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| One quadrant of the idealized Vitruvian City - note the similarity with the prior Lecture's image of the Vitruvian Man. This similarity is not by chance - philosopher Vitruvius wanted his ideas to scale across the human scale, the scale of the city, and that of the universe. |
Vitruvius, Architecture + City
As we begin to explore the concepts that formulated the early cities, there are some very clear distinctions that have to be made. Today, the way we interpret urban form is radically different than the manner in which urban form in the city in history was both formulated and interpreted. Today's city is a collage or mixture of multi-uses, and layers of previous uses. Housing, industry, commercial and recreation are closely intertwined, woven into one another as the city has evolved over time. Some neighborhoods have stayed the same, or completely changed in their tenor, or even gone full circle during their local history. There is very little distinction made between buildings and spaces that are special to our society and buildings and spaces that exist only for the purpose of function. There is little distinction between the sacred and the profane or the special buildings versus the ordinary buildings. However, in the earliest cities this distinction was very clear and defined. The cities for example in ancient Greece were almost always delineated by an imaginary line which segregated the sacred part of the city from the profane segment. The distinction between the sacred and the profane was a powerful organizing device in conceptualizing the form of the city.
In order to understand the distinctions between the sacred and the profane and why these distinctions were so important in the earliest cities, we must first understand how and why such distinctions were made.
The theorist, Hannah Arendt, designated three activities that were critical in human activity. These three activities are:
In order to understand the distinctions between the sacred and the profane and why these distinctions were so important in the earliest cities, we must first understand how and why such distinctions were made.
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| Various idealized city plan-forms that take design cues from Vitruvian ideals. |
- Labor
- Work
- Action
- Labor is the activity which corresponds to the biological process of the human body whose spontaneous growth, metabolism and eventual decay are bound to the vital necessities produced and fed into the life process by labor.
- Work is the activity which corresponds to the unnaturalness of human existence which is not imbedded in, and whose mortality is not compensated by the species ever recurring life cycle.
- Action - a more nuanced approach that modifies the prior two.
In examining the many definitions of architecture through history, a common definition derived from antiquity through Vitriuvius is that architecture or "fine buildings" should have three things:
The earliest cities frequently made a sharp distinction in location within the city between the "work", the edifices of collective mythology and the "labor", the shelters necessary for survival. Later in the semester, we will explore Greek cities in antiquity in which the delineation between the sacred buildings (the work of architecture)and the profane buildings (the labor of architecture) is absolutely clear.
Visualize a city that is very familiar to you. How would this city appear if this principle were applied - answer using the following questions.
- Commodity (function)
- Firmness (structural soundness)
- Delight (visual appeal)
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| Ideals might not always be put into practice perfectly, but nonetheless they influence the form, shape, and personality the city grows into. Above, and image of an idealized plan for a Roman City (left) and the realized actual city (right) |
The earliest cities frequently made a sharp distinction in location within the city between the "work", the edifices of collective mythology and the "labor", the shelters necessary for survival. Later in the semester, we will explore Greek cities in antiquity in which the delineation between the sacred buildings (the work of architecture)and the profane buildings (the labor of architecture) is absolutely clear.
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| Many cities are easily discernible by their unique street plans. This style of map - called a Nolli Map - shows available and useable public space (streets sidewalks, open areas, parks) as void white spaces and private space as shaded black. |
Please respond to the following questions for this week's lecture under the blog comments:
- DUE MONDAY: Pick a space within the city (Philadelphia or another city that you name) and describe how it functions in terms of the types of space listed in the lecture. Describe the space and its functions in detail, be specific. Most spaces are made up a collection of the elements of the types of space - identify the primary 'type' of space that the city space you choose is, identify the characteristics that signify that it is this spatial 'type' and explain how they function.
- DUE MONDAY: Most spaces within the city interact with adjacent spaces and spatial types within the city, explain how the space you chose interacts with, affects, and is affected by an adjoining urban space.
