So, I think I'm going to try and stick to the city in the sky theme/topic...and see where it takes me. Here are a few questions I think need answering/further research:
1. how did towers come to be? (historically - babel till present)
2. why were towers built the way they were? (shape/character etc..)
3. what is the value of open space/recreational space?
4. what were some of the architects of the modern age's visions?
5. what are the proportions like - based on method of construction/landownership etc..?
In asking these I should probably come across more information which will eventually lead me to more questions...and so the cycle begins..
1 comment:
Dawood,
I believe you are on your way to a "thesis" that sounds something like this,
" Building upwards (in a particular manner for you to define...) offers opportunities to address urban problems (which you will define...)"
But to help you in this path you should study,
1) Mythology and Fact about Towers: What have towers represented to cultures in the past and present and why? Babel, defensive towers, religious towers and steeples, phalic symbols, corporate symbols, eiffel tower, world trade center and 9/11, residential towers vs corporate towers, the race to build the tallest tower. Where have towers carried positive connotations and where negative connotations and why.
2) Technology of the Tower: What allowed current towers to be conceived and constructed. The invention of the elevator, and the steel frame... what are the current technical limits
3) What defines the dimensions of the tower? Use patterns, access to natural light, size of organization, lot/ownership patterns, fire codes, associated infrastructure, etc...
4) What determines the location and siting of towers. Economic, environmental, infrastructure, conceptual ideas...
5) What have been, or could be, the social and environmental benefits of building towers? What have been the social and environmental problems that towers have created in the urban setting?
6) How have environmental issues been dealt with in tower design: Sustainability issues a) improved heating and cooling efficiencies, b) access to fresh air, c) access to the natural world, d) material usage....
7) What are the various organization models that have been conceived and/or built? What were they each trying to address. What did they fail to address?
After you have assembled the pros and cons, your work will be aimed at developing a model that maximizes the first and minimizes the second.
It is not clear that you need to select a specific site. And in fact it may be better not to complicate the inquiry. Your work may be more a utopian vision, rather then a uniquely site specific solution. I have a feeling that the current development pattern/ownership pattern of cities will be too constraining on your ideal. But it will be important to know enough about current development patterns to be able to point out how yours differs and why.
Earlier examples of such a study: Paolo Soleri, Paul Rudolf, Corbu, FLW...
Interesting towers: apart from the work of the above, "streets in the air (Smithsons or United Architects scheme for the World Trade Center)", "gardens in the air (Moshe Safdie)", Structural and Environmental pioneers (Renzo Piano NYTimes headquarters, and Berlin Tower, or Norman Foster's structural and interior organization), personalization of space in the air (Lucian Kroll's dorm in Belgium), Villages in the air (Herman Herzberger's office building in Holland)... it would be wonderful for you to assemble a time line of innovation in tower design ideas...
Next step: Assemble literature on the topic and begin to draft a short summary to each of the questions above, other questions that begin to emerge, and a list (and images) of references. Ask everyone you meet for a list of references. Soon you will have your arms around the history. Hold back on design ideas until you fill yourself with knowledge of the topic.
Best, Alan
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