SCALE- a proportion used in determining the dimensional relationship of a representation to that which it represents (dictionary.com)
"Proportion and correcting optical illusions were major considerations of the Greek architects." (Blakemore 30) Monday is Patricks class we talked about how the Parthenon's columns are off at the ends, they are closer to the other columns. And that was to create an illusion so when you came out into the courtyard you see the Parthenon to the right and that all the columns seem in balance because the way you are viewing it. Proportion I do believe is a very important part of scale, because proportions make up the scale you use. When we discussed Egypt, there was the hierarchical scale that was used commonly throughout the history. In one case at the temple of Amon in Karnak there are these guard like figures outside kind of towering over you, intimidating you in fact. They were there to show power and show fear and to me at least, I didn't feel welcomed because of the size the land held.
http://junomain.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/balance_scale.jpg
UNITY- a whole or totality as combining all its parts into one (dictionary.com)
Baha'ullah or also the messenger of God said, "so powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." In the architecture sense I think this is pretty genius because in a structure you definitely need unity for it to be successful, and people in general such as countries UNITE when they struggle in a crisis and it brings them closer together as beings. In Stoels class we are reading Christopher Alexander's The Nature of Order Book 1 of 4. But in my latest reading he believes that life in today's society in missing all together or just less present then in the past. And I do believe that today's architecture is just your usual everyday design you see, especially in the suburbs. But I think certain areas unity is certainly present, and that piece of architecture shines in its own way and has life radiate from it.
BOUNDARIES- something that indicates bounds or limits; a limiting or bounding line (dictionary.com)
For the Parthenon in ancient Greece, the boundary or limit was the sky not to the human eye though. Because it was made for the Greek goddess herself Athena and also Patrick told us how if you were to draw the already curving columns upward towards the sky, that they'd eventually meet about a mile and half above the ground. All architecture has boundaries because well there is only so far you can built or gain the rights to built within technically. But the sky literally is the limit when designing something new and unique, if you are a designer and have the knowledge you can certainly come up with anything new or exciting to experiment with. Kind of goes hand in hand with that old saying, that if you can think it, you can do it. Which to some extent I for sure know as fact.
SECTION- a distinct part or subdivision of anything (dictionary.com)
Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and composite were all different column designs used throughout Greece and other ancient cities. But all these are to me, is a section of the structure which in time leads to another section and so on, until you eventually have your design as a whole and it's now come to life. That's all I really consider some designs in the beginning to be, is just sections of the bigger picture. To help you get an idea down you usually start with just something in particular you know you want, and then over time you continue to add on to your design until you feel like you have something good going on in it. For example a section view of a house, all it shows is your structure from the very soil to it's highest point being the roof or whatever it may be. And it illustrates all the materials needed throughout that whole section and is pretty elaborate and detailed so that it helps to really guide whoever need be.
VIGNETTE- some form of adding decor to a piece
Me personally being involved in photography, whenever I see this term I tend to think of it dealing with photography. And when you have a vignette photo it generally is black around the edges and kind of just centers your subject in your photo and guides you right to your object where as it doesn't distract you from what the picture really is trying to convey. When dealing with architecture, I'm not so sure I know what this means I would think it is basically adding your own mark to your design and giving it something special but not making it so overwhelming where you can't even focus on the building as a whole.
Photo taken by me using fisheye lens
REFLECTION
"The history of architecture is primarily a history of man shaping space." (Roth 55) This week we covered Egypt and that eventually lead into Greece, and every week I continue to really get a feel for how VITAL architecture really is, societies thrive off of it. Whether it is for just a generation it impacts or the truly remarkable, astounding pieces such as ancient Egypt's Giza pyramids that weren't meant just for one lifetime to reflect on, but for a whole country to praise forever and to just really shock the world knowing that something can basically stand the test of time. The quote though I understand and it makes sense because architecture is a humans design. We shape the world and what it will look like for years to come. And to think that all starts with just an idea of a design and eventually will lead to something so historic and that can serve as an iconic structure for centuries to come. "Architecture is shelter, but it is also symbol and a form of communication." Architecture is the way we say what were about, whether it implements morals or just something to glorify. It has life, true architecture does it has life and a whole history that goes behind that life it illustrates a symbol to what were all about. A testament for people all around the world that this world is yours and you can shape it however you'd like, leave your mark in life. Christopher Alexander said this, "we may feel the same in a person. One person may be glowing with life, which transmits to everyone around. Another person is drooping, half dead." (Alexander 33) Buildings have there own sort of life behind them, one may possess more life then another certainly if I think of a building in downtown Greensboro as compared to the Cathedral of Pisa which includes the famous leaning tower in Italy. Even a person who isn't a appreciator of architecture would probably associate the cathedral with having more life because it is a beautiful place and you feel that your seeing something that has been seen by the world and it just holds so much history within it. This concludes my OPUS entry for week 3, man I hope I do better!
Citations
1. The Nature of Order, The Phenomenon of Life
Christopher Alexander
2. History of Interior Design and Furniture
Robbie G. Blakemore
3. Understanding Architecture It's Elements, History, and Meaning
Leland M. Roth
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