- DUE WEDNESDAY: Select one of the city spaces described by one of your classmates and write a brief critique of the space, their application of the types of space. Be critical in augmenting or reinforcing, or deconstructing their argument.
Questions 1 + 2 are due by by Monday
Question 3 is due by Wednesday
20 comments:
Within the city of Philadelphia, the area of Fairmount, including The Art Museum as well as the Ben Franklin parkway is a perfect illustration of space that blends the concepts of architectural “work” and “labor” together. All along Fairmount Ave, examples of the labor of architecture can be seen in the form of rowhomes, new and old alike, that were constructed and/or renovated over time in order to provide man with the shelter needed to withstand the natural elements. Interestingly enough, Fairmount Ave is also lined with tons of shops, restaurants, and bars that local residents and non-residents all flock to. I think that the shops and food places on Fairmount are important to note because they can also fall into the “labor” category of architecture since they provide people with shelter as well as the resources needed for people to survive (food and drink). All in all, Fairmount acts largely as a labor space, however, as you move west on Fairmount towards the Art Museum, the areas first “work” of architecture can be found: The Eastern State Penitentiary. Eastern state is an interesting example of an edifice because by definition, an edifice describes, “…buildings that are stately and signify collective culturally views of a society. The building of an edifice is not essential for a society to survive physically”. I find Eastern State interesting because based off of this definition, we as a society currently do not need the prison anymore to survive, as we have built other modern prisons to fulfill that role, however we did need the prison to survive when it was initially built, and ultimately the Penitentiary has transformed since then from a labor of architecture into a work of architecture. The prison itself now is a huge edifice within the city, and Philadelphia residents as well as non-residents travel form miles away to enjoy the piece of Philadelphia history by taking tours and participating in seasonal events such as the upcoming Terror Behind the Walls.
The Fairmount area is affected pretty heavily by the adjacent Ben Franklin Parkway. For starters, Fairmount and its neighbor Spring Garden used to be larger labor spaces, until a majority of the cities considered slums and low income housing were cleared in the early 1900’s to make room for the parkway. This majorly reduced the size of the Fairmount district, and ultimately displaced many of the area’s residents. Since its creation, the parkway serves as a primarily “work” district, composed of many of Philadelphia’s edifices including the Barnes Foundation, Logan Square, The Franklin Institute, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The parkway itself is beautiful, and anyone including the adjacent residents are free to enjoy the parkways benefits all year round. The Parkway however, negatively impacts Fairmount and other adjacent neighborhoods by causing higher rent and limiting the surrounding housing to a particular demographic.
Charles I.
There are many multi-faceted spaces within city. In the city of Philadelphia, I chose to describe an odd phenomenon of a multi-purpose space within a specific community, a dorm. A dorm is where students of a university live, it encompassses all of thier housing needs. Recently, dorms had the intended spaces to offer recreation as well. This space functions as a workplace for others, either employed by the University or a separate security or cleaning firm. This space is supposed to facilitate community in the residents, and offer an atmosphere of prosperity and comfort. However, the aims of individuals in a community vary, creating a strange public and private relationship among residents. Elements of both labor and work are combined, and the intention of a community can easily remain abstract in these spaces.
This space interacts with other kinds of adjunct or adjoining spaces. Dorms and residence halls usually connect to eating halls and larger communal facilities. All basic needs and activities in regards to labor are met within these larger adjoining spaces, creating a potential isolation if residents and inhabitants of other communities. Resources are kept within the inhabitants of the dorms, and their isolation and dependence in these facilities that provide a need for work and other individuals participation in facilitating the existence of these spaces.
Sarah W.
Question One:
I chose Logan Square because in the context of this topic it provides an interesting look at space and how it relates to work and labor. William Penn planned five original squares that were to be used as public spaces. Logan Square in its beginnings was a gallows and a burial ground. It evolved over time to become a focal point of the neighborhood. In 1917 it took its form as we know it today and with the new design allowed for tight-knit communities and large public spaces. The construction of the Ben Franklin Parkway opened up large public spaces and areas for civic and public buildings that cut a path between the center city office district and residential area of Logan Square. Like the example of the roman city, Penn planned a grid pattern with five squares, three of which stayed in their original form, one became city hall, and Logan Square was split up by the parkway. The city grew and changed to meet its needs just like that of the planned ideal roman city. This area developed as a cultural center for Philadelphia.
