yamen journal

The JournalArchitecture Global Culture

Arab World InstituteBy Jean NouvelDesign & analysis Review

NOTRE DAMEDE PARIS

Elective

R

� Review of Spaces Of Global Cultures

� Ideas Relations Diagram

� Review of Towards a Critical Regionalism


� Review of The Situationist City


Review of Consciousness & What’s Unconscious

� Freud’s Iceberg Metaphor

� Exhibiting the Other ( Arab World Institute )

� Subverting Paris ( The Drift )

� Notre Dame De Paris ( Elective Building )

� References

Contents:

Pages 1 - 3

Page 4

Pages 5 - 6

Page 7

Pages 8 - 9

Page 10

Pages 11-12

Page 13

Pages 14 -18

Pages 19 - 20

1

Page 22

By Anthony D. King

� Other Publications :

Global Cities ,Colonial urban development, urbanism colonialism and the world econ-omy

� Publication Details:

Originally published 2004 by Routledge . Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge

� About the author Anthony D. King:rofessor King joined the faculty of Binghamton University in 1987. Pro-fessor King. During his career at Binghamton, King completed the writ-

ing and editing of five books (in addition to countless articles and papersdelivered at conferences around the world). As a faculty member, heexemplified the interdisciplinary spirit of Harpur College by forging linksbetween art history, sociology, philosophy, history, and the FernandBraudel Center. “ Wikipedia”

· Synopsis : King draws on architectural, urban and built environment writings and evidence invarious cities across the world to examine existing theories of globalisation and developnew ones. His critical reviewing of theorists and architects including Giddens, Harvey, Hirst,Rogers, Foster, etc. features prominently. Also,brings together a series of new and histori-cal case studies to show how different phases of globalisation are transforming the builtenvironment.

· Key Concepts : Taking a wide interdisciplinary approach, the author draws on sociological, geographi-cal, cultural and postcolonial studies to provide a critical account of the development ofthree key concepts: Global culture Post , colonialism, and Modernity. Subsequent case studies examine how global economic, political and cultural forcesshape the forms of architectural and urban modernity in globalized suburbs and spaces inmajor cities worldwide.

· Keywords :Local city skyline (Manhattan), Global Skyline, The American Skyscraper, High rise towers ,The Building as Sign.

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Spaces of Global Cultures

� Relationship of text and issues of architecture, identity and globalizations:

ing in his book focuses his attention to the skyscrapers as a national - internationalsign of identity and modernity comparing between the old world of high rise buildingsand the new world. Explaining how American high rise architecture was born and

became subjected to a global competition internationally. We can see severe problems with assuming that globalizations must be a movementtowards political, economic , and cultural fusion. While globalizations discussion could bereactivated by its context. It might be seen as an extension of historical processes ratherthan a new era. Globalizations , especially as a cultural phenomena seems more under-standable as a separated event. In other words, globalizations might be extremelydelicate and light in a way that might be too perfect for this world.

� What could be missed in the text that is culture continues to manifestitself in a material physical sense, to arrange itself in space in specificways.

King didn’t want to add another claims to define or describe globalization. But rather hepreferred to modulate a new corrective thoughts . He wanted to re-phrase globalizationin a new form and concept.

� ‘the skyline of lower Manhattan was ‘not an architectural vision, but itdoes, most tremendously, look like business’ (van Leeuwen 1988: 84).

King quotes Van Leeuwen and explains and seems to agree on Van’s views. However,we can’t but to agree with this as the skylines globally are representing the economicalpower, political influence, Capitalism, and even individuals wealth as it might seemsradical calling a skyscraper with individual name such as “Trump Tower or Burj Khalifa”.Meanwhile, the architectural and social cultural values have disappeared for the interestof money in the first place then politics and personal matters. Buildings became facelessand dull competing to symbolise the tallest height. Unfortunately, that being said was atthe expense of the human values and morals. On the contrary, there’s a bright side ofskyscrapers phenomena which is helped us to develop new technology and techniquesin the field of construction. Also one of the advantages is investing in the vertical space oflarge metropolitans to reduce horizontal expansion.

Analytical review Anthony D. King

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Spaces of Global Cultures

� Can culture be equated with locality?

