Opus 13:[pair]ing down

meditation/celebration

"The major structural bays , three on the short side and five on the long side, were then subdivided by prefabricated aluminum window mullions whose alternation of widths sets up a counter rhythm to the regular, larger rhythm to the regular, larger rhythm of  structure. (roth, pg.538)

transpose/ juxtapose

"...Architects in 1946, begun to infuse their new architecture with greater meaning and symbolism to create new monumentality.(pg. 539,Roth)

light/ habitat

" The brillant whiteness of the rough stucco exterior is in the sharpest contrast to the dark interior, which is lit only by small apertures in the south wall filled with colored glass and reflected light and swooped up in the towers and splashed down on the altars below." (roth, pg. 551)

literal/ abstract

" At last the industrial production capacity of the United States available to him, Mies was able to realize the dream of the glass towers conceived in his cloud covered North German homeland. (pg. 537, Roth)

monologue/dialogue

"... Their aesthetic of architecture was to make no statement other than to reveal itself, or at least if it did speak it was only about current building technology and structural science."

( Roth, pg. 539)

OPUS 12: Action Words---

Energize

" By 1932, a handful of European immigrants had brought the modern movement design to America. The system of mass production that America had pioneered and which had inspired European designers had little effect on American interior design with the European modern movement." (pg. 84, Massey)

Compose

" New materials and building techniques were to be used to create a lighter, more spacious and functional environment." ( pg. 63, Massey)

Shape

" Inspired by a new machine aesthetic, the modern movement stripped away unesscesary ornament from the interior." (Massey, pg. 63)

"The early modern designers hoped to change society for the better with the creation  of a healthier and more democratic type of design for all. (pg. 63, Massey)

Stretch 

" Sweden and Norway had not experienced the same rapid process of industrialization as Britain, Germany, and America. When modern movement principles began to affect Scandinavian design around 1930, there was still a strong sense of craft tradition in existence. (pg. 86, Massey)

Speculate

"As the modern movement became accepted by the international avant-garde it required new political connotations. The Bauhaus had been closed down in 1932, and by the Nazi controlled Weimar council.( pg. 87, Massey)

Opus 11: ROADTRIP---

Roots. Convergence. Compression/Release. Materiality. Concept.

Roots

Roots often refers to an ethnicity or style of which something originated. It insinuates the nature of something or the essence from a particular region in which to be established. "We have had enough, and to spare of the arbitrary reproduction of historic styles. In the progress of our advance from the vageries  of mere architectural caprice to the dictates of structural logic, we have learned to seek concrete expression of the life of our epoch in clear and crisply forms." (pg. 519, Roth) I feel that this quote speaks directly of how the style that begun of the modernistic period. They used past styles and reproduced them in order to create a style all their own. Designers of this time had to retrogress to past periods in order to progress in their own They had to go back to the roots of design and pull from their. "Since the dawn of human symbolic thinking, architecture not only has provided utilitarian shelter but also has silently expressed how humans view themselves. In relation to the cosmos, to their Gods, and to each other. It has given formal expression to their whole social and religious natures. (pg. 519, Roth) They (designers') begun with their "roots" of utility, in order to develop a style that was expressive of the time. Not only did the roots refer to the beginnings of a style, but also to the roots of how buildings were constructed. For example, at the time of the modern era they were constructed by sticks or wood, arch construction combined with concrete, and concrete combined with wood. The roots of design for the modern era our based off of principles, such as, social changes, need for meaning, the romantic past, and that the past can be studied. 

Convergence

A convergence is the point at which to points finally meet, a mixing of two different view points. " Architecture is the will of the epoch translated into space until this simple truth is clearly recognized, the new architecture will be uncertain and tentative. Until then it must remain a chaos of undirected forces. The question as to the nature of architecture is of decisive importance. It must be understood that all architecture is bound up with its own time. That it can only be manifested in living tasks and in the medium of its epoch. In no age has it been otherwise. " (pg.519, Roth) This quote explains convergence of architecture really well. It displays really well that their are two forces that are uncontrollable that come together to form on main force, or in this case one main design style. Also this quote depicts that it takes time for a convergence of any impact to occur, and also how nature plays a role in allowing epochs like this to occur. For example, the Marshall Field Warehouse, in Chicago, is indicative of the Palazzo style, however, incorporated materials and styles from the modern era. This is similar to what we are doing in studio. In studio our most recent project we are having to create a light habitat, that focuses on light in many different ways, using mdf, and paper. It becomes a convergence of two completely different materials to capture light and manipulate it in different ways. 

