BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303

SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)

Name: Kimberly Ann Aussie ID No.: 0325881

Lecturer: Mr. Prince Tutorial Time:
Reader/Text Title: A - Intentions in Architecture Synopsis No: 2
Author: Christian Norberg-Schulz
The text, “Intentions in Architecture” by Christian Norberg-Schulz was well established in a post-war
era where Norberg-Schulz expressed his opinion on Modernism. Based on intentions rather than analysis of
contextual solutions, his displeasure of the disconnection between modern and historical architecture styles
were discussed. The author questions present architects the relationship between a building’s style and its
period along with a statement that such styles were designed in response to issues of a certain era and how
architecture should be involved in tackling issues within society itself. In agreement to Norberg-Schulz’s
statement, architecture should serve the needs instead of wants of society within its cultural context.

The author focuses on learning historical architectural theories and how issues are resolved as a
base for new possibilities. In my opinion, architects should have to work within the network of these
intentions and be adaptable to different natures of society during its period of occurrence. Modern
architecture should be dependent on the existence of symbol-systems and conserve the same structural
principles practiced in the past. Once we understand the importance of historical continuity, modernism
could act as a connecting bridge between tradition, context and future modernism. It is about everchanging
growth in new architectural ways. While the author is persistent of being against the modernist movement,
the fact that the movement provides and solve society’s needs was acknowledged. This was due to the
understanding of human nature rather than just referring to the history’s motives itself, while causing a lack
of formality where the style can be overcome in various methods. Perhaps this could be due to the lack of
scale and context despite it is being a liveable condition for society.

While it is important to note that the author is not implying for a complete revival of history itself but
not a disregard to the historical precedents as well, my opinion would be that architecture should revisit its
core of solving issues in consideration to culture and context. In conclusion, I agree with the writer’s
approach in architecture.

Word Count: 337 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No.