The buildings that line the parkway all have a similar language within their architectural construction. The library, Art Museum, Franklin Institute, etc. share function, firmness, and delight. They are some of the few buildings in the city that are very unique to the area; this type of building really only exists in the Logan Square area and adds to the visual appeal. work is quite prevalent on the parkway because buildings were constructed to reflect what is important to the people of this society. Labor is contained within the pockets behind the work buildings.
Question Two:
If we look at a land use map, you can see the importance of Logan Square to its surrounding neighborhood and the people it serves. The Park is the hard line between dense commercial and office buildings and the peaceful residential areas. The area also has many civic and cultural buildings lining the parkway that have similar architectural styles that help tie the area together to make it feel each building belongs in the neighborhood. But, what pulls it all together is the open space where these buildings exist. Standing in or near the square there is a sense of center between the districts. People walking home from work or simply passing through can escape the hectic streets of the parkway visiting the parks that make up Logan Square. It has to be an incredible design to feel peaceful and relaxing when it really is a place in the center of a bustling, thriving city.
Alec T.
In Philadelphia the area of Manayunk is a multi-faceted part of the city of Philadelphia which has the characteristics of both Work and Labor. The Labor part of it is all of the housing unit throughout this part of the city the majority of this space is used for housing which is essential for human biological needs; ie Shelter/Protection. The housing units in this space are made mostly of row-homes and multi-cellular homes, such as apartments and condos. It has a traditional grid design. In a way it has a “town center” which is more like a “Town Strip” which is Main Street. This street is the center of activities. Which is an example of “work” it is the “hub” of social interaction. It serves the need of social interaction the street is filled with bars and night clubs. These are not essential to a human’s biological needs but are able to fulfill their social needs. I would say there isn’t any example of an edifice in Manayunk. I say that because all the building for the most part looks the same; there aren’t any large ones that standout
An example of a space that interacts with the Manayunk is Bala Cynwyd. Bala Cynwyd is across the Schuylkill River and has the Schuylkill express way passing through it; which has a exit to it. This exit is allows society to access Manayunk easily, which contributes to the social interaction. Manayunk itself is very beautiful. The store fronts are a mix some are contemporary some are vintage. There are historical sites on Main Street that are preserved. This space also has easy access to transportation with bike trails, close access to the rail system, and highway also.
-Sean G
1 Pick a space within the city (Philadelphia or another city that you name) and describe how it functions in terms of the types of space listed in the lecture. Describe the space and its functions in detail, be specific. Most spaces are made up a collection of the elements of the types of space - identify the primary 'type' of space that the city space you choose is, identify the characteristics that signify that it is this spatial 'type' and explain how they function.
Myrtle Beach is quite different then many other cities, this city is T shaped versus most centrally designed cities. The T shape comes from the main highway, 501, that runs perpendicular toward the beach where another highway runs parallel to the beach, Kings. This city shows a distinct difference in work and labor areas farthest from the beach where it eventually merges the two the closer to the beach that you get. At the beach there are hotels (work) side by side to restaurants and shops (labor). As you move away from the beach the labor is along the highway and to get to housing (labor) you have to turn off the highway and turn into housing developments, the farther you move past the highway the more you get into the housing developments. Having a layout like this is good for Myrtle because 501 is the main road into the city so having all the labor along the highway is good for business and the housing is benefited because it is not then along a highway, unlike at the beach where both work and labor pay to be near the ocean.
2 Most spaces within the city interact with adjacent spaces and spatial types within the city, explain how the space you chose interacts with, affects, and is affected by an adjoining urban space.
Off of the T of main Myrtle there is south myrtle and north myrtle on either end of Kings Highway where there is a large population of restaurants and shops (labor) and as you continue to move past these commercial areas the larger upscale housing of Myrtle starts to appear. The way the area is designed is to attract tourists to the main commercial areas and keep them from the residential areas.
