The Empty Form

                The term Empty Form is not a very common word that we used to describe a space in our daily life, but there are always exist among us. Empty Form can be seen in many places as we live in a modern world, a new generation that has been upgraded. We are living our lives differently from our previous generations, with these unique ways of living there are also unique functions to the architecture as well. But there is another type of space which is very similar to Empty Form yet very different, we called it Empty Space.

                So, what is Empty Form? Empty Form is a type of a space that is not an empty space. The Empty Space is a term used for a space that used to have a function before but then that particular function disappeared. From this, we can say that Empty Space is like a dead space where there is no function left for them anymore on the other hand, The Empty Form is a space that was designed and created to serve more than just one particular function. The Empty Form has a more flexible boundary that allows numbers of functions to fit in the form.    

                For me, I think Empty Form is a very interest type of architecture not just because of the variety of functions but also the sustainability that allows it to survive form time. Time is one of the main threat for almost any architecture, due to the fact that we are always evolve and develop our life into a better, easier, and faster way of living. This constant changes results in changing of functions as well. A very solid example would be those office buildings in the past, they were designs to fit hundreds of desks, and even more papers and cabinets for those office documentary. Today we change from paper documentary into a much more compact way which is the Internet, we kind of eliminate the old way of storing and communicating into electronics. So, these days nobody needs that office building to work on those documentary anymore, this results in an empty floors on the building that cannot serve the designed functions anymore, also there is no any other functions that can be fit either. This is sad but true facts of empty space, in the end they all lose to time.

                Then, how does Empty Form survive from time? Yes, it is because of the flexibility of it. The best example that I would like to show is the Holocaust Memorial. It is a very interest place due to the fact that this big piece of land has been cover with thousands of concrete blocks with varies heights aligns into a grid system. Even the place was meant to be a grave and monument for the holocaust but yet there is no sign of that in here, every block are empty. So unlike most architecture where functions were determined by the sign that has been placed on them, this place has absolutely nothing to define its functions. That is why, people started to recognize this place differently according to them. This place has been used for many activities, playing maze for kids, landmark for tourists, even for photo shooting and modeling. This monument can be transform into playgrounds or a stage due to the flexibility that overcome the change of time.

                So, how do we design an Empty Form? I take this as a very challenging task, because we have been asked to design not only just a space for a function but a space that will survive for many years or even decades. Not just that, we need to kind of predicting the upcoming future too, we need to make sure that the space will always serve a function no matter what period of time. So, I think it is not just a small task but a truly great creation, and I have almost no idea how to begin that. I think Empty Form is a very complex type of architecture that users and time will later determine its functions and how to create one of it.