Compression/Release

Compression is the reduction in volume, lessening of space, and further more a constricting of something with substance. Release is involved with escaping from confinement, and to remove restrictions from, and unleash from compression. Compression and release were both demonstrated on our road trip in Monticello especially. For example, in Montiecello, Jefferson used compression and release in his bedroom/ study. It was as if all the light was really compressed within his bed nook and then as your eye escaped upward toward the ceiling the room became more open and larger, and the light became released. 

Materiality

Materiality is being composed of matter, and having substance. " The sleek surfaces of the modern and streamlining were fully exploited by the American motion picture industry, for the modern style matched the buoyantly confident mood of inter-war Hollywood." (pg. 114, Massey)

Concept

A concept is a general notion, a plan, intentions, allows or gives to selling or making something explicit. And it also caters to a need or philosophy. A concept is overall a collaboration of items to get one main point across. "... the art historian Heinrich Wolfflin then extended this idea to the interpretation of architecture writing in 1888, that architecture expresses the attitude to life of an epoch. ( pg. 519, Roth)

Overview:

The words roots, compression and release, convergence, materiality, and concept are all very depicting words of not only a "roadtrip"  but also of telling about the past and what buildings marks each footprint of a new precedent. Roots refers to the origin of the roadtrip. The roots of this roadtrip I would have to say would be  have to be Falling Water, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It truly is a precedent for the modernism period. To me Falling Water was about testing boundaries, and using new materials to achieve a look that simulates nature. Both Frank Lloyd Wright and Jefferson emulated materiality in their houses by incorporating light, and using materials of their time. By doing this they created a rich, inviting space that is truly illuminated by the surrounding environment. In Monticello,  specifically Jefferson had a collaboration of design techniques and elements inspired from overseas. He then took those elements like the elliptical archway, and the skylight and incorporated them into his home, Monticello. Throughout our fieldtrip I realized that the overall concept for both Monticello and then Falling Water was the overreaching idea of illumination, to create legible houses for the area around the house. 

Between Silence+ Light--

Language

"What came to be seen later as the cultural meaningless of the spare minimalism of modernism produced the reaction of post modernism, emerging first around 1965, in the work of such American architects, as Robert Venturi and Charles Moore. Over the following decades, the initial Postmodernism split into a number of variants that have continued into the early twenty-first century." (pg. 471, Roth) During the uprise of the modernist period designers and architects began to create a new language within their design. Western designers, begun to incorporate Eastern design into their own. It was a definite conscious effort to combine the two to create what the considered to be a masterpiece of the time. Then it only was a matter of time before Chinese and other eastern exports were specifically designed for western audiences. Although, the collaboration of east and west was a great start to new design, architects began to explore more minimalist design in the sense they are taking from past periods of design. Therefore, these revivals begin to occur and designers and architects began to take from the Greeks, Egyptians and other past cultures. This made their designs minimalist due to the fact they were not new building types, they had already been seen before. Therefore, with using architectural elements from these past cultures they created their own language of minimalism. This past weekend when IARC traveled to Monticello and Falling Water we had to discover what each of these buildings were saying, and further more what their language to the world was. At Monticello the language to me was about capturing history of America, while also incorporating architectural history from Europe. In my perception, Jefferson created a language that was about making everyone at they day in time with the exception of the slaves feel welcome to his home, and like there was something for them. It was more of a public home where people could experience all of the legible history that Jefferson brought into Monticello. However, at Falling Water the language was more of a private one. Wright created this modern stylized home that was nestled deep in the woods, mostly for retreat purposes. It was completely private for the family he designed it for. The language of Falling Water also came across as more private due to the fact that for the most part he used all indigenous materials such as the stone used throughout the entire house. The main language to me was that the house was supposed to appear as though it really was not there, more so that it was apart of nature.

Public/ Private

"The creation of this public museum was the logical extension of practice in the preceding century when under the influence of the philosophies and princes had been opening their residences to the public so that their collections of painting and sculpture could be viewed and studied." (pg. 473, Roth) Public and private became majorly emphasized themes towards the reaching of the twentieth century. People before this time had never really considered creating a private space. However, the more accepted theme of this time was to create public buildings. Designers wanted to create buildings that were for everyones' use. For example, the Boston Public Library which was founded in 1895. It was a public space where people could come to gather knowledge. However, this particular public space, was  a mix from the classical revival. Then soon to be, designers and architects begun to design more directed towards a private building type. One prominent example that I can think of as a private space is Falling Water, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. He really emphasized that the space was private by making it so secluded  and extracted from the rest of the city itself. " The image of classical order came to be strongly associated with public buildings, and the role of public buildings...in elevating public virtue: one example, was Leo von Klenze's sculpture built in Munich, for Ludwig, the King of Bavartia. "( pg. 472, Roth) However, I do think that public buildings greatly inspired the innovation for private buildings. Especially being that people began to want a place all to themselves where they can escape. I feel that this quote is a great contrast to the acceptance of private spaces. 