A question might arise as to what extends coulda local culture handle or import from otherculture? And wether if a culture elements going tomerge and emerge in the other one. The answersmight varies depend on where, when and how.Though, American skyscrapers might be a clue.Local competitions to build the tallest buildings inthe states have been globalized to becomeinternational competitions between cultures torepresent power, identity and modernity. On thecontrary, skyscrapers might become a false flag ofmodernity which is controlled by global media inthe first place. This’s when modernism turns its uglyface, revealing a vast gap of population social and financial standards. It reveals how“modern” modernism work in our global societies. We can conclude from the pictureabove that modernism usually comes along with an expensive costs. It can comes at theexpense of morality, social equality, and most importantly on us as humans.

� Personal ties behind choosing the text:

It was interesting to explore more about the concealed reasons of skyscrapersmanifestation and how could it affect my desire to pursue and be a part of such aphenomena (skyscrapers phenomena) in a particular culture or communities. Initially,it might seems obvious that the reasons cities are expanding vertically is to contain theincreasing population around the world. But that’s not the only reason, the motivesbehind going vertical have a various reasons and factors. It depends on the location,culture, society, space power, and economy. Exploring these factors would lead us asan architects for better understanding of the ties behind our designs along withcommunities needs.

Analytical review Anthony D. King

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The ‘favelas’ or shanty towns that surroundmost Brazilian cities

Ideas - RelationsDiagram

Theoretical issues

How American SkyscrapersAffected the World

ArchitecturalSpectacle

The BuildingAs a Sign

Height of buildings asa statement of identity

High RiseTowers

Representation

Media

Press

Films

Politics

Economic

Sign Of Modernity & Power

Comparison ofOld world with

the New

Global Skyline

Expensive form of advertising before TV

SkyscrapersNations

competition

AmericanIndustrial

Capitalism

New York & Chicago

AmericaNational Symbol

of Modernity

Books

TV

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By Kenneth Frampton

� Other Remarkable Publications :

- A Critical History. - Studies in Tectonic Culture.

� Publication Details:

In 2002 a collection of Frampton's writings over a period of 35 years was collated and published under the title Labour, Work and Architecture.

� About the author Kenneth Frampton:enneth Frampton was born in the United Kingdom in 1930 andtrained as an architect at the Architectural Association School

of Architecture, London. After practicing for a number of years inthe United Kingdom and in Israel, he served as the editor of the Brit-ish magazine Architectural Design. He was a Professor at the Grad-uate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation atColumbia University in New York City since 1972. Framptonachieved great influence in architectural education with his essay"Towards a Critical Regionalism" in 1983. “ Wikipedia”

· Synopsis : Frampton in his book “Towards a Critical Regionalism” recover Paul Ricoeur's "how tobecome modern and to return to sources”. According to Frampton's views, criticalregionalism should adopt modern architecture, critically, for its universal liberal qualitiesbut also values should be considered on the geographical location of the building in orderto mediate between the international and the local languages of architecture.

· Keywords :Critical Regionalism, Avant-Garde, Post-modern architecture, Modernism.

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� Relationship of text and issues of architecture, identity and globalisation:

architectural theorist Kenneth Frampton proposes theories that could serve to estab-lish a connection to place while complying with contemporary needs. Frampton'sconcept of critical regionalism is to establish the importance of both authentic roots

to place and also modern innovation when creating a new architectural work. Framptoncites with the philosopher Paul Ricoeur’s essay “Universal Civilizations and National Cul-tures" in his argument. For Ricoeur, human culture has been universalised and imposedaround the globe. Also, the rise of a world of single civilization caused a lack of diversityand the disappearance of local traditional cultures that are the creative core for defin-ing a place. This phenomenon might be more sensible in the developing countries asthey’re looking forward of better environment that requires a balance between the histo-ry of the place and the ability to be engaged in the modern civilization. However, for both Ricoeur and Frampton, in order for architecture to hold its local value,the built environment must aim to preserve the past but in the same time complying withthe demands of the developing future.

� How could local tradition be related to global modernity, but in thesame time being able to acquire a unique sense of place?

Frampton emphasizes that his critical regionalism is not synonymous with vernaculararchitecture. The climatic conditions, topography, and craft of a place are not to bereduced to domestic traditional forms. On the other hand, critical regionalism could behybrids of both the modern and the past culture of a region.

