Parametricism and the Virtuals

                Parametric is a new style of architecture that emerges after the period of modernism. This Parametricism has unique characteristics in term of forms compared to the previous styles due to the “flow” of it. We can see from many parametric buildings that their forms has been adapt from the normal geometric to a much more flexible yet systematic shapes. It is quite clear that parametric introduces complex dynamic forms that have been designed with the use of computer programs. The software has a great role to help the designer create new architectures by curves, slopes, patterns, etc. The parametric show us that aesthetic values are one of the main components of it, while the surroundings of the building also has a great impact on the designing shape.

                One of my favorite examples of parametric in architecture comes from one of the most well-known architect, Zaha Hadid. Her work such as “Beko masterplan” and “abu dhabi performing art centre” are very impressive examples that we can literally see the “flow” from those buildings. We can see that parametric buildings are not just only about designing unique forms, there has some connections with the environments as well. I had to admit that it is interesting to see that parametricism and space existed and also complementing each other. We can see that prametricism is not just random forms but it is in fact, carefully calculated both in terms of functions and aesthetic which is very impressive for me.

                Then what is the “virtual”? It is the term that refers to things that seems to be real but actually it is not. It might seems hard to imagine what I am talking about but if you look at our daily lives closely you will find that we actually has connections with this virtual that we might think. Virtual can be seen mostly in simulated worlds, games and even the internet itself that we all use nowadays. The idea is about having parallel worlds that seems to be quite real for example The Sims but actually it is not even close to our reality, it just seem to be. It cannot be touch physically but in mentally it can be even more real than our world that some people might think it is ideal, just like the gamer couples that “accidently” left their own child to death of hunger while living in their own “virtual” world.

The Dialogue

Things and Objects

                These two words are quite common in our daily life, actually it may be seen too many times that we started to ignore the real meaning of it. First I would like to start with the different in meaning of these words. It is very difficult in order to explain the different but I would say that everything can be considered as an object but not just everything can be refers as thing.

                 According to my understanding we separate things and objects by its function. Things refer to something that has more than one function as the time goes by it started to have more and more use of it, assigned by not just humans but sometimes animals as well. We can see in the film Dawn of Man, bone that is actually made as a structure in our body suddenly develop another function thanks to the apes, bone become a tool/weapon which obviously new task for it. The bone has been “objectified” just like many things else in our world, the nature helps evolving “things” along with time. On the other hand, objects are refer to things that stick to the reason at the beginning and keep it that way through time. It can be said that objects are timeless, they stay as what they were before, while things keep changing over time along with human and animals. The evolution of nature and lifestyle causes things to keep going non-stop. 

The system of ecology

When talking about a theory that involve deep ecology, first thing to understand is that the different in perspectives between normal and deep. Both of them may concern about same thing or object but the boundary of each type are quite different. When we talk about a deep ecology of something no matter it is an object, or living organism, we always study in a large scale. Let think about it for a second, and then try to imagine a pen as an example. In a holistic point of view, we only analyze mainly about its components and function, but when we go beyond that into the “deep ecology” we are not just observe about how many parts of it? Or about how they move? We are looking at the connections between the pen and the natural resources, basically the world. We are questioning how it was made? Which materials do we need? How much do we have to use? Or even how this pen will affects the future world.

As you can see that, deep ecology is basically the study of relationships that goes beyond simple things into a more serious consequence. We can say that it is about the chain effects that one thing can create, which is very interesting because there are many examples that shows how important this theory could be. Let’s think about the system as a plan to perfection and then apply it to the concept of topos. I personally think that system is what makes a place become a utopia because the fact that system would provide the best solution for many things for example the most suitable way to organize resources, which sure will create a well community. But still, just like the utopia, this system is not entirely real, it is like a guideline which is not practical enough for us, the human. So, the will not only lack of the ability to change human nature but also it will not guaranteed that people will followed it to the letter. For me, it is still just an idea, but a great idea that help every people in a  scale.