Opus 14

Community
Architects wanted their buildings to have meaning. They wanted to give back to the community with an attempt at architecture being “exalted to become rich and meaningful.” (Roth 608) These designers created environments for groups of people, living and working together in traditional ways (Roth 607) – they were not designing based on what they wanted in particular. They wanted to create places of less monotony and more life, establishing clear identities. Also at this time a main influence which affected the community was sustainability. There are some exceptions to this, but by and large, the issue of sustainability has grown in importance on a global level, and also for the whole of the design community. (Massey 219) This has affected multiple aspects of design; renewable resources are being used, making some ‘exotic’ materials – such as ebony – banned, and there is a more careful thought out use of energy, the use of natural light for example. (Massey 219-221). An example of a design excelling in this is Yeang’s Menara Mesiniaga Tower. It has separations between the floors and an open service core allowing air flow; the windows which face the east and west are shaded to prevent the use of excess air conditioning. (Roth 609) This is just one buildings example, however, in how the entire design community is working to decrease the amount in which they negatively affect the land, and increase sustainability.



Stewardship
This issue of sustainability - which some say is the main issue of design at this time – I have already mentioned is a way in which designers have displayed stewardship. They are trying to improve the effects of their buildings and designs for themselves and others present, the future inhabitants of the earth, and the earth itself. They are picking products which require “less intrusive extraction of the raw materials and less toxic production process” and yet they are still maintaining a wonderfully designed building which also “depends less on the consumption of nonrenewable energy.” (Roth 608) This list, along with what I have already given expresses how designers and architects are trying to make the world a better, cleaner place to live.

Innovation
With a new century comes new inventions, and new ways of thinking. I have already described one building, the Menara Mesiniaga Tower by Ken Yeang, in which he uses innovative ideas to create a more sustainable building. There are other aspects of design, however, where designers create new, modern, innovative ideas. The use of minimalist designs are seen throughout modern buildings – the Prada store in Tokyo has a minimal quantity of clothing on display, but a futuristic design with digital databases of the clothes in stock (Massey 235). Another example, the 4-you Youth Savings Bank in austria, by Burgler and Petrovic, utilizes a baseball themed design to attract young people to the bank.
These two designs have little to do with the functions of the building, but are new ways of expressing the meanings. Also, another design being utilized recently is that of music being blasted through stores and buildings. This music creates a feeling, similar to that of the buildings meaning or location perhaps, but not necessarily to what is actually seen in the design of the building. (Massey 239)

Authenticity
At this time in design, I see it as difficult for anything to be authentic, or perceived as authentic. Many designs emulate pre-existing designs. Even if a designer or architect has a new innovative idea, chances are it was already in use in some way at some time. This can be difficult to judge, however. Take sustainability for example – although it is a design aspect that has recently become popular, the first sustainable designs can be linked back to when people used local materials which were in abundance, large windows, or the weather to their advantage, the even if it was unintentional.

This week I have learned through the discussion and reading that community has lead to less ‘crap in the suburbs’ housing being built, though it is still being built quite a lot. The consideration of community has also brought forth the aspect of sustainable design and how designers and architects have been trying to become better at sustainability. All of these considerations have created new (somewhat authentic) innovative designs to our community, local and global.