In other words, Frampton seeks an architectural language that re-define regionalsolutions and also reflects the technological abilities of the modern environment. Andthat’s through tectonic structure, adaptability to place, and architectural regional value.

� The Visual Verses the Tactile (Architectonic Vs. Scenographic)

Frampton in the sixth point considers using various human senses to improve the experi-ence of the place will help to create much more dynamic dimensions to architecturalworks rather than just a scenographic experience. By using materials that have certainlocal attributes and structures that reflect a fully integrated response to human ratherthan only visual. We can call this an Architectonic architecture (referring to a man-madestructure that adapts to its surrounding environment versus scenography.


The conflict between the present and the past is always existed in global cultures, races,and even in two consecutive generations (the youngest and oldest). Exploring the sameconcept but in term of architecture of an older theorist views is interesting in order to stayalerted of such an issues that we might encounter as architects.

Analytical review Kenneth Frampton

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Critical RegionalismTheoretical issues

Architectural AspectCulturally GlobalAspect

Can we still identifyModernization & Avant-Gardism

as liberative?

Countering the lack ofIdentity in global architecture

Principals OfArchitectural Autonomy

Mass cultureControlled and dominated by

Media industry

The eventual trajectory ofModernization

Nuclear Warsextermination

Poverty& Starvation

SocietiesImmersed in debts.

Back

war

dne

ss

Topography

Light

Climate

Resides in :Senses Of Touch

Tectonic

Do not resides inVisual Sense

Scenographic

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By Simon Sadler

� Remarkable Publications details :

- Archigram: Architecture without Architecture, Cambridge, MIT Press, 2005- "Drop City Revisited," Journal of Architectural Education 2006.- "The Brutal Birth of Archigram," Twentieth Century Architecture

- Non-Plan: Essays on Freedom, Participation and Change in Modern Architecture and Urbanism, Oxford: Architectural Press, 2000

� About the author Simon Sadler: imon Sadler is a professor of Architectural and Urban History inthe Art History Program at the University of California, Davis. For-

merly a Lecturer in Architectural History at the University of Notting-ham. His publications study the architectural ideas of the Archigramgroup, the Situationists, and other experimental practices since1945. “ Wikipedia”

· Synopsis : Sadler suggests in his book that the Situationists almost realised that “situationism did notexist”. Also, Sadler pointed out that the architecture and spaces that were produced bythe SI existed by fluke rather than pre-planned design. This promotes that the Situationistonly experienced the city by luck and that their efforts to reconstruct these situations inthe city were in vain. However, we can’t deny that the SI methods of experiencing the citywere undoubtedly playful and out of the box. Experiencing something extraordinarydrifting in the city by your own, especially in a world controlled by media encouragingpeople to consume and be repeat the daily routine.

· Keywords :Situationism , Lettrism, constructed situation, the Détournement, unitary urbanism.

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he book “The Situationist City” meant to argue the ambiguous methods andphilosophies of the Situationist International group in Paris, particularly in the earlier

period of the Situationist formation between 1957 to 1960. The author investigates theSituationist theories concerns in terms of architecture, art, and cultural theories in relationto the modern city. The Situationist International worked against the ideology of thecapitalist and Western world in a time call for global consumerism and modernism. In thesame vein of the previous review on “Critical Regionalism”, Sadler points out to theSituationsit definition of the modernity explaining the SI view as if the word “modern”can’t be called so if it will cause wars, financial issues like debts, and destruction of thehumanity. Rather he addressed this point by calling it “Poverty of Modernism”. Probably ,it is more clearer now how the Situationist’s position stand toward modern progressivearchitecture.

� How does the Situationist relate their theories in term of Design?

Sadler aided his book with many illustrations, collages, maps of Paris and design projectpictures with captions which are very valuable in order to reflect the Situationist theoriesand strategies. And without these visuals, the SI intentions might look hazy or mysterious.Though, the SI writings contain almost no discussions of architectural form and design. Asa result, there might be no such a thing as Situationism. Sadler argued that the SI existedonly as a non-sensible form of practice and it should direct all it focus on forms of politicalengagement.

