PATTERNS IN NATURE

image link :  http://www.beyondstillness.net/ taken on 05/12/13

In the essay by Manuel De landa is talking about the “GENESIS OF A FORM”. He doesn’t agree with the western philosophy that conceives matter as inert element forms that comes from the outside and not from the inside. There are two important factors that help create a form in nature which are Mathematics and Thermodynamics.

Deleuze differentiates form into two categories the first is the “strata” and the “self-consistent aggregates”. The Strata being the “trees” and self- consistent aggregates being the “rhizomes”. Both of these result in isomorphic actual forms, but the one has to do with the fusion of homogeneous elements while the other explains the unification of heterogeneous elements. De landa is also explaining how a form emerges from organizational structure of biological, molecular as well all the socio economic environments.

Deleuze was hugely influenced by mathematics and physics and use these to understand and decompose the virtual form as well as use it as a tool to help in actualization of the virtual. The example he uses for the real and virtual is the DNA, the DNA of the embryo is virtual because it has a lot of potential and real is the embryo that is created along with the external influences.

The Form that is created in nature can be seen growing in many different yet morphological patterns. These patterns repeat, coexists, vary and transform in various life forms. Digital logics deals with parametric, swarm technology etc and with the help of digital tools we can simplify these patterns and understand them. I would like to study more about the patterns in nature and research about it and how it can help in Form evolution of a project.

This is a link to  a video done by Yann Pineill & Nicolas Lefaucheux showing how mathematics and diagram go hand in hand .

“Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty — a beauty cold and austere, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music.” —Bertrand Russell

http://vimeo.com/77330591#

In this text by Allison Smithson she has tried to make a comparison of the paintings of St. Jerome from 1400 to 1700 AD. There are three chronological situations in the paintings which which reveal different architectural explanation.

“DESERT” St. Jerome experiences pure environment, wilderness, naturalness and spirituality .He is far away from all distractions and is deep within his thoughts and is in awe of the nature but at the same time he is exposed and has no shelter and was directly under the sky.

“PURITY OF NATURE “

“STUDY” St. Jerome has access to his books, knowledge, and intelligence. He is protected from the city and has all the necessities.

“PURITY OF KNOWLEDGE “

“GROTTO” St. Jerome he has achieved both the extremes a place for his books and also a place is close to the nature.

“PURE WISDOM “

People seek the other extreme all the time, when in nature they yearn for the city and vice versa. The question we as architects have to ask is that WHY are we losing the relationship between the built environment and nature. Also according to the previous text of SOU FUJITOMOTO the relationship between nature and the built environment is questioned. He has further questioned the relationship of the spaces of the House N, the street and also the relationship with the city. Fujitomoto explains the gradation of spaces within the house and their relationship with the city and how the house adds value to the environment and the city.

My personal research topic that I would be interested would be WHY and WHEN did we lose the relationship with the nature? Also how as architects we can change this and the Different methodologies to achieve the ideal “ENCLAVE “.