What’s The Point Of Architecture History and Precedents? | Architects Play GeoGuessr

[@gabybordino6024]

Brilliant! You´ve nailed it! This video is perfect. In less than twenty minutes you´ve explained so well, why and how to learn from precedents. I believe the most important thing (as we often say) is to learn how to learn. Studying history is not about remembering dates that you can find anywhere, but if you know how to understand an architectural masterpiece, break it down, put it in context and find the way to make all this procedure become a method, then you are able to do it with any other project

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks. But as you know many history courses are focusing on rote learning rather than understanding. My history education was first year first semester gave overview, second semester dealing into design elements as comparisons like how columns were used at different times and at various times in the 20th Century. Then it was up to design lectures to deal into explaining more the design of particular building or architects. I think it is the a combination of subjects that delivers the knowledge but it’s often broken or lacking.

[@gabybordino6024]

@@Archimarathon yes I totally agree with you. I also find there´s a lack of integration among knowledge. Many times, seems like (or there is a misbelief) the only important things to learn are going to be shared in design subjects, while the others just give lectures to answer the assignments and just this. While another important thing to learn is how to incorporate all this knowledge and build critical thinking

[@martinwander8295]

Forgive me if I go off subject, but you guys do it, so why not? Andrew held up a book by Spiro Kostoff in your video. In grad school at Berkeley, I took a course about architecture and criticism taught by Mr. Kistoff. I had no idea who he was, but I was interested in the subject. I found myself surrounded by PhD students while I was a mere M. Arch student. We each picked a subject to do a research study, which would be the full source of our grade. I picked Louis Kahn’s Yale Architecture Building. I only found out later that Kostoff had been intimately involved with the building when he was at Yale. One learns how to swim more quickly when one is dumped in the ocean. Kostoff was friendly and gentle with me, as I nervously tried to swim with the big fish. Thank you for digging up my old memories by casually flashing a book.

[@Archimarathon]

I love how Kostof talks not of styles but of rituals and settings, giving context and reasons of why and how

[@focus19551]

This is exactly what you both do! Break down the buildings you take us to, into their component parts and I’ve learned SO MUCH! Thank you

[@Archimarathon]

You are welcome. Thanks for commenting

[@muali4811]

There is an apt saying here in the Dutch design world; "Better well stolen than badly conceived." (“Beter goed gejat dan slecht bedacht”.) So get inspired and build your concepts on your understanding of previous designs & design history. Finally subscribed to your channel.

[@kudzaishemakweta211]

FL Wright once said don’t copy the effects (finished product) but seek to understand the thinking behind the effects. However, with pinterest and instagram we as students are binging on the effects of built and unbuilt buildings. I think in the long run this breeds architects that lack rudimentary comprehension of architecture. Thank you so much for this informative video 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@Archimarathon]

Yes we are already seeing it here more and more at the schools.

[@SketchyArc]

i hope it's never too late to learn. History of Architecture is such an interesting subject back then but simply memorizing it never encapsulates the reason for having it in the curriculum. It was always supposed to be learning from the past mistakes and victories of the the past. i wish it focused more on that instead of trying to memorize every term. thank you for shining light to this overlooked topic

[@Archimarathon]

Come to think of it, a lot of the history courses are more like overview of the historical context and covering the different movements, but it was the design lectures that covered more detailed breakdown and understanding of seminal buildings. Something we are seeing far less of these days it seems.

[@urbancolab]

That right off is a fantastic point about record collection.

[@Archimarathon]

Now we have on demand subscription and playlists.

[@planningqueries6978]

Nice work guys. Such good memories of Rory and an architectural education which valued what came before and how to apply it in the future. + Heaven (must be there) - Eurogliders :)

[@Archimarathon]

Nice work. I have only heard amazing things from various people about Rory Spence. Jealous

[@maynardarchitects]

Nailed it.

[@rifaldopalaska7737]

your videos help me a lot in my architectural journey. I hope this channel do well and keep making quality content

[@Archimarathon]

Thanks. Me too.

[@Jamesbell229]

Great video. Im just starting my studies and thought I didn't have it because ideas and inspiration don't magically appear in my head. But I'm slowly realising it's a learning process and that I can do it! Thanks guys.

[@Archimarathon]

Great to hear. You’ll get there. Check out the video on our channel called “How To Start A Design”

[@brenrich3250]

binge watching! you guys are super inspiring and fun to watch.

[@Archimarathon]

Cheers! Are you also in our Discord server?