Virtual

" Eclecticism- the informed and selective borrowing of historical building forms and details, rooted in associationalism- can be viewed as developing in a series of sequential related phases extending all the way from early eighteenth century to present day." ( pg. 470, Roth) Virtual is the existing and depicting of something to the point that it appears to be real, however, it is not actually looking and experiencing it in real life. To me eclecticism is a great example of virtual. Because we borrow from all different styles of design to consider something eclectic which is not a style all to its own. The design would still be considered a collaboration of styles. Therefore, an eclectic styling method becomes virtual. It is a mixture of historical forms and details, that compliment one another to form a design aesthetic that is not a classified one but one that is composed of so many other details to the point that it actually becomes its own style. Virtual is actually an illusion of a real image. As Roth described eclecticism it is a series of related phases, which is true to the word virtual. An image or style becomes so layered up one another that it becomes an imitated image or style of a real one.  

Craft/Technique

" In rare cases, architects were engaged to design factory administrative offices.One interesting example was John Marshall's Flax Mill in Leeds, designed by Joseph Bononi in a massive Egyptian style.  Another result of this factory building system was de facto standardization of prefabricated parts in the cast iron columns and wrought-iron beams. The same technique was also being used for the production of parts in greenhouses to protect exotic tropical plants being brought to England and other areas of Northern Europe. " ( pg. 486, Roth)

Craft and technique are collaborative words that implicate and reflect new materials of the late nineteenth century. For example, the John Marshall's Flax Mill is a prime example of technique used throughout the building. Joseph Bononi  used similar techniques to that of Egyptian style of design. He also had to use techniques that best worked with creating his designs with the materials that he had such as the wrought iron and glass." The alternative was a new approach to building design in which historically derived details were inventively manipulated in buildings  planned strictly in accord wit contemporary, functional requirements... but architects  and others  enjoyed more extensive and better informed education, the styles were applied with greater restraint  and archeological accuracy, in proportion and details." ( pg. 482, Roth)

Overview:

These words are key words that best describe the modern movement and even the Arts and Crafts movement. Craft and technique for example, are words that show how designers and architects valued amazing craft. Therefore, they created new techniques and ways a designing buildings that allowed the to best work with their new materials such as glass, concrete, and wrought-iron. People of this time also were in the process of developing  their own design language. This allowed them to create and develop their own techniques and level of craft that raised the bar for design of that time.  

Opus: 9:{Re}actions--

REFLECTION. SOURCE. ROTATION. ILLUMINATION. MOVEMENT.

Reflection

A reflection could most often be defined as the throwing back of by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it. An image seen in a mirror or shiny surface. It generally occurs when an element is being transferred perpendicularly through the plane to a point the same distance the other side of it.  "Artfully placed in these carefully created "natural" landscapes were representations of historic or exotic buildings intended to induce reflection or even, as at Stourhead, the recreation of the places described in Virgil's Aeneid." (Roth, pg. 454) However, there are other kinds of reflections. The previous quote is depicting that all the natural landscaping that had become so popular from a design perspective, was simply an extraction of ideas from Virgil's Aeneid. Therefore, the natural landscapes become a reflection on the not only the Virgil's Aeneid, but other historic places. Another example, would be in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution was occurring. This happened to be when we were creating new technologies to better our architecture, design, and overall outlook on life. However, what made it really take off was the steady, superfluous amount of information that was being transferred from east to the west. This allowed Western design to reflect Easter design and vise versa. "Besides taking in the recreated pastoral environment, the visitor to the park could sit on a bench, face the Pantheon across the lake and reflect on virgils pastoral Georgics." (Roth, pg. 454) This is important because it is necessity to have correlation amongst the lands and the building. Otherwise, it is completely irrelevant to its designated place. "Or the intent might be to induce reflections on local history by showing medieval architecture, an idea that had first enlarged thirty or so years earlier."(Roth, pg. 454) However, you can see that history is extremely important for design. Like the quote entails, they are taking from past architectural eras, like the medieval for example and incorporating it in their era. Therefore, allowing their era to be reflective of theirs in order to enrich their overall design.  Another prime example of reflection would be the Place de Vosges. It was a series of town homes in which middle class people lived. However, the facade is connected to make it appear to be one main palace. It was an act of the middle class trying to copy the Palace of Versailles. They wanted to appear as though they were just as wealthy as royalty. Its major theme was uniformity to create a massive place of residency. In studio we recently did a project entitled "third skin" that we had to use  medium density fiber board and a natural element to incorporate light, shadow, and an intimate moment with the project itself. However, the project had to become a reflection or an essence of our natural element. So in this case the reflection of our natural element became about capturing the essence. 

