MArch GAD RC2 2011 - 2012: Form Follows Fetish - Marjan Colletti, Tea Lim, Guan Lee

Louis Sullivan's dictum Form follows Function is certainly one of the most known and also misunderstood statements in architectural history. Falsely propagated as a dictate against ornamentation and in favour of functionalism, yet seemingly still in vogue.

First of all it must be said that most often form outlives function. How many buildings perform other, different functions than originally planned for because it has become obsolete? Or because the program has evolved so much that it had to move out (because of size, politics, finances or performance)? The body of architecture is a given (and often underestimated) fact, and so its presence and experience. Is it fair to say then, that it is form that should ideally be more controlled/planned by the architect then function (as a description of required performance) to have more chances to survive societal change? Is form here to stay because it is the primary, and also ultimate, asset of architecture?

Secondly, the proliferation of digital techniques has brought a close to the seemingly enduring separation of function and ornamentation in architecture. Whether sculpted or scripted- this is of no importance here - small variations in software protocols and fabrication mechanics can result in the more or less exuberant articulation of ornate surfaces and volumes. Thus could one state that function has long lost its primacy as design purpose, scope and object(ivity) over, for example, complex, texturized geometric formations?

In fact, we are in a new era of fetishisation within (digital) architecture. Aesthetically, we will explore London and Los Angeles rich underground culture. Fetish(isation) in architecture is an extremely precise articulation of aspired perfection (albeit usually exaggerated, even dysmorphic) and/or gratification (albeit often obsessive and compulsive). Fetish(isation) is truly contemporary partly due to the revived architectural discourse on beauty++, but also due to novel design and fabrication aestheticisation processes, protocols and rituals.

We are familiar with the omnipresence of technological objects (or gadgets) of desire, lust and passion in the private realm. But what about the public realm? What about agitated urban spaces (think of the global rise of public protests and riots)? In fact, the concept of fetish also raises questions on ethnicity, religion, sexuality, underground culture, and provides thus an alternative argument on architectural design that is not bound within stylistic globalisation, or default design methodologies.

Throughout the year you will formulate powerful individual sets of values, defined by strong aesthetic (objects, materials) and intrinsic psychological (behaviours, fixations) factors. This will be discussed in terms of 1:1 human interaction and also within a larger, urban public context…

Term 1: Form

ArChimera

The design and fabrication of a group installation (partly sponsored by a Private Art Collector and by LG Hausys and in partnership with Grymsdyke Farm) for an exhibition at the HdA Haus der Architektur & Kunsthaus Graz Austria – exhibition/symposium fixed for March-April 2012 in collaboration with the Institute of Architecture and Media (Graz University of Technology) and the Institute for Art and Architecture (Akademie der bildenden Künste Vienna).

Exercise: FORM (per-, in-, de-, re-, -ulate, -ations…) (with LG Hi-Macs). Cutting, engraving, stretching, subdividing, folding (material-digital-bio folds). We will work with hybrid digital-analogue design and manufacturing techniques and fabricate models and 1:1 prototypes.

Term 2: Follows

Kairotic Moments

The design and fabrication of public mediascapes for London and Los Angeles that integrate the digital device spectrum of mobile, sensor-based displays, and motion media for social mediation in public fora as the architecture of/for activism in agitated urban spaces. This will be a joint brief with the Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles CA (LaMer Walker). Field trip to LA at the beginning of their spring semester, and visit from them at the end for a final crit. Sponsors to be confirmed.

Exercise: FOLLOWS (performative systems - architectural and mediatic - in the public and virtual realm; surveillance, monitoring - eco, weather etc. - political activism - analogue/architectural and digital/media-designed). Trail (monitoring, surveillance, memory, education/propaganda) etc. Pursue (do, perform, research, agency) etc. Adapt (change, morph, evolve) etc. Agency (dynamism, instigation) etc.

Term 3: Fetish

Thesis

This is the individual thesis project developed from the initial 2 studies. In collaboration with the Institute for Experimental Architecture, Innsbruck University.

Thesis project: FETISH (own performative agenda - )

Teaching

Dr. Marjan Colletti
View Marjan's profile
Email: m.colletti@ucl.ac.uk

Tea Lim (SCI-arc, Bartlett, cand. PhD Bartlett) - design and industry links

Tea Lim is currently a PhD candidate in the MPhil/PhD Architectural Design, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. He holds a degree from SCI-arc, and an MArch (GAD) from the Bartlett. He has taught at the Bartlett, Westminster, Greenwich and South Bank. Apart from working experiences at Coop Himmelb(l)au, OCA and CRAB Studio, his professional interests include the coordination of events.

Kwang Guan Lee (McGill, AA, cand. PhD Bartlett) - design and fabrication

Guan Lee is currently a PhD candidate in the MPhil/PhD Architectural Design, Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL. He holds a BSc from McGill School of Architecture, Montreal, a Diploma and a MA Landscape Urbanism from the Architectural Association, London. He teaches at Westminster University and runs machining and fabrication at Grymsdyke Farm (grymsdykefarm.com).

Consultants

Pavlos Fereos, Nahed Jawad, Niccolo Casas, Richard Beckett.

Academic partners

Department of Architecture Theory, TU Vienna - during term I

Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles CA - joint brief during term II

Institute for Experimental Architecture, Innsbruck University - during term III

Institutional partners:

HdA Haus der Architektur & Kunsthaus Graz Austria - exhibition/symposium fixed for March-April 2012 in collaboration with the Institute of Architecture and Media (Graz University of Technology) and the Institute for Art and Architecture (Akademie der bildenden Künste Vienna).

Industry/professional partners

MESA @ Grymsdyke Farm (www.mesa-studio.com)