Type ‘Chestopher CM Le August 16, 2011 “The word “ype? comes fom the Greek word ner which means ‘model, matrix, impression, mould, ma, figure in rele, orgial form’ and rom the Latin word ‘pes which ean ig, image, form, ki Common use “The common understanding of type’ refers a an objet or anaes that belongs to a class or group that brings together ocets with sia attabuts. In architecture, “wpe’ is commonly underwood a buildings grouped by thei use, that i schools, hospitals, pasons, churches and so on However, cis understandings imiting As the use ofa bulding has shown to be independent Srom ts building aad tralves in time. A warehouse can be tured into apartinent, and a Geomgan terrace int a schoo. Wht this means eth to understand "ype wa wae tell ae lite about the shaed characteristics ad tits ofthe arifacts or objects that belong tothe group in question, hence impeding agsinet the knowledge that could have been othervse acquired ‘type! as Idea (Eidos) For the definition ofthe won type’ in architectural theory we ean tum to Antoine, Chaysostome Quatremere de Quiney’s (1755 = 1849) masterfl defition nthe Disivmnae bison dwrcbincar (1825) tha als formally inuroduced the action of ‘ype into architectural discourse, For Quateméze de (Quincy, “The word ype’ presents less the mage ofa thing to copy ot mitate ‘completly than the idea ofa clement which ough itself to seve asa rule for the model [2] Po i, type” isthe idea or eytbolic meaning thats embeded in an clement, 30 object ora thing Ths “ype is abstract and conceptual rather ‘Ga concrete and literal Following neo platonic tadtion, tis idea for (Quatzemre de Quiney can also be uradentood asthe dea! that an azehitect should swe Forin the process of erative prouction, that i, a idea that can neverbe fully matetalized in the process of ans creation. Thus Quatremése’s Sefton touches upon and serves ata sietaphysical they of ‘type’. According to Quatremére de Quincy's theory of imitation] this denis the laws that gover ature ater than the product of nature, This law or abstract principle that guides any ante production is therefore eternal and ideal although the models that, aise from the application of thes principles are infinite in is variations While agreeing with Quatremre de Quiney onthe distinction between ides and ‘mode’, Goted Semper (1803-79) defines "ype as the idea that must be ‘endertood though the potenial of four building techniques: tering ((rasonn). rooting carpent) the earth (ceramics) and walling (exiles) (4) This tatetialst approach of Semper displace the idea of “type” foun an idealist, postion to practical one. Similecy, Gilio Cao Argan (1909-1992), departs fom Quacreméze de Quiney’s insistence on desivng principles fom narore as an ideal. For Argan, “type” is 8 idea ao longer residing in ature but in building precedats and Uneefre inthe history of arcitecrare, This value thus relative, not anil nor immutable, For Aan, "The bith ofa “type is therefore dependent on the existence of 2 seis ‘of building havig tetween them an obvious formal and funtinalstalogy.5] “This aserion prints tothe ersial fat that new types’ canbe detected as ech as they canbe surpassed, hence enabling a design process thats spmactic and ‘Eacurtve in equal meatute. Iwould asgue that, teen thie way, to wate ‘gpologealy sto analyse reason and propose throws things which are ofthe Domina Tp Hook Koo, 201 1p th tengo dni up bing seoalng wea barbus t Nido Pn it ‘os bites Guides 0952-5) 2. Qatendede Qin, "gem Ee Maine, ‘el Stn Sei Youn, np i Te Hird Dina fh of namin de ig ono: Ppa Pub, 2, WS, RES Jour of Antopoligr a Aho, 90.6 (nnn 185 9531 $5. Gate Ca Age the polo oF Area? Aasiters Desig 38120989, 8408"same type, thus consideing them in sree, Wosking in seis(6] reveals the shared true between things and o hares the embodied and cumulative ineligence of ‘at cnet into achitcereal projeion. This seal consideration mancipates {he idea of ype from a fixed seal without displacing the ced fr an ide Tafluenced by Agae’s ‘Oa the Typology of Architecture Aldo Rossi (1931 1997) defines type’ as. dhe very idea of aebiceturc that which it elosea to its essence In spite of