformation in terms of the building arts, would have to be the introduction of steel. Steel allows an advantage to height challenges and gives an array of ways in which we interpret our existence on a global level.

We have, since the beginning of time, felt the need to build up to achieve a relationship with the cosmos. With the introduction of steel (and of course the advent of an elevator system), we have surpassed the limitations of our ancestors multiple times over. This is revolutionary because we are reaching heights that before, were never thought possible.

Skyscrapers also define landmarks in a urbanized location fat with economic growth and wealth. This communicates to the rest of the world a symbolic representation of the city that becomes the stamp in which it can be portrayed. An indication of a first world. Other building types and monuments can achieve this, but it is the grandeur of towers and skyscrapers, that achieve the awe and permanency in our minds.

I think that "modern" in design means that you focus more on the heavy use of line to create geometric forms as opposed to using soft organic line creating more decorative elements found in more "traditional" styles.

Modern is more geared to function creating form and clean sterile spaces that leave little, if at all, notion of overstimulation. Wide open floor plans and clean lines are what contribute to the idea of modern design for interiors. As for the exterior, you still see clean lines and geometric forms as well as monochromatic and neutral color schemes.

In this space, geometric shapes, straight clean lines, and lack of a multiple color scheme gives this room a more "modern" vibe.

http://www.yourmomhatesthis.com/modern-furniture-how-to-achieve-that-contemporary-look/

Reflections of an Urbanizing US

During the urbanization of America, I think it's safe to say that the basic ideas behind homeowner consensus in the late 19th century are efficiency and simplicity.

Looking at the bungalows at the start of urbanization, you notice simplistic floor plans as well as a choice in what you want your house to consist of. Having the option to choose the layout and number of rooms meant you are not paying for what your not going to need in your starter home. It was thought that many families migrating to the city were not looking to settle down, so extras were unnecessary. Families interested in the temporary starter home could chose only what they needed, and still had the freedom to, if need be, add to their first home in the future.

The simplistic floor plans implicate the desire for clutter free and primarily function versus aesthetic interior spaces. The rooms were just enough space to put basic furniture that was necessary for the activities that were going to take place in each room. Decorative extras had little to no space which meant that women who were now the primary house keeper, had minimal upkeep to tend to.

What is also evident about the ideas behind the design of bungalows is the relationship with nature that is dwindling in urbanization. neutral colors amongst a natural landscape keep a closeness with nature that diminishes with the advent of buildings and residential areas. Bungalows provided that sense of connection with the use of color and shape as well as staying associated with the natural formations of the land.

Chicago 1890

 In the lecture “CHICAGO 1890: The Skyscraper and the Modern City” Joanna Merwood-Salisbury illustrates the idea that the skyscrapers from the late 19th century were the results of their makers' experiences with their environment. One observation she makes is the lack of ornamentation on building structures and the link to John Roots observation of urbanization during that time. 

John Root writes in a journal about the bustling city life contrasting that of rural areas and why this would call for less decorative elements due to the small amount of appreciation and attention that is given under these circumstances. His observation of people rushing to and fro in his perspective resulted in less ornamentation on his subsequent buildings such as the Monadnock. 

Another building influenced by its designer's reflections of the growing city life is the Resilience. This was the result of Atwood and Burnham's witnessing of the smog and factory debris evident during that time. What they wanted to do to was make people feel as though they are sheltered from the uncomfortableness and the intimidation that the smog and smoke represented to them and they did this with terra cotta bricks and plate glass walls.

Chicago

I think that Chicago being a "second city" actually gave more freedom to explore alternatives to building ideas. When considering the population increase of both cities, the opportunity for building expansion was there, but New York set the foundation for Chicago to build upon.

It's because of population growth that both cities had to build up and in surplus. This also led to even more population growth, and since New York was first, Chicago could learn from them. They could gather ideas and reinterpret them in their own way.

The ideas I see when looking at Chicago are playing with different forms and contours of the city scape. To me it  seems New York thinks about the relationship of all buildings whereas Chicago styles vary from building to building. The idea of a diverse palat suggests that more innovation in terms of building approaches were being practiced in Chicago vs New York.

Unit II Summary

In the "Reverberations" unit, we focused on the impact of past ideals on future forms in the design sense. How we illustrate our design concepts is a product of our societal values and traditions which are always changing and always influenced by past experiences. These  changes are reflected or reverberated in both art and design and ultimately shape the culture within society. The best way to think about how the design cycle works in societal terms, is to think about a diagram with different peak levels and width expansions.

In considering culture and its role in polar opposite areas of the globe, the east and the west have very different ideas of what and how design ideas are conveyed. The distinctions between the two are the results of several different factors such as environmental and political, but ultimately, culture is being shaped.

