1. The readings refer to tectonics in a variety of settings; tectonic/stereotomic, tectonic/atectonic, topos/typos/tectonic, representation/ontological, rhythm, corporeal metaphor, ethnography, and technology. Briefly define each term and provide an architectural example that embodies the condition.

Tectonic/Stereotomic- Tectonic is light and air and stereotomic is mass earth and base. An architectural example for stereotomic would be huts that are dug out of the earth. An example for tectonic would be a native American dwelling.

Tectonic/Atectonic- Tectonic would be material behaving with gravity and atectonic would be a material behaving against gravity. An architectural example of atectonic would be a column that is huge, but is not necessary to support such a thin roof. An example for tectonic would be the concrete columns in the Exeter Library that support the concrete square with a circular void surrounding the atrium.

Topos/Typos/Tectonic- Buildings come into existence through topos, typos, and tectonic. It is the site and type of a building. An architectural example would be any building such as Roman Pantheon.

Representational/Ontological- Representational is symbolic and ontological is the technical relationship. An architectural example for representational would be what a dwelling is for the people. The ontological would be the relationship of the roof, wall, and frame.

Corporeal Metaphor- Corporeal Metaphor is the way the physical body understands space without thinking about it. An example of this would be the way concrete makes you feel inside a building; it makes you feel cold.

Ethnography- Ethnography is how something moves and develops throughout time and space with a cosmogonic drive. An example of this would be the Berber house which inverts the universe.

Technology- Technology is the technical development of a certain application. Frampton speaks of technology as being able to transform everything. He is concerned about the environment and how our new techniques degrade it. An example would be a house that is not environmentally friendly and does not meet LEED standards.

2. Kenneth Frampton writes that this study of tectonics "seeks to mediate and enrich the priority given to space", what is a dominant trend in Western architecture of today and how does tectonics relate to this trend?

The dominant trend of Western architecture today is being more concerned with sensory attractions then with is conceptual manifestations such as tectonics. Tectonics is often forgotten this is something that needs to change in today’s architecture. Tectonics and space can be thought of together in a building.

3. "Greek in origin, the term tectonic derives from the work tekton, signifying carpenter or builder". How has the impact of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and other space-time models altered tectonic etymology?

Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and other space-time models have altered tectonic etymology. For example Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity is an assemblage of Newton’s law of universal gravitation and other scientific laws. Space-time models have also develop over time when man set foot on the moon made space travel possible and since then model new models have developed but they are rooted in the first space ship model with new alterations.

4. Vittorio Gregotti states in 1983, "(t)he worst enemy of modern architecture is the idea of space considered solely in terms of its economic and technical exigencies indifferent to the ideas of the site". If the intention of site is to situate human in the cosmos, how then does site infer from a contemporary landscape that has been graded, conditioned, tamed, treated, sculpted, mapped, engineered, essentially re-created by humans?

By situating a human in the universe means for a human to adapt to the environment. Therefore, a contemporary landscape that is re-created by humans goes against the concept of situating a human in the universe because instead of adapting to the environment you are manipulating it.

5. Is architectural tectonics applicable or relevant in a world of global mobilization? State and explain your position.

Architectural tectonics is relevant in a world of globalization, but it is not strictly needed. Construction relationships and materials that are used in there true constructive forms are important. They teach people knowledge as they look around the world especially for architect students and architects.