Source

A source is a broad term. For instance, it could be a book or document used to provide evidence in research. Or perhaps it could be a person that provides information, a water source. Moreover, it is an object of which something can be obtained. " Aside from allusions to the Pastoral Roman and Greek past in garden pavilions...and the references to England's medieval past, all manner of associations were made to places and times far away.(Roth, pg. 456) They began to gather many different styles and took different characteristics from these styles. For example, Greek structures inspired vernacular structures. Another example, would be the Castle Howard, by Indigo Jones. However, instead of borrowing on the Greek ideas, it borrows on Gothic ideas. This is when natural landscaping becoming very prominent in design. Another prime example, would be the Parson Capson House. It took on the look of a cabin, like from England. This is all resulting from the trade that was occurring during this time. Also major elements in design due to the Industrial Revolution became glass and iron. These were elements being incorporated in all areas of design. The Place Vendome, for example began to bring artifacts back form other places. Also this is when the language comes by way of the buildings.  Sources are all about language in the written and spoken form. It is all about the historic preservation of a civilization and/or culture in order to all design of today to be inspired. 

Rotation

Rotation is the action of rotating around an axis or center; or the passing of a privilege or responsibility from one member of a group to another in a regularly recurring succession."It is also the uniform variation in a sequence of rhythm. " With these concepts in mind, we can say that the modern epoch begins in the eighteenth century, in what has come to be called the Age of Enlightenment. What precipitated these fundamental social changes was a cycle interrelated sweeping reorganizations and upheavals that collectively can be labled revolutions. "(Roth, pg. 439) In architecture and design it became important to have a major focus that kept on evolving and incorporating more and more elements into the present day design. Rotation is heavily correlated with the design cycle. This is so, due to the fact that it is recurring elements and becomes a collection of phases of design. Generally, rotation is key to having a revival. Our design today is compressed and infused with elements of the Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Venetian styles of design. Therefore, there is a rotation of selection of elements from all variety of different cultures in order to encompass our modernistic design style as of present day in order to create "Delight." "These revolutions are so interconnected that they can be thought of as operating in a circle, each fading into the next." ( Roth, pg. 439)  A rotation is a part of a whole of a design revolution. It preludes you to the next part of occurring design elements. 

Illumination

Illumination could be described as a display of lights on a building or bringing something into the light. Also it includes the figurative or spiritual enlightenment.  Illumination goes hand in hand with an architecture par lent. An architecture par lent  happens to be an idea that grew out of the French enlightenment, where the rules of architecture began to be written down. Therefore, it was the beginnings of a new language, an architectural language. During the Industrial Revolution brought about new design materials glass and iron. Glass especially dealt heavily with light. It was actually the first time a designer could use a material to allow natural light into a space without having to create large open windows or archways. Where as when glass was created, a designer could use glass, and automatically create a situation that involves an illuminated part of a space that; therefore, created a more intimate moment.  "However all-persuasive the Victorian middle-class desire to express comfort and wealth, the aesthetic standard of the interior disturbed contemporary critics, and a large body of writing appeared during the nineteenth century to give advice on taste and interior design." (Massey, pg. 8)

Massey, in this quote displayed to illuminate the Victorian middle-class and how that time of design was a major part of society. It was all about comfort and wealth, that were both qualities that allowed light to be shed onto the middle class.  "The key point for the Arts and crafts movement was the chair..." (Massey, pg. 15) One of the most important elements of furniture design was the chair of the Arts and Crafts movement. They really wanted to focus on craft and make sure that quality is first priority when creating a chair. The chair was definitely an illuminated piece of furniture during the nineteenth century. A prime example of illumination is the hall of mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. The use of the mirrors in this hallway went directly with the king's thirst for power and all things big. The mirrors allowed the hallway to look much larger than it actually was. Therefore, the illumination given off by the mirrors created intense opulence and a real dramatic appearance. 

Movement

Movement is the act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed; general activity or bustles of people or things in a particular  place. Also it refers to the quality of suggesting motion in a work of art. It becomes a change or development in something or a group of people working together to advance their shared political, social, or artistic ideas. 

"Whereas previously decisions about the style of interiors had concerned chiefly the upper classes, who were advised by the architect, plasterer or upholster, this changed with the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of new bourgeoise, anxious to communicate its newfound prosperity in terms of visual culture but insecure in its own taste." ( Massey, pg. 7) As you can see the Arts and Craft movement impacted the ways of which people designed and created spaces. For example, the ways in which they begun to use plaster on interior walls to create intricate patterns. These patterns were not only apart of a movement but they also created movement within a space. Along with these patterns the materials list grew as far as architecture and design go. This especially happened during the Industrial Revolution movement when new technologies came to be pronounced. For example, glass and iron. 