Q1:
New York City's Pennsylvania Station provides a great example of work and labor, in addition to its previous incarnation as an edifice. When Penn Station was initially constructed in the early 20th century, it featured architecture similar to the still-existing Grand Central Terminal -- ornate marble, arches, etc. However, it was demolished in the 1960's as air rights were granted to Madison Square Garden above. It shifted from something beautifully ornate to a maze of underground tunnels focusing solely on function. It currently provides commodity and firmness, but not delight. It serves as a transportation hub for users to go from place to place while protecting them from the natural elements. Food services also provide for the biological functions of humans - the need for sustenance. As a result, it combines the qualities of work and labor.
Q2: Penn Station does have a large influence on this region of Midtown, Manhattan. It draws large amounts of foot traffic to the area, particularly since the station is the busiest commuter train station in North America. This, in turn, provides activity for nearby businesses. Since the total number of users continues to grow, New York state government has recently announced a plan to use the adjacent Farley Building, a post office and national landmark, as an annex for Amtrak and Long Island Railroad passengers. In this process, Penn Station will elevate its status as an edifice to become more of a hybrid in terms of beauty and significance. Penn Station's importance as a structure with the qualities of work and labor ultimately extended its reach to expand to a nearby structure.
Alex F.
1. I would like to describe familiar city to me, Seoul, South Korea. Specific space within Seoul I would like to propose is Cultural Station, Seoul 284. Cultural Station, Seoul 284 was the old building of the Seoul train station which was the Korea Central Station before the Cultural Station Seoul 284 was built. It has actively been used as a driving force of economic growth after Korea regained its independence from under Japanese colonial rule in the history. However, construction of Gangnam express bus terminal and increased use of private car, the role of Seoul Station and the status of the railroad were dramatically reduced. In 2004, with the opening of KTX, Seoul Station was finally closed. Seoul Station is meaningful in Korean history, because it is a symbol of overcome the national suffering such as the Korean War and economic crisis. As there have been some calling for preservation of history that building contains, restoration of cultural values and modern cultural space started in 2009, the original building restored and a new complex cultural space opened in 2012. Regeneration plan of Cultural Station, Seoul 284 had two principles that had to be accomplished. The first is that it should open the possibility to Seoul Station performs a function as a station, and the second is that fully preserving the historical and architectural value, and sharing its value with citizens. This space shows how it kept the building which has commodity and firmness to the building also has delight, by its regeneration. Also it can be defined as a building where both work and labor could be found of its function.
2. Cultural Station, Seoul 284 is located in the historic space of Seoul, called ‘Jongno-gu’. Also it is located in the middle of the Gyeonghuigung Palace, one of the five palaces in Seoul. The outdoor plaza of Seoul 284 has been used as a rest area for many people, and was regenerated as a complex cultural space with planning various cultural and historical programs. It has an environment to induce the citizens to communicate by providing various cultural and artistic events. The internal space, after the station has been closed and reopened as Seoul 284, restored the stationary space to its original shape and converted to multi-purpose hall and exhibition hall. As a result, as the only cultural station in the country, maintaining and preserving its past it became a space to create a new culture.
Hyoeun L.
The city i chose is Newport, Rhode Island. Rhode Island is known as the ocean state and Newport is no different. This gorgeous coastal city is known for magnificent spaces of ocean, scenic views and incredible properties. Whether your visiting this town or have made this town your home, the breathtaking views, and the overall atmosphere of quaint stores and crisp architecture will jump out and suck you in. Newport is an historical town known for the Newport Mansions. The mansions were built in the 19th century for some of the richest people in American at that time, such as the Vanderbilts and a former american tobacco heiress. The architecture and space within these mansions are grand and breathtaking, with a mix of 17-18th century colonial imprints as well as gothic tidbits. Each one is different and ornate as the next, and the space they are all built on is between the cliff the ocean itself, it is by are the focal point of this coastal town.
