U5 – The experience of architecture: basic concepts

Basic pillars of architecture:

PLACE

-Relation of contrast: architecture dominates the landscape

-Relation of camouflage: extreme integration

-Relation of organicism: The building is a nod to the place

-Relation of contextualism: It has to do with the meaning expressed by the building

SPACE

“The space within the building is the reality of that building” Frank Lloyd Wright

“The objective of architecture is divided in two parts (…) the creation of space and the creation of the limits of that space” Alois Riegi

-Classic space: Closed and compact because of the massive wall type used on the historical architecture. In the renaissance it is centralized, with at least one axis of symmetry.

-Spaces without centre:

         – Japanese (traditional) space: It is never perceived as a whole or subdivided unit but as the sum of the individual rooms.

         –  Modern space: breaks the compact space allowing horizontal and vertical connections

-Contemporary space: The entire building space is unique and continuous. The concept of free section is born, deforming and twisting the horizontal plane.

FORM

  • Rhythm: Repetition of shapes in space
  • Axis: Linear element that marks a direction and distributes the space or elements around it.
  • Symmetry: Regular arrangement of parts or points of a body or figure in relation to a centre, axle or plan.
  • Hierarchy: Relationship of supremacy of an element over others based on an established approach (size, form, situation…)
  • Module: Unitary element which serves as a proportional unit and which is repeated on the same scale or at different scales.
  • Grid: Composition based on a grid of axes serving as a guide.
  • Movement: The irregularity of forms and the variants of order inspire the ideas of movement and displacement.
  • Unity: The relationship of the parts to the whole so that nothing should be removed or added.
  • Centrality: Organization of space around a centre that creates attraction towards it.
  • Balancing: Complementary relationship between the elements of a composition (static or dynamic equilibrium)
  • Limits: It is the edge of the elements of the composition where there is a change from the rest.
  • Light: “Our eyes are made to see the forms under the light: the shadows and the clearings reveal the forms” Le Corbusier
  • Contrast: The relation of strikingly difference between two objects.
  • Colour: Chromatic manifestation of the elements to be used
  • Texture: Surface finishing of the elements involved in the final perception of architecture
  • Proportion: Harmonic relation of dimensions according to certain mathematical or geometric rules.
  • Scale: Relation between the size of the building and the size of the human being.

FUNCTION

  • Mechanical functionalism: It has its roots in the industrial revolution. Form is a direct and mechanical consequence of the functions to which it is linked.
  • Organic functionalism: The form takes on a biological sense and adapts itself to the living functions which must be carried out in the environment, that is, adapted to human activities and the social environment.
  • Moralistic functionalism: Utility exists for an end. Beauty and utility are so close that they become confused. Beauty means precisely to make visible its utility, what it serves.

MATERIALITY AND STRUCUTRE

Materials

  • Stone
  • Earth
  • Bricks
  • Wood
  • Steel
  • Concrete
  • Glass

Technology

Nowadays there are several technologies that are of great help when it comes to architecture.

There are different computer programs such as Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) that make the process of designing a building easier.

During the last years the precast architecture and the 3d builded houses have also taken greater importance, we’ll see if they become more important during the next years.