Reading Comp 1

1. Fallingwater stands as one of Frank Lloyds Wright's greatest masterpieces, integrating nature with it's open and dynamic architecture. The building originally adressed commodity, serving as a nature retreat for its owners (now a national historical landmark). Organically designed to mesh well with it's natural surroundings, the house successfully became 'one' with the area. As time progressed, natural wear and tear took its toll on the building, prompting repairs in 1988. However, for it's time, it's daring use of reinforced concrete cantilevered balconies and steel made it extremely sturdy. Concerning the style of the house, Wright was heavily influenced by Japanese architecture, placing strong emphasis on harmony between nature and man and the interaction between external and internal spaces.



2. On the textile provided, a floral pattern is immediately recognized as the dominate theme throughout the design. In the past, in eastern cultures, the intricacy of floral patterns on fabric represented wealth and status. Historically woven by hand, these designs were reserved for the elite. As the industrial revolution took hold of the western world, demand for oriental designs began to fester. Motifs include the presence of flowers, the heavy use of red and yellow, and exaggerated interpretations of leaves. In the design, the combination of all three are visually apparent.



3. Partially stemming from the increase in the average income of American households, and thus, the size of their homes, the perceptions of adequate space has changed over the decades. Typically, society has adressed the concerns of it's citizens by complimenting (and probably reinforcing) the idea of change. Whether society pursued the change before or after the populace managed to accept it, more recent generations of Americans have reevaluated the definition of appropriate social and personal space. When the classroom scenario confronting the issue of space was played out, the participants seemed uncomfortable when placed in a tightly packed group. However, when the demonstration called for a 'normal' spacing of people with every other person taking a step out, the step placed everyone within a few feet of each other. Naturally, in the US, where airports, subway stations, and the majority of schools cater to the American notion of appropriate space (which varies throughout different parts of the US as well), our principles of space aren't as compatible or widely accepted with other cultues. In heavily populated parts of Asia, standing arm to arm is considered normal and noninvasive (ie. train stations/buses). However, when the typical American finds himself forced into a situation where he or she must be packed with other people, the absolute extreme amount of tolerated invaded space is a few inches from their person; otherwise, the situation is deemed inappropriate and uncomfortable.

4. Alain de Botten recognized that 'every type of beauty is a vision of happiness'- a quote that summarizes his way of thinking about architecture. As de Botten goes on to explain, architecture must not be seen outside the context of a city or town, it's impact on our sense of happiness becoming profound when regarded as a whole. Illustrating this concept, imagine walking down the streets of downtown Fort Lauderdale. As you explore the area, the tall buildings and cluttered streets overwhelm your senses and you begin to feel lost and trapped. However, walk down the streets of Sand Diego, and you begin to feel a sense of control and freedom, the buildings better integrated with the streets and population. Your feelings about architecture and buildings are influenced by how you interact with them-successful interaction capable of bringing about a sense of happiness.