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Critical Regionalism
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Critical regionalism is an approach to architecture that consciously supplants the international style of Modern Architecture by the designer responding in a place-specific way to the context of the immediate physical and cultural context of the project so as to produce a project that has a sense of place and meaning. The term critical regionalism was first used by Alexander Tzonis and Liane Lefaivre and later more famously by Kenneth Frampton. According to Frampton, critical regionalism should adopt modern architecture critically for its universal progressive qualities but at the same time should value responses particular to the context. Emphasis should be on topography, climate, light, tectonic form rather than scenographic and photogenic driven design and the tactile sense rather than the visual. In the employment of tectonics the designer is considerate of available resources, skills and and the associated traditions of local craft and construction.
South African practitioners that could be considered as falling into this category are
Norman EATON
Karel JOOSTE
Anton DU TOIT
Roelof UYTENBOGAARDT
Rodney HARBER
Helmut STAUCH
Progenitors of the tradition could be considered
Herbert BAKER
Gordon LEITH
Gerard MOERDYK
References
Kenneth Frampton, 'Towards a Critical Regionalism: Six Points for an Architecture of Resistance', in The Anti-Aesthetic.
Essays on Postmodern Culture (1983) edited by Hal Foster, Bay Press, Port Townsen.
Alex Tzonis and Liliane Lefaivre, 'The grid and the pathway. An introduction to the work of Dimitris and Susana Antonakakis',
Architecture in Greece (1981) 15, Athens.
External links
Critical Analysis of
'Towards a Critical Regionalism'
Alexander Tzonis Authorised website
[Extracted and edited from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_regionalism]
Buildings on this website in Critical Regionalism style
Coromandel - House Press: 1974. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga   |
| Egon Guenther Gallery: 1965. Linksfield Ridge, Johannesburg, Gauteng |
| Gallery van Blerk: 1967. Emmarentia, Johannesburg, Gauteng |
| House Biermann: 1962. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal |
| House Boterman: 1960s. Buccleuch, Johannesburg, Gauteng |
| House Jack van Rensburg: 1958. Waterkloof, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng |
| House Preller (Dombeya): 1960's. Hartbeespoort, North West |
| House Press - Coromandel: 1974. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga |
| House Turgel, 'Marakesh': 1960. Lyndhurst, Johannesburg, Gauteng |
| Land Bank: n.d.. Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Land Bank: 1940. Ermelo, Mpumalanga |
| Land Bank: c1930s. Kroonstad, Free State |
| Land Bank: 1941. Potchefstroom, North West |
| St Anthony's Catholic Church: 1980. Coronationville, Johannesburg, Gauteng |