OBI Aesthetics

Basics

• The OBI buildings will have an aesthetic
• This will most likely be only one at the start (Due to the difficulty in focusing on details like that when the hardware/product itself is the main focus in the early stages, aesthetics are less of a priority and/or choices may be more limited to reduce Scope Creep and keep the project on time. Akin to the "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black" quote), but further development / finalization of plans, as well as forks should eventually allow for any design
• For CEBs complex masonry like CEB Vaults and Quoin may improve aesthetic properties, as well as open up new building forms/sizes

Aesthetic 1

• Need some creative/goofy name
• How Can the OBI House Look? covered well by that page

Aesthetic 2

• Plotting Mainly by User:Eric

Concrete

• Main External Component, and some internal areas (ones with little wall use (ie no screws or piles of outlets) )
• Can be VERY interesting aesthetic wise with Concrete 3D Printing (may require finishing as the nozzle size on those devices is...larger than 2mm

Plants

• One of the main criticism of Brutalism was the dull grey with lack of greenery/life
• Modular planters, wall planters, windowboxes, and wall gardens will fix this
• Also could be used to produce food etc
• Also PBRs could be used in an artistic manner
• Bioluminescent plants/fungi (not for lighting, short of emergency navigation only light) for art

General Principles of the Aesthetic

• A Mix of Brutalism and (post-) Postmodernism (Architecture)
• Concrete for durability, simplicity, and repeatability, but more artistic than brutalism's blocky nature
• ALSO could do many complex shapes + lattices via the concrete 3d printing
• External Areas, and Internal Public Inside Areas can be fluid, and non blocky, but most rooms should be square-ish

Mosaics

• Most of these are rare, old, and if not old VERY expensive, especially for non-geometric art (ie a picture, not a pattern backsplash)
• With Digitally Fabricated Mosaics we should be able to put them anywhere for relatively cheap
• Main limit is tile sourcing

Critiques / Things to be Cognizant Of

• Architecture of the Absurd: How "Genius" Disfigured a Practical Art ( Link to the Article )
• Spatial Violence: Architecture of the Absurd ( Link to the Article )
• Both can essentially be boiled down to: Buildings have to be practical, not just Giant Sculptures
• Valid Critique, but as long as the internals are not some "Kid Play Zone" / "Cube (Film)" esque maze, and they are ADA Compliant i think it is mostly a mute point
• Designing for Maintainability is another good aspect to consider though
  • Concrete Maintenance / Concrete Cleaning especially (how you keep the surface looking as intended, not green and pitted)
• A Post-Occupancy Evaluation / Having Various Focus Groups / Surveys pre-design/construction would prevent this too

Internal Links

• Brutalism
• Modernisme
• Ecotecture
• Garden City Movement
• Monumental Architecture
• Anthroposophy's Architecture (Odd movement (short of maybe some aspects of the Waldorf / Steiner Education ), but they did make some cool looking buildings!)
  • RE The Wikipedia Page on Goetheanums
• Organic architecture
• Expressionist architecture
• Post-Occupancy Evaluation

External Links

• A Vouge Article Titled "What Star Wars Owes to Soviet Architecture"
  • Has a good gallery of various examples
  • Buzludzha VR showcases the Buzludzha monument (Formerly/officially "Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party") in current form, and what it would look like if refurbished as a museum. Despite obvious bad blood due to it's role in the government, it is an interesting instance of this form of architecture and neat to see; granted i don't care for the Flying Saucer Aesthetic Too Much!)
  • Romanita Collective Housing Tower / Romashka Tower is an example in a Residential High Rise Context