Overview

All of the words have created a language that is about finding new materials, exploration, and comprising elements of past civilizations. They all comprise the revolution of new design for the duration of the Arts and Crafts movement. 

Opus: Grammar:Syntax-

Audience. Characters. Transition. Datum. [Re]visions.

Audience

An audience is an assembly of spectators or listeners at any given event or scene. The designers of the Baroque period especially designed for a specific audience. Mostly they designed for the royals. " The Italian royal palaces featured those of marble mosaic. The tops we often in laid with geometric designs in the pietra dura technique and were therefore, very costly; tables constructed and decorated in this manner were valued and used in princely palaces all over Europe." ( Blakemore, pg. 152) Their audience was those of a royal background, not or middle class. For both the Renaissance and the Baroque time periods, it was really key to know "who" you were designing for. For example, the designer for the Palace of Versailles, had to design it with the king in mind. Because the king had to have the greatest building in all of the land. However, if the king felt that his palace was not representative of him being a great king then he would most likely punish the designer for this. Soley, however, I think our main goal as designers should be to incorporate the essence of you audience into your design. Therefore, our designs begin to make sense and become legible to the understanding of why you even chose the concept that you did.  In our studio class, we are designing for a very critical and knowledgeable audience. Therefore, it is important to display a design that emulates the rules, however, still has its own personal stamp from you on it. The audience is key to creating a tone on which to base concepts and ideas for a space or object off of. 

Character

Character describes the mental and moral qualities that are distinctive to an individual. However, character can also refer to certain qualities of an object that make it unique in its own respect. "Regardless of the motifs employed, the prevailing characteristic was one of plasticity in which theatrical display was a prime consideration. Among the most common ornamental details were putti, banderoles...all elements derived from architecture.(Blakemore, pg. 154) Character is really important, not only in designing elements for a space, but also it becomes a way to describe a concept. Like the quote shows, the characteristic qualities were theatrical. The "theatrical" quality is what begins to describe the table, which is what this quote is referring to. Character is important, because it brings life into your design. Without character our world would be a really dull place. Like in Suzanne's perception and communication class we are learning techniques of how to render with markers and still display the character of pieces in the space. Therefore, overall the character and quality of the pieces you render will transcend into the overall mood and tone of the space. As you see character becomes really important, it becomes a subtextual language that is embedded into furniture, objects, and spaces. 

Transition

"The proportion of space devoted to public activities was altered to give more attention to public activities. On the west are three private apartments, each comprised of a bedroom and a dressing room. On the east are the public rooms consisting of a hall, salone, drawing room, and a gallery."( Blakemore, pg. 231)This shows the transition of space of private area to public space. Transition is the process of changing or having a passage from one condition to another. So you can definitely visualize transitioning from this area of public spaces, tentatively for entertaining guests of the house; into a space for personal uses, the private apartments. There is definitely an obvious transition of public to private spaces. Transition involves flow and movement. Therefore, you enter a new area through the flow of the space that directed you to interact with the spaces in a particular way. During the Baroque period, it was a design trend to not only design the interior and exterior, but also to begin a landscape that incorporates the design of the house. So there not only becomes a transition of the building itself, but it transcends into the landscape around the house. However, there is still flow from the building into the garden that still speaks of the building itself.  

Datum

"Typically the ceiling was deeply compartmented with an emphasized center- an oval, a circle, a rectangle or other complex contours, surrounding this centerpieces were anciliary divisions." ( Blakemore, pg. 154) Datum is a fixed starting point of scale and operation and origin that everything else radiates from. Datum is portrayed within the quote through the fact that it is discussing emphasizing the center of the ceiling. Datum after all is about centralizing an object. This particular quote is showing how important datum is within a particular ceiling in the Palace of Versailles. Datum is essential for most designs and concepts. It creates a focus within a design that creates a point from which other parts of the design derive from or are inspired from. The centralized point or datum creates a language that explains everything that is associated with it. 

Revisions

"The sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini summarized most clearly the impact of the council of Trent and provided the prototype for the emotion- inducing function of the arts."       ( Roth, pg. 402) This quotes depicts a sense of revision due to the fact that this quote is talking of the Baroque period. However, people of the Baroque time period simply revised what the designers of the Renaissance did and/or created. Their revisions included that of which displayed emotions of the day, and also movement in their furniture, sculptures, and facades. For example, a prime example of how the people of the Baroque revised  the Renaissance. When Michalangelo designed the David statue in the Renaissance, was more of a rational piece, and just more posed. Where as, the David statue designed by Bernini of the Baroque time period displayed more movement, and emotion of the situation that David was in, like the moment of him slaying the lion. So as you can tell the Baroque designers traded in rational and boring for movement and emotion. They also redefined the language of the time by creating more emotional pieces. 

