The Grammar of Architecture
Wulinmeng Wharf Comprehensive Service Center Design | 2023 | Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Architectural space and the events it carries are structured. Architecture is the sum of the activities that take place in the space, not the sum of the functions of space (1.1). The various activities are interwoven together according to a certain logical relationship (time relationship, primary and secondary relationship, parallel relationship, etc.) to constitute the architecture (1.13). Studies on activities in architectural spaces are regular and in line with the architect's assumptions, but there are still accidental activities that go beyond the architect's assumptions (6.3). Therefore, it is meaningless to discuss only the function of the building. The activities that occur in space can be further subdivided into Atomic Activities, which in turn are composed of Objects (2.).
What we want to express in architecture is the meaningful space (4.). The symbols we use to express in architecture are called forms, and space is a form that has a projection relationship with architecture (3.12). Thus, a space can have no specific function explicitly specified, or the space itself has only formal meaning, but contains the possibility of various activities taking place in the space (3.13), which reflect the space in reverse.
.1 The world is the totality of facts, not of things.
1.13 The facts in logical space are the world.
2 What is the case, the fact, is the existence of atomic facts.
2.01 An atomic fact is a combination of objects (entities, things).
2.024 Substance is what exists independently of what is the case.
2.025 It is form and content.
2.222 In the agreement or disagreement of its sense with reality, its truth or falsity consists.
3.12 The sign through which we express the thought I call the propositional sign. And the proposition is the propositional sign in its projective relation to the world.
3.13 To the proposition belongs everything which belongs to the projection; but not what is projected. Therefore the possibility of what is projected but not this itself. In the proposition, therefore, its sense is not yet contained, but the possibility of expressing it.(“The content of the proposition” means the content of the significant proposition.)
4 The thought is the significant proposition.
4.1252 Series which are ordered by internal relations I call formal series. The series of numbers is ordered not by an external, but by an internal relation.
4.127 The propositional variable signifies the formal concept, and its values signify the objects which fall under this concept.
4.1271 Every variable is the sign of a formal concept. For every variable presents a constant form, which all its values possess, and which can be conceived as a formal property of these values.v
4.1273 We can determine the general term of the formal series by giving its first term and the general formof the operation, which generates the following term out of the preceding proposition.
4.128 The logical forms are anumerical.
6.3 Logical research means the investigation of all regularity. And outside logic all is accident.
-Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Study of Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language.His early representative, the Tractus Logico-Philosophiica, focused on the logical.
In Wittgenstein's two sets of "World-Fact" and "Language-Proposition" structures, "entity", "name" and "thing" are mutually variable. If the concept is transferred to the three-dimensional architectural space, they all refer to the smallest indivisible Component in the three-dimensional space (4.127). The designation of components (entities) is independent of objective reality, and the minimum unit does not necessarily correspond strictly to objective facts, which has a certain degree of designer subjectivity (2.024). A minimum unit also includes form and content (function), and if the minimum unit does not carry any activity or function, it can still have meaning as a form (2.025).
Architectural space and the events it carries are structured. Architecture is the sum of the activities that take place in the space, not the sum of the functions of space (1.1). The various activities are interwoven together according to a certain logical relationship (time relationship, primary and secondary relationship, parallel relationship, etc.) to constitute the architecture (1.13). Studies on activities in architectural spaces are regular and in line with the architect's assumptions, but there are still accidental activities that go beyond the architect's assumptions (6.3). Therefore, it is meaningless to discuss only the function of the building. The activities that occur in space can be further subdivided into Atomic Activities, which in turn are composed of Objects (2.).
What we want to express in architecture is the meaningful space (4.). The symbols we use to express in architecture are called forms, and space is a form that has a projection relationship with architecture (3.12). Thus, a space can have no specific function explicitly specified, or the space itself has only formal meaning, but contains the possibility of various activities taking place in the space (3.13), which reflect the space in reverse.
