Guggenheim, Bibao, Spain[1]
Freedom From Architectural Oppression
Simply
put, place is the external environment around us. It is easy to overlook the
importance of place as a major influence on our lives. Architecture is viewed, in
this respect, as Òthe technique of building places.Ó [2]
The architecture of a college campus plays a central role in the education of
its students. The buildings of a campus themselves each have a unique message
they were created to share. How else would the tower have become the primary
image for the entire institution of the University of Texas without the
recognition of the buildingÕs association with leadership, learning, and
self-discovery? Buildings are able to share a message with the world by calling
upon a cultural recognition of historical, emotional, and symbolic elements to
a specific significance they were designed to express. With this in mind it is
vital to construct a university campus specifically to foster independent
thought and discovery learning. An ideal college campus plan for the University
of Texas would incorporate the values of the past with a love of nature and an
acceptance of change through the use of postmodern architecture. Postmodernism
combines all these elements -- a reflective outlook on the past, emulation of
nature, and innovation for the future -- into an environment that inspires
creativity, learning, and discovery.
Postmodernism
is defined as Òdenoting a movement reacting against modern tendencies, esp. by
drawing attention to former conventions.Ó[3]
In compliance with this definition, postmodern architecture is generally
a style of architecture that uses the new building materials of the twentieth
century such as glass, steel, concrete, etc., in a manner that is new and
unexpected; still, there is a measured utilization of historical elements. In order to fully understand the foundations of
postmodernist architecture, it is necessary to consider the style against which
it was a rebellion– modernist architecture.
Villa Savoye,
France5
The
majority of modernist buildings were motivated by a desire to escape the past
and nature in pursuit of a new, human-built utopia. The driving goal to create
something original and unconventional led Le CorbusierÕs floating box design to
become a common motif in modernist design. Figure 2 shows Le CorbusierÕs Villa
Savoye, the epitome of the modernist style. The physics-defying appearance of
these buildings fit the modernist tenant of fresh ideas -- ideas that ignored
the impact of nature and history on previous architectural styles. The style
was also stripped of exterior ornamentations, leaving only the sleek, modern
exterior.
The
trend towards change and the financial benefits of mass production led to the
adoption of new primary building materials such as concrete, steel and most
importantly, glass. Glass had a significant symbolic importance in the post-war
world that brought in the modernist movement, primarily as a sign of peace.
Rattled by memories of empty window frames and broken glass – common sights
in war-torn Europe – the extensive use of the fragile material in
spectacular displays of ability and innovation represented the lasting peace of
the new age for which the weary population longed. ÒA society with intact glass
buildings, manifestly, was a society at peace.Ó[4]
Modernist architecture also takes advantage of glass to create spaces open to
the outside in order to bring in light and provide a remarkable amount of
visibility. The importance of glass continued as modernist architecture was
replaced by the postmodernist architecture.
Seattle Central Library6
Postmodern
and modernist architecture share many of the same building materials,
however, postmodern architecture seeks to restore historical and natural
influences to design. Postmodernism tends to avoid
the use of straight lines and boxes, instead utilizing curves and angles rather
than the abrupt shapes of modern architecture, bringing an added feeling of
freedom of expression and innovative creativity.
As
a collegiate style, postmodern architecture has the potential to promote the
importance of self-discovery, innovation, and free thought as well as respect
for history, knowledge, and the natural world. The presence of open,
glass buildings in new (non-rectangular) shapes on campus would provide a
liberated environment, free of emotionally and intellectually stifling
traditional structures. The openness of the floor
plans and of the interior to the outside creates a general atmosphere of
creativity and inventiveness while the incorporation of traditional features provide
the necessary structure that encourages a measure of order and logical thought.
Seattle Central Library7
The
general break from traditional shapes for the buildings of the campus will
become an example of how new ideas can replace old norms and conventions. The
buildings will be arranged in a nonlinear fashion to provide the inspiration
for students to escape from traditions and define the world for themselves.
Unlike the emotionally and communicatively restrictive classrooms and dorms in
which students currently live, learn, and work, the postmodern style will
create an atmosphere of openness and liberation suitable for a society free of
oppression and limitations.
