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Purpose of the Assignment:
In
this assignment you will be providing your first analysis of an
architectural work. By examining an architectural work in terms of its
Form, Function and Architectural Style you will be able to look beyond
the mere first appearance of a work, by examining your selected building
more in-depth. For Form, you will look at each of the formal elements
of architectural design and analyze how these are found or absent from
your selected piece. For Function, you will research the building’s
current function and other uses it may have had throughout its history.
For Architectural
Style you will conduct research and provide details about your selected
building’s Architectural Style (i.e. Gothic architecture, Neoclassical,
etc.)
Steps for this Assignment:
Select
an architectural work from the architectural works displayed in the
assignment folder for this assignment. You will be examining your
selected piece in terms of both its Form and Function.
1.
Form – Provide a formal analysis of this piece using material presented
in class on the formal elements of architectural design (this is your
own analysis of this work and should not be based on someone else’s
analysis that you may have found while conducting research). Your
analysis of Form should include the following:
Identify sensory elements in the work such as lines, shapes, and colors.
Examine
the formal elements of architectural design present such as pattern and
repetition, rhythm, symmetry and asymmetry, balance, contrast,
proportion and scale, theme and variation, and coherence and unity in
variety. Look at how each of these elements is or is not present in
your selected work (explain how each of the elements is present or
absent in this work). See the list of elements and definitions for each below.
Elements of Architectural Design:
Balance
Contrast
Pattern and Repetition
Rhythm
Symmetry and Asymmetry
Proportion and Scale
Theme and Variation
Coherence and Unity in Variety
Elements of Architectural Design (Definition):
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.
Note:
Many feel, that the most pleasing architectural designs have an elegant
system of repeated elements that give unity to the overall structure.
2.
Function – Research the building’s history to determine its function,
both past and present (what purpose does this building serve and/or has
served, i.e. is it a cathedral or church used for worship, a government
building, an opera house, etc.) Provide as many details about its
function as you can.
3. Style – Make sure to research and cover basic details about your building’s style of architecture.
Format:
Your analysis should be at least 3 to 4 pages double spaced, with standard size margins and 12-point font.
You
must provide citations throughout your text for any source material
used (for sections on Function and Style of Architecture) and must
include the URLs in a separate page at the end of your document. Please
read the document found in the Main Menu for the course titled Citing
your Sources.
Please spellcheck, edit and proof your work.
Please
use the checklist for this assignment before submitting your essay.
This checklist will also be used as a rubric (criteria) for grading.
Submission Process:
Submit
your assignment using the Dropbox for this assignment which can be
found under Assignments in the course Main Menu in Blackboard.
Please use the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao – Frank Gehry
