Article and Video Summary: Traditional and Modern Architecture Styles

This assignment provides a comprehensive summary of an article discussing the historical debate and evolution of architectural styles, focusing on the transition from traditional to modern architecture. It highlights the perspectives of architects who supported the modern movement, emphasizing new designs and materials, while also acknowledging those who drew inspiration from historical precedents. The summary underscores the importance of understanding the relationship between traditional and modern architecture, noting their shared goal of improving human life. Additionally, the assignment includes a video summary of the New South China Mall, using it as an example of integrating historical design forms with modern construction. The analysis emphasizes the significance of considering the location, intended function, and the target demographic when designing buildings, and the document is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and solved assignments for students.

Article and Video Summary 1
ARTICLE AND VIDEO SUMMARY
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Article and Video Summary 2
Article and Video Summary
Article Summary
Architecture has a very rich history. During the twenty century, there were a lot of
debates and changes regarding architectural styles. It was during this period that modern
movement was established, which represented a dramatic change in building design. Protagonists
of modern movement supposed the idea of shifting from traditions design styles and construction
methods towards a new design era. Architects from Europe and the U.S., including Le Corbusier,
Eliel Saarinen, Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropious, among others, abandoned past building
precedent and focused on exploring new building designs, construction materials and
technology. However, there were those who still supported past precedents and drew their
inspiration from them. Architects like Robert Venturi and Frank Lloyd Wright still insisted on
historical designs and most of their building designs were inspired by past precedents such as
Guild House. It was wrong for the supporters of modern movement to look at cohorts of past
design styles as adversaries rather than sympathizer. This is because the only difference between
the two groups is time and perspective. Unfortunately, most of the modern movement supporters
openly disapproved past architectural forms in their articles and other writings.
Despite different opinions of architects, the relationship between traditional and modern
architecture cannot be overlooked. The basis of both of them is to create spaces that improve
human life in terms safety, health, satisfaction and making life easier. In case of buildings, both
traditional and modern architecture have similarities in terms of building forms, envelopes, size
of rooms, layout of rooms, etc. The only major difference is that modern architecture largely uses
technology to improve efficiency of design, construction, operation and maintenance of
buildings. It is still debatable on what architectural designs, between traditional and modern

Article and Video Summary 3
styles, are resource efficient considering that past precedents did not have sophisticated energy
and water-consuming systems, which are mandatory in modern buildings due to factors such as
climate change and lifestyles. Some architects also came up with the idea that the design of a
building should be influenced by preexisting conditions.
There have been a lot of transformations in architecture since nineteen century but one of
things that still stands until today is the fact modern architecture cannot be disconnected from
historical or traditional architecture. Things do change with time but that does not mean
disregarding the past. During the traditional architecture era, those forms had meaning and they
have continued to act as points of reference even for those who have been opposing past
precedents.
The main point presented in this article is that change is inevitable with time but that does
not mean disregarding the past. Architects should embrace change but it is also important for
them to acknowledge historical design precedents and improve on their limitations. However,
this does not mean limiting the architects’ creativity and innovation. What it means is that
architects should consider drawing their inspiration from historical precedents and create designs
that suit the conditions where they are located. Bearing this in mind and with use of modern
technology, architecture has a great potential of making the society a better place.
Video Summary
New South China Mall, the world’s second largest mall in terms of total area, located in
Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, is a good example of the factors that architects should
consider when designing a building. It is the responsibility of architects to honestly advice their
clients on the suitability and feasibility of proposed building designs. For the New South China

Article and Video Summary 4
Mall, it remained almost fully vacant for nearly a decade since its official opening in 2005. That
is why it was nicknamed ‘Ghost Mall’.
This mall has clearly demonstrated how combination of past precedents and modernism
principles can create stunning architectural structures. The mall features several traditional
design forms including Arc de Triomphe, Egyptian sphinx, indoor roller coaster, large
columns/pillars, lintel spanned windows and doors, dome-shaped entrances, round towers, wind
catchers (wind towers), atriums, monuments, canals, artworks, decorations, etc. The mall is
divided into zones, probably representing something (this was largely used in traditional
architecture). The mall has numerous ancient Greek and Rome architectural elements. The
design of this building was largely influenced by past precedents but it was constructed using
modern materials and methods for use by modern people.
But as emphasized in the article summary above about ensuring that designs of structures
are influenced by their location, the owners and architects of the mall got it wrong. The mall is
located in an area inhabited by middle-class earners yet it targeted upper class earners. It is also
not close to any public transport or airport, making it difficult to access. But following recent
renovations and a change of focus to middle class earners, the mall is gradually gaining traction.
In general, this video has demonstrated that combining historical design precedents and modern
architectural elements can create spectacular buildings. However, every building should be
designed by considering its intended function and preexisting conditions.

Article and Video Summary 5
References
Eggener, K., 2004. American Architectural History: A Contemporary Reader. Abingdon, UK:
Routledge.
China’s Ghost Mall, 2013. [Video] Directed by Wade Shepard. Kuala Lumpur: Global Films.