� Thoughts on The Detournement (the drift)Is drifting different from strolling? Well, drifting depends more on the timing of when youchoose to start and when you choose to end the drift. While drifting, we can’t think of ori-entation or where to go and everything would happen is by chance. On the other hand,when strolling around the city, we feel nostalgic to think about favourable areas that wecould stroll by. Thus, chance might play an important roll when drifting.Probably the detournement is the most useful technique used by the SI but in the sametime, we can’t say that the Situationist are the inventors of the drift. As we can’t consider“walking” through a city as an invention.

� Personal ties behind choosing the text:The Situationist is an interesting movement to understand other progressive movementssuch as Avant-Garde. The SI theories and methods to explore the city are revolutionary.but since there’re no clear ideas or forms should be followed, a further reading andreviews from other perspectives for the SI would be beneficial to acknowledge theirtheories.

Analytical review By Simon Sadler

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Theoretical issues

Re-construct the CityCreate Situations

No clear notion of how situationsWork or how they should look like

Facing Capitalism& western ideology

Bringing Individualism toConstruct the city by

Reconnecting Situationists to their vibrant cultural moment:

Revolution to Encounterconsumerism

Mapping the City

DriftingThe City

Does Situationism exist?if not by Design

at least by chance?

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� Other Remarkable Publications :

- 1900 The Interpretation of Dreams - 1923 The Ego and the Id. - 1949 An Outline of Psycho-Analysis - 1905 Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious - 1905 Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality

� About the author:igmund Freud was born on 1856 in Freiberg, Czech Republic .His father was a merchant. The family moved to Leipzig andthen settled in Vienna, where Freud was educated. Freud

studied medicine at the University of Vienna and became aneurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, who created anentirely new approach to the understanding of the humanpersonality. He is regarded as one of the most influential - andcontroversial - minds of the 20th century.

After World War One, Freud spent less time in clinical observationand concentrated on the application of his theories to history, art,

literature and anthropology. In 1923, he published 'The Ego and the Id', which suggested anew structural model of the mind, divided into the 'id, the 'ego' and the 'superego'.

“BBC Archive”

· Synopsis : Sigmund Freud developed a theory of the unconscious mind. Freud theory plays animportant role in psychoanalysis. Freud divided the mind into the unconscious mind(Ucs)and the conscious mind (Cs) (or the ego). The first was divided further into the ( id)and the preconscious mind (Pcs) or (superego). Freud theory describes that theunconscious refers to the mental processes when individuals are unaware of theirbehaviours. The unconscious includes emotions, thoughts, memories, motivations, anddesires that lie beneath of our awareness, which might be reflected on our behavioureventually. Freud proposed a hierarchical structure of human consciousness as a layerslying beneath each others. He claimed that significant psychic events happen in theunconscious mind.

· Keywords : Consciousness, Unconsciousness, mind psychology, Psychoanalysis.

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By Sigmund Freud

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rued’s text explains that the way that people behave is mostly influenced by theirunconscious drives. He developed his own techniques to explore the unconsciousbehaviours and what would it mean in relation to the surrounding environment of the

individuals. The unconscious mind was first introduced in relation with the phenomenon ofrepression, to interpret what would happen to the ideas that are repressed. In fact, Freudstated that the concept of the unconscious was derived from the theory of repression. Hesupposed a cycle process in which ideas are repressed, but remain in the mind, removedfrom consciousness to pre-consciousness, then reappear in consciousness under certaincircumstances. Knowing that these ideas could still be recoverable.

� Remarks on Freud theories:

Many of Freud's observations and theories were based onmedical cases and case studies, making his findings difficult togeneralize to a larger population. Regardless, Freud's theorieschanged how we think about the human mind and behaviourand left a lasting mark on psychology and cultures of the globalsocieties. Also, Freud theories would serve architects anddesigners in a metaphorical cultural basis more than physicalsense. As mentioned earlier, we should take into considerationthat Freud built his theories on a medical clinical basis in the first place. So it’s moreabout the human mind and behaviour in relation with human rather than the human witharchitecture. But at the same time, his finding could be used to study the cultural aspectsof global societies which will lead designers and architects for a better understanding ofthe needs of each culture and civilization.


Freud could be the key to understand the behaviour of the human mind in globalsocieties. There’s a lot to be learned from Freud. A lots to be learned in relation to issues incontemporary philosophy of mind, morality and social theory. As well as the special char-acteristics of unconscious mind states including the relations to the mind itself with thepresent modern psychology field. In the same context, Freud theory might be consideredout dated for some and it needs to have a fresher look to fit in the modern society.

