HFC S2016: Lecture 6 Spatial Critique
Please respond to the following questions for this week's lecture under the blog comments:
1) Pick a space within the city 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.
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.
3a) Describe a space in Philadelphia Describe using the vocabulary of the lecture describe a space and the qualities of spatial relationships which the event utilized. Be specific.
3b) Describe a space not in Philadelphia: Describe a large outdoor civic event you were present for, using the vocabulary of the lecture describe the space and qualities of spatial relationships utilized by the event. Be specific.
Comments for this week's posts are due by Friday.
If you are encountering any issues posting comments please notify Prof Hart immediately. Forward a copy of your comments if you have any posting issues. I am working with tech staff to resolve these issues.
HINT: To protect, refine and improve your written work it is recommended that you draft, proofread and edit your responses in a save word document before copy-and-pasting the text into the comments bar of the webpage - composing your comments only in the comments bar makes clear writing, editing and saving not just difficult but if you hit the wrong button impossible!!
1) Pick a space within the city 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.
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.
3a) Describe a space in Philadelphia Describe using the vocabulary of the lecture describe a space and the qualities of spatial relationships which the event utilized. Be specific.
3b) Describe a space not in Philadelphia: Describe a large outdoor civic event you were present for, using the vocabulary of the lecture describe the space and qualities of spatial relationships utilized by the event. Be specific.
Comments for this week's posts are due by Friday.
If you are encountering any issues posting comments please notify Prof Hart immediately. Forward a copy of your comments if you have any posting issues. I am working with tech staff to resolve these issues.
HINT: To protect, refine and improve your written work it is recommended that you draft, proofread and edit your responses in a save word document before copy-and-pasting the text into the comments bar of the webpage - composing your comments only in the comments bar makes clear writing, editing and saving not just difficult but if you hit the wrong button impossible!!
6 comments:
1.
A space within the city with a primary type is the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. These steps are primarily a structure of transition. They create that feeling of existing in between worlds, as the Museum is a separate entity for delight, and looking out you can see a view of the city from afar, all the buildings which have a function and commodity purpose. The design of these steps offer an emphasis on this phenomenon, as steps literally act as a transition from one level to another. However these steps are particularly grand and infamous for their significance in acting as a transition, in Rocky he uses the steps for his physical transition in his workout routine.
2.
The steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art interact with adjacent spaces and spatial types, such as the Museum itself. The type of space of the museum is a structure that exists based on utilizing the delight that can come from the phenomenon of object to object. Curated paintings act as objects that make a window into another world, or function for our delight or stimulation. Sculpture acts a literal object that we interact with, taking up space in an anthropomorphic fashion or in a way to admire its representation ir critique of the world. Object to object is highly considered and intentional at the museum, as it construct the gallery space and defines the function of the building itself.
3a.
A space in Philadelphia that demonstrates the qualities of spatial relationships is Rittenhouse Square Park. Emanating occurs in the behaviors of the people in the park. If people are sitting in the park reading, or if they are trying to register you to vote, these behaviors will change how you interact with the space and the other people. Sometimes people play music or congregate in large groups, all this is a responds to the construction of the space and the behaviors that we then feel comfortable engaging in in these spaces. Object to object occurs in the trees and the grasses, and the way this creates a path to walk on and areas to sit and gather. The trees emulate a strong vertical organization and act as a shield to the bustling city. Transition occurs in the park as there are entryways that are enticing and engaging, offering a place of escape and comfort to the buildings that function primarily for commodities surrounding the space. In the park you can still see the city surrounding you, offering that transitional experience.
3b.
An outdoor civic event I was present for not in Philadelphia was a car show in Maryland. The event offers many examples of the qualities of spatial relationships outlined in lecture 6. The first being that of object to object. The alignment of cars created a spectacle and a path for a person to walk through. The objects were organized in an aesthetic function, but also in a way that created a space that was engaging and easy to navigate. During the car show, transition was also demonstrated in the construction and location of the space. The tents and cars were temporary structures that created a space, but from within this space you could see the park and the campgrounds surrounding the event. This allowed that feeling of existing in between realms. Lastly, the event demonstrated time and the effect this has on the construction of space. The cars moved as they were juried, creating a curated path and positioning that a person would walk through, and changing the space as time passed.
Sarah W.
1.
I thought of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul near Logan Square encompassing “object to object” as its primary spatial type. It has this large, beautiful dome that reaches into the sky that peers over the parkway and into the surrounding neighborhoods. Through some research, Philadelphia experienced high numbers of catholic immigrants that allowed for a great cathedral. This building signaled community and acted as a religious center for Catholicism. Historically, the highest structures in a community signaled what was thought to be important in a person’s society, usually religious buildings where religious symbols reached high above the profane. This is what makes me think its primary spatial type is “object to object.” However, commercial and office buildings tower far above the ground (vertical) these buildings tower far above any religious structure which signifies society has changed what it feels is important.
