University of Virginia Library

Disjoint Modulus
Asks Questions

By David Cox

Deep within the bowels of
Fayerweather Hall, there exists
what is known as the School of
Architecture, where, unbeknownst
to most denizens of this
community, strange and wondrous
things occur. Every year or so,
Modulus emerges to let us, the
ignorant laymen, know of what
happenings transpire within.

And yet the term "magazine"
only loosely defines this potpourri
of 16 separate pieces, including
booklets, papers, posters, folders,
and photos, all enclosed in a silver
envelope. The least one can call it is
unique.

Usefulness

Usefulness characterizes the
conglomeration. First there is the
cover, consisting of a foil glued
onto a grey envelope. Not only is it
a cover, but a container for all the
goodies inside. Then, having
fulfilled that purpose, it can be
used by the reader as a decorative
wrapper for other items. After that,
you may detach the foil
(continuing to use the charming
grey envelope as you will) and
fashion sun wings from the foil to
catch all those benevolent solar rays
(to use a phrase lamentably
forgotten), thus to become tanned
behind the ears. Then, the
enterprising cuisiniers among us will
utilize it further, to bake a potato
in.

Then, for the term paperers
among us is offered a "Free Plastic
Starter Whistle," a bibliography of
Peter and Alison Smithson, by (of
all people) Peter and Alison
Smithson. Ensheathed in a groovy
mustard folder with a groovy
picture of four people obviously
having a groovy time, this listing
informs us that such gems as
"Banham's Book on Brutalism" was
printed in the January '67 edition of
A.D., whatever that is - you can't
find out from this article. Of
course, for those who aren't
fascinated by these two immortals
- I inquired of four architecture
students, including two Modulus
staffers, and not one could wasteify
them - this piece is a total wast..It
would be far more valuable - not
to say entertaining - for UVM to
print the collected works of Charles
C. Calhoun, and Rapier, the
Quotations of Chairman Rosen.

Green Folder

On the other hand, a green
folder contains one of the most
relevant and significant articles to
be recently printed at the
University. Chris Baer's "150 years
is a Long Time For Anyone to
Sleep" wittily and probingly
examines the series of Master Plans
of the University, from TJ on. For
the most part, they have been an
incredible hodgepodge of buildings
mapped with an incredible
insensitivity to our Jeffersonian
heritage (and I don't mean a
federalist style), an indifference to
present tastes, and
incomprehension of future trends
and needs. Witness, for instance,
our already obsolete library
addition, and those atrocities, the
Physics Building and Wilson Hall.
How the Chemistry Building and
the fine arts center escaped mock
Jeffersonianism is beyond me, but
even these two manifest regrettable
fragmentation of studies.

The entire plan ought to be
re-thought, and the Baer article is a
starting point, with its perspective
on the past. My only regret,
though, is that it may not reach
those to whom it is most
important.

Theo Crosby mentions some of
the problems applicable to the
University in its metamorphosis
from an academic village to a city,
such as functional fragmentation
instead of the preferable
coordination (as we originally had).
His article broaches the topic of
problems of the cities as an
environment. As surely we all
realize by now, urban ills are all but
overwhelming; Crosby, then, can
only offer a mere introduction to
them. Though he forwards two
answers, there really can be no
satisfactory responses in 750 words.

Fortunately for the soundness
of the magazine, some responses
attack certain issues with more
depth. A series of papers confronts
a variety of topics, beginning with
the distinguished piece on,
"Ecology for the Evolution of
Planning and Design," by Ian L.
McHarg, who is a noted ecologist.

Architect Appeal

Obviously, Modulus primarily
appeals to architects. But many
people would be attracted by the
implications of "Psychology and
High Density Movement," -
architects, it would seem, are
increasingly concerned with
extra-professional disciplines such
as psychology and sociology. Yet
not too many psychology majors
would find fascination by the
appearance of the article on
structures by Dr. William Zuk
(cunningly titled, " 'Join the
Architecture of Movement
Movement!' "). But the piece is
surprising. The concept of kinetic
buildings which he cleverly
contemplates - once again, another
question raised - intrigues even the
layman.

'Joy'

Benjamin Thompson's "Joy,"
too, contains a message for
architects: "In practice we must
stop designing for ourselves and the
critics and instead begin to identify
with the joys and terrors of the
man who will spend his life in what
we build." Hence, the emphasis on
the study of man.

Evidently no University
publication is complete anymore
without a short story by David
Greer, and Modulus conforms to
the rule. My question is why. I
quibble not with the quality of the
story (though I have read better
pieces by this author) but the
reason for putting it there, with no
apparent connection with the rest
of the magazine.

But a major trouble I feel, is
that the magazine, being so disjoint,
cannot do more than raise a few
questions, and forward possibilities,
without truly discussing either the
questions or the solutions. Ideas are
conceived, but not delivered into
the world (with the Smithson
bibliography a definite abortion.)
Perhaps their birth must wait until
the student architects are on the
other side of the serpentine wall,
and they answer the questions
through their practice.

Discipline Insight

As for us non-architects,
Modulus offers a glimpse of what is
going on in the discipline. And, as
disjoint as it may be, the magazine
implies (in another unifying motif)
a heavy emphasis on the
relationship of man and
environment, and hence, buildings
and cities and their design. The
gentlemen of Fayerweather Hall are
not toolies, but philosophers, and
Modulus clues us in as to what they
are thinking. For us, therein lies its
value.