Reading Comprehension 1

1. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house fits Wotton’s definition of commodity, firmness, and delight, because it addresses each of the concepts of commodity, firmness, and delight, as a structure built in the 20th century. As a building this structure fit the category of commodity because it was a house that would be used by the Kaufmann family, and would later become a historic landmark. The house also has a sense of firmness in the fact that it has lasted form 1939 when it was completed until today; this is evidence that the structural design of this house has been well planed and constructed. It is also a structure that has been built on a waterfall, which is one of the ways that Wright used the surrounding environment to help address the concept of delight along with the unusual horizontal structuring of the house, which was a different look during that time period.

2. From the textile images that are illustrated in the Harwood text, the center design clearly reveals influences from eastern culture and design. The use of floral rose patterns as well as light colors is a key indication of the eastern influence on this particular textile. These types of designs and patterns come mostly from the Asian culture as seen in Harwood’s text.

3. If we were to take into consideration the idea that Americans need more space then, According to U.S. citizen need for personal space the room in which our Iar222 class is held is far below the American standards. However I feel that this necessity can vary based on the function of the room. For example a classroom should have more space so that a comfortable learning environment is created. On the other hand an area that would be used solely for the purpose of sleeping would not have to be as large because a person would not be as aware of their surroundings.

4. I believe that there is no such thing as an architecture of happiness because the emotion that a room or object is intended to create may not affect everyone who uses it the same way. De Botton stated in his writing “ Architecture is perplexing too, in how inconsistent is its capacity to generate the happiness on which its claim to our attention is founded. While an attractive building may on occasion flatter an ascending mood, there will be times when the most congenial of locations will be unable to dislodge our sadness or misanthropy.” I think that this supports the fact that while a building may be intended to evoke emotions of excitement and happiness, it still may not have the ability to evoke these emotions when a person is being influenced by outside factors.

http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/themeparks/new06/patriot/wof_patriot4.shtml

For example an image like this would be considered as on that could exude happiness because many people find amusement parks and roller coasters fun and enjoyable, however if a person has had a bad experience, or they are simply afraid of them then this would not be something that enticed them. This is true for architecture, if a person can link something negative in their life to a structure then it would not matter what the architect intended a the person still would not have a happy reaction to their design.