Video Questions

Q:  For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

A: 

Prairie Style:  Frank Lloyd Wright began Prairie style, an open horizontal living space.  The big concept is floating horizontal lines.  Wright tried to make the experience of entering his house a different kind of experience and always tried to create a differing layout for houses.  His houses were not on the landscape but part of it and of it.  His houses have many open spaces including picture windows with great views.  

Architecture: The Science of Design: In major cities architects have been prompted to build skyscrapers and high rises because of lack of space.  A skyscraper is made up of the superstructure and the substructure.  Some high building sway in the wind by even a meter.  There are smart houses now that are all connected by one computer and work all together.  Reinforced concrete can be used for odd shaped buildings because of its properties.

Classical Architecture: Greek and Roman empires architecture has influenced much of modern Europe and Americas architecture.  The Queen’s house in Grenich looked as though it was from Italy.  Some architects have tweaked the Roman architecture as their own.  The column was explained, each part.  Romans invented a sort of concrete and invented the arch and the vault.  Romans were able to use columns within the building rather than outside of the building all the time.  The Bank of England can be shown with a computer and is quite extravagant.  Post modern classicism seems to poke fun at the old order of architecture.  Most architecture techniques that have survived from Roman and Greek empires is sought after even to this day.  

Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture: People do not think they can do anything about climate change but, they really can.  Sustainable development may be referred to as a revolution.  There are so many systems that can be used that minimize the harm on the Earth.  Roof gardens can be made.  The biggest difference can be made in the city, it is more than just recycling and new forms of energy.  Even highway gardens are made and are needed, proven by how much house prices went up.  Green washing may not be helping, companies need to help the public learn more about how to do something sustainably green.  Organic buildings can be made all over the world with very little metal.  Bamboo is very sturdy but, may still need concrete inside to build houses. Combining new techniques with traditional materials may be the best answer.  Sun, air, water,  the Earth itself, minerals and fire allow us to live the way we do.  As architects they must build and plan building that enable the public to live like they do.

Q: How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?
A:   The video classical architecture described the pieces of a column and that was also described in the text. Last call for planet earth had thought about sustainable development and I remember reading something about that in the architecture part of the text.  Frank Lloyd Wright was also described in the text as well as the Prairie style video.   

Q: What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?
A:  The films help me understand some of the terms and knowledge behind architecture.  I was able to get a better feeling of what architecture really is because before this I had never really been taught much about the area. 

Q: From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film? 

A:  I chose that film because I thought from the title that it would be about green architecture which is something that I am very interested in.  I am very environmental friendly and cautious when it comes to everything so I wanted to learn more about it.  And the titles of the other videos did not seem interesting to me at all.