My Personal Approach to Architecture.

I would like to communicate some important keys to the performance of an Architect for me. Without wanting to be presumptuous, I would like to suggest further approaches that emerged during classes the following key:

The architecture should provide answers a range of our client's needs or resolve problems for them, so it is essential to obtain these needs of our clients and understand thoroughly. Probably, due to the detailed study of the case, the problems raised by the client will be converted to our own problems also.

Architecture should provide answers to the range of needs, and resolve any problems, an architect's clients may have, so understanding the needs of our clients thoroughly is essential.  Probably, through a detailed study of each case, the problems raised by the client will, inevitably, be the architects challenge to solve.

The location and its environment are sources of inspiration, and will always be a good beginning point of departure for our project. We must not forget that the creation or construction of a work of architecture needs the commitment of an architect beyond the immediate scope of the client's needs as it involves urban planning, environmental considerations and understanding of energy costs. our transformation of the territory involves a commitment architect beyond the scope of our client's needs. (urban planning, environmental care, energy cost, etc.) Don't use (brackets), etc. or dots...

The development of the idea, our project, must answer to the architectural scope obtained. An architectural answer should contain all above without forgetting that it must be realistic (buildable) and usable (functional).

The function of architecture should culminate in the execution of the project, only then will it become a reality. An architect must have a well learned and experienced job to lead and develop all phases necessary in completion of the project to complete the projected content.

Tadao Ando 'on site' in the Azuma House or Row House

Aldo Rossi on site.

The functionality is the result of it.-

The difference between a sculpture and a work of architecture is based, in my opinion, is that architecture has to function and not only be contemplated to have a function far from just being contemplated. The result of an architectural project includes, not only modelling of space, but also the satisfaction of making man to dwell or even be content. satisfy man to inhabit on. Furthermore, if it is possible to make the man happy.

Tristan Tzara House, 1925 Adolf Loos

"There is only one small part of architecture belongs to art: the tomb and memorial. Everything else, which serves a purpose, should be excluded from the realm of art." Adolf Loos

Vitruvio: UTILITAS - VENUSTAS - FIRMITAS
(I've seen translated as 'solid - useful - beautiful')

Antonio Gaudi "Architecture is the arrangement of the light; sculpture is the play of light."

The architecture is reality.-

All of the above will not make sense if we do not is meaningless unless we include our ambitions in the implementation of the project. ed work.

Louis Khan "Architecture does not exist. There is a work of architecture."

In other words, if development of our work we only get drawings on paper or digital format, really it is not an architectural masterpiece, only is beautiful paintings to hang on the wall of our office study. And the age will be responsible to become old the design drawings that were a good seed but did not flourish emerged.

"Mr. Van der Rohe, how do get those big flat roofs?" - "Well... leaky." Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe

Aristotle "A force built well, you get to good architect"

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - See more at: http://blog.workflowmax.com/architecture/top-101-exceptionally-badass-quotes-architecture-design-legends/#sthash.GT8xUMM7.dpuf

 I've seen it translated as different things, I like this one 'We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act but a habit.' or perhaps more simply '`practice makes perfect.'

e are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habi - See more at: http://blog.workflowmax.com/architecture/top-101-exceptionally-badass-quotes-architecture-design-legends/#sthash.GT8xUMM7.dpuf

e are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habi - See more at: http://blog.workflowmax.com/architecture/top-101-exceptionally-badass-quotes-architecture-design-legends/#sthash.GT8xUMM7.dpuf

Paco Cruz

I would like to communicate some important keys to the performance of an Architect for me. Without wanting to be presumptuous, I would like to suggest further approaches that emerged during classes the following key:

The architecture should provide answers a range of our client's needs or resolve problems for them, so it is essential to obtain these needs of our clients and understand thoroughly. Probably, due to the detailed study of the case, the problems raised by the client will be converted to our own problems also.

The location and its environment as sources of inspiration, It will always be a good beginning for our project. We must not forget that our transformation of the territory involves a commitment architect beyond the scope of our client´s needs. (urban planning, environmental care, energy cost, etc.)

The development of the idea. Our project. The project must be answer to the architectural scope obtained. An architectural answer should contain all above without forgetting that must be realist (buildable) and usable (functional).

The function of architecture should culminate in the execution of the project, only then will become a reality. Architect must have a well learned and experienced job to lead and develop all phases necessary to complete the projected content.

