1. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN
ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS : REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2018)
NAME : MUHAMMAD MIRZA QAYYUM
STUDENT ID : 0324031
TUTOR : MR. PRINCE FAVIS ISIP
2. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2018)
Name: Muhammad Mirza Qayyum Bin Mohd Shariff ID No.: 0324031
Lecturer: Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time: 10-1PM
Reader/Text Title: Urbanism as a Way of Life Synopsis No: Set B, Text 1
Author: Louis Wirth
In ‘Urbanism as a Way of Life’, author Louis Wirth focuses on the idea of urbanism as a representation
of a way of life. His main focus was the idea of urbanism and its elements which looks beyond the mere
physical structure of a city, its economic products or its characteristic cultural institutions and instead digs
further into it to uncover the overlooked components such as the large population size, social heterogeneity
and the population density.
In his argument, Louis Wirth has noted sharp contrast in personalities between the urban and rural
people and that it may stem from the different lifestyles that they have. He used casual observers as a basis
for his statement. As a testament to his argument, Wirth noted that the city people are regarded as being
more socially tolerant than rural people but at the same time, they are more impersonal and seemingly less
friendly as a result of their adaptation to a drastic lifestyle change that potentially prevents intimate
relationships.
Besides that, Wirth states that urban living is gradually becoming a way of life for modern cities. He
views cities as a platform to promote individualism, where people are mostly in it in pursuit of their own
interests. As proof of this, urban residents do not know each other very well and because of this decline in an
intimate relationship, a chain effect may also happen in the form of a declination of traditional and sacred
things.
To conclude, I find this reader quite intriguing as it focuses on elements of urbanism that is not often
explored. The points given and explained by the author are also valid in my opinion. It makes me think about
the comparisons made by Wirth and I find it quite accurate, with myself hailing from Kuala Lumpur and had
visited several rural areas, I was able to observe the different social behaviors between the two. The level of
closeness of the individual societies are drastically different for a number of reasons. It opens my eyes on the
potential issues and solutions to have a successful urban life.
Word Count: 349 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.
3. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2018)
Name: Muhammad Mirza Qayyum Bin Mohd Shariff ID No.: 0324031
Lecturer: Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time:
Reader/Text Title: Learning from Las Vegas Synopsis No: Set B, Text 2
Author: Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, Steven
Izenour
‘Learning from Las Vegas’ discusses purely on the study of Las Vegas and its architectural communication
elements. In particular, this reader focuses on the idea of symbol over form which Las Vegas practices during
this time. As the reader goes on, the authors gradually enlighten me on the value of symbolism in architecture
that can be extracted from Las Vegas.
The architecture of Las Vegas evidences an architecture of communication over space. As proof of this
are the skyline of signs that have become a necessary communication method due to the vast space and the
speeds at which cars can travel. It intends to let itself be known and to attract people. In doing this, the symbols
have inadvertently dominated the space and causing architecture to take the back seat. This is further
strengthened by what the authors have said, that ‘architecture is no longer enough’.
Furthermore, the reader also mentions how modern architecture during this time, which was during the
late 70s, have abandoned the tradition of iconology and its architects having shunned symbolism of form.
With that said, it makes me curious and question the reason why Las Vegas has boldly chosen symbolism
over form and go against the norm of the ideals of modern architecture.
In relation to this, the authors also discussed the debate on symbolism of form as an expression or
reinforcement of content. Modern architects argued against this that the creation of architectural form was to
be a logical process, a ‘form follows function’ mentality and free from images of past experience.
To conclude this reader, I am inspired by the bold decision of Las Vegas. Though I may not necessarily
agree with all of its points, I can appreciate the idea of going against the accepted norm which was
demonstrated through Las Vegas’ architecture. From my understanding from reading this, the authors are
trying to send the message to architects to step out of their rigid views and to become more open-minded to
the idea of architecture as a symbol that is able to fulfill the requirement of a large scale commercial setting.
Word Count: 350 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.
4. BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM
(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2018)
Name: Muhammad Mirza Qayyum Bin Mohd Shariff ID No.: 0324031
Lecturer: Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time: 10-1PM
Reader/Text Title: The Geometry of Feeling Synopsis No: Set B, Text 3
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
This reader discusses the phenomenology of architecture, focusing more on the intangible aspect of
architecture. The author has stated his general concern on modern architecture in that it is turning into a
specialist profession and in doing so, has gradually detached itself from its intention and deeper meaning to
arouse the imagination of its users.
However, architecture is also believed to still be a form of free artistic expression, with the author
believing otherwise through his observation. He based his argument through the current relationship between
architecture and its experiential quality. Pallasmaa expressed that architecture has simply become a play with
form rather than the experience in a building and this results in the intangible aspect of architectural
experience to be more often than not overlooked. He also added that the experience that one goes through
in architecture is heavily dependent on the emotional tie that it has to it.
Another sub-topic discussed by the author is the ‘Primary Feelings of Architecture’. According to
Pallasmaa, in order to further personalize the emotional feelings linked to a certain building, the building
should be able to evoke a general experience that is felt by the majority of its users. Pallasmaa also thinks
that experiencing loneliness is one of the basic feelings given by architecture. In his own words, he elaborates
on this that ‘experiencing art is a private dialogue between the work and the person experiencing it’. From this
statement, it indicates that from having a strong architectural experience, it allows a sense of intimacy
alongside a sense of loneliness and silence no matter how many people are actually present in said building.
To summarize, I believe this reader is one worth reading because the author really challenges the
readers to consider the possibility of a building that is able to have aesthetic as well as being able to evoke
our feelings and imaginations. In my opinion, being able to relate to and have a sense of familiarity for a
certain building makes the work itself much more meaningful and stands itself out from the other buildings.
Word Count: 345 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.
