Architecture: Take From
the Past, Enjoy in the Present, and Improve for the Future
In providing a haven
for the seekers of truth, and producing the citizens, leaders, and innovators
of the future, our universities are extremely important to us, and we hold them
to very high standards. Although we associate all universities with many of the
same values – such as education, innovation, and culture – each university has
a different character and a different way of pursuing these goals. In its
mission statement, the
Collegiate
architecture needs to clearly reflect and promote its university’s goals, and
how well a style of architecture does this for UT should be the touchstone in
creating a new master plan. Paradoxically, good architecture often seems
invisible to those closest to it. It stands, ever present, in the background of
our experience as life flows in, through, and around it, but we seldom take
notice of this quiet giant. However, as soon as change is proposed, everyone is
up in arms, ready to defend or tear down the new style of a building that, in a
few months, may slowly fade again to invisibility. Regardless of style, whether
florid Gothic or stripped Modernism, good architecture “should meld seamlessly
into what’s already there.”[4]
In a sense, this is what makes a building invisible – its ability to blend so
closely into its physical and “spiritual” surroundings that it becomes an
organic part of the whole. For collegiate architecture, this means blending
with the values of its institution to become an integral thread in the fabric
of the university itself, instead of a physical environment separate from the
character of the university. However, this goal is more difficult than it
seems. Our universities and their architecture must integrate the past with the
future to create an environment that “serves our architectural heritage, the adjacent
environments, [and] the broad goals of The University.”[5]
For the
With respect to the
first of these dimensions, a sense of age, of historical presence, and of
continuity through time is something I always feel when stepping onto UT’s
campus and the feeling that I, and many others, value about college campuses in
general. The idea that so many have studied here before, walked through the
same courtyards, stayed in the same dorm rooms, and felt the same pangs of self
discovery is inspiring, and makes me, as a student, feel that I am part of a
greater community that stretches through time and space. Upon entering a
university, we become participants in an intellectual and educational
tradition, and campus architecture, by “play[ing] a large role in the shared
experiences, academic rituals, and memories of all members of The University
community,”[6]
facilitates that feeling of participation.
7
This close tie between the
sense of age in architecture and current, personal experiences is one reason an
older style
would
work better than something relatively new, like Modernism or Postmodernism.
Though 
Modernist
buildings may be beautiful and well designed, they do not exude that invaluable
sense of age, and I would imagine such a collection of buildings would not
inspire the same feelings of belonging to a tradition as an ancient campus such
as Oxford[7]
or even as our younger university. Therefore, continuing with the style of
Mediterranean architecture that rings true to the stated goals of the
University and to me, as a new student,
seems appropriate.[8]
8
Mediterranean style
architecture, which includes Spanish influences, is a particularly good match
for UT Austin, not only resonating with the history of our university, but also
the environment of our city. The Mediterranean style of architecture is
especially evocative of an important connection to an intellectual tradition:
with a bit of imagination, our red tiles and limestone can be related back to a
city-state of the Italian Renaissance. A cultural rebirth that originated in
Mediterranean architecture
reflects all of the values of a Renaissance city-state, and using this style of
architecture on campus would clearly connect UT to its intellectual tradition.
Another consideration is the likeness between the climates of
14 13 13
How
appropriate architecture is to its environment, what Ruskin calls “the
expression by man…of the lands that gave him birth,”[12]
is an[13]important[14]way to judge a style. Where a Gothic-style quadrangle
of the University of Chicago – too gray, too cold – or the later Italian,
Venetian-style façade of Rice University – 
too
formal, too stiff – would simply look out of place, the rugged beauty of
Mediterranean style blends into, and complements, Austin’s environment better
than any other. Against the sharp blue of the sky, the red roofs and yellow
exterior strike a color chord in the purest sense, since blue, red, and yellow
make up the primary colors. The colors play off of one another, each making the
others brighter and sharper. If you place the green of an oak tree into the
picture, the colors just ring with brilliance in the
15
Additionally,
the use of ornamentation in Mediterranean style architecture works well for the
University and Austin. Though minimally ornamented on the general façade, the
decoration under and around the eves, doors, and windows gives a building
character. However, the decoration is able to do this without creating
overwhelming excess, as in Gothic architecture, or insisting on an absolute
lack of ornamentation and warmth, as with Modernism. Therefore, Mediterranean
style architecture is the most fitting for UT’s architecture because of the
strong historical, educational, and environmental connections it has.
Though an outside
appearance that resonates with the past matters a great deal, the second way
that architecture reflects the goals of the university – how we interact with
our buildings in the present – is arguably one of the most important aspects of
architecture. The design of a building can change how we feel inside of it –
creative or confined, inspired or depressed. We need to pick a style of
architecture that feels natural and that makes every member of the University
community feel comfortable. Characteristics of this style include the use of
natural light and the creation of open space to facilitate a connection with
nature and a sense of community.
