Vincent Hsu: August 2008

Fluid Thoughts to Actions

Week 1 task

Week 2 - Research

Cultural Background of Utzon
The cultural background of Copenhagen architect Jorn Utzon in some aspects can be revealed through his many significant works. His style is presented through his iconic monumental civic buildings. His complex inspirations are significantly influenced by Alvar Aalto’s sculptural quality and Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic structures.
Aalto whom was a major influence to Utzon was a master in form and planning. His ideas largely focused on details that relate a building intuitively and successfully to its occupants. Aalto was significant because a synthesis of rational with intuitive design principles allowed him to utilized several aspects of different design movements and prefabricate Finnish architecture during his time.
Frank Lloyd Wright was the other major influence to Utzon largely because of his new concepts of interior space in architecture. He refuted the use of enclose space to define an area, but instead uses screening techniques and subtle chances in ceiling elevation to redefine and allow a definition for a particular space.
Utzon’s design formula consisted not only traditional retrospective design methods, but also incorporates art that portrays his forms into poetic inventions and exhibits thoughtful function, structural integrity and sculptural harmony.
Upon these rubrics of his design formulas, Utzon had one other significant element in his design, that is, the manipulation of light. Because the climate in Sydney allows a large surface exposure of sunlight, this allows Utzon to utilize opaque Arabian-alike tiles to craft the roof top of the opera house. Utzon also maps the sun path and allows light penetration through glass panels during times of low sun angles.

Previous designs
Bagsvaerd Church
Utzon interplays all three of this day lighting themes in the Bagsvared Church. These three themes include:
· Understanding that reflected or diffused light is usually preferable to a directed view of a light source.
· Sensitivity to the sun’s daily and annual paths though the sky with reference to particular places.
· Realization that light receiving devices could be made into inhabitable spaces.
The structure itself is virtually windowless and the occupant confronts the opaque enclosing walls, yet one is astonished by the interior spaces suffused with illumination.
The sun travels low in the Scandinavian sky and hence often causes a glare issue. Utzon designs to occupant ergonomics via allowing light to enter through sky light and refractive and reflective diffusion via building surfaces. This prevents all direct sunlight from reaching our eyes and causing glare.
The “happy to walk” corridors are elongated and nearly every room in the church is surrounded by two light sources and an illuminated corridor and courtyard.
The Bagsvarerd church represented not only a technical, but also a psychological breakthrough in 20th century architecture.

Kuwait National Assembly
During 1970 – 1983, the Kuwait National Assembly was created. This time, Utzon was highly concerned with the relationship between man and nature as he comments that “The dangerously strong sunshine in Kuwait makes it necessary to protect yourself in the shade – the shade is vital for your existence...”

From the buildings southeast entry to its shaded square on the northwest, the architect creates a softened version of the harsh exterior climate for human inhabitancies.
The interesting thing about this design is that it consisted of conflicting elements in which defends against natures harsh climatic conditions yet concurs with Utzon’s notions of fabric forms and curved models.