Newports coast and the Mansions just bring the vibrance to this tourist town. The mass spaces of old architecture on commercial properties, storefronts and detailed cobblestone streets add to this affluent area.
Question # 3
In Response to Sean G.
I live in Manayunk and your description of space in this town is spot on. Manayunk is definitely a beautiful town with everything at your fingertips. I love that i can walk or ride my bike if i don't feel like driving and feel safe doing it. The "main strip" of town is terrific and yes, the social hub with almost a european town feel I might add. The close proximity to center city is an added bonus as is the major highways to venture home for a weekend.
Manayunk has charm and appears old fashioned with modern touches, I completely agree with your impression of this wonderful place.
In response to Sarah W.
Using the dorm to apply the concepts we learned is interesting because it’s really its own space, its own entity where people can live and work without ever having to leave. Like Sarah mentioned, modernized dorms typically have facilities where residents can eat. If we consider Resident Assistants, they live, work, and eat all in one facility and never have to leave if they choose. Whole communities can live and thrive in a small edifice bound within a city block or less. One thing I would like to add to this is that we are seeing “vertical communities” starting to pop up in Philadelphia. Cira Green, for example, one completed, people will be able to enjoy green space, live, work, and purchase items via ground floor grocery stores, etc.
Alec T.
In response to Sarah W.
It was great to use the object that we are familiar with. Dorms and residences were great concepts for this article. I have lived in the dorms couple years ago, so I totally understood the meaning of it. It was great to bring out the multi functions of the dorms, also in that paragraph, she bought out the idea of the labor. It was the major concept of the article that we read. That was a strong connection between this paragraph and the article but also if she could give more detail of the dorms. For example, the differences between Temple’s and Drexel’s, their functionality and multi-purpose space in different region. I still appreciated she could bring out the idea or concept around us.
Jingting F.
Alex F,
I enjoyed your example of Penn Station. When comparing work and labor, I tnought mainly about domestic labor, and private and public life and activities, but your example extends these concepts and allows us to consider the actually architecture and evolving function. This example is great because of that transformation of ornate and aesthetics to a strictly fucnctional. The lack of aesthetics and ornate detail can greatly alter our interaction with a space, especially in regards to its relative function. Without the delight in commodity, our approach to spaces of work changes dramatically, and this can alter activities of labor as well.
Sarah W.
In response to Charles I.
I enjoyed the dynamics you laid out for the Fairmount area, especially the example of Eastern State Penitentiary. The role the prison played when it was built has indeed made it a very important landmark and then you connected its evolution into a multi purpose attraction for the Fairmount area of Philadelphia even though it has not been used as a prison for a long time. Also, the very old look of the prison in comparison to the more modern buildings, restaurants, and shops in the surrounding area offers an awesome juxtaposition for visitors to appreciate.
In response to Charles L
I agree with your description of Fairmount park your description hits the nail on the head. I might add that I see the Museum of Art as an edifice as you said an edifice is buildings that are stately and signify collective culturally views of a society. The building of an edifice is not essential for a society to survive physically. which that is exactly what it is. It's also an example of "work" it attracts activity as a social hub and also a place of learning, but it is not essential to the survival of a human.
-Sean G
In response to Ryan G,
I enjoyed your description of the Newport Mansions because it made me question the line between Work and Labor. By definition, the homes in Newport are all labor of architecture, since they provide man with shelter. However, there is way more to these mansions besides just four walls and a roof. As you said, the architecture of these mansions are grand and breathtaking, and the people who designed and built them definitely expected these spaces to be way more than just houses. That is why I believe that these mansions could maybe cross into the realm of being edifices... since they are works of art to be cherished. Thanks for sharing,
Charles I.
In response to Derek W.:
It's interesting how you explained Myrtle Beach and how it's planned - work and labor separated, but as you approach the beach, the two merge. Its T-shape challenges convention with its innovation; keeping tourists out of the residential areas becomes important in an area like Myrtle Beach. Do these luxury houses differ from other buildings in the area in aesthetic - in other words, do both of these building types provide delight? What I find most interesting is how the differentiation between work and labor in Myrtle Beach may depend somewhat on the desires of tourists. For them, work may become more important than labor, although both are still necessary.