Overview

Audience, character, transition, datum, and revisions, all come together to create a language for the Renaissance, Baroque, and even the current times. Each of the words has a story and a set of grammar rules for it. However, they all comprise together to create their own language as a whole. This language explains key points of design that were focused on by designers of this time. 

Unit Summary: Alternatives-

Palace of Versailles

 

The "Alternatives" unit really discussed themes of reaching heavenward, millennial observations, the notion of breaking the rules of architecture, the idea of retreating, and within the Baroque and Renaissance the importance of rationality, emotionality, and light. " ...So the Romanesque church is simultaneously a stronghold and gate to heaven, and the two main building types of the period, the church and castle are profoundly related." ( Christian Norberg-Shulz, Roth, pg.301) Architects of this time were really interested in reaching heavenward. Churches became what cities were built around, and Deity played a major role in these communities. The "church" became a main building around the time that Christianity came to rise. One of the first main churches, was the Basilica San Marco. It is located in Venice. During this time period the basilica is the main architectural form used in the churches. However, overtime some incorporated porches, and domes, like the San Marco. It is around this time that all of these basilicas are being designed that order begins to become incorporated into the cities again, due  to the fall of Rome. Also around this time the front facade became really important. For example, St. Madeline was one of the first structures that really emphasized the facade. People of this time thought that since the millennium was coming that life would go to hell. The designers reflected  the millennial time through the figures on the interior columns. Designers of this time also really wanted to emphasize movement. They displayed this quality through their architecture with details. They decided details because they wanted to elaborate the end of the journey to salvation. So for a while you see heavy patterns as surface decorations. It truly become their language to the rest of the world. Therefore, countries became more and more progressive, for example, Florence. Then as we leave the Renaissance period, we enter the Baroque period. However,  we still keep the main theme of reaching heavenward and deity, when we design the "Villa." It becomes a retreat house, a house for entertaining. They were designed to really celebrate the family that resided within them. Also with the design of Villas designers and architects began to really focus on landscaping and incorporating nature into the overall design. Thus, the exterior space becomes just as important as the interior spaces. For instance, the Villa Rotundo, that had the facade of a temple from the ancient times. " Baroque unity is achieved- at the expense of the clearly defined elements-through the subordination of individual elements to invigorate the whole; Baroque space is independent and alive- it flows and leads to dramatic culminations."( Henry A. Millon, Roth, pg. 397) To me this really describes the risks that designers and architects took in the Baroque period. Their design aesthetic was all about redefining the rules of architecture and design. Overall, the Baroque period was a stylistic period of time that architects had been aiming for years by now. Therefore, they begun to incorporate more emotions from that time into their designs. Which, is very different from the Renaissance that designed from a more rational approach. With the Baroque time period the became movement and fluidity in the architecture. However, what all of these styles of architecture lead up to is the Palace of Versailles. So we got to the Palace of Versailles from different elements of the basilica,villa, chateau, and casino styles of architecture. For the king of this time architecture was a way to express his control over the land. This is when light become key because he believed that light shown down on the earth and reflected himself. Every aspect of design was going into creating larger open spaces and more beautifully designed interior spaces. To me the Palace of Versailles is the piece of architecture that should be representative of this unit because it incorporates qualities from both the Renaissance and Baroque time periods to achieve the greatness of the time that it has reached. 

"P": WEEK---"Opus"

Periphery. Portfolio . Process. Professional. Perspective. 

This is a picture of my groups portal project. It displays periphery because the structure draws your eyes away from from the actual boundaries of the door. 

Periphery

Periphery can be defined as the external  boundary or surface of a body distinguished  boundaries from observing the center. "Illusionistic devices were rendered in compartmentalize arrangements, in continuous friezes, and on entire walls." ( Blakemore, pg. 98) This quote I feel does a great job of showing periphery. Especially when it mentions "illusionistic devices." To me periphery is something that draws you eye to something and then you eye keeps traveling outward from that point. The Italians' especially did this with their villas. Because they made their entertainment room really extravagant, so their guest new exactly were to go because their would have been murals and great artwork leading up to the entertainment room. Also the idea of periphery, deals with the idea of reaching heavenward. Designers of this time really wanted to achieve this quality. So they would do that with periphery taking you from level to level of the house reaching higher and higher. " Visual enlargement of space through trompe l'oeil painting was achieved by Baldassarre Peruzzi in the Villa Farnesina built in Rome, Italy." (Blakemore, pg. 99) This is another quote that incorporates periphery in design planning. It discusses "visual enlargement." This is key to reaching heavenward also. If a designer wants to achieve that affect then enlarging something visually is a smart design choice. This affect was achieved by the temple facade on majority of the villas themselves. If we understand that the temple was a design template of the past and its meaning of deity, then we should understand  why the large facade was used for these villas. In my studio class we used periphery by using visual enlargement. We did this by creating a structural piece that kept creating boundaries away from the door frame so your eye ventured towards the ceiling.   

