Function is the use of the object. What is it used for, how is it used and what is the result of it's used. The function of an object is meant to serve. I will be using architecture to illustrate further.
The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana 
The Cathedral of Our Lady of AngelsOur Lady of Angels is the successive cathedral built over the demolished remains of Saint Vibiana in Los Angeles due to an earthquake that damaged the structure so much it was beyond repair.
I believe Saint Vibiana is a good balance between form and function. In it's form, it does look like a place of prayer. It adopts a Baroque architectural style and mimics certain aspects of what makes a cathedral a cathedral (such as the statues and crucifix ornament placed on the facade of the building). In it's function, it is a place of worship, it has the capacity to house a large number of people but unfortunately served for only 74 years, which is quite short for a building's lifespan.
Our Lady of Angels I believe has sacrificed form entirely to function as a building. It looks like a religious man's mansion (the entrance looks like a garage). It hardly looks like a place of worship. In form it is not pleasing, neither does it pass in function. As mentioned, form follows function, and a cathedral is functioned as a place of worship, not something that can be mistaken for a corporate building.
Dewitt H. Parker expresses that architecture requires the building to have a greater purpose other than shelter, if not it is just a building, not architecture. In that sense, it is just another object. Having sacrificed form, Our Lady of Angels lost its' functional meaning of architecture, thus remains just a mass of concrete, steel and glass erected from the ground somewhere in Los Angeles.
Another example, say a mobile phone. A mobile phone is meant to be handled by hand and often it requires active use over a length of time. Aside for that, ergonomics suggest that it should not force the hand to stretch too wide and have proper grip. Form follows such function and makes a hand phone have smooth curved edges for comfortable handling along with a surface that isn't too slippery. Whichever follows which though, it is about harmonious balance between the two, or it is just another meaningless object, or worse simply useless... like a square shaped phone.
I believe Saint Vibiana is a good balance between form and function. In it's form, it does look like a place of prayer. It adopts a Baroque architectural style and mimics certain aspects of what makes a cathedral a cathedral (such as the statues and crucifix ornament placed on the facade of the building). In it's function, it is a place of worship, it has the capacity to house a large number of people but unfortunately served for only 74 years, which is quite short for a building's lifespan.
Our Lady of Angels I believe has sacrificed form entirely to function as a building. It looks like a religious man's mansion (the entrance looks like a garage). It hardly looks like a place of worship. In form it is not pleasing, neither does it pass in function. As mentioned, form follows function, and a cathedral is functioned as a place of worship, not something that can be mistaken for a corporate building.
Dewitt H. Parker expresses that architecture requires the building to have a greater purpose other than shelter, if not it is just a building, not architecture. In that sense, it is just another object. Having sacrificed form, Our Lady of Angels lost its' functional meaning of architecture, thus remains just a mass of concrete, steel and glass erected from the ground somewhere in Los Angeles.
Another example, say a mobile phone. A mobile phone is meant to be handled by hand and often it requires active use over a length of time. Aside for that, ergonomics suggest that it should not force the hand to stretch too wide and have proper grip. Form follows such function and makes a hand phone have smooth curved edges for comfortable handling along with a surface that isn't too slippery. Whichever follows which though, it is about harmonious balance between the two, or it is just another meaningless object, or worse simply useless... like a square shaped phone.
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