Problem + Position = Purpose

Defining ornament may be an important step but it did not progress my thoughts much further.  
What aspects of ornament am I referring to?  What is it that should be changed?

PURPOSE

I have two problems:

1) With regards to ornament, contemporary architecture has difficulty designing in three dimensions.  Scaled up too large, the ornament becomes the building itself: an icon (duck).  On the other hand, a smaller ornament is usually repeated as a two-dimensional pattern that simply screens the building (decorated shed).  

> Contemporary architecture should be designed with the aggregation of an ornamental module.

2) Recent architectural projects that employ ornament fail to utilize its ability to communicate. (a decorated shed with an empty sign)

> Contemporary architecture should use ornament as was traditionally done: to explain the structures they adorn.

(In this case, ornament does not 'adorn' architecture but will form its very being per position 1) above)

226 National Stadium by Herzog & de Meuron 

While ornamental in nature, the structure is identified not by its parts but the sum: a giant bird's nest.

Ravensbourne College by Foreign Office Architects

An ornamental pattern covering a nondescript form.  Does not indicate the program or context.

Research + DESIGN: Keeping BOTH in mind!

Please remember the first slide of the term:

Though it would seem tacit to the studio that design is instrumental to success, over the past week a few issues came about that should be shared with the studio.

PROBLEMS, POSITIONS, and STRATEGIES... oh my...
Some of you have experienced difficulty or apprehension in starting the project on account of the nature of articulating a clear Problem (Purpose) and Position (Thesis). At this early phase, it may be worth testing your ideas by filling in the blanks in this basic statement:

Problem/Purpose: "The problem with contemporary architecture is..."
*Note that "contemporary" is not necessarily a stylistic issue, rather a matter of current praxis.

Position/Thesis: "I believe that architecture should..."
*Note that this statement is based upon your opinion.

Strategies: "In order to accomplish such a thesis goal, the design of architecture should: X, Y, Z"

THREE important issues should be highlighted:
A) All of the discussions should pertain primarily to ARCHITECTURE rather than architecturally-related issues such as planning, urban design, programming, typologies, industrial design, or interior design. The architectural issue can cascade and impact those facets but your work should begin with ARCHITECTURE. You are all pursuing a Master of Architecture degree - do not stray from that.
B) This framework does not propose that your work is a "solution" nor would it "solve" anything. Your position is merely demonstrated in your presentation of the design strategies.
C) Some of you have been too focused upon tactical or strategic goals before confidently articulating the key problem and your thesis. Doing this is backwards and will at best result in a force-fit of ideas and at worst will be an incongruous design project. Do not put the horse before the cart; ensure you have clarity on the problem and thesis before attempting strategic and tactical gestures.

DESIGN APPLICATION

Given that all of you successfully were accepted into the program with a letter of intent and most of you have since refined that to a proto-thesis within Professor Cirka's seminar, this first project should be understood as an opportunity to develop design strategies to assert showcase your positioned response.  Do not forget that you should be spending as much time refining your design as your text - especially in this studio.

If you have developed a clear architectural problem and positioned architectural thesis, the next step is to articulate architectural strategies. Such strategies would be more universal statements on what should be done in architecture to appropriately demonstrate and reinforce your position. Within the next few days everyone should have a confidence in their first draft of the proposition (Problem, Position, Strategies) and a rough design concept that showcases the ideas. Design work will be critical to begin.

BLOGGING

Some of you have expressed a desire to propose ideas outside of studio hours. Please use this platform as a vehicle to post your ideas and receive modest feedback. This allows everyone to collaborate and share their ideas, development, and criticisms of work. All of you should have access or at least received a request to join. If you have not, please contact the studio instructors and they will try again.