This is an image I drew of my very own portfolio. 

Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of pieces of any sort of media that best display a person's skills at best. Generally, a portfolio displayed or put together in a folder or protector of some sort. It is important to keep a portfolio in order to have a progression of your work over the years 

not only for your employer, but so that you can have something to assess you improvement over a period of time. In IARC we keep a portfolio so that we can use it to attain a career. I personally feel that portfolio are a great way to keep up with all of your work. Also the blog site is a great we to keep a collection of all of your work. You will always have this to turn back to and display your work to others. 

This is a picture I drew of the design process.  It begins with a lot of ideas hitting you all at once. Then you begin to go through the journey of simplifying your ideas, and then all of a sudden you have an "ahh-hah" moment, that gives you your major concept. 

Process

Designers use process a lot in order to create truly great concepts. One main process that I am familiar with is the design process. Process is definitely crucial in design. I know that from personal experience that practicing my ideas by drawing or making my ideas allows me to take from everything I have done to create my main project. For example, in studio, for all of our projects we do drawings, sketch models, then more models, so that we can tweak our ideas to get a great piece of work.

This is an image that I sketched of Patrick in class one day. To me he is a professional because he offers a great historic perspective to his class. He is a great history teacher because he is specialized in history and he really knows all about history of architecture and design and other parts of history.   

Professional

A professional is connected to a profession, just like Patrick is a history teacher. Also a professional is an expert engaged in skills that they have learned and mastered. " Frescoes frequently required two painters with different specialities; one proficient in perspective and the orders the other expert in figure painting."(Blakemore, pg.98)  I like to compare this quote to how legible Patrick is in his field of expertise, similar to how the frescoes from the Italian Renaissance period took to fields of expertise. Like the quote explained one expert was needed for his perspective, and another one was needed for his expertise in figure painting. They were professional in different regards to the same field. " The treatise by Virtruvious inspired Leon Bartista Alberti to write the first architectural treatise of the Renaissance...Alberti recommended the use of architectural elements such as the column, pilaster, and architecture, which he often employed decoratively, not structureally as an advocate of classical antiquity his interest was reinforced on a visit to Florence in 1428.(Blakemore, pg. 91) This quotes exudes professionalism by discussing how Alberti was the first to actually write these books. Which obviously designates him to being an expert in his field "architectural elements." Then it proceeds to give examples of what he prefers to use in his designs like the pilasters and columns. Therefore, him having a great deal of knowledge for his book put him in regard to being of professional of his field. 

This is a perspective drawing of a modern building that I did in first semester of drawing. 

This is a perspective drawing involving shadows of shapes. 

This is a quick one-point perspective sketch I did to show perspective. 

Perspective

Perspective in drawing gives the visual experience of depth.  It shows you more that just the surface of a building or object. These drawings can be very informational, as far as telling you about the building or object. Perspective as far as views or opinions on design and issues will always vary. However, these different views allow you to gather inspiration or think under a new light. " Humanism permeated the Renaissance; in contrast to medieval concept of world order, the importance of man as the highest form of creation was stressed." ( Blakemore, pg. 93) This quote displays a view of Renaissance design compared to that of Medieval design. It discusses how Humanism was how design was hugely apart of the Renaissance time period. That is just how people devised ideas through inspiration of humanism. Whereas, Medieval designers used the perspective of order in the world. They were trying to efface chaos, however, in the midst of trying to nullify chaos they actually created more of it. They also really stressed social order in their design showing how men were dominant in their society. " Whereas the medieval period emphasized verticality and the ephemeral nature of man, it seemed more important to designers of Renaissance that emphasis should be given to symmetry and horizontality. ( Blakemore, pg 93) This is another perspective of design. The Medieval designers wanted things to be as they were in nature towards that of a man. They had more superficial designs, as compared to Renaissance designers who were more obsessed with man. 

