"Form should follow function" 2

[thruthefence]

"Form should follow function"

I have heard this for years. Anyone know who originated the phrase?

 

[ornerynorsk]

I think it was me, trying to talk some sense into our former owner.

 

[MintJulep]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Form_follows_function

 

[drawoh]

MintJulep,

The Wikipedia article was very interesting.

I followed the link on Victor Papanek, because I have read a couple of his books. In one of books, he discussed his $9 TV set. There were all sorts of explanations on how some third world type could build the cabinet of the TV using locally availble materials. No where did he explain how these natives were going to build the tube.

In one of his books, he did make a cute, smart-ass remark about tables that made you want to lie down on them and have your appendix taken out.

JHG

 

[msquared48]

In my first semester of General Engineering (Frosh year) at the UW back in 1966, I remember seeing a poster with that saying on the bottom.

The image was permanently burned into my brain - not the saying, just the image - of a babe in a bikini. Engineering has not been the same since.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask

 

[SomptingGuy]

Form and function equals Ducati. And no, I don't work for them. Porsche aren't bad. Ferrari a bit to the form side.

- Steve

 

[plasgears]

It's what separates engineers from the architects. The rare engineer will include compelling details that work into the functions as well as esthetics.

DB Steinman, eminent bridge designer and builder, had signature details that were unmistakable. He combined the stiffening truss into the suspension on a number of bridges.

 

[TheTick]

The function of a product is to generate profit. Poor sales resulting from poor form means a failed product.

 

[brandoncdg]

Engineers function = make Architect's form work

I would say Lotus is pretty function.

CDG, Civil Engineering specializing in Hillside Grading in the Los Angeles area

http://www.CivilDevelopmentGroup.com

 

[oldrunner]

If I remember correctly, it was Frank Lloyd Wright.

 

[GregLocock]

It's a bit utilitarian though isn't it? I'd rather work to "form should not inhibit function".

I imagine the egotist who put this up liked fff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues_Point_Tower

Cheers

Greg Locock

I rarely exceed 1.79 x 10^12 furlongs per fortnight

 

[thruthefence]

Greg, My daughter attended the University of East Anglia, in Norwich, Norfolk, UK; and I made a trip over to visit, and do a bit of sightseeing. Norwich is a town of old, Medieval churches & buildings, and I was surprised to the University buildings to be so block like, & utilitarian looking. I understand you can't rebuild Oxford, but UEA looks out of place among all the Gothic stuff. But I suppose form IS following function.

 

[GregLocock]

Modern university buildings in the UK tend to be brutalist in style, I don't know why.

Cheers

Greg Locock

I rarely exceed 1.79 x 10^12 furlongs per fortnight

 

[PeterCharles]

Modern university buildings in the UK tend to be brutalist in style, I don't know why.

Probably because they are cheaper to build than proper buildings even though they they won't last as long!

 

[KENAT]

Though sometimes, just sometimes, they play around on them. The Lancaster Mechanical Engineering building in Southampton is an example of the 'brutalist' building style. The main Lecture hall protrudes out the side of the building. Supposedly originally it was cantilevered out. For some reason (excess deflection when loaded with eager engineering students being the most often posited as I recall) pillars were added about a third of the way out at some point.

As to the OP, a bit like "if it looks right it'll fly right" and yet there have been some very effective aircraft of questionable aesthetic appeal, and some very pretty failures.

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[SomptingGuy]

... all those alleged aerodynamic cars of the past with their pointy front ends - to "cut through the air". They looked cool, but weren't anywhere near Mach 1.

- Steve

 

[GregLocock]

Only a very small part of a car's function is aerodynamics. A large part is carrying a given number of passengers and cargo comfortably, so a VW Microbus is a much better example of fff than a sleek coupe.

Maybe?


Cheers

Greg Locock

I rarely exceed 1.79 x 10^12 furlongs per fortnight

 

[geofra07]

The architect Louis Sullivan originated the phrase "Form follows function".

 

[70AARCUDA]

courtesy of WIKI -- "American architect Louis Sullivan who coined the phrase..."

 

[GregLocock]

Hmm, it's rubbish for architecture (what is the function for a building?) and it is rubbish for cars. It might work for bayonets and cuckoo clocks. But probably not.

Perhaps it works for competition gliders.



Cheers

Greg Locock


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