charges, it as alwys imposed self on che “clings and reason” a the principle of arcitecrure and ofthe city. 17] For Rost, ype isthe principle that ean be found in the urban afc. The urban arifac, a defined by Ross, is or only a buildin, bura fragment of he city. The urban afer should be understood a8 ft uno or faite uae, they are aoe use physica thing in ‘he cy, but al ft history, geography, sructare and conection withthe severe ofthe city as noe by Peter Lisenman fs The ambiguity ofthe wba et also owes 2 the above defistions; thatthe cle islfs an atfact, ha it is civided nto individual dings and cieling seas. Following this, i would reas tat every physialstectre in the city is potenally an urban arifuc. Thus {or Ross, the efeeatating fetes would have to be ies individuals whic comes from its quality, uniqueness and definition [] This ndvigualiey depends ‘more os ts form than mate its complex enty that developed over space and time, its historia chess, ie certain cxgial values and function that pest (rich for Ross is of spinal value), and is sum of al expences and memes (ominous or auspicious) 10], ‘Type’ ae Model (Eidolon) ‘When ‘type’ it understood ley) as madel, it refers to anisedueible element, ject or art, that can be father ware (a8 3 cops) in the process of aie cteation or design. For Quatremére de Quincy, “The model undertocd inthe fente of practical execution, i an object chat should be repeated as ii contrariwise, the ‘type’ is an object after which each ast aa conceive works that bear no resemblance to each other, Allis precise and given when i comes to ‘he model, while all is more or less vague when it comes tothe “ype [11] This ‘oncepsion of type" as model inthe late Ith andl ea 19thcenty ean also be traced tothe way Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand (1760-1834) treats the notion of| “aype’, and has been commonly associated 0 “typology” as design method. Ia his Rea pare des eis de os gare, ancien mudrms (Collection and Parle of Eailices of Al Kiads, Ancient and Modes), (1799-1801) and the Pi a Ione arte dome Esl Pebeniga (Pris of te Leetaes Architecture Given atthe Ecole Polyechaiqse), (1802-1808), Durand atempss to iad a systematic method in clasfjing vatious gents of buildings and to dtl ‘em tots most sypieal elemental pars 12] Durand proposed that new “types! for ‘he recently emerging ueban condition canbe created trough che adapeztion recombination of thet sypieal elements to specie sites, responding tots constants, "This notion of pe’ as model, presented grephiealy a8 sree snes in Data’ eas, intodces precepts that ae fundamental to working ‘typological precedents, classification, aonemy, continu, repetition, «ferentiation and reineenson. It mat be pointed out that Danan cid not se ‘de won! type’ in his two books and did noe expiily set out co define the cneepe of ype. His theoretical ambition wat to aysiematie architectural lcnowiedge and to set out atonal method in designing bling. In doing x, he consttucted a science of architecture that inadvertent eutlined a didactic theory of pe’ and constitutes what we understand a8 iypology’. Although Durand utlizestypoogy’ in a prigmatic manner, evidenced in his pedagogical eppeoach in teaching architectural design inthe Ecole Poytechaigue hie lasget ambition wrest ave at «gener principle of architecture that a understancable ane cat involve aot only archicects and enginers but the gener public his ight, propose that Duran’ ‘ypology aa be seen as a common grata, where this form of dtcipinary nenledge no lenges uses symbolic means zo construct 2 shared value bur utilizes the very mateal of architectre a6 a common gaammae ‘at unites Typology “The sof5e ology of typology” comes from the Gree lage, which means 8 discourse, weatise, theory or scence’. Thus “typoogy’ isthe discourse, theory wea (method) oe seience of type "Typology is sot the epposive of polo "his fale penton is ofen made to conta the processes of forms ferestitin in achitectre The formers characterised a a combinatory process etuling in discontinuous differentiated fora wht the later produces ominously cfeentisted form. Type" and typology’ as defined abo i