Alex F.
The West Philadelphia section of the city successfully shows how the work and labor aspects of the new, ideal city thrive together. In West Philly, you can find small family-owned grocery stores, Chinese & American take-out spots, laundromats, barbershops, etc. on almost every corner. These shops are not vital to human survival, but harbor the consumerism that is vital to the proper functioning of every city. Also, the housing projects and rowhomes throughout West Philly provide shelter, which is essential for our life cycles to repeat; but, just like the shops and businesses, they hold no sacredness or permanence, and are therefore considered “labor” architecture. In West Philly, many (not all) of these labor edifices have not been maintained and are falling apart. They contribute to the "dirty" look that this area was once known for, and are not credible in firmness and delight, although the key functions of consumerism and housing is there.
What makes driving through West Philadelphia so breathtaking is the way that amongst so many unsacred structures, you can find buildings of permanence and immortality like churches and temples, university facilities, libraries, etc. These "work" buildings are not essential to human life, but they are important because they are zones of collaboration, which is fundamental to the basic structure of a city.
It should be noted that, great strides have been made in recapturing West Philly's beauty. Universities based in the area, like UPenn and Drexel, are buying so many vacant (AND occupied) buildings and homes to expand their campuses. West Philly has also become more appreciated lately, regarding the diverse culture of its inhabitants. Rental companies have been buying the decrepit homes, fixing them up, and leasing them to tenants. With all the new construction, in the area, commodity, firmness, and delight are being readdressed and improved.
-Chelsea L.
In response to Sara Whitehead:
It was very creative of you to consider a dorm; when I was thinking of places to analyze for this lecture, a dorm never crossed my mind. I agree that the dorm has residential and communal functions, making it technically encompass both Labor and Work aspects. However, I think the residential overshadows the communal. To support this, there is the fact that any of the communal spaces you can find in the dorm can be found someplace else on campus.
-Chelsea L
located in the very eastern side of Philadelphia is Columbus Boulevard. This boulevard is tying together labor, work and action in an almost seamless way. Traveling from North to South on Columbus Boulevard would involve the three elements in almost every moment. On the Western side of the Avenue, there are residential buildings that were more or less built similarly to each other. This continuous style or look at the western side of the boulevard makes it perceived as a large united area which is perfect for residential and the daily necessities. The Eastern side of the boulevard, is where the river is located, which is associated with the “work”. These include many “work” structures with different programs for instance Dave and Buster, Penn’s landing and the Harbor Park.
This continuous line of attraction on the eastern side of the boulevard attaches a sense of amusement and beauty to boulevard. In my opinion, the definition of work in the writing fits the design of the eastern side of Columbus Boulevard.
2: Columbus Boulevard functions as one of Philadelphia’s western boundaries. In some areas it is the first grid line in the plan of Philadelphia. This fact makes it a connection “point” for those who travel from southeast to northeast Philadelphia and vice versa. Also, it is used as a substitute road for those who drive from one area in Philadelphia to another without entering the highway. A nice example of the Boulevard interacts with the surroundings can be seen in the intersection between Columbus Boulevard and spruce street. Walking or driving down east on spruce feels like experiencing a live timeline. On Spruce Street, the road is made of stones that give the sense of older time. When arriving at the intersection with Columbus Boulevard, a wide view of the river unfolds and reveals the Franklin Bridge. Crossing the Boulevard would reveal the Harbor Park that seems more modern due to the lights and the hammocks
Sean G
I couldn't agree more about the interaction of Manayunk and BalaCynwd. I personally enjoy driving from Bala to Manayunk. the bridge on green ln works like the perfect threshold! I used to live on city ave which is very close to BalaCynwd. I remember that one of my preferable areas for going out was Manayunk. it was a quick drive for me and it was diverse enough to kept me going.
I enjoyed your post!
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