The west is constantly changing there ideas as a result of an identity crisis that came with western expansion and the breaking away from the british empire. The United States does however borrow from ancient greek elements to establish their national identity. This was to communicate order in the midst of chaos and celebrate mans governance accomplishments via portraying them as greek deities through Palladian design. The east however, sticks with the tried and true nature of their design expression, staying consistent with their ideals. This mimics what we conceive as eastern culture in general, their society being traditional and oriented towards more disciplinary ways of life. This shows that design plays a fundamental role in national identity.

Reverberations also communicates the idea of revival and reform.Sometimes complete revival takes place in the art and design world. This occurs through drastic changes in the society at hand as a whole. The US had to borrow from and "revive" our roots to establish a commonality with our nations true beginnings and be safe, but with drastic changes like war, comes revolution and reform. Take for example the changes in design post Revolutionary war. The US's attempt to completely break any attachment to British imperialism was evident in furniture design as well as building structures. This example of reform illustrates an effort to get the country on a mindset of change from the behaviors that provoked the circumstances, which in that case was Britain having sovereignty over the new world's ways of life.

All in all, designers and artists are the primary factors that act in the formation of culture as a whole, but culture determines what and how design ideals are portrayed. They shape and create it through shared ideas of taste and value within a society. Designed features of items and places as well as art, tell stories of a time and place that give us a better understanding of the lifestyles of our ancestors, and helps us to better understand where we are going. Reverberations is about how we take from the past to make the future stronger and more sophisticatedly established.

Design and Buddhist Discipline

The great Stupa of Sanchi is one of the most fascinating dedications and symbols of respect paid to the Buddha in relation to the discipline of Buddhism. A stupa is a mound that commemorated the remains of important figures in early Asia, but would later become primarily associated with buddhism. The design elements of the Great Stupa of Sanchi are very intricate and well thought, but also portray the discipline of the teaching and following that was shared by buddhists in 3rd century B.C. Though alone, the creation of any reference to Buddha in a positive manner was considered auspicious, the stupa had guidelines to ensure the communication of buddhism to those who ventured to Sanchi in hopes of gaining insights of what buddhism stood for.

A component to take into account when looking at the stupa of sanchi is the pathway created around the mound. This pathway served the function of circumambulation, or meditative tool for buddhists. Walking clockwise was a way in which a buddhist could reach enlightenment, but also a way to pay their respects to the buddha, whose remains were thought to be buried within the mound which had no interior space.

Another thing to note are the four torans or gateways into the mound, each intricatly carved to depict the important milestones of the buddha as well as mark the four cardinal directions to show the relationship of heaven and earth where each ensure the vitality of one another. The torans were later added, but they were an important means of depicting the life of Buddha. They each show important events in the Buddha's life, and make use of symbols of Buddha without actually depicting Buddha in his physical form.

http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3730917&TPN=3

Revival and Reform

In considering design, revival is the resurgence of a previously explored idea of expression. Mainly a stylized rendition but keeping a consistency of the elements prominent in the style being reiterated. An example would be the United States' first "national style" that consists of Grecian elements. This is known as the Grecian revival. In terms of reform in the design world, it constitutes an entire shift in ideas for expressive taste. This usually, from what I can tell, is the result of a type of reform in society in general.

From a designer's perspective, reform is necessary when there is a drastic change in societal values and traditions. An example of a change in values, you have a former warring state in a country and you delineate those views by changing anything associated with that time period, including design, because designers help to form societal values and give reflection of them as well.

With the advent of technological advances and trade in the world as a whole, reform in traditions was inevitable. Some designers tried to deviate from the dehumanizing connotations of a technologically advanced world, but mass production created economic stimulus, and designers would have to catch up with the gravy train in the early 20th eventually.

In terms of design in reformation, technology helped to diversify design freedoms such as curvilinear contours and polished surfaces, but more importantly, this gave designers more freedom to make waves in design and accommodate the massive consumerism mentality of the early 20th century. This meant more simplistic designs, and drastic changes to styles around the world.

National Style in the United States

Having a national style means having a distinguishing exterior dialogue that sets you apart from the rest of the world. America started out with the Grecian/Greek revival style because it was a way to communicate authority over the people. The Greeks displayed the honorary means of acknowledging their superiors this way, and we borrowed that language for our benefit. 

As a society now, we are a primarily corporate, being the wealthiest country in the world. National style today shows our class and sophistication with large sun reflecting skyscrapers and other "modern" boxy elements in our exteriors. We build up more not to communicate with the Gods, like the ancient Greeks, but to show that we are in essence sharing that superiority. This stroke of our egos is well displayed by the Willis Tower in Chicago Illinois.