Overview

Periphery, portfolio, process, professional, and perspective are all words that as a collaborative effort can well describe design periods. They allow us to better understand the history of design and architecture. These words all describe how to enhance our designs and concepts, and how important the actual importance of the design process is to a designer. To me all of these words show us how to simplify not only our ideas but our minds for design. After all simple is best in most situations. The words also shed light on new architecture such as villas, and chateaus. 

MACRO-MICRO:

Porch/Hearth/Court.Composition.Diagram.Impression.Detail.

Porch/ Hearth/Court 

" In French cathedrals the vertical line dominated everywhere, although the interior elevation was divided into three distinct zones ( arcade, triforium, and clerestory.) " (pg. 339 Roth)

Composition

" The new choir of Saint-Denis was to be suffused by a divine radiance, earthly light filtered through the sacred images of stained glass. As Suger wrote,"Bright is the noble edifice which is pervaded by new light." (Roth, pg. 330)

Diagram

" In the transitional phases, modifications to the floor plan were least affected by the advent of Renaissance. Gradually emphasis was given to symmetry, rectangular plans, and uniform spacing." (Blakemore, pg 105)

Impression

Renaissance artists firmly adhered to the Pythagorean concept, "All is number...Architecture was regarded by them as a mathematical science which worked as spacial units: parts of that universal space for the scientific interpretation of which they had discovered the keys in laws of perspective...And they were convinced that universal harmony could not reveal itself entirely unless it were realized in space through architecture conceived in the service of religion. ( Rudolf Wiltkower, Architectural Principles in Age of Humanism, 1999.-Roth)

Detail

"Ornamental detail for interiors and furniture largely revolved around the design vocabulary of the classical Roman period. Executed in painting,intarisia,certosina, marquetry, thus leaves, bead and leaf motifs, masks, and classic molding outlines." (Blakemore, pg. 107)

" In the residences of the wealthy were spaces that typically were more luxuriously treated that others. these included entrances, staircases, halls of state, and chambers. ( Blakemore, pg. 107)

FOUNDATIONS UNIT SUMMARY:

The ACROPOLIS

This entire complex completely acts as a unit of architecture that incorporated aspects from past civiliations, while also it took on the role as inspiration for new architectural forms for civilizations to come. To me it truly is the "foundation" for architecture then and now; and it creates a legible insight into how much the Acropolis has inspired much of Western design today. This image of the Acropolis acts as an archetype for Greek culture,  while also acting as a prototype for the Romans' Pantheon. Therefore, progressing from the Pantheon many hybrid forms of the Acropolis were inspired and built. 

time: passage

The Egyptian culture was one of the first civilizations that we know of to create massive structure to honor the deceased. " Unlike the civilizations of the twentieth century Western civilization, who believe in progress, in things getting progressively better through the application of human ingenuity, the ancient Egyptians had no such concept. To them, things were never as good as they had been at the time of creation."(Roth, pg. 190) To me this quote really defines the Egyptian design. It makes perfect sense that they created pyramids  and temples that honor their deceased. They created these immaculate structures because they wanted to recreate the splendor like at the time of creation. 

Male : Female

While the Egyptian civilization neared its close, the Greek civilization came to rise.  The Greek civilization made the columns that the Egyptians created even better. They were really inspired from the idea of incorporating a column in their architecture. However, the Greeks used the columns as a sign of dominance and importance. For example, the Ionic column that they developed  is a more masculine column rather than a Doric column that is considered to be more feminine. The Greeks really wanted to display in their society what was feminine  and masculinity. They wanted to show social orders. So if the building was for someone of the up most importance a Ionic column would have definitely been used. The columns were a definite architectural element that was a prime way of defining social order between masculinity and femininity.

Local: International

"The dome of Hagia Sophia  was not there to mark an object of veneration, as domes did in martyria... the thought of crowning Hagia Sophia with a dome related to the sanctity of the whole building as an earthly analogue to heaven. the visible universe was concretized in the Byzantine mind as a cube surmounted by a dome."(Spiro Kostof, A  History of Architecture, 1985) This quote really is a summation of what was really important within the Byzantine empire.  The Roman life focused on temporal comforts and pleasures. Which in turn, is why they designed the Baths. The Baths were the shopping mall of that time. The Baths just like the shopping mall were to serve needs of the people; which happens to be very similar to a shopping mall. "The bath was designed to serve the needs of the body in its pools and exercise gardens, to feed the mind in its libraries, and to reward the eyes in its vast molded spaces lined in multicolored marble brought from the far corners of the Roman Empire."(Roth,pg.275) So as you can see they really were the shopping malls, because malls have books stores, music stores, clothing stores, and also food stores. However, aside from how much the Byzantine Empire catered to their people, they began to reach heavenward and use light and shadow to capture heaven.