Analytical review By Sigmund Freud

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Freud’s Iceberg MetaphorFreud Conception of the human Psyche

Conscious (Ego)

Preconscious (Superego)

Unconscious ( ID )

10% Seen

90% Not seen

What’s seenand heard

Self Image

Values & Believes

Skills & Knowledge

Motivation

Behaviour

*Info. cited from various drawings- 13 -

Exhibiting the OthersArab World Institute

Introduction :

Exhibiting two different cultures in a single space is simple, but to embody these culturesinto a single form is crucial. Arab World Institute one of the most buildings that grab theattention of many architects and tourists in Paris. The building represents a physical symbolof the friendship between the Arab world and the European world. Further, a symboliccomparison of both the Arab culture and the European culture. In addition, to itsextraordinary location, it becomes a connection of the old and new Paris through theSeine river. The main purpose was to provide cultural information about the Arab worldand set in a detailed research to cover Arabic and the Arab world’s cultural, spiritualvalues and beliefs. Though, for some, it might look disconcerting to design an Arabianinstitution by foreign designers as the project wouldn’t reflect Arabic authenticity or thecultural Arabian values as it should. However, Jean Nouvel architect won the competition to design the Arab World Institute.The building construction period was from 1980 to 1987 which could be considered fairenough for such a project with a very rich program that requires 5,000 square metersmuseum. Also a library with approximately 100,000 square metres including an auditorium,lobby space with reception, a cafeteria, meeting rooms, and many other supportingfacilities.

The Old Traditional versus the New Technological:

Initially, the exceptional and critical location of the Arabworld Institute motivates the architect to create abuilding acting as a buffer zone to reduce the impact ofthe Pierre and Marie Curie University campus rectangularblock from the southern side and the curved edge of theriver Seine from the north side of the building. Thus, wecan notice the curved northern facade integrating withriver outline. Obviously, the building pulls itself backtoward the north-east surrounding itself with both itssouthern paved plaza and the transparent facades as ifit’s representing a delicate light separation gatewaycurtain of the new and old of Paris.The site location doesn’t only establishes a visual connection with the Notre Dame deParis Cathedral. But also a paradox in terms of design style, construction time lapse, andhistory pointing out for two structures coming from complete different eras. In the samecontext, the Arab World institute orientation seem to work almost on the same axis line of

Arab World Institute

NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS

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High-Tech modernity combined with Arabian legacy :

The outstanding facades of the Arab world institute wasn’t a surprising work of JeanNouvel as he always known for his detailed facades design. The southern facade, in par-ticular, was inspired by the Arabian sunscreen element called the Mashrabiya. Type ofprojecting oriel window enclosed with carved wood latticework located on the secondstorey of a building or higher, often lined with stained glass. The Mashrabiya is an elementused in traditional Arabic architecture since the Middle Ages till our current days in manyMiddle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Syria. Especially, in traditionalareas. it is mostly used on the street side of the building to protect the occupants from thesun and to provide privacy along to the aesthetic forms the Mashraboiya could add tothe buildings.

Jean Nouvel took the Mashrabiya to a whole newlevel by adding a high-tech responsive andinnovative elements to the south facade. Thefacade consists of a high- tech mechanical deviceswhich control the levels of the transparency andlight entering the interior spaces of the museum. Itsimulates the wooden latticework screens of theArabian Mashrabiya but instead, glass and steelconstruction have been used including a 29,000light sensors diaphragms, operate in the sameprinciple of a camera lens. These lenses echo theArabian patterns geometries taking an octagonalform. Unfortunately, there were some reports fromvisitors talking about a failure caused the lightpanels to stop working on the southern faced whichprobably will cost too much to fix. This’s made somepeople feel let down by this failure since thefacades are the core of the design concept of thisproject. Well, such a unique design is expected tomalfunction at some point due to the excessive amount of mechanical parts employed.Probably Nouvel drifted a little bit too far with his imagination betting largely ontechnology, while architects looking for more reliable and sustainable solutions . However,despite this mechanical failure the panels were a successful interpretation of the ArabianMashrabiya combining the high-tech modernity with traditional Arabian architecturelegacy.“Visitors should know that this building is Arabian,” says Nouvel.Technology and cultural traditions usually don’t fit with each other and considered to bein a conflict encounters. In another word, these two are in different dimensions. However,to architects, it is always an enigmatic critical question to find a strategy of howcombining them together. Some architects used to translate, imitate physically or meta-phorically a certain culture as effective ways to create connections between eachothers. The two figures above demonstrate the relationship between technologicaltechnique and culture and how they are connected.

