This architecture topic has been most interesting to me thus far because my husband and I plan to build a home in the next few years. I started with the Prairie Style (Frank Lloyd Wright) video mainly because he is an architect I’ve heard of but realized I don’t know much of anything about, other than what the text has to say. The title Prairie Style also caught my attention because, as I have mentioned, I love nature. It turns out that this video was very informative and interesting for me. I learned that Frank Lloyd Wright’s style featured many of the concepts I like. He incorporates nature which appealed to me immediately. He liked a building to be a part of the landscape not standing out from it. The use of many and large windows as well as low horizontal lines also creates a cohesive design with nature. Inside, there are low ceilings, a central fireplace and open spaces, which was quite different from the small rooms of the Victorian style of the time. His style has been adapted over the years by many architects. He called himself the most successful architect of all times and is arguably correct. The reading in the text discussed the original challenge of raising four walls and a roof on top. Wright’s design style features an almost floating type roof creating the challenge of how to make the building stable. I enjoyed learning more about the Prairie Style and Frank Lloyd Wright and it added to the information from the text. According to the text he had very little formal education, which truly makes his ingenuity even more impressive. When planning our future home we’ve discussed our desires for open floor plan, central fireplace, and large open windows. We also want to be as energy efficient as possible which is why I chose to watch, Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture.
Sustainable Development, also referred to as Green Architecture, is discussed in the text as well as in the video Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture. The video discusses some of the same ideas including the rooftops with natural green space for insulation and rainwater absorption. The video went into great detail of ways to help preserve the Earth through the better use of natural resources. Some of the ideas I loved and hope to use in my own home are heating and cooling through the use of insulated flooring, well insulated windows and venting the outside air through the floor as opposed to the traditional method through the roof. The use of windows allows more light to enter also reducing the need to electrical lighting. Other neat ideas were the use of greenery for air circulation as well as temperature control. Concepts such as zero waste and multiple uses for buildings was also explored. I found it interesting that most of the steps toward using green architecture seem to be taking pace in Europe. I heard little mention of the US, other that upstate New York (kind of exciting) and LA, California. The video interviewed many different architects giving several viewpoints. All in all it seems as though it is a work in progress. Little changes like recycling, use of renewable resources and energy efficient design are helpful but in the end more may be needed. The man from China had an interesting point, although I can’t say if a fully agree. He pointed out that reform there may take place faster because it is required, whereas here it would be up to each individual to make the choice. Of course with that choice there comes an economic cost that some may not be able to afford. I liked how one of the architects pointed out that he likes to work with artists because they first see society. In other words they want to keep the landscape as is as much as possible.
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