Tadao Ando 'on site' in the Azuma House or Row House

Aldo Rossi on site.

The functionality is the result of it.-

The difference between a sculpture and a work of architecture is based, in my opinion, to have a function far from just being contemplated. The result of an architectural project includes, not only modelling of space, but also satisfy man to inhabit on. Furthermore, if it is possible to make the man happy.

Tristan Tzara House, 1925 Adolf Loos

"There is only one small part of architecture belongs to art: the tomb and memorial. Everything else, which serves a purpose, should be excluded from the realm of art. "Adolf Loos

Vitruvio: UTILITAS - VENUSTAS - FIRMITAS

Antonio Gaudi "Architecture is the arrangement of the light; sculpture is the play of light."

The architecture is reality.-

All of the above will not make sense if we do not include in our ambitions the implementation of the projected work.

Louis Khan "Architecture does not exist. There is a work of architecture."

In other words, if development of our work we only get drawings on paper or digital format, really it is not an architectural masterpiece, only is beautiful paintings to hang on the wall of our study. And the age will be responsible to become old the design drawings that were a good seed but did not emerged.

"Mr. Van der Rohe, how do get those big flat roofs?" - "Well... leaky." Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe

Aristotle "A force build well, you get to good architect"

Thank you very much for reading and correcting my ever humble opinion about architectural theory!

High Line Park, New York

High Line, New York, Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Piet & Field Operations

The park, which was opened five years ago, recovers brings the disused elevated 'West Side Line' railway back into use, along more than two kilometres southwest of Manhattan.

The project brings back into use the metallic structure of the rails and designs a green platform where paths, relaxation areas, exhibitions and small shops are arranged.

New paths, relaxation areas, exhibition spaces and small shops are arranged along the metal structure of the rails, which have been incorporated into the design, creating an elevated green platform.

The work recreates revives the old spaces such as the stations through a new recreational space.

The floor has been distributed in different areas of planting. Different areas of planting create distinct zones along the park. The vegetation ranges from different types of grass lawn, shrubs, perennials trees to more tropical plants such as banana trees.

The pavements are resolved in constructed from precast concrete with wood finished Ip. The old rails have been restored to define the edges of the planting alcorques. The stair walls are faced with aged Steel.

The High Line Park is a great roof garden that allows a new model to walk and enjoy of Manhattan.

Not only is The High Line Park in Manhattan a great public park but it is also a model for how we can rediscover and re-use the abandoned spaces of our great cities.

Ana María Palacios Vega

The park, which was opened five years ago, recovers the disused elevated railways, along more than two kilometres southwest of Manhattan (the West Side Line).

The Project brings back into use the metallic structure of the rails and designs a green platform where are arranged paths, relaxation areas, exhibitions and small shops.

The work recreates the old spaces (stations, railways…) through a new recreational space.

The floor has been distributed in different areas of planting. The vegetation ranges from different types of lawn, shrubs, perennials trees to more tropical plants such as banana trees.

The pavements is resolved in precast concrete with wood finished Ip. The old rails have been restored to define alcorques. The stairs´ walls are faced with aged Steel.

The High Line Park is a great roof garden that allows a new model to walk and enjoy of Manhattan.

Ludwig Hilberseimer. Vertical City - César Cruz Gómez

Vertical City  is Ludwig Hilberseimer’s response to Le Corbusier’s proposals for the cities of the twentieth century. It was published in 1927 in his book titled “Large-town Architecture”. The project is a theoretical attempt to simplify the transportation and sanitation problems of the modern city. It is also a critique to his time city of cities of his time like Chicago or New York, which he considered to be the product of property speculation.

His 'Vertical City' proposal was to be located in Berlin city center the centre of Berlin close to the Branderburg Gate. It is composed of 9 blocks of 600x100 meters and 60 meters wide streets oriented north-south. It consisted of a grid of nine blocks, three blocks square, each six hundred metres long and a hundred metres wide, orientated north to south and separated by 60 metre wide streets. (I've moved the sentence that was here.

Hilberseimer´s focus was to reduce the traffic in the city by getting rid of the need of transportation. This way, the journey from house to work is done by elevator. It was also an attempt to increase the population density of the European city.

The programme of this city is vertically zone, stacked according to their function; parking and the underground system below, road traffic, pedestrians, commercial and offices on 'ground' level, with pedestrians and residential above.

