POWER is… ARCHITECTURE

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Vocabulary Power - ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something. - political or national strength: the balance of power in Europe. - great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force. - the possession of control or command over others - political ascendancy or control in the government of a country, state, etc. Architecture - the profession of designing buildings, open areas, communities, and other artificial constructions and environments, usually with some regard to aesthetic effect. Maquette - a small model or study in three dimensions for either a sculptural or an architectural project.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain was designed by Frank Gehry, an American architect. It is considered by some to be the “greatest building of our time”. What do you think of when you see this building?

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao Spain This is the front entrance to the Guggenheim Museum. The topiary sculpture is by Jeff Koons. It is called “Puppy”. This museum is located in the Basque region of Spain in a mid-sized city. Was this a successful building? Why?

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai U.A.E. "A nation's glory is measured by its past and present and its civilised development, perpetuating the memory of the past, the construction of the present and the planning of the future." H.H General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.

Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai U.A.E. Designed to resemble a billowing sail, the hotel soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai coastline. At night, it offers an unforgettable sight, surrounded by choreographed colour sculptures of water and fire. This all-suite hotel reflects the finest that the world has to offer. With your chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, discreet in- suite check in, private reception desk on every floor and a brigade of highly trained butlers who provide around-the-clock attention, you can be assured of a highly personalised service throughout your stay. What do you think? What does this building symbolize to the people who created it?

Mont St. Michel, France When I see this building I think of….

Mont St. Michel, Northwest France Mont-Saint-Michel is a 1-ha (3-acre) rocky islet topped by a famous Gothic abbey, 1.6 km (1 mi) off the coast of Normandy in northwest France in the Bay of Mont- Saint-Michel in the English Channel. The island, located 5 km (3 mi) from the shore during the Middle Ages, is now surrounded by water only two times a month. Its one cobblestone street climbs in three spirals from a great granite base to the towering Benedictine abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, an architectural masterpiece built in the 13th century, replacing the original abbey, which was founded in 708 by Saint Aubert, bishop of Avranches, but destroyed by King Philip II of France in Its fortifications enabled the islet to withstand repeated English assaults during the Hundred Years' War. The abbey served as a prison during Napoleon I's reign. Restored after 1863, and connected to the mainland by a causeway (completed 1875), the abbey is preserved as a national historical monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of France's great tourist attractions. The abbey is celebrated in Henry Adam's classic study of medieval Christianity, Mont Saint Michel and Chartres (1913).

When I see this building it makes me think of… Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Santiago de Compostela is this region of Spain's most famous and illustrious city and it holds a vast medieval district with many monuments and buildings of not just Spanish, but international importance. The entrance is Santiago Cathedral. The cathedral itself is the final destination for thousands of Christian pilgrims who walk the "Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago)" pilgrimage across Galicia in order to reach this impressive city and visit the tomb of Saint James. All serious records about Santiago de Compostela commence around the ninth century which coincide with the discovery of the remains of the apostle, Saint James, in the vicinity where the city now lies.

examples of maquettes

The Project This is a project about POWER and how different people, organizations and/or governments portray their vision of power through the architecture they choose to create. Now it is your turn… You are the client and you are the architect. Create a maquette/model of the building that best represents YOU in a position of POWER. Compose a 2 -3 paragraph “architect’s” statement about the design of your maquette. What does your building represent? What is it’s purpose/funciton? What building materials would you use? Where would it be built and why?

Why are we doing this? This project will sharpen your critical thinking skills and your ability to analyze information in a creative manner such as: Is Architecture art? How does architecture symbolize power? What is power to you? This project will expose you to thinking 3-dimensionally. You will have to create and design “in the round” - a much different concept than simply drawing on a flat piece of paper. To Have Fun!

What you need to do to get an “A” - Thoroughly research what you plan to build. Develop a multitude of ideas in your sketchbook. Be open to explore new media for the creation of your maquette. Be creative. Complete the project on time. (please reference the rubric handed out at the beginning of class for more specific information.)

Next Class time be prepared to: Begin sketching ideas. Research any contextual information needed to start work.