How to do a history of architecture workshop

History of contemporary architecture. Of from deconstruction to reconstruction.

This article represents both how to perform a architecture history workshop contemporary , as well as the analytical and critique of three architectural works with different but contemporary contexts and origins. From the deconstruction and then embark on a reconstruction and final conclusion “Program” .

This paper was raised within the framework of the History III workshop of the career of Architecture from the UBA (University of Buenos Aires) Aires) . The proposal was to relate three architectural works with contexts and origins different yet contemporary :

• Habitat 67 . At the moment represents a housing complex located in the city of Montreal (Canada). Developed by the architect Moshe Safdie (Israeli–Canadian). Was originally conceived as his doctoral thesis in architecture at McGill University and later built as a pavilion for Expo-67.
• Munster Library . building located in Münster (Germany) designed by the architect contemporary Julia Bolles-Wilson.
• Rolex Center . Called the Rolex Learning Center. A building located on the campus of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (Switzerland). Work of the Japanese study of architecture SANAA, which was opened to the public in 2010.

Correlatively, we can see the buildings contemporaries of reference, the “Context” :

A series of categories and axes were established that would guide the analysis with the objective of address them comprehensively, taking into account not only particular and general aspects of each of them but developing a deconstruction work for later embark on an analytical reconstruction and criticism .

As a result of the study, a scheme was created basis for understanding the context, which is the following image of the history workshop . (To the click on the image to enlarge)

This reconstruction work was enriched by the elaboration of a code of representation and connection ties graphics specially designed for that the reading is non-linear, looking for a reflection more particularized and dynamic critique and thus tend to a rhizomatic analysis .

The process involved, on the one hand, working with data specific to the works and on the other a reflexive and critical exercise emphasizing both in its immediate roots and in the transcendence that each reached.

Graphic communication was weighted over language written trying to make it even more expressive and unified. For For this we resorted to the use of ideograms (Graphic sign that represents a concept or idea) , chromatic scales and other resources that benefited the multiplicity of relationships and dynamism in its reading.

The Categories of Analysis correspond to vertical reading from the base schema. (By clicking on the image it enlarges)

Once we already have a global and schematic vision of the work . From the initial context based on the three architectural works, the subsequent milestones – ideograms and the conclusion final, the programs (social housing, library public and educational center).

We must delve into the context and explanation of the milestones expanding the information through sheets individualized . In the latter case, for the complexity in displaying the information in an article, since Home Repair Care we have executed an application where when clicking on the "moving points" of the following image – which can be enlarged, bottom right – will show an informative plot that expands the knowledge about the history in the architecture according to context – building – ideogram .