aot concemed withthe smoothness or continuities of formal dtferentaion and thus 4. Chstpher Ma Working Ss Towson pene Meo pen La, Cite Me Goes, Kp tS Lando: AA bans 2. Alo Ros Th Anton ft iy, aby Diane int nd Jon Odea Cami: MIT Em, ego monument Thi bene the ge wether sty toe ily pera td we Dearing, 72S 12 Jem NL Dad Pi fe Liteon Ari Taos, Des eon Angeles Gey Tat 2H), Duna nga ae pe ooto pose ic asthe opposite of topology ie fly Typicalty "Typealty 13] as pu for by Peter Cal refers to ‘egaventons' or ameworks —__13.G Poe ‘Typ, ell, Car Pra Anbu of understanding’ that relies on common stations and typical elements. For Car, asi BL 201, This dstnain ewe pean ‘ype’ isa subset co “ypicalies’. Ti is because Cal understands ‘type’ a formal painywu Sa dae by abo Val 50 ya a> ‘atations (or mode) He draws a cles ditneton between "type" and typical"; smonngto Celso apps now stele pcre and osllsteste thi point, Cases the example ofthe type bedroom’ versus the sua’ in ete of Di Rat “piel situation associated with the hedsoom. Te former refers toa medi Theat of Cnty ih has Pron size wom with bedside table, window, closet and an acces a a WC. Whereas (Cbg MA: MIT Pr 208, fe later eer to sicher and more profound interpretation that can inlude tleep #% illness, death and soon, Thus for Cad, type” are isolated Sagments of a deeper and richer trctare of peas’ and “The principe dference beeen tspology and spicality i that che former conceatetes pon (architectural) object, the les upon situations [14] Typicalties'forinstance 14d, p40 loperste in language as + Sxmeworke of undenarding, or mansal undemtanding requires che element of recognition, otherwise we will be compelled ro invent language a fe at every meeting, Cal angues tha his language’ should at be tandentod asthe strctralism of French linguistics chat attempts to eanslate all language into a grammar of messages of codes. Instead this language as famewodk of understanding disposes typcalities i stata, The most immediate sre common messing fellow by accents ar sounds, then boxy gestures. As such, recognition is enly possible dough dhe commes elements cared by “pile” Dominant Type ‘The word ‘dominant’ means ruling, governing or having an influence aver something: it also means something tha is peevaling. Thu, for aye’ 10 be dominant ic as to prevail. What is the most prevaling i alo the moat typieal tnd what ste most spied ie alsa common tol. And no other sphere more ‘aon t all than the city. Thus, a ‘dominant type’ cat he undestocd asthe ‘ppicel clement that constitute the ity and are the embodiment of the common, oscilaces between both ends of spialities ~ common situations and rypical lemenes~ and serves a both a framework of undertanding and asa eid ‘ppice architec object that ines forth che idea ofthe ety ‘he idea of the ety is histoeallyconstitted and concer itself with the cic and symbolic function of human setlemeats aad coexistence. As ces awe thee tain chariteite to geogephical and topographical condition and that cies are always linked to other cites for tade and resources, they ted to specialize ad forma distinctive charactee.15] eis this distinctive character coupled with the 1. funda on vertu, pom, clea, need to accommodate differences that gives rset the potiiiy of elective igh town) od won, Weed at meaning forthe es. This mesning changes with ime, n response tots ever oon ever "olde ci, ancl ce, changing inhabitants (oe cizens) and extemal rcumstance sad is often il de, spor di formalize, historically, nthe constrason of eve buildings 2 lendmarks or common identity and as clement of permanence in te city, exemplified by rown hull, Hordes, museums and archives. Deis though ths understanding tat Tam 16. Fear dau onthe emi psd he proposing chat the Idea oF the Cay ean be embed in hess “dominant ype oe Chstopter Les. Pere Sen ie “The “dominant spe’ here castes not ony he idea ofthe city but also the CGestophr CA Lae Sa Jandy te. Tia! ined typ npn of the history and conteution ofthe cy. Thus, to mains Ro ag Typ die Gy (Lo uundentand the “dominant ype to understand she city el 6), AA Pbtons 207m Costop er CM, Lee Jay, “polopad Ufa Pane Ci Atul, 209 (01)