2.
These concepts are a little hard to fully grasp but I think “time” is very interesting if we apply to the same space and use the same ideas I talked about above. Before downtown Philadelphia had buildings outlining the sky an individual could interpret or perceive my space much differently. Once a prominent symbol in the sky is now overshadowed by the commercial buildings a couple blocks away. Light is now manipulated by the taller buildings next to the cathedral. The space and the void around it now take on a different meaning because the dome, though magnificent, is shadowed by the importance we place on business.
3a.
Dilworth Park, next to City Hall transforms its appearance for the change of seasons and has the ability to host outdoor public events. The park is situated next to City Hall represents the “object to object” where it is the tallest part of this space. The people of the park are reminded of the city’s history by William Penn who sits atop of City Hall, further connecting them into the city. The void next to the building is bustling with parents and children playing in the fountain during the summer and ice skating in the winter. I think this is an example of “erosion” where the void is manipulated in different seasons. The use of sloped walkways, the natural environment, and low walls around the entrances of the park create a sense of transition from the void of the street to the void that is the park. “Emanating” I think comes back to City Hall itself where the towering statue of William Penn that creates tension for the space surrounding it. “Time” I think is interesting in this space because as time progresses the way people utilize objects in the space changes. For example, though that is short term, right now there is jet fountains but in winter turns into an ice skating rink.
3b.
An outdoor civic event I attended is The Bloomsburg Fair in my hometown of Bloomsburg. The event takes place on the fairgrounds that butted up against the town of Bloomsburg. In fact, people live right across the street from the grounds. It’s an interesting transition from permanent structures to the open space that is home to temporary structures only one week out of the year. During the fair, these temporary tents and structures create paths between them for people to pass through. This past year marks the 161st Bloomsburg Fair and over this period of time the fair has expanded and added more permanent structures. For example, floods have always been a problem for Bloomsburg and the fairgrounds because it sits in between two rivers. Because of this, they added flood walls around the fairgrounds which now creates this broken connection between the spaces in and outside the grounds.
Alec T.
1. I chose Independence Hall on Chesnut Street in Philadelphia. Independence Hall is a focal point of a rich Philadelphia history, not to mention, a US National Landmark. What an amazing transiton of spatial area, transformed from the early revolutionary times and the signing of The Declaration of Independence. This building of beautiful red brick with a lovely beltower and steeple just emits the colonial feel of history. What a symbolic entity of America's freedom and such a beautiful building to just examine and investigate
2. With regards to spatial relationships adjacent to Independence Hall i would choose Independence Mall. This National Historic Park compliments Independence Hall. The Mall is a 3 block radius of Independence Hall, it is the home of several other historical locations including, Liberty Bell Center, Congress Hall, National Constitution Center and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to name a few. The Mall Park is a beatiful area to take a stroll, and just revisit our heritage within history.The views are breathtaking and every spatial aspect of Independence Hall and the surrounding Independence Mall is iconic.
3a. I am looking at The Betsy Ross House on Arch Street. I believe this to be a spaitial type of transition. This modest, rich in history US Landmark has been transformed to its orginial attire. The home of Betsy Ross, the seamstress and flagmaker who forever is history will be embodied as hero for completing the American Flag requested by George Washington. This quaint home uses all available spaitial areas to its max. The fasade of brick and colonial setting truly emits the timeframe of this beautiful homestead.
3b. My outdoor Civic Event would be The Covered Bridge Fall Festival in Elyburg, Pennsylvania. This festival transforms Knoebels Amusement Park to a full on fall festival complete with vendors of food, crafters and artists. Although the amusment park is fully functioning during this festival, the space is transtioned also to accomdate object to object with tables, tents and food trucks alike. The wooden pavilions and picnic areas are tansitioned to vendor tables for selling and crafting stations. There area makeshift walkways to navigate through the festival with wall seperations within the pavilions. It is quite the site for the 90 year old family owned amusement park.
Thank you,
Ryan G.
Dilworth Park located in center city by City Hall is a perfect example of the concept of spatial transition. Specifically, the transition from the subway to the above ground park. As one exits the subway and begins to traverse up the stairs to street level, they are confronted with a large glass enclosure that eases the transition from the dark subway to the bright city streets and park. It is this “in between realm” from subway to Dilworth that makes the space a perfect example of transition.
Dilworth Park interacts directly with the adjacent City Hall. For starters, the two spaces are flushed, only to be separated by the physical walls of City Hall. This boundary is broken by large openings on each of the 4 walls of City Hall, which all act as transition spaces that let people into or out of the center of City Hall. The adjacent Dilworth and City hall spaces actively alter the mood and feel of each other. While people are visiting the epicenter of City Hall, they are presented with a historic, cultural space. As the person moves through the corridor between City Hall to Dilworth, they are transitioned to the old historic space into the new, playful and relaxed space of the park.
