Organic Architecture: An Alternative Approach

Organic Architecture: An Alternative Approach

1 Organic Architecture describes a way of thinking about design that transcends the common, everyday
2 buildings around us. It is not a "style" but rather an approach to solving design problems. In Architecture, a
3 "style" is a set of repeating elements (such as Spanish Colonial Style...). A truly Organic Architecture
4 invents a new solution based on the special conditions of each project.
5 In this way, Organic Architecture follows the design process of Nature - by adapting to each site,
6 climate, and set of materials.
7 A Brief History of Organic Architecture
8 What is Organic?
9 While Organic Architecture describes
10 environmental concerns, it also embodies the human
11 spirit, transcending the mere act of shelter into
12 something which shapes and enhances our lives.
13 While Organic Architecture describes an expression of
14 individuality, it also explores our need to connect to
15 Nature.
16 Nature as the basis
17 Using Nature as our basis for design, a building or design must grow, as Nature grows, from the inside
18 out. Most architects design their buildings as a shell and force their way inside. Nature grows from the idea of
19 a seed and reaches out to its surroundings. A building thus, is similar to an organism and mirrors the beauty
20 and complexity of Nature.
21 Understanding the systems of Nature, Eric Corey Freed (1)
22 regards each design as an organism and each component as
23 an interrelated extension of that organism. He designs the
24 proper organism for its environment in accord with the
25 relationships of each piece to the whole, and the whole to the
26 surroundings. Through an extensive interviewing process,
27 Eric begins to shape this new creature and provides the
28 biology. The clients are an integral piece of this development
29 as they are the true designers of their building.
30 Where did the term come from?
31 The term "Organic Architecture" was invented by the great architect, Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959).
32 Frank Lloyd Wright used the word "organic" to describe his philosophy of architecture. It was an extension of
33 the teachings of his mentor, Louis Sullivan, whose slogan "form follows function" became the mantra of
34 modern architecture. Wright changed this phrase to "form and function are one," claiming Nature as the
35 ultimate model.
36 Although the word "organic" has become a buzzword for something that occurs naturally, when
37 connected to architecture it takes on a new meaning. Organic Architecture is not a style of imitation, but
38 rather, a reinterpretation of Nature's principles to build forms more natural than nature itself.
39 Just as in Nature, Organic Architecture involves a respect for natural materials (wood should look like
40 wood), blending into the surroundings (a house should be of the hill, not on it), and an honest expression of
41 the function of the building (don't make a bank look like a Greek temple).
42 The Philosophy of Organic Architecture continues today through the work of hundreds of students of Mr.
43 Wright.
44 Read more: http://www.organicarchitect.com#ixzz3k3jI6MH9
(1) Eric Corey Freed is a licensed architect (California, New Mexico, Arizona), and a recognized pioneer in the tradition
of Organic Architecture, first developed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
 Organic Architecture: An Alternative Approach

Anticipación
1- Lea el título y observe las ilustraciones. Luego respond: ¿Cuál le parece que será el tema de este texto?
Actividades de lectura
2- Lea el texto prestando atención a las palabras que ya conoce y a los cognados. Subraye diez ejemplos de
estos últimos.
3- Encierre diez frases nominales.
4- Identifique la función de las siguientes palabras según su contexto. ¿Son sustantivos, adjetivos o verbos?
thinking (línea 1) repeating (línea 3) adapting (línea 5)
building (línea 17) interviewing (línea 26) claiming (línea 34)
5- ¿Cuál es la función de la palabra environmental? (línea 10) y dé un posible significado de la misma y
encuentre en el texto el sustantivo del cual deriva.
6- Encuentre dos palabras derivadas de nature (línea 5) e indique su función según el contexto. (Indique en
qué líneas se encuentran)
7- ¿Cuál le parece que es la función de la palabra did en la pregunta de la línea 30? ¿En qué tiempo verbal
está dicha pregunta?
8- La frase verbal was invented (línea 31) ¿cómo está formada está estructura? ¿Cuál es la función y
significado de by en by the great architect…?
9- El ´s en Nature´s principles (línea 38) no es la abreviatura de is. ¿Puede deducir su función y significado?
10- Like (líneas 39 y 41) no es el verbo ‘gustar’ en este contexto. ¿Puede inferir su función y significado?
11- Encuentre el adjetivo derivado del sustantivo extension. (líneas 23 y 32)
12- VERDADERO o FALSO (Indique en qué líneas se encuentra la información que sustenta cada respuesta)
a- Organic Architecture is an approach to solving design problems.
b- Eric Corey Freed is the inventor of the term’Organic Architecture’.
c- Organic Architecture trascends the mere act of shelter.
d- Organic Architecture reinterprets Nature´s principles to build natural forms.
e- For Eric Corey Freed, clients are not important in the development of a new design.
f- For Frank Lloyd Wright, ‘form follows function’.
g- Frank Lloyd Wright used the word ‘organic’ to describe his philosophy of architecture.
Poslectura
13- Confirme o refute su hipótesis de lectura.
14-¿Qué información nueva obtuvo luego de leer este texto?
15- Realice una síntesis conceptual en español en no más de diez líneas y en no menos de cinco.