Atmospheres Reading Q&A

1. How does Peter Zumthor talk about the "Magic of the Real" and explain how this compares, in terms of the subtleties, to Michael Benedikt's "Architecture for Reality"?
--Zumothor talks about the "Magic of the Real" in relation to the atmosphere, physical aspects and realities that can be translated and defined into architecture. Defining the space and taking a moment to take it all in is what defines the experience. Benedikt describes more of how we are physically affected by structures in reality of the architecture.
2. Material Compatibility, Temperature of a Space and Levels of Intimacy are some conditions that both Peter Zumthor, in “Atmospheres”, and Richard Serra, in “Weight and Measure”, make a point of articulating when consider space. Where in their explanation of these overlapping conditions are they similar and where do they differ?
--The similarities of both readings are that they talk about your personal space effecting the architecture and your interaction is what is most important. Temperature is always in relation to the human body, materials are endless and the intamacy of the body effects thresholds. Zumthor relates more to the mood and physical aspects where Serra is more about defining a space that is more apparent.
3. Zumthor looks towards experiential conditions when creating architecture, what are other methods architects use when generating architecture and what is the corresponding building?
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4. For Zumthor at the end of the day, after figuring use, sound, place, light and the other listed conditions, if the coherence isn’t beautiful the process is started again. Beauty is simultaneously subjective for the individual, as held “in the eye of the beholder”, and universally recognizable. Define your subjective understanding of what beautiful architecture is.
--I believe that beautiful architecture is where the interaction of the building and site is well defined along with whats placed around it. The inside space should be well articulated and easy to follow. The use of the inside space i believe is a key factor as well, being able to have the least amount of empty space as possible.