Parametricism and Virtuality

Parametricism is pretty new style in architecture.  It arises not long ago, after post-fordism period, the period where everything is tailor-made, customized to fit everyone's need and preference.  Like post-fordism, parametricism offers customization, but even higher calibration by the aids of computerized softwares.  It features complex, free, organic forms that would be impossible to be made unless computer-generated.  The structures it offers are very attractive and interesting.

From my point of view, parametricism are not quite tangible yet.  Being new, there are only a few of parametric architectures nowadays.  Most of the style are being seen in digital forms, such as image renderings and 3d models.  It does show roughly what the building would look like, and a little of what the space feels like, but, I think, we need more.  It is still too virtual, and too much virtual, or in another word, simulation, can be misleading.  There is no prove that the real building could look exactly like in the simulation, because there really are a lot of restrictions in reality.
 To be fair, we could actually expect more of the style to come as it is being built, and it is no doubt that parametricism brings a whole new level in design and architecture to our world.

This is me and my friend, Sky, talking about various theories that we've learned in this semester, and discussing why people view things good or bad.

Objectifying Things

Object (n.) |ˈäbjəkt|: a material thing that can be seen and touched

Thing (n.) |THiNG|: an inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being

From the meanings, we can see that the differences between object and thing is that objects are fundamentally everything we see and touchable, while things are objects, too, but the kinds that is lifeless.  Having no life, things can also affect and influence us humans in different ways.

We identify, define what is an object, what is a thing, and we give certain values to it.  Each thing has its own value in our mind, and we then use those things to, once again, define ourselves, making us unique, being apart from others, or blend in, get into the trends.  We say that hi-end gadgets like smartphones, expensive clothing, or sport cars makes us look richer, higher class, and more power, while, on the other hand, low-technologies or old cars would look lower status-wise.  In reality, those objects might not be much different from each other, but our values that we gave to them make we see it that way.

From my point of view, the theory on Things different from person to person, because it depends on perspectives.  What is extremely valuable for one guy could worth nothing for another one, and vise versa.  It depends, too, on cultures and social norms of people.  This theory is useful when designing because the perspective of people can shift when the design of objects are attractive, as we can see that this topic is seriously taken in the movie “Objectified”.