17
Natural light is one aspect
of this style and it should be incorporated into the design
of
our buildings whenever possible. Not only would this relieve the often
“penitential”[16]
atmosphere found in the Modernist feats of RLM and Jester, but it also would
open up the building to nature.[17]This helps the user
of the building feel less confined and better able to learn in a friendlier,
natural-feeling 
environment.
Important to note is that the advantages of natural lighting are not purely
psychological: studies have shown “benefits in worker productivity and health
related to daylight in buildings.”[18]
19
However, it is not always
as easy as simply adding more windows. The
22
Another facet of natural
design is the construction of numerous open spaces to promote a sense of
community around campus, which in turn facilitates a feeling of inclusion in
the campus’s intellectual tradition. As Robert Berdahl, former president of the
University and contributor to UT’s most recent master plan, insists, the ideal
campus is “an academic community in which social and intellectual ideals would
be inseparable from its
spatial
forms.”[20]
The open spaces, incorporating a great deal of nature into their designs, would
act as places for inspiration, connection, relaxation, and discussion.
According to
The third way that
architecture can advance the mission of the university is to show the way
toward a sustainable, socially conscious future. In a time when the detrimental
effects of humanity on the environment are becoming more and more clear, it is
crucial that we start building with an eye on the environment, considering how
we can change the way we construct and maintain our buildings to make them more
environmentally friendly. The University’s mission also includes the
responsibility “to serve as a catalyst for positive change in
24
To make our campus
architecture greener, we can consider the types of materials we use in
construction.
There
are many alternatives to traditional “virgin” materials – those that are often
not quickly renewable – that still offer
the same structural and aesthetic characteristics. For example, there are
competitively priced alternatives[24]to conventional
wooden floors that still look as sophisticated, but that are made from
renewable resources. We can also use engineered and recycled wood in the
construction of our buildings, as such materials “drastically minimize the
amount of waste created in processing the raw materials…[and can be made using]
waste wood and entire trees, regardless of species, shape, and age.”[25]
Using alternative materials would not only be beneficial for our environment,
but it could help our economy as well. Research has shown that there are
several options for alternative and local materials that would not only reduce
the environmental impact of construction, but also foster the local economy.
When deciding how to
light our buildings, we should consider using natural light. It has the benefit
of a more natural feeling environment, as mentioned earlier, as well as the
benefit of lowering lighting costs. When constructing a building, the
architect’s decisions about “building orientation, form…and the position and
size of windows have a significant impact on the level of daylighting and the
eventual energy consumption of the finished building.”[26]
If designed wisely, a building can use enough natural light to reduce the need
for artificial lighting. Additionally, window glazes can prevent heat exchange,
thus lowering heating and cooling costs.
27
In
addition to using alternative materials and natural light, it would also be
beneficial to utilize alterative energy sources. Solar energy[27]has
the benefit of being “a free, non-polluting energy source that is easily
captured,”[28]
and solar water heaters can be used as an environmentally friendly way to heat
buildings. Additionally, the University could look into using alternative
energy, such as the city of
Though
the propositions of a Mediterranean style, with its emphasis on useful and
comfortable design and a sustainable building plan, may sound interesting, it
might be difficult to imagine how these characteristics could be combined to
create a unified style of architecture, and equally difficult to imagine this 
architecture
actually integrated into UT’s campus. To help make 
these
ideas more concrete, I’ve created a model that incorporates all three
characteristics into a cohesive whole. [29][30]
The
most obvious feature of this building is its Mediterranean feel. We can see
this in the red tile roof, recessed porch with columns, and use of limestone.
As mentioned 
before, this style is well suited for the hot
climate of
Less obvious perhaps than its
outward style is the comfortable and useful design of this building. These
features, 
which
deal largely with the way one feels inside of a building, are more difficult to
replicate in a model. Though experiences are difficult to capture, we can
imagine the way these windows around the eves would illuminate the building 
with natural
light. Similarly, we can think about what it would be like to have a class
discussion in the courtyard. Both windows and courtyard promote a feeling 
of 
openness
and inclusion. [31][32]
The
final, and probably the most subtle, characteristic of this building is the use
of sustainable materials. Since cork trees grow back in as few as seven years,
they are considered a renewable resource, and the cork flooring used inside has
the added advantage of maintaining a consistent temperature throughout the year.
Instead of using 
stone,
which is very cold during the winter, the University could use cork, 
which stays a much warmer 70 degrees all year
long. Additionally, the windows under the eves can be used to reduce the need
for artificial light in this building. Finally, the solar panels on the roof
can help the building produce its own energy.[33][34]
When applied to all of the buildings on campus,
these stylistic choices – a Mediterranean style, useful design, and sustainable
technology – will be the most appropriate for the
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