When
considering what architectural style is appropriate for the University of Texas
campus, it is important to consider the meaning behind the designs and its
appropriateness to its surroundings and its occupants – the
students. Any college campus should be constructed to provide an atmosphere of
acceptance and openness to new ideas; it should be an environment where each
student is free to express his or her self freely and independently as the
postmodern style provides through its freedom from conventional norms. In order
to know the world, an individual must know his or herself, and a campus should
facilitate this self-discovery by providing space that does not define its
occupants but instead allows them to learn who they are without being forced
into pre-assigned roles.
Postmodern architecture provides the crucial link between structure and
freedom that is required for an environment favorable to this goal.
Frank Lloyd Wright Design8
One important function of using
postmodern architecture on UT's campus would be to blend the university
buildings naturally into their environment. Through
the emulation of natural shapes nearby, buildings can create an intimate
feeling of belonging and blending into the campusÕs natural elements. By
imitating nature, manmade buildings blend in rather than stand out from the
natural world, making the indoors as comfortable to the students as the outdoors.
The glass exterior of the building minimizes the threshold between indoors and
out, allowing occupants to experience the serenity and relaxation of being
immersed in nature. The openness to the outdoors (and the natural light
flooding in) effectively maximizes the sense of space, which serves to allow a
sense of freedom unlike the feeling of imprisonment that traditional buildings
suggest. By providing a
Peter B Lewis
Building, Cleveland9
sense of closeness with the natural
world, the postmodern style suits the University of TexasÕs need to emphasize
the importance of the natural world as a place of refuge
and relaxation.
UFA Cinema
Center 10
Along
studentsÕ journeys towards self-discovery, a postmodern master building plan for the campus will allow
true self-realization by providing encouragement for self-growth uninhibited by
conventional molds. The innovation and new designs of the postmodern movement
teach a philosophy of honesty, acceptance, and openness to change which aids
individual freedom to explore identity without pre-formulated expectations. By
not forcing individuals measure up to traditionally emphasized ideals, the new
style allows a greater deal of honesty in students with his or herself as well
as with others. Old buildings generally suggest a strict order and predefined
roles to which individuals are expected to rigidly conform. Buildings such as
those in the Òsix packÓ are inspirational but suggest a degree of conformity is
required to belong. Postmodern architecture replaces these suggested roles by
substituting confining straight lines and right angles with generous curves and
free angles.
Postmodernism
avoids the restrictive spirit of historical architecture; however, it does not
completely ignore the past, but instead embraces it through a respectful
nostalgia. The thoughtful placement of historical elements, such as arches,
creates a connection to history that is essential for an environment devoted to
intellectual thought and development. Though each student thinks
differently, there are basic underlying aspects of higher-level thought that
are crucial to all learning such as classical logic and scientific reasoning. A form of postmodern architecture with a tasteful mention
of the past will teach the value of a measured degree of structure and
tradition.
Of
course, the term postmodern architecture encompasses a large range of specific
styles each having its own instilled values and lessons. The specific vision
for the University of Texas campus includes buildings primarily composed of
glass exteriors in curved, flowing shapes (emulating the natural world around
it). The structures should be carefully coordinated with the gardens and living
world, lessening the harsh contrast between nature and the man-made spaces. The
interior floor plans of the buildings should be open and favorable to free
thought and open communication. All of the designs should suggest an overall
willingness for change and acceptance of differences as well as support a drive
for innovation. And the style should include measured and specific references
to the past. Together, these elements culminate in a perfect environment for
college students – one of acceptance and innovation.
The
Second Life component of the postmodern plan (as shown left) demonstrates the
basic features of the particular style for the University of Texas. The
structure is composed of three abstract geometric figures – two cones and
a cube. These twisted shapes are supported by a 
central spiral that runs through the core of the glass
building. Although it is not shown in the image of the building, there will be
a garden located on the building where the two cones meet with a waterfall
flowing down along the exposed side of the metallic spiral. The extreme
openness of the building along with the seamless integration of natural gardens
meets the goals of the postmodern campus plan designed to affect the lives and
learning of the inhabitants.
Place
provides a major influence on our lives. The architecture of the University of
Texas has the potential to teach students valuable life lessons and guide their
futures. Postmodern architecture is the most suitable choice for a master plan
for the campus buildings because of the lessons it teaches of freedom from
conventions, right to self-expression, and willingness to accept change.
Through a careful selection of specific buildings, a unified atmosphere
conducive to creativity, learning, and discovery can be created for the benefit
of all the inhabitants of the campus. Above all, the buildings have a common
lesson to teach each individual who is willing to learn: know who you are and
accept others for who they are.
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