Please select an architectural work (i.e. a cathedral or some other type of architectural work) and write a 3 to 4-page essay on this particular piece (it does not have to be one of the architectural pieces being covered in class, and it can be from any time period). Please address the following: Why did you select this particular piece of architecture, were you familiar with this building prior to taking this class? Who created the piece, is there a well-known architect associated with this work, if so, what were some of the forces (historical, cultural, and personal) in the architect’s life that may have influenced and motivated him to carry out this work.
Also address the subject of Form and Function. In terms of Function, look at the building’s history and determine its function, both in the past and present (what purpose does this building serve, i.e. is it a cathedral or church used for worship, a government building, an opera house, etc.) Do research and find out as much as you can about the piece you’ve selected. Also discuss your personal reaction to this particular work. Does having knowledge about the architect who designed the building, the reasons why he created the work, and how the building has been used influence how you view this particular work and your response to it?
Lastly, please address Form by providing a formal analysis of this piece using material presented in class on the formal elements of architectural design. For example, identify sensory elements in the work such as lines, shapes, and colors; and formal elements of architectural design such as pattern and repetition, rhythm, symmetry and asymmetry, balance, contrast, proportion and scale, theme and variation, and coherence and unity in variety.
Balance – Is the characteristic of equal weights opposing one another. In art, we say that a composition is balanced if the shapes on one side of a center line appear to have the same weight as those on opposite sides. Buildings can be balanced whether they are symmetrical or asymmetrical as long as they maintain a sense of equal, visual weight on either side of a center line drawn through the façade.
•Contrast – There is contrast when two adjacent parts are very different from one another. In architecture, we speak about such things as materials that have contrasting colors and textures. We may also mean the relationship of highlights and shadows. When contrasting materials are placed together, one seems to move to the front of your line of vision. Architects use contrast to add visual variety to their designs.
•Pattern and Repetition – When lines and shapes are repeated, they create a pattern. Patterns can be regular or irregular, however, architects try to repeat elements of design in a regular manner. In architecture, patterns can be found in the way bricks are laid, in repeated shapes of windows, and in decorative wood or stone trim.
•Rhythm – There are rhythmic patterns which give a dynamic quality to a building, making it appear lively. It is very apparent in rows of columns or repeated arches. Such patterns carry our eye across the façade of the structure and add visual excitement to its large form.
•Symmetry – When there is correspondence in size or shape of parts on either side of a bisected whole we say it is symmetrical. A good starting point for understanding symmetry might be to look in the mirror and imagine a line drawn down the center of your body. You are fairly symmetrical with correspondence between your eyes, ears, arms and legs, thus a symmetrical building has the same shapes on either side of an imaginary line drawn down the middle of its façade.
•Asymmetry – A building is considered asymmetrical when different shapes are placed on either side of a bisecting line.
•Proportion – Is the term used to describe the relationship between two things of a different size. In architecture we are looking for the proportional relationship between spaces and the size of the human body. The proportion of a room can greatly affect the way a person feels within a space.
When we are referring to a building we often refer to this kind of proportion as scale. Ordinarily, an architect tries to design a space so that people feel comfortable moving about in it. For that reason, a bedroom may have a much lower ceiling than an auditorium, which will house a large number of people.
Sometimes a building is designed so a space is purposely out of proportion to human scale. An example of this would be the towering spaces inside cathedrals that humbles the way worshippers feel in relation to the greater place of God.
Architects deliberately design spaces with changing scale by varying the heights of ceilings and sizes of rooms. This makes the occupants’ movement through the space more dynamic.
•Theme and Variation – A theme is a dominant feature of a work of art that is carried throughout the piece. A variation is a change in the dominant elements, where the main idea still recognizable. An architect may design a building using a historical theme such as a Classical building with columns, domes and pediments, or make reference to the architecture of another culture.
•Coherence and Unity in Variety – A work of art has coherence when its elements are used together in a logical and systematic manner. In architecture, a variety of elements are used to add interest to a design, however the architect tries to tie these together to make the work cohesive.
