"THE OBJECT OF ART IS TO GIVE LIFE A SHAPE"
-WILLIAM SHAKESPERE
One’s relation with shapes starts right from his kindergarten which fortunately or unfortunately turns up to be a lifelong relation to the ones in the field of architecture especially. It has no regards to his position in the society but then which is a mandatory. The basic shape which we got to know from the age of three still continues to be the base for the forms and structures we arrive at. One among the most commonly debated topic in any architectural school throughout the world is on the dictum:-FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION.
"FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION"
-LOUIS SULLIVAN
The phrase which eventually paved its way to be a dictum was coined by “THE FATHER OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE” as the result of the impacts and losses made by the second world war. Till then the spaces are noted to be extravagance without any ease on the aspects of function which was visually appealing. The wheel of creativity was streamed on the ease of function as days passed. The spaces were designed according to the people with their occupation when it wasn’t the period of cross culture. Eventually as days passed there were drastic developments in various fields which lead us to the era of cross culture. Till then the spaces were designed according to the needs of people with their culture and tradition. Spaces were utilized to the maximum based on the functions happening which became the first step in creating a multi-functional space. These multi-functional spaces have been an evolution rather the transformation from a huge appealing space/ structure without the ease of functions to a simple, transformable and a compact space which can be converted in the basis of events happening.
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A simple and an elegant form can have different functions. For example the fire station which was designed for the Vitra furniture factory in Germany by the Queen of Curvilinear structures – Ar.ZahaHadid acts as a museum for chairs. She followed “FUNCTION FOLLOWS FORM” and was the one who came up with the concept of de constructivism. The building was judged to be a failure on the bases of aesthetics but successful as a multi-functional building.
"ARCHITECTURE IS A VISUAL ART,AND THE BUILDINGS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES"
The aesthetics of a building is important but the function and the ease of function happening is more important. Aesthetics of a structure can be brought based on its function itself. The Nisha’s play school , Goa which was designed by Ar.Gerard da Cunha is a standing example. It has been designed in such a way that the building speak for itself. The Ergonomics has been altered or rather devoid based on its function. It has been designed according to the usersi.e the space has been designed for kids with visual attractions. The structure rather the form itself educates them.
The building must compromise the users and not meant to be the other way. Any structure that satisfies the ease of its function is always successful. And hence i conclude with the dictum “FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION”.
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SPECULATION OF SPACES : The Future of Architecture