The city is split. The industry, shops and offices are located in the five first floors. Over them are situated the 15 floors dwellings, located surrounding a vast courtyard.

César C.

Vertical City  is Ludwig Hilberseimer’s response to Le Corbusier’s proposals for the cities of the twentieth century. It was published in 1927 in his book titled “Large-town Architecture”. The project is a theoretical attempt to simplify the transportation and sanitation problems of the modern city. It is also a critique to his time city of cities of his time like Chicago or New York, which he considered to be the product of property speculation.

It is located in Berlin city center, close to the Branderburg Gate and it is composed of 9 blocks of 600x100 meters and 60 meters wide streets oriented north-south. The program of this city is vertically zone, stacked according to their function (parking, underground, road traffic, pedestrians, commercial and offices, pedestrians and residential).

Hilberseimer´s focus is to reduce the traffic in the city getting rid of the need of transportation. This way, the journey from house to work is done by elevator. It is also an attempt to increase the european cities density.

The city is split. The industry, shops and offices are located in the five first floors. Over them are situated the 15 floors dwellings, located surrounding a vast courtyard.

SMART CITY

The 'Smart City' concept essentially means efficiency based on the intelligent management and integration of information and communications technologies and the citizens' active participation. 

They are identified by six key elements: 

• Theories of regional competitiveness
• Transport and ICT economics
• Natural resources
• Human and social capital
• Quality of life, and 
• Participation of the citizens in the governance of cities

This concept of city can be identified in the next three examples of cities with smart solutions:

The first one is Soto del Real, a village located in Madrid, in which the street’s illumination was changed to LEDs solutions to reduce local economy and improve energetic efficiency and save money for the local economy. 

Another example of smart solutions for cities is hybrid buildings which consist of a mixture of uses inside the same building, such as public administrations or public services. Hybridisation of architecture could reduce distance, mobility and cost and in this way increase comfort and wellbeing for its users. 

The third example is the mobile and web application “What-If”, in which citizens provide feedback about the city and suggest solutions for problems they observe.

It’s necessary for the city to use new technologies to improve its citizens' lives. I think this concept is good for cities and contributes to the inhabitants comfort and wellbeing. Definitely, in this global society in which everybody has smartphones, why not uses smart technologies to improve cities?

Francisco Delgado Granadilla. 

The Smart city concept essentially means efficiency based on the intelligent management and integrated ICTs, and activates citizen’s participation.

They are identified by six key elements: Theories of regional competitiveness, transport and ICT economics, natural resources, human and social capital, quality of life, and participation of the citizens in the governance of cities. 

This concept of city can be identified in the next three examples of cities with smart solutions. The first one is Soto del Real, a village located in Madrid, in which the street’s illumination was changed by Led’s solutions to reduce local economy and improve energetic efficiency. Another example of smart solutions for cities are hybrid buildings, which consist of a mixture uses inside the same building, such as public administrations or public services. That could generate less distance, mobility and cost; and more comfort and wellbeing for their citizens. The third example is the mobile and web application “What-If”, in which citizens provide feedback about the city and their solutions for problems they observe.

It’s necessary for the city to use new technologies to improve their inhabitant’s life. I think this concept is good for cities and contribute to inhabitants comfort and wellbeing. Definitely, at this global society in which everybody has smartphones, ¿why not uses smart technologies to improve cities?

Urban park and Sport Centre in Brenes

On this project there are two important aspects to keep in mind. One for the site that is inserted in between residential, industrial and rural areas, and another for the restrictive infrastructures and the stream that frame the place. That is why it was necessary to propose a master plan and then the building itself.

The area is now in decline and is to be reinstated as an urban element of the city. The regeneration of the study plan tries to articulate the flow of citizens between the residential area and the orchards by the stream.

At present the existing use does give material form to only two dimensions (linear and surface). In this proposal the territory achieves the third and fourth dimension (volume and time/life). The plan adapts to the topography of the zone with a kind of platform; green spaces are integrated throughout.

The sport centre and the services facilities are built in one of the platforms which solves the differences in height. This building digs into the new topography and plays with the quality of light, depth and shade.

Carmen Carlota

On this project there are two important aspects to keep in mind. One for the site that it is inserted in between residential, industrial and rural areas, and another for the restrictive infrastructures and the stream that frame the place. That is why it was necessary to propose a master plan and then the building itself.

