System

System
Liwen Zhang

What is interesting about the word system is the multiplicity of meanings and connotations it has both within and between differing and similar contexts. Take for instance in Banham’s Unwarranted apology, the word system tackles and brings to mind a range of meanings.

On the one hand, we think of the term system in reference to Banham’s assertion of the lack of systematic integration within buildings, for instance between a building’s structure and a building’s “mechanical services”. The term “mechanical services” is interesting because usually when in reference to the particular systems that operates in buildings, such as the structural system, the term mechanical system typically follows. However, in this case the term “services” replaces the word system. Thus we question what the term “mechanical services” actually means; especially bearing in mind that the underlying word assigned to the reading is the replaced word system itself. Upon further reading we realize that Berman intends the word service to imply a organized system of apparatus rather then the more specified definition attributed to the term mechanical system. For Berman, his “mechanical services” is a system that either provides “the basic life support that makes a viable or valuable environment” or facilitates “circulation and communication”.

On the other hand, the term system is used in reference to the institution of education and discourse. When Banham lays claim to how the “vast range of historical topics extremely relevant to the development of architecture is neither taught not mentioned in many schools of architecture”, he immediately brings about the critical questioning of what is lacking in the system of architectural education.

The presence of the word system and its multifaceted meanings can be strongly felt throughout Banham’s text. Thus it is no surprise that this multifaceted array of meanings can be brought to productive use when describing the conditions of cities in particular, as a city tends to induce and require descriptions that possess such multiplicity.