[@danarch11]

Tarantino not only often specifically references scenes from other films for own his work, he openly admits that he does. He considers a point of pride that he knows so much about film that he can borrow/reference the work of the best directors and films. The idea that you can’t reference other buildings is, first, impossible, and second, needlessly frustrating for students. There are just a handful of architects throughout history who have started a new “movement” in this field. And even they were heavily influenced by their contemporaries.

[@Archimarathon]

Have you experienced tutors saying you cannot reference other buildings???

[@danarch11]

@@Archimarathon No, no. I think it's just the mind-set that students get into. They think that they have to come up with the next Ronchamp or Fallingwater in order to succeed in design studio. In the old Beaux-art days there seemed to be a set of rules to learn and then you used those rules and precedents for your projects. But now, there are so many new rules and rule-breakers that students feel they need to come up with a ground-breaking masterpiece just to feel competent as a designer.

[@jona_archi]

it's such an amazing idea to make an archimarathon geoguessr map! i used to play geoguessr in the past. though sadly everytime, i try to play it, i get a pop-up that prompts me to get a geoguessr pro subscription :/ i would soo love to play these maps and see what i know about the projects and locations on earth, what i have learned from your videos and if i can remeber the context of the buildings you showed

[@jaimedavis439]

architecture is a craft, an art as much as it is a trade. in the right hands its all craft & those hands are passionate. not everyone "studying" architecture loves it or even likes it. they know just what they must. as is true of students in every field. then there's ppl like me. ill never have the chance to apply my knowledge but i hoard it just the same.

[@1774358]

One needs to know what has been done, so we can advance upon it in the future. An ill educated designer may have an idea that they think is "completely new" but already has been done and failed. History is compulsory. Completely agree guys! Good job!

[@Nynke_K]

I did not expect my employer to be mentioned, let alone shown in the GeoGuessr demo! The Educatorium is an interesting and pleasant building to use. If you ever (re)visit Utrecht University campus in the European spring/summer, I also recommend taking a look at the botanical gardens for a break. And when you walk or cycle from the Rietveld Schröder House to Utrecht Science Park, you actually pass by another 'museum house' as they call it: Van Ravesteyn House from 1932. Modern, but with curved lines. It looks so much like it's lived in, I used to imagine a cute old couple living there and was a bit disappointed when I found out the truth -- but now I definitely want to visit!

[@Archimarathon]

Ahh so you work at the university?

[@Nynke_K]

@@Archimarathon yep! went into a different field and academia after dropping out of architecture school :)

[@taracull-archienglish5174]

Great video guys, understanding the history is so important and understanding more and why and the response to the context is so important. Love the game! I'll definitely sign up. Brilliant

[@Archimarathon]

Come play with us on the discord server.

[@oscarducrot3327]

Very cool video , was very interesting. I've loved the whole part about inspiration and precedents, which made a lot of sense. I adore History of Architecture and I'm a fan of classical architecture so I've already heard about proportions and that kind of stuff, although i had never fidured out that the context of a monument in architecture was so important. Great video

[@Archimarathon]

It’s reverse engineering a design or an architect’s thoughts

[@browniestube]

Your videos are so grounded, approachable and useful. Love your work. Do you guys have any reading list ideas on architecture? (Non-architect, serial house-renovator here)

[@Archimarathon]

We always talk about 3 or so books. Architecture: Form Space and Order by Francis Ching. Lessons For Students In Architecture by Herman Hertzberger. A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander.

[@wrigleyextra11]

The constant accessibility of almost all information is altering learning significantly. Interesting to see what happens to future students.

[@Archimarathon]

More of ANYTHING… Less of EVERYTHING

[@wrigleyextra11]

@@Archimarathon *slap bass and laughtrack the information right into my brain*

[@johnkellett7797]

Agree totally. The devaluing of the undergraduate and masters degrees as qualifications hasn't helped but 'internet access' has killed intelligent use of intelligence/education/knowledge. There are so many building designers (not architects) who have no idea what architecture actually is who go around calling themselves architects illegally or think they offer an equivalent service.

[@roberttaylor9259]

Would you two be interested in making a list of the most influential buildings? It wouldn't have to be comprehensive of course but maybe 25 buildings from each of you?

[@paceosheam]

All the great architects and musicians learn from other people in their profession.

[@GRUMPNUGS]

Last week our history prof was teaching us how to analyse and learn from other architects drawings and when he pulled up a collage full of them and asked us "can any of you name a building and architects sketch that's here... you should be familiar with at least 2 of them". I recognised Le Corbusier's, Mies and Louis Kahns (I didn't say anything though due to me actually battling a minor anxiety attack at that current time... fun times), however nobody said anything and the prof was genuinely hurt and said we was "b*stards" which I think was reasonable, but he said "I'm more disappointed and concerned to the fact it seems none of you want or care to know who they are and show no aspiration to learn of them and what they did for us". Was quite sad

[@Archimarathon]

You should watch the how to survive critique episodes as it helps with anxieties.

