Augmented Reality

"Augmented Reality" is a term defining the technology where the views of the physical world is augmented through means of computer generated graphics. It became a part of the digital society following the popularity of implanted camera in portable devices such as smartphones and tablets, and portable gaming devices. Using the implanted digital camera, the portable computer device would display computer generated graphics on to the screen using the camera's perspective as reference creating an augmentation of reality to the users. A distortion of the real world.

The concept of augmented of reality did not first happen in the computer age. In medieval European history. (During the 1500's) the catholic church began spending excessively, giving birth to the indulgence system : where one has to pay in monetary value for God's forgiveness. Eventually, the practice made evident the fact that Catholicism favored the wealthy over the poor. This catalyzed a major reformation of the Catholic faith, The Protestant Reformation, by Martin Luther. Luther saw that the catholic church was not in-line with what is to be expected of the faith's ideology, thus splitting from the catholic church. As the protestants became more popular, the catholic church responded with defiance :further excluding out the poor and favoring the wealthy. After 1517, the year of the reformation, The Pope began funding for more elaboration for the catholic faith. Cathedrals and monasteries were built in extreme elaboration and magnificence thus giving birth to a new style in architecture : the Baroque Style.

According to the Article: Baroque Architecture by Columbia University, "Baroque architecture is characterize by magnificence grandeur and richness in invention" Architecture began to evolve from reuse of classical elements in to adaptation of classical elements. In other words : distortion. Baroque architecture was, unlike, classical or renaissance architecture in which its purpose is merely to understand. For buildings in the baroque period, its main goal is focused mainly on creating an pretentious display of power wealth and grandeur. Buildings no longer maintained the balance it once has. Circular domes were adpated in to oval pendantic domes while buildings are disported in perspective to create a more elaborate view. An example would be a baroque grand stair case. The stairs are wider on the bottom end compare to the top-end emphasizing the strong perspective that is not there in reality. The style is about enhancement, a desire to display wealth and greatness driven by religious goals.





Another example of distortion and augmented reality is the works of the famouse Bernini in Santa Maria cathedral.Another example of distortion and augmented reality is the works of the famouse Bernini in Santa Maria Dell Vittoria. The roofs and column not only compose of extreme curvatures and strong textures but is also distorted in to perspective as it was a drawing on canvas. Repeating myself again, the perspective is not there, the depth is merely an illusion created by the distortion of Bernini's design. A pretentious display of wealth that is nothing more than an augmented reality.

Architectural Rebirth

"Change is inevitable," It is common knowledge that everything changes through time. History proves us that even the mighty Roman empire reaches its downfall, and world powers can shift a span of a single war. Change occurs constantly from the prominence of personal scale all the way to the scale of an entire cosmology. One of the most prominent changes in human civilization history began during the 15th century, following the devastating black plague. "The Rebirth," or Renaissance, is the movement of human self recognition and appreciation. A movement towards secular views following the philosophy of the Great Roman Empire.

The Renaissance movement began after the grievances caused by the Black Plague that killed over 200 million people in the 14th century. People began recognizing the value of one-self, and the desire to thrive towards secular ideologies. The term "Rebirth" alluded to the success of the Greek and Roman Empires, reverting back to the classical humanism. Thriving humans toward a self-centric views, people began believe in the greatness of humans. Praising ourselves, giving ourselves utmost priority and importance.

Transitioning from a city on the verge of bankruptcy, Florence flourished as the epicenter of the Rebirth movement, hosting trade and commerce for the European renaissance in terms of culture arts, religion, and architecture. Giving full closure on the darkness of the middle ages, Florence was the new hope, a new light hoping it would bring a better, brighter future.

One of the most recognizable aspect of the Renaissance movement is the architecture style shift from pure-Gothic Romanesque to human-centric renaissance architecture. Contrasting with Gothic Architecture Renaissance architecture catered closely to the human scale rather than depicting the greatness of the creator. The buildings focused on classical standards emphasizing strongly the proportions and symmetry and regular geometric architecture in sake of classical antiquity. Moreover, the architectural elements from the classical era are also imported into this rebirth, including post-intel, semi-circular arches, pilasters, and hemispherical dome.

By hosting these key elements in architecture, Florence became the central attraction, giving the city a different vibe to other European cities, Overhauling the image of the poor city of Florence in to a majestic metropolis. Giving out the message that humans thrive on their own greatness without need of divine intervention or any form of clairvoyance.
 


                    

Talking to Buildings

In practice, being an architect means designing for a particular client. Architects receive the basic requirements and expectations and design accordingly. The problem every architect must face is contradiction of opinions which leads to delayed progress for a particular project. The source of contradiction is our individuality, or identity. An innate quality every human possesses. We think different. As humans, we approach and solve problems differently. when a task involves more than one individual, such as architectural projects, a compromise must be made between the different parties. there must be a conversation.

Le Corbusier, a brutalist architect from the post-war era called Modernism suggests that systematic efficiency of machines should be applied to humans. He claimed that people are like machines, we have the same requirements for living, and designed for pure functionality, treating people as machine substitutes. Looking back at Le Corbusier, I often wonder who he is actually designing for? Everyone? for himself? or any one at all? Architecture in post-war era (most likely effected by shortages) would often be like a termite infested log cabin where the architecture is a log cabin and us as termites : merely infesting it. The log cabin, however, is not intended for the termites. There is no sense of belonging, nor any indication of identity and reflection of humanity. What exactly are we designing for? Are we designing for the building? Or is the building designed for us. While some argue that the functionality and efficiency of machines are the closest we can reach for perfection, they often forget that we, as humans, are not perfect. Being said, perfect buildings, aren't perfect for us. 

In the late 20th century, architecture began actually designing for humans. Eero Sarinen and his WGA airport suggests that the space does not only need to accomodate functionality, but the experience of the user as well. his wings like structure imitated the motion of flight leaving the users who came for its function a long lasting impression of the airport. Its no longer about function anymore ( thankfully), Architecture began reflecting the behavior of the users and design accordingly.
A successful example is Rem Koolhas (OMA). he began giving life to building by evoking moods and senses of the users. His buildings are made tailored-fit to the user groups. a "perfect" fit for the user groups.

Linking back in to our studio project as of the current. a Flagship store should not solely focus on the functional aspect - selling products, but rather delivering a message, evoking the sensual experience of space, reaching out to the customers in a not-so-literal-way. A flagship space should not only talking of itself. How interesting is it talking to a someone who deliberately brags about his/herself without minding the reaction or expecting a response. To create an effective flagship store, the brand must take into account the user groups and reflect upon the feedback, in this case, the brand image. The perfect space is a compromise between brand identity and brand image. The flagship talks to its users an at the same time acknowledging what the users is talking about them. Analogous to a conversation : it is most enjoyable when the stories are exchanged and responded to.