Language and architecture Research

The 1970s were mediatic and the influence of the changing technology become a factor to grapple with so as to accommodate it and its social influence. Lapo Binazzi co-founder of UFO was among the influencers during the radical times in Italy alongside the likes of Superstudio and Group 9999. During such radical times these group of young people found solace in discos, a space that allowed them to explore and become creative liberated. They could use different types of artistic approaches such as drawings, photographs, music as well as film. Superstudio designed Mach 2 in 1967, Gruppo 9999 designed Space Electronic in 1969 whereas Gruppo UFO designed Bamba Issa in 1969. Natalini stated that, “…if design is merely an inducement to consume, then we must reject design; if architecture is merely the codifying of bourgeois model of ownership and society, then we must reject architecture…until all design activities are aimed towards meeting primary needs.

Until then, design must disappear. We can live without architecture…”. 1 The idea is an attempt of incorporating technology to the environment. By doing so, technology improves production and reduces time taken for an individual to work improving leisure in return. The objects in Decomposition tried to break out from its rigid form and embrace new shapes and forms. Decomposition is characterized by a three principles i. e. the nature of the design process in relation to the object, man and its nature as an object and sign. The process was not focused on functionalism or deconstructivism but as an analytical process. S. Elliot’s analysis of “difficult poetry” and Joseph Alber’s definition of the paradoxical quality of painting. ’3 Mies van der Rohe spearheaded the quote ‘Less is more’ in architecture which is an influence to minimalist architecture.

His focus was mainly in the aesthetic area trying to make them have a simplistic view. Buckmisnter Fuller on the other hand adopted the phrase, ‘Doing more with less’. John Hancock Center by Ieoh Ming Pei (Chinese Architect) is one of the High tech buildings and was the tallest at that time in New York City i. e. The structural principles involved having exposed service utilities like the stairs and ducts plus the structure itself. Another example is the Pompidou Center which had external access which massive open plan floors on the inside. Its mechanical services were also outside. It was inspired by aerodynamic forms which allow the wind to flow smoothly hence decreasing the pressure around it and prevent it from being blown to the ground level distracting the passing pedestrians.

It also favors the interior arrangement as it can be arranged in orthogonal manner. On an ecological aspect, the building form i. e. increasing diameter towards the top then decreasing near the top most point, it allows maximum utilization of natural lighting. He developed what is known as ‘anticipatory architecture’. His projects involved buildings that were responsive and flexible in an undefined manner and could easily be adjusted to suit the inhabitant and their surroundings. The Fun Palace is one the examples of a cybernetic design. See Figure 2 Price wanted to build a laboratory of fun where people could go dancing, enjoy good music and drama and blow fireworks. With a cybernetic mentality it was important for him to use new technology in a responsive way to the needs of the visitors.

It comprised sketches, drawings and models. At that period there was a rise of the plotter and computer generated images. Neil Denari works in the mid-80s was mechanistic. Over the years it has changed due to the impact of computers. The virtual machine has made his design sleeker. e. Doric, Ionic and Corinthian which represented masculinity, neutrality and femininity respectively. Deconstructivism gained popularity toward the end of the 1980s and firmly founded on semiotics. The projects were fueled by the need to focus more on conceiving architecture rather than executing it. It is involved a lot of manipulation of different ideas such as distortion and dislocation of architectural elements. T. Press, 1948. Archigram #9. London: 1970. Ed. Gayari Chakravorty Spivak. Of Grammatology. A Johns Hopkins paperback.