Complex Building Reading List

Here you can find the Complex Building reading list, consiting of plural and diverse approaches to architectural complexity. It is split into two parts:  

Books
The books are being ordered and will be placed in the studio for all students to access.They are a series of broad reference texts to be used of one's own accord  For the purpose of equal access, the  books should reamain in the studio.

Articles/Excerpts
A collection of short articles and excerpts from larger texts, all in PDF format. These are meant as condensed and specific readings that one should read. We plan to set out one day in mid-to-late April for a class discussion of these texts.

 

Junkspace  Rem Koolhaas

Made in Tokyo: Introduction  Atelier Bow Wow 

A Conversation with Jacques Herzog  Jeffrey Kipnis and Jacques Herzog

Ten Points on an Architecture of Regionalism  Kenneth Frampton

The Generic City  Rem Koolhaas

Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture: Preface + Point 1 and 2  Robert Venturi

Structure,Construction, Tectonics  Eduard F. Sekler

2 Articles feat. Valerio Olgiati from A+U Magazine

Concept Sketching_Phase 3_22.03

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Concept Sketching_Phase 2_19.03-21.03

MAKING WORLDS_
EXTENDING IDEAS INTO SPACE

Further concept development through three dimensional sketching onsite at Haukeland University Hospital.

The workshop outline can be read here.
For further reference, as mentioned within the outline, one can have a look at the 53rd Venice Art Biennale, the writings of Édouard Glissant and Nelson Goodman and the artwork of Tatiana Trouvé.

Haukeland University Hospital _ Presentation_19.03

view presentation here

Helse Bergens Arealplan_Current Projects 
Helge Bergmann, Project Office

Concept Sketching_Phase 1_13.03-15.03

3 days - 5 exercises

The development of first intentions through a series of models, drawings, texts, presentations and discussions.

Process photos courtesy of Andre Fontes

Revised Spring Semester Schedule

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Plurality and Complexity

As a starting point to the Complex Building course, which focuses on Bergen's Haukeland University Hospital, the notion of architectural complexity was introduced through a series of historical examples such as the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy (left) and the Mosque–Cathedral in Córdoba, Spain (right). Evident in these examples is how plural conditions (culture, economy, climate, technology, scale, religion, politics, time, etc.) shape architecture and vice-versa. A main focus this semester will be to work architecturally with and within the plural conditions which form complexity.