Architecture

1. I chose Prairie Style. It was about Frank Lloyd Wright and how he changed architecture. It discussed how houses and buildings now have more open space and how it is not all the same. For example, his doors were not just in the center front of the house. He felt that placement was important. He loved the environment and wanted there to be “environmental harmony” and a nice flow from room to room. He referred to his work as organic.

I also chose Architecture as Art. It was about Frank Gehry’s buildings and designs. He expressed how he had to respond well to the time and place. If he did not fall in love with the place and the people, he could not make a building. He also explained how for him, architecture has a lot to do with feeling and his work evolves based on what he is feeling right then and there. He also did not want to overwhelm people with his work, but draw them in. He would break his work into parts to do this.

2. They both referred to the many aspects of architecture and how it is constructed, types of building styles, materials used, etc. However, I felt as though the book went much more into depth with those things and threw a lot of information out at once while the videos were mainly about the architect being discussed and their specific work. While watching Prairie Style, I felt as though I was touring many of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses.

3. I liked the films. I felt like they helped to further understanding because there was so much visual learning involved. Footage of walking through the houses to explain what the architects were describing and pictures of drafts done before the actual building occurred were interesting to see.

4. I chose the Frank Lloyd Wright film because I remember taking a tour of his house in Buffalo when I was in third grade and being fascinated by it. Also, I had some prior knowledge so it was interesting to see what I did and did not already know about his work.

I chose the other film just because it seemed interesting. I liked the title. I’m glad I picked it because it was nice how Gehry incorporated feelings and emotions into his work and explained that in depth in the video.