Another space in Philadelphia to be analyzed is Rittenhouse Square. The park itself has physical borders in the form of fences around its perimeter. However, there are multiple objects within the space that grab people’s attention and serve as an “…organizer of the space around the object”. Within Rittenhouse, there are many sculptures scattered around the park which serve as these objects. One specific object located at Rittenhouse’s center, acts as the focal point for the park. I have been there many times and seen many people simply standing around the center and leaning and sitting on the surrounding ledges. In this case, the sculpture at the center of Rittenhouse acts as a sort of social magnet that draws its inhabitants to the center of the park.
The last outdoor civic event I attended was an Oktoberfest located at Whiteface Mountain in the New York Adirondacks. The space was very interesting because it was primarily a large outdoor space with some hills at the base (it is a ski resort after all). The main event was located at the very base of the mountain, with a non-permanent pavilion that had live music, food, and drink. This pavilion was located right next to the resorts gondola, which acted as the only physical boundary for the event area. From the top of the hill, this gondola could be perceived as a marker for the space, that defined the spaces only true perimeter which people seemed to stay within.
Charles I.
1) The place I picked was Schuylkill Bank Boardwalk which was located between South and Locust Streets. I thought the type of this space or the primary spatial type could be “Transition”. According to the idea of “Transition”, the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk was the perfect example for the “in-between realm”. The Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk was between the Schuylkill River Trail and the Schuylkill River and it also created a path from land to river. People would normally run or walk in the Schuylkill River Trail, when they felt tired they might sit in the bench from the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk and take a rest. The Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk created a conflict between static and dynamic, a comparison between land and river.
2) The Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk interact with both the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail, because the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk connected the Schuylkill River and the Schuylkill River Trail. The Bridges in the top created connection between the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk and itself. It was “Object to object”. It was kind of echo in this case. I think the buildings around banks also stress the void space of the river and the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. It was incredible for this kind architecture used the space and the static and dynamic perfectly in the city of Philadelphia. It showed how seemingly opposite may be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the city. The river and trail well connected by the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. It was like the yin and yang in Chinese culture.
3a) The event I picked was “The Wannamaker Building” while Thanksgiving Day which was located at 1300 market street. I thought the type for this space could be transition. The Wannamaker Building was near with city hall which was also an ancient building. When people stand outside the building, they would feel the cold of the incoming winter, but they would feel totally difference inside. People would go shopping and greeting for the Thanksgiving Day. It showed the “Object to object”, The void outside and the crowd inside was illustrated the significant of the Thanksgiving Day.
3b) My outdoor civic event would be the new year count down in New York City at time square. The countdown event was incredible and fresh for me. The sky was dim because of the brightness of the light. And crowd filled in the square. During that night, the subway station was temporary under control by the police, because there were too many people around that area. They were so exciting for the incoming new year. It showed the “Object to object among the building and the people. Those buildings was a strong vertical element that broke into the sky.
Jingting F.
1) 30th Street Station serves as a perfect example of many of the types of spaces mentioned in the lecture. The placement of columns outside the iconic station are a defining factor of its design, which falls into the object-to-object category. Many users entering the station must pass through the void in-between, as the columns serve as the perimeter. The area between the columns and the doors serves as a transitional space, leading them inside. Once inside, the erosion becomes clear as users witness the void — the wide open central hall, which serves as a spectacle. This central area uses the concept of time - the light of the sun - to affect its appearance. When the sun shines through, the inside gains light through the large windows above. When sunlight does not shine through the windows, it provides a darker appearance. Time reveals itself.
2) This space interacts with an emanating space - JFK Boulevard. On each end lies a landmark: 30th Street Station to the west or Philadelphia City Hall to the east. As the lecture mentions, you feel captured by it; the scale of these structures becomes unavoidable. The effect is inescapable; the space becomes a spectacle. This may also fall into the object-to-object category, although the distance is great. This space may also be considered transitional, as all streets tend to be transitional.
3a) Another space would be Rittenhouse Square. Small stone columns bordering the park serve as the perimeter, which falls under the object-to-object category. For many, this park can be an area of transition; walking through the park can be a shortcut for users attempting to cross through city blocks. Since this space is outdoors, time plays a pivotal role in the way humans interact with the space. During the daytime, the park is full of life. After a certain point during the night, rats become the primary occupants!
3b) At the largest outdoor stage of a music festival I attended a few years ago, which served over 80,000 attendees, the scale and power of erosion became clear. The sheer scale of the structure and the space it inhabited was mesmerizing. Yet this wide open space became filled with attendees. By far, the most important quality present in this space was emanation. The interaction between attendees and the stage was too powerful to ignore. As an audience member, it becomes difficult to look in the opposite direction of the stage — the spectacle — and one of the only options becomes directing your attention there, too. Time also plays a key role in affecting the space; when the sun went down, the lights went on, profoundly altering the look of the space with a glow. Once the show ends, the space becomes a place of transition, as attendees slowly shuffle out.
Alex F.
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