concept of "Form & Function" ...

[chiller]

Hi

I was just curious about the concept of "Form & Function" in architectural designs. What for example dictated the design of MVRDV's Villa VPRO. How did they come up with shape for this building; what part does form following function play in the design?

Regards.

[lekizz]

I guess you are thinking of the old maxim "Form follows Function", which was popular with some of the foremost architects of the C20th. The idea behind the phrase (as I understand it) was that the appearance of the architecture clearly and simply expressed the structure, without any unnecessary symbolism or decoration.

From what I know of MVRDV they don't live by the "Form follows Function" mantra. The VPRO HQ is supposed to be a fun building that draws the employees together in one place. The large 'folded floor' and the disconcerting sloping floors seem to be a dramatic and humerous statement.

[chiller]

Hi lekizz & thanks for your reply

In reference to VPRO HQ 'folded floor' and the disconcerting sloping floors, how do they decide on were to put that in relation to necessities such as toilets & office space.
Maybe the VPRO was a bad example at what I was trying to get at.
Take Zaha Hadid, how she comes up with shape and designs of her buildings as they are not of a conventional shape.

[chiller]

I mean is there any good publications on this sort of topic?

[chiller]

Anyone??

[solidred]

Chiller, try this:

http://www.amazon.com/Function-Form-Farshid-Moussavi/dp/8496954730

The author is one of the architects who designed the Yokohama Port Terminal; a very 'strangely-shaped' building which nonetheless is conceived-of as functional. Good, clear writer with sophisticated ideas. And there are lots of pictures and diagrams too.

[chiller]

Thank you very much solidred much appreciated; I'm here to learn.

Best Regards

[Ghost of Frank L. Wright]

Louis Sullivan's design philosophy was..."Form follows function."

Then Frank Lloyd Wright came along & said..."Form & Function are one."

I agree with FLLW as it makes far more sense to blend the 2 elements together. But naturally of course if you're an Organic Architect, form & function will be unified as 1 integral whole - thus, the blending of each element into each other, etc.

But how come no one ever said or practiced Function follows form?"

I'm just thinking outside the box.

[djswan]

Boo. there's more than two elements.

[solidred]

Naw dj: there's only the elemental, with many components ;p

And The Ghost of Frank Lloyd Wright: I think 'function follows form' is one of the basic themes of the book I've linked to. But true, thinking outside the box is different from thinking inside the box or thinking under the arch or thinking dangled from a space-frame etc. etc. ;P

[csintexas]

"Form follows function."
"Form & Function are one."

I see both of these as being true. Just depending on how you want to see things and of coarse the reality is that function will always follow form after the structure is built.

You could also say form is a part of function.

You would have to ask MVRDV what drove any particular design.

I think to some designers the most important function is to design an iconic structure or in a style distinctive to them as to distinguish themselves from other companies.

Other than that buildings have multiple functions -which is the most important? -cost, energy efficiency, attracting tourists, etc..

For my part, I believe energy efficiency should drive all but the very few public spaces that can be extravagant. Not just the monthly utility bill but the total energy invested over the life of a structure, to build, maintain and operate it.

But I am one of those nuts who think efficiency is a good thing.

[djswan]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/linear%20thinking

Lets ask an architect.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging_the_question

Boxes are for shelter.

[solidred]

Architecture adapts nature for two basic functions: the housing of the human body and the housing of the human mind.
Inextricably linked, both are fundamental to human well-being.

[JingYao]

Ghost of Frank L. Wright, all postmodern architecture is based on function follow form and people are continuesly doing it. Look at Las Vegas, Dubai....

Think outside the Box does not mean play with words...

[djswan]