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WHOLENESS AS A BASIC ASSUPTION FOR UNDERSTANDING OF MEANING PROVIDED BY ARCHITECTURAL LANGUAGE
Kinnert, Filip ; Löw, Jiří (referee) ; Michl, Jan (referee) ; Horáček, Martin (advisor)
Is it possible to perceive places and architectural forms as meaningful but without symbolic references? Is it possible to talk about the spirit of a place and life in things without kitschy sentimentality? This thesis approaches architecture as a built environment, and studies how we humans can relate to the context of the natural environment not only by means of interventions but also by satisfying the urge for meaning by mutual co-creation. A certain way of thinking, mainly oriented toward utility and abstract concepts, makes it impossible for us to viscerally connect with our environment. This appears as a part of the environmental crisis, the loss of sense of place, and the inability to create new soulful places. The theoretical basis for this thesis is theories by Christopher Alexander. His idea of wholeness overcomes the apparent alienation from nature, or the division between the subject and so-called “objective reality” and allows us to approach life and the environment in another way than as a mere mechanism. From the perspective of wholeness, the study of architectural language consists of recognizing the meanings of architectural forms as references on the one hand and, on the other hand, meanings of forms that express value by themselves. The latter belongs to the experience of our own subjectivity. Such meanings are expressed for example by art, but they are present in everyday life, and they can be reflected in the order of things, or in places thanks to our own experience of home – a place par excellence. In this endeavor for recognition, I search for support in the works of researchers of the phenomenological approach to architecture, and experts in the fields of philosophy, art, and science, who seem to work with the same assumption of wholeness. Using induction, comparison, and logical argumentation, I point to the correlations between the approaches, and I use their terminology as complementary in my own observations and examples. I offer this thesis to the discussion on the unified architectural theory. I also see opportunity in a vision of sensitive continuity on the richness of the architectural heritage without showing off the “ever new" architectural forms and, on the contrary, scrupulous imitation of "historical" forms. The mainly theoretical work is added with empirical research, in which I point out that some non-visual characteristics of structures can be of the same or even greater importance in evaluating the degree of life (wholeness) than the visual complexity. In doing so, I question some of the conclusions of the leading researchers in the field who investigate the concept of wholeness quantitatively.
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Res Publica: ANNEXION / Brno – Římské náměstí (Roman´s Square)
Musálek, Filip ; Chládek, Pavel (referee) ; Nový, Vítězslav (advisor)
This diploma thesis deals with possibilities of designing contemporary buildings in the historical context of the city center. Emphasis is placed on the urban integration of new volumes into the current structure of the city and the place with its genius loci. The result of the design should be houses with a character and clear layout, using high-quality materials, especially with different forms and modifications of the plaster that is typical for the construction industry in Central Europe. The suggestion is the author's answer to the question of a "normal house" in the city center.
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Public spaces of the city of Brno - theoretical work
Lelkes, Ivana ; Adamková, Jana (referee) ; Kopáčik, Gabriel (advisor)
Master´s thesis adresses the issue of public spaces of inner city of Brno. These spaces have good prerequisities to become attractive places for everyday use or for spending a good free time. These prerequsities include for example compact city structure, well defined public spaces, walking city distances, presence of public and commercial facilities and distinctive genius loci. But public spaces in these localities often do not fulfill their own potential and stay as average free space inbetween buildings. Thesis suggests a detailed system for categorisation of squares and streets in the inner city of Brno and examines the reasons for potential non-fulfillment on these typologies, it tries to find out the problems of public spaces and how they can be solved.
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The Brownfields solutions within the Czech Republic - Tepna Nachod
Pitáková, Martina ; Erben, Adam (referee) ; Pavlovský, Tomáš (advisor)
The thesis deals with urban study for the central part of the town of Náchod, located in the proximity of the town’s historic core. The relief of the landscape lends distinctiveness to the whole area. This fact was taken into consideration when elaborating the urban concept which orientates the design towards the centre and the castle. The design is formed by three pillars – functions: square – culture, park – relax and housing. As regards the territory in question, Náchod has a great potential. My attempt was to understand it and create an area in the town centre which would have significant unified city-forming character, and which would enhance the core – the centre of the town.
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Vitality in the architectonic environment
Eyer, David ; Horáček, Martin (referee) ; Hudec, Mojmír (referee) ; Kyselka, Mojmír (referee) ; Žabičková, Ivana (advisor)
More and more research studies are being conducted on the quality of architectural space as a factor affecting our mental, social and physical health. In the past, this topic was often overlooked in its complexity. The establishment of the specialized fields of building biology, biophilic architecture and the works of Christopher Alexander and Nikos Salingaros now allow us to consider various facets of this subject. This dissertation aims to analyse the topic of vitality in architectural space by studying the abilities and perceptions of its users. Therefore its aim is not to develop a new theory of “vitality-enhancing architectural space”, but to describe how this phenomenon is perceived by the users themselves. Users can provide feedback on which features of architectural space they see as the most important for the feeling of vitality. These features have been hierarchically organized based on their perceived importance, analysed and described in detail to allow their relatively easy application in practice. This dissertation will also allow a comparison with other existing works on the studied topic.
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Sports and Relaxation Centre Vsetín, Ohrada
Tallmayer, Dominik ; Kotek, arch Jakub (referee) ; Odvárka, Antonín (advisor)
This paper aims to elaborate an urbanistic study focused on the establishment of a multifunction athletic and recreational area located in Vsetín-Ohrada, carrying the name of the location, Ohrada. The reason to elaborate on this project is the current desolate state of the area, which already does not fulfil its purpose and serves only as lodgings and as a facility for the tennis club. My approach for this project implies identified accidence of buildings with an emphasis on maximal use of daylight, open spaces, green areas, and social interactions. All of these parts connect ideas and needs of future generations and deliver into the area new Genio Loci. For me, the biggest challenge in this complex area is finding the answer to meaningful use of the big amount of soil that is part of the canker tribune. The solution for this challenge might be in the creation of new access paths and footbridge to the buildings which provide several parts of space with different atmosphere and purpose. The main idea was the creation of a leisure public space with an emphasis on the variability of used areas that serve people from all age groups. It creates several main areas that divide the location and deliver various atmospheres for each generation. Additionally, the area as a whole is open and accessible to the public. A sign of long-term functional society is the ability of considerable behaviour toward public areas. Space in front of and between buildings happened to be more important than the building itself. In this case, we can talk about public life that is sustainable in time.
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Reconstruction the Football Stadium for Lužánky in Brno
Hegrová, Kateřina ; Antl, Roman (referee) ; Ruller, Ivan (advisor)
The project of the stadium Za Lužánkami is situated in an area with almost tangible genius loci. At the same time this locality is bound to the biggest successes of the football in Brno and thus it also has a very strong sport tradition. Ponava has a huge potential of becoming a favored sport and recreational area. Development of the sport infrastructure and quality public spaces will once again incorporates Ponava among the desired localities. The design of the football stadium reflects the situation of the current structure. The decision to keep a part of the eastern stand (based on the structural engineer’s consult) became a determining factor for the whole design. It became the starting point from where everything else developed. The building of the stadium becomes a local dominant dressed in colors of Brno but at the same time it remains a part of its immediate environment hidden behind the trees of Mendel university arboretum.
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