Exhibiting the Others

Different Forms of Mashrabiya

The Mashrabiya metaphor in Arab World institute

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The following quote description express Jean Nouvel’s approaches toward Arab WorldInstitute :“A cultural position in architecture is a necessity. This involves refusing ready-made orfacile solutions in favour of an approach that is both global and specific. The Arab WorldInstitute is a showcase for the Arab World in Paris. It is therefore not an Arab building butan occidental one. The representatives of the 19 Arab states that commissioned it weresurprised by it. Some had wished for something more pastiche-like, like the Paris Mosque.But certain symbolic elements pleased them, like the “moucharabiehs” whose polygonsof varying shapes and sizes create a geometric effect recalling the Alhambra. From anurban point of view the Institute is a hinge between two cultures and two histories. If thesouth side of the building, with its motorized diaphragms, is a contemporary expression ofeastern culture, the north side is a literal mirror of western culture:images of the Parisian cityscape across the Seine are “enamelled” on the exterior glasslike chemicals over a photographic plate. These patterns of lines and markings on thesame façade are an echo of contemporary art. The frontiers between architecture,interior design, and furniture design are to my mind a total fiction. For that reason I de-signed the whole of the museum, including the showcases, seating, and display furniture.At the Arab World Institute I also began to consider the question of light. The theme oflight is reflected in the southern wall, which consists entirely of camera-like diaphragms,and reappears in the stacking of the stairs, the blurring of contours, the superimpositions, inreverberations and reflections and shadows.” “jeannouvel.com”

Inside & Outside Atmosphere :

In a building, the outside and inside are morespecific and simple. Usually, the barrierbetween the inside and the outside could bea window , a wall or a door. In the humanbody, inside and outside are more complexand abstract. For instance, the inside couldbe identified as soul, emotions, sensations andthoughts. Meanwhile, the outside could be thesurrounding environment with the human bodywhich , at the same time , could be the insideof the building. In other words, the outside ofthe building might affect the inside if it’s donein a proper way. in a similar vein, the inside ofthe building would affect the human body. InArab World Institute, Jean Nouvel creates thesame process but he made it more dynamic.As the facades keep changing the lighting levels affecting the interior atmosphere of thebuilding thus changing the feelings of the human body inside the building.Jean Nouvel once said, “Light is an entity. It can be used as a material in a building.” InArab World Institute, well obviously he did exactly what he said. He did not only use lightas a material but also played with it in order to leave the museum visitors with anexceptional experience.


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Metaphoric Facade:

Probably the closest metaphor in Arab World Institute is thediaphragms installed on all over the facade. It simulates not onlythe form but also the function of pores on the skin of humanbody. Pores are used to regulate the body temperature on ourskins. They are the main method of cooling and controlling thebody humidity and temperature. Same as these pores, the dia-phragms on the facade are part of the cooling system of thewhole building. They are controlled electronically by a lightsensors which allow various levels of daylight to go through thefacade, thus keeping the temperature inside the building at afavourable degree. We can notice these diaphragms when itopens and closes, it gives the facade another dimension like if itsalive. Here, high-tech strategies are used to accomplish themetaphor. Human body skin connects with architectural facadewhich at the beginning seem to be completely two differentelements.

Spaces with deep field visionary

As we mentioned in the previous paragraph, Jean Nouvelinstalled thousands of diaphragms on the facade, tocontrol the openings on these diaphragms, so the lightcoming through leaves more dynamic effects.Accordingly, this stimulates the visitors feelings as they arewalking through the building floors. Yet, Jean Nouvel usedanother technique to encourage the visitors feelings. Hedecided to use a transparent separation with glassinstead of solid materials. In this matter, when one walkinginside a certain space, the adjacent spaces becomevisible but not accessible. In this way, people becomecurious and they will be eager to find a way in throughthese adjacent spaces. Moreover, these transparentseparations create a deeper fields of view. As a result,people will see different layers of spaces which let themhaving an illusion and layers of complexity andambiguousness of these spaces. The photo on the rightwould deliver Nouvel’s technique obviously more thanwords could.