[@GRUMPNUGS]

@@Archimarathon Thank you, that's actually helped a lot... I'll put it into practise... in 2 hours to be exact... got a review today (in studio writing this!). Thanks again

[@Archimarathon]

How did you go?

[@Dev1nci]

16:21 Schrodinger’s House is simultaneously a house and a museum 😂😂😂

[@Archimarathon]

They lived there for many years. It’s a hard house to live in

[@Nynke_K]

Schröder! She was called Schröder! lol. Re: it being hard to live in: what really struck me when I visited the house (in addition to the ingenious flippety-floppeties which I loved) was the fact that the kids did not really have any space they could truly call their own; it was all 'you sleep here by night, but by day this is the shared piano room' etc. Imagine being a teenager there...

[@maynardarchitects]

Exactly Devin, Quantum physics jokes are always welcome at Archimarathon.

[@Dev1nci]

@@Archimarathon Celebrated architecture seems often to be hard to live in. One of my hero-houses, which inspired me to pursue architecture, has a constant stream of new tenants and owners moving through it. I think it was a guest house at one point XD Stewart did a good video about the correlation between leaks and architectural merit. It's great and scary haha.

[@Dev1nci]

@@maynardarchitects XD

[@morneschroeder6255]

Hari Seldon said “If you want to understand some aspect of the universe, it helps if you simplify it as much as possible, and include only those properties and characteristics that are essential to understanding.” Prelude to Foundation - Isaac Asimov🤓

[@maynardarchitects]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpjFgYZ3bpmFp8k

[@libishm4622]

are there good documentations/books and references on Studying the material and design of details in a built environment in reference to its history and precedents, Or just precedents in historical architecture

[@Archimarathon]

Anything that’s done already is already part of history and precedents

[@ethanscotney9999]

Great video, can't wait for Andrew to join the karaoke lounge and belt out some tunes ahah

[@Archimarathon]

You tell him!

[@ethanscotney9999]

@@Archimarathon maybe I will hehe

[@efeozyaba545]

That loki was just.. 😂😂

[@barockychocky]

"Heaven (Must Be There)" by Eurogliders. Am I the only one here old enough to know?

[@Archimarathon]

Yes it is. I have heard of the song before but I didn’t make the connection. Awesome that you watched till the end.

[@dornworks]

my guess as well

[@RB-zm4fk]

Bwahaha at Andrew for the horn reference 😈

[@Archimarathon]

There’s often gold at the end of the videos

[@dornworks]

do you think studying palladio ( 7 books on architecture) or even Vitruvius has any relavance to today?

[@Archimarathon]

I believe about learning about precedents, why they are great and how they work, as mentioned in the video. I think it’s interesting reading

[@AlexPrevost]

Wait let me get this straight, are you guys still making videos?

[@Archimarathon]

F*ck yeah!

[@benkeane797]

I would argue though that too much grind makes us blind to (original) inspiration.

[@Archimarathon]

Andrew meant grind in terms of design thinking/working.

[@JeremySalterXIV]

Are there any theories that suggest dressing like your favourite architect will make you a better architect? Andrew has my glasses, is he any more knowledgeable?

[@Archimarathon]

Plenty of architects with Corb glasses. Does that make them good architects?

[@ethanscotney9999]

@@Archimarathon Reminds me of the tech startup people who dress like steve jobs... *cough* *couh Elezebeth holmes *Cough Cough*

[@jaimedavis439]

"good artists borrow great artists steal"

[@martinwander8295]

In my freshman year of architecture school, our class was given a very strong dose of Le Corbusier, who became a god to many of us. Then professor Fred Keotter told us all “ you can learn a lot from Palladio”. We all laughed, but we also learned how much Corbu himself drew from Palladio. Fifty four years later, I’m sure many of my classmates can still remember that famous line, and can still talk about how the modern master drew from the classical master. At least the good designers from my class can.

[@Archimarathon]

I am not sure they get a strong dose of anything these days, that’s the problem

[@dianacourt377]

18:38 you could just edit it out?😂

[@Archimarathon]

Where’s the fun in that?

[@dianacourt377]

@Archimarathon i did get a good laugh

[@computationdesign]

Cool men

[@Archimarathon]

Yeah we are way cool

[@frankgalati2156]

Dr

[@Archimarathon]

?