Philosophy on Art
Reading Response on: “Crime and Ornament” & “Notes on Responding to Aalto’s Buildings” by Steven Groak
Name: Muna Khalaf
Ryerson Number: 500493953
Course: IRH -115
Professor: Aina Elias
After reading both articles, it is easy for the reader to recognize both architects’ clear intentions towards their work, both having different attitudes regarding their outlooks on their buildings.
In relation to Alvar Aalto, it was realized that there were three related aspects of the buildings. The first one is the major role of light Aalto used to fulfill a harmonious purpose and to create a certain character towards each space in the building. In his Viiipuri Library1 is where his ideas were realized mostly. Devices Aalto used to generate light into the building were windows, which were mostly covered with screens to filter the light, which limited the view to the exterior. And the many light fixtures that Aalto had designed himself. The second aspect is Aalto’s conception of space embodied in the buildings2 making clear differentiation between the building’s inside and outside however with continuum of internal and external space. The process of entering and leaving his buildings are cared for with equal felicity. The third aspect is the Aalto’s usage of decoration as he suggested “the function of decoration is, as it were, to dress the buildings in conventional clothes to make them acceptable at an everyday level”3. Aalto emphasizes decoration in his buildings by choosing the materials based on colors and textures when constructing the walls, also by using the “curduroy effect of half round ceramic tiles hung vertically in panels” draping the surface.4
On the other hand, we are able to see Adolf Loose’s views on decoration, when reading his eight-page article; Loose was able to state that ornament is crime. Loose believed that modern society should reject the
Name: Muna Khalaf
Ryerson Number: 500493953
Course: IRH -115
Professor: Aina Elias
After reading both articles, it is easy for the reader to recognize both architects’ clear intentions towards their work, both having different attitudes regarding their outlooks on their buildings.
In relation to Alvar Aalto, it was realized that there were three related aspects of the buildings. The first one is the major role of light Aalto used to fulfill a harmonious purpose and to create a certain character towards each space in the building. In his Viiipuri Library1 is where his ideas were realized mostly. Devices Aalto used to generate light into the building were windows, which were mostly covered with screens to filter the light, which limited the view to the exterior. And the many light fixtures that Aalto had designed himself. The second aspect is Aalto’s conception of space embodied in the buildings2 making clear differentiation between the building’s inside and outside however with continuum of internal and external space. The process of entering and leaving his buildings are cared for with equal felicity. The third aspect is the Aalto’s usage of decoration as he suggested “the function of decoration is, as it were, to dress the buildings in conventional clothes to make them acceptable at an everyday level”3. Aalto emphasizes decoration in his buildings by choosing the materials based on colors and textures when constructing the walls, also by using the “curduroy effect of half round ceramic tiles hung vertically in panels” draping the surface.4
On the other hand, we are able to see Adolf Loose’s views on decoration, when reading his eight-page article; Loose was able to state that ornament is crime. Loose believed that modern society should reject the