The area is now in decline and is to be reinstated as an urban element of the city. The regeneration of the study plan tries to articulate the flow of citizens between the residential area and the orchards by the stream.

At present the existing use does give material form to only two dimensions (linear and surface). On this proposal the territory achieves the third and fourth dimension (volume, time and life).The plan adapts to the topography of the zone with a kind of platforms and green spaces are integrated throughout.

The sport centre and the services are built in one of the platform which solves the differences on high. Yhis building digs in the new topography and plays with quiality of light, depth and shade.

A city called Seville

Plaza de España 

Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1929,  this plaza is now a gathering place for national tourism. The semicircular building was designed by the architect Aníbal González, the greatest predictor master of the Sevillian Regionalist style.

A gallery with a row of arches runs the entire length of the facade, starting from a central body and terminating in two towers arranged at the corners of the giant square. at the ends. All Spanish cities are represented in a each sector of the semicircle as a symbol of national unity.

Reales Alcázares

Located in the vicinity of the Mosque complex, the palace is the best built heritage of Muslim culture. It represents the influence of the various cultures that have passed through Seville from late eleventh century to the present day. 

For centuries, this palace has been the official residence of the Spanish monarchy. Walking in his the paths between orange trees transports us to another era that certainly has marked the history of the city.

Patio de Banderas

Attached to the perimeter walls of the Alcazar, is a square designed, in its origins, as the threshold for visitors to the palace. Currently, it is a place of transit between the Cathedral and the Jewish neighborhood.

From inside the square, the views of the Cathedral and the Giralda are especially appreciated. Here we find the oldest trace of the occupation of the city: the remains of buildings corresponding to the first half of the eighth century B.C..

Archivo de Indias

Built between 1572 and 1629, it arose from the needs of trade and commerce with goods from America. In the late eighteenth century becomes the General Archive of the Indies in order to keep all relevant documents about  the Spanish dominions in India. 

It is a square building with two floors and a arranged around a large central courtyard. The exterior walls are rhythmically modulated by pilasters of low relief.

(I've changed the sentence order in this part. It makes more sense to have two sentences about the history of the function of the building and then two about the architectural description.)

Torre del Oro

A 36 meters high 12-sided tower and dodecagonal plant, it is located on the left cathedral side of the Guadalquivir River. It was originally part of a stretch of wall that starts from the Alcázar, and barred the way to the Arenal de Sevilla. (Why was it important to bar the way to the Arenal? What was it then?)

The building, travel destination from America, it is placed at the end of the navigable stretch of the Guadalquivir river. Built between 1220 and 1221, is currently used for the Naval Museum of Seville.

 Pedro Luis González



Plaza de España
 

Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1929,  is a gathering place for national tourism. The semicircular building was designed by the architect Aníbal González, the greatest predictor of the Sevillian Regionalist style.

A gallery with a row of arches on the facade, runs its entire length, starting from a central body and terminating in two towers at the ends. All Spanish cities are represented in a sector of the semicircle as a symbol of national unity. 

Reales Alcázares

Located in the vicinity of the Mosque complex, is the best built heritage of Muslim culture. Represents the influence of the various cultures that have passed through Seville from late eleventh century to the present day.

 For centuries, this palace has been the official residence of the Spanish monarchy. Walking in his paths between orange trees transports us to another era that certainly has marked the history of the city.

Patio de Banderas

Attached to the perimeter walls of the Alcazar, is a square designed, in its origins, as threshold for visitors to the palace. Currently, it is a place of transit between the Cathedral and the Jewish neighborhood.

From inside the square, the views of the Cathedral and the Giralda are especially appreciated. Here we find the oldest trace of the occupation of the city: the remains of buildings corresponding to the first half of the eighth century before Christ.

Archivo de India

Built between 1.572 and 1.629, arises from the need to trade and commerce with goods from America. It is a square building with two floors and a large central courtyard.

The exterior walls are rhythmically modulated by pilasters of low relief. In the late eighteenth century becomes the General Archive of the Indies in order to keep all relevant documents about  the Spanish dominions in India.

Torre del Oro

A 36 meters high tower and dodecagonal plant, it is located on the left side of the Guadalquivir River. It was part of a stretch of wall that starts from the Alcázar, and barred the way to Arenal de Sevilla.

The building, travel destination from America, it is placed at the end of the navigable stretch of the Guadalquivir river. Built between 1220 and 1221, is currently used for the Naval Museum of Seville.

Pedro Luis González