Diaphragms opening andclosing.

Layers seen through the core of the building

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� Conclusion:

The Institute's objective is to obtain a windowon the Arab world which shall be well servedby its architecture, in a concept can best bedescribed as transparent. Particularly, in thisbuilding, space is defined by light, shadow,and layers, not by solid structure. An idea thatJean Nouvel architect says he attained fromArabian architectural traditions. When theSeine river reflected by the building curvedglass front wall in good weather conditions,beams of sunlight still to be seen goingthrough the inner space of the building adesign element. This’s seems to be designedcarefully and not the results of a pleasurecoincident.Nouvel was able to imitate traditional Arabianarchitectural elements into not only amodern design but also a high-tech facadesthat stimulate the Mashrabiya culture which isevocative of the architecture heritage in theMiddle East. Although, some think thatNouvel’s diaphragms technique to simulatethe eastern Mashrabiy was too literal andunreliable on the long run. However, his use oflight as a building entity and modifier of theinterior space creates a deeper field ofmysterious sense of place and enhances theoverall experience. Nouvel didn’t only work to connect between the Arabs and theEuropean cultures in the building interior, but also tries to establish a metaphoric link onthe exterior urban scale by aligning the building to meet the Notre Dame de Pariscathedral. Integrating the interior with the exterior is important and can tell on how muchan architect could be accurate, professional and skilled in his designs.

Never the less, Arab world Institute became one of the iconic building by Jean Nouvelarchitect because of its location separating old and new Paris. But at the same timecombining emotions, sense, light, Arabian traditional culture and European culturaltechnology.


Northern facade of Arab World Institute draws a reflection of theSeine River

North Wing interior lighting.

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Subverting ParisThe Drift

I decided to divide my drift into two walks the first walk started across the north west ofthe city near my hotel toward the south with no address or plan to follow. And the otherwalk started in La Defense, the major business district of the Paris Metropolitan areatoward the business centre.So Starting with :

- Walk 1 (From Saint Rita to Saint Lazare):La Chapelle Sainte Rita directly opposite the Moulin Rouge, this small,modern chapel is situated on the ground floor of a building. It hasrecently been renovated, and with its white walls and polished pinefurniture, it looks more like a venue for marketing seminars. It is only thesimple, stained glass win- dows and the flickering candles at the feet of astatue of the Saint Rita that let us know that we are inside a place of worship.

Pigalle Street :This street was previously known as both the 'Alléedes Veuves' (Widow's Alley) or the'Boulevard des Allon-gés' (Boulevard of Lays), simply because there werealways ladies of the night looking for a trade in this ar-ea. Despite the seemingly seedy na- ture of thisenvironment, little remains of the origi- nal spirit of thedistrict which has become largely a decor for tourists.It is still an area of high employment for 'hostess- es'(women used as bait to attract men into frighten- ingly expensive bars)

Also, The first bar to open and which would start the en- tire Pigalle mythwas Le Chat Noir (Le Chat Noir is thought to bethe first modern cabaret and nightclub.)and this wasthe story behind the black cat seen everywhere on postcards, shops andmany other items in Paris.

Rue de la Tour des DamesThe Rue de la Tour des Dames was at the heart ofthe Nouvelle Athènes and it is here that I sawmany of the most impressive surviving old houses. Itwas an area where the constructions were built with artists inmind, being close to the livelier areas of the Grands ,Boulevards but which still offered a quiet, rural look.

Tough, these buildings seems worth investigating from theexterior at least. And the walk ended near Sanit Laza- rerails station.

Invisible Paris

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Subverting ParisA Straight Line Drift

- Walk 2 (From La Defense through the pedestrian pathway ):

For this walk, I started from the Grande Arche de la defense straight all over thepedestrian pathway till the end of the skyscrapers skyline. I spent too much time inthe area despite it’s not a popular place for tourists but it is a place that is …frequently on my mind to visit since I like citiesbusiness centres.

