Zhe Lin Reading Assignment 1 Response

Zhe Lin Reading Assignment 1 Response

This passage is about the modern scale model machine. Modern scale model machines are divided into five types according to the different reference standards. At first, I thought reference standard refers to architectural concept or theory. However, after reading the description in this passage, I find that reference standard of modern scale model machine is religious or political assertion. This passage takes Gaudi, Tatlin, Lissitzky, Kahn, Libeskind as examples. The model machines made by these people are influenced by reference standard at some extent.

I begin to consider if it is necessary for an architect to have a reference standard. Liberskind is deconstructivist and he tried to deconstruct all existing reference standards. He can be considered an anarchist. His drawing is out of imagination and deals with both freedom and chaos. As psychologists say, it is much harder to bear complete freedom than restraint. This happened to Liberskind, too. Although his drawing is deconstructive, he tries to rebuild his reference standard by making scale model machines. This change can be understood as a process that Liberskind destroys his reference standard and rebuilds a new one, so it is clear that every architect needs a reference standard.

Model machine not only is the representation of architect’ reference standard, also helps architect build their own reference standard. It can help architect recreate a relationship with reference standard and then define a specific reference standard. Architects should take use of this tool.

Architectural reference standard model defines the concept of architecture. There is also another type of modern scale model machine, architectural scale model, which help architects develop an understandable scale with which to measure unknown. Reference standard model offers a concept, while scale model helps architects to test the scale of invisible things in order to improve architects’ understanding of the invisible things. Nowadays, these two types of model machines are both widely used as an attempt to search for better definition.