Therefore, the use of components through the logical relationship combination can form a space unit, the use of the combination of space units can form a space. A table that lists and presents component-space-units-space according to their internal relationships is the Table of Ideal Architectural Grammar (TIAG) (4.1252). With TIAG, new forms can be created using logical operations (4.1273). The results of these operations can be true propositions, corresponding to real Spaces; The results of these operations can also be false propositions that are difficult to construct or implement in reality (2.222)like the picture on the previous page. Although the method cannot cover all the possibilities of the architecture (4.128), it breaks away from the constraints of architectural function, creating more rich and free spatial forms that map the various activities that take place in the space.
Case Translation
Take the Wall House, Diamond House and The Danteum, three unbuilt buildings as examples.The diagram on the right page is the Table of Ideal Architectural Grammar (TIAG). The first row represents the Components extracted from the three unbuilt buildings and the initials of the English name represents the component; the first column represents the Architectural Grammer and the initials of the English name represents the transition. The components form Elementary Proposition under Architectural Grammer Calculation. The calculation formulas are like these: A(w), E(w), etc. Proposition are formed through more complex combination and operation between Components and Architectural Grammer. By analyzing the three unbuilt case buildings, extracting their components and using the architectural grammar extracted from them, the space with relevant characteristics can be successfully reconstructed like the pictures below, recognized as Propositions. They don't necessarily have functional meanings.Actually, they have formal meanings that carry activities.
Based on the table of ideal architectural grammar(TIAG), various spaces(Facts) can be calculated by formulas, such as B(R(L(R(E(A(w))+A(A(c)))))), which do not necessarily carry specific functions, but have formal meanings. The same formula can create the spaces of same personality, but the specific forms are diverse. As shown in the diagram on the left, using grasshopper can create infinite Spaces with different personalities according to the TIAG rule. Take Form B for example, they are crearted according to the formula:B(R(L(R(E(A(w))+A(A(c)))))).Only seven different variations of the form are listed in the diagram. They are composed of columns, square columns and freely curved walls. Change the corresponding parameters in Grasshopper, you can generate countless similar but different forms. As shown in the diagram: A:L(2E(w))+R(A(L(A(s)))); B:B(R(L(R(E(A(w))+A(A(c))))));C:L(nE(w))+L(w)+nB(w);D:T(nL(w))+L(f)+nB(w)+r;E:B(L(w))+T(A(A(c)))+L(f)+E(w)+r; F:B(L(w))+T(A(A(c)))+L(f)+E(w)+r.As shown in the diagram, by combining different spaces(Facts) together in logic, the framework of the architectural space can be obtained, and then the corresponding architectural ontology(World) can be directly generated.The building has no pre-specified functions, but can host a variety of activities.
The building serves as a transitional area connecting two business districts and has no fixed function. The cruise terminal in the original site occupies the upper right corner of the building as the only fixed function, and the other four representative spaces can host different activities at different times. As shown in the diagram, A space can allow citizens to bask in the sun and chat on the steps in winter, can host flea markets, and can also be emptied as a traffic space; B space is composed of columns and curved walls, which can be used by the public to rest in the summer, for children to chase and play in it, and even provide a certain function of art exhibition; C space is a square that can meet the needs of the sux rrounding middle-aged citizens for square dancing, can also hold concerts, can be used as a traffic transition space on weekdays, and can be used as a queue buffer space at the entrance of the exhibition when there is an exhibition; D space is located on the second floor,which is composed of regular square spaces and irregular spaces surrounded by curved walls, can be used as a shared office space, or a chess room, can also be used as a hobby room, and even can be used as a restaurant.
There is no clear boundary between indoor and outdoor, and citizens can freely move through the building. The first floor and some enclosed parts of the building are equipped with light Wells to ensure the amount of internal light.e building are equipped with light Wells to ensure the amount of internal light, as shown in the A-A Section.The whole building is in the form of a long strip to conform to the general direction of the flow of people. In the original site, there is often a large flow of people between the two large commercial blocks across the The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and there is also a space in the building to adapt to this trend. There is a large passageway in the middle of the building for the flow of people to and from the site, so as not to affect the original excessive function of the site, as shown in the B-B section.The use of arch elements in the square space and a large number of curved elements in the whole building corresponds to the location of the site that near the canal.v