� A place in the outer side part of Paris:

This place reveals the other face of Paris. It’s fullof modern buildings, has lots of steel, concreteand glass, it’s huge and expan- sive, It’s the kindof place that gives Paris new characteristics,as modernity and a new culture. In fact, thisparadox let me wonder, what’s its secret?

La Defense is one of Paris’s business districtsand it’s also has one of the largest shopping malls in the area along with many othercafes and restaurants. One of the popular building in La Defense is obviously laGrande Arche, which’s in the same orientation of le Arc de Triumph, just a fewkilometers away. Its location is highly vital, at the beginning of Metro La defensestation as the pedestrian axis continue to ex- tend outside Paris ring road.I think La Defense’s secret is that it’s kind of the “neat face” of inside old Paris.It’s modern, stylish and clean. A facilitated place tomake it adapt with the Parisians life; it’s the pulsingproductive area that form Pariseconomy. However, due to thewide and endless pedestrian pathway, my drift wasstraight along to the end of the skyscraper skyline. I feltthat I don’t want to turn or change my walk to anyother street. When you walk there, you feel like ifyou’re stuck in a strong river current.

Invisible Paris

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NOTRE-DAME DE PARISElective Visit

Introduction :

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a novel derived from the ancient history and thestructure of the Notre Dame cathedral as it’s one of the oldest cathedrals ,if no theoldest, in the world expressing gothic architecture. Notre Dame is the geographical andmoral centre of fictional Paris. We can compare it to Gotham City which’s the fictionalcity of Manhattan, NYC. The cathedral was the inspiration of many Gothic art andarchitecture lovers.

Comparative Review :

The cathedral is believed to be one of the finestexamples of French Gothic architecture, and it isamong the oldest, over 800 years old. The naturalismof its sculptures, flying buttress and stained glass arein contrast with earlier Romanesque architecture.

Moreover, the cathedral gothic architecture and thebuilding as whole embody the complete contrastwith its neighbour museum resting on the south sideof the Seine river with less than 500 meter distanceaway from the cathedral, The Arab World Institutemuseum. On the other hand, the museumconsidered to be one of the most contemporaryarchitecture buildings, designed with the latesttechnology installed in its light responsive facadesalong with the modern glass steel structure.

It’s quite a paradox for these two buildings comingfrom a very different eras but in the same timeopening their front courtyards on each other. AsJean Nouvel designed the orientation of the ArabWorld Institute in a way to adjust the axe of theNotre Dame cathedral. Thus Nouvel wanted to cre-ate a a linked connection between the easternculture and the western culture and history. At thesame time, this line ends in an internal court with afountain inside. Here, the fountain is a metaphorof Arab culture, which echoing the fountains ofArabian palaces of thousands years ago.


NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS

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References & Cited Works :

- Binghamton University web site on Anthony D. King Biography and published works.- Wikipedia on Kenneth Frampton Biography and published works.- Wikipedia on Simon Sadler Biography and published works.- UCSB website, department of art, locative media territories winter 2006 course on the theory ofderive.- remixthebook.com ,University of Minnesota Press, on the detournement.- prezi.com the situationist way of city experience.- ©2011-2014 Creative Glossary on the SI.- Wikipedia on Sigmund Freud Biography and published works.- Info. In the drawing is cited from various drawings on the Iceberg theory.- psychology.about.com on Unconscious mind- theory of repression.- jeannouvel.com on Jean Nouvel quotes- moreAEdesign.com on Institut Du Monde Arabe.- wordpress.com on Institut Du Monde Arabe.- Wikipedia “Space of flows” on Arab Du Mond human metaphor.- Courtney Clark's Blog / Lecture 10- Body: Merleau-Ponty, “The Synthesis of One’s Own Body” on

Institut Du Monde Arabe.- Tim Winstanley. "AD Classics: Institut du Monde Arabe / Jean Nouvel, Architecture-Studio, Pierre

Soria and Gilbert Lezenes" 02 Oct 2011. ArchDaily.com/162101/ad-classics-institut-du-monde-arabe-jean-nouvel

- Wikipedia on Notre dame de Paris on historic info.- Google Map on Paris aerial maps

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“Each new situationrequires a new architecture”

-Jean Nouvel-

Due By Yamen KharsaSupervised by Prof. Samir Pandya

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