Spatial Composition Final

Benefits of using regulating lines

Gives visual representation of relationships (clarity), organizes elements, guards against capriciousness, gives hierarchy, clarity of design, relates most important elements. Don’t express axis. Don’t run all the way through unless defining at ends.

Elevation vs. facade

Elevation is lifting something up from plan, doesn’t show everything. Facade is the artful design of the face of a building, its shows all details and components. Elevation is the plan reflected, the facade doesn’t necessarily reflect the plan, doesn’t show interior composed as exterior surface.

Arnhiem’s diagram

Highlights the importance of corners in a square

Anti-space vs. space according to Petterson and Littenberg and in the urban fabric

Anti-space is the left over space between a grid and a landmark. It is space with no boundaries, it is left over, but not necessarily a void. If there is a grid, and a landmark is placed non directly on the grid, the anti-space is the area between the grid and the landmark. Space is more purposefully designed. Space is defined by us, using planes, edges, corners, etc. Anti space is undefined, the inverse, for example a building in a park that is not defining anything around it, not aligned with edges, just floating.

Characteristics used to group building typologies

Formal relationships (ovals, circles, rectangles), Functional relationships (hospitals, schools, etc), and Organizational relationships (by program, form, entrance, gallery)

Orthogonal

Intersecting or lying at right angles. Common, uses standard materials and tools, wayfinding, repeatable, modular, grid might be limitation

Non-orthogonal

Inherent complexity dynamic, responds to site forces, makes a statement, responds to program. Lose repetitive nature, lose reusability. Some of earliest structures were non orthogonal. Reasons to use: we are not orthogonal, landscape is not orthogonal, acoustics are better. Not as defined, more free. Form can carry meaning.

Articulation

individual elements are expressed, how it contributes. Action or manner of jointing or interrelating, of giving utterance and acceptance. Small elements, parti fi s a piece, articulation is the detail. It highlights

Tectonics

expression of structure, construction, materiality (exposed beam, column). Tectonics are the poetry of construction. Clarity (shows how thing is put together, structure expressed). Internal dialog (old + new). Context (very different than something surrounding but still responding to context)

Transformation

To change (composition, structure, shape, form character). Not open ended. Stretches will look the same

Types of cities

Organic city, (added to overtime, small scale organization decisions, displays series of moments. Grided city (strictly planned, block by block pattern. Grand manner (organized by important buildings, DC, Rome. You know where you are based on those buildings. All cities organized by paths, edges, districts, nodes, landmarks.

Parti

Simple and repetitive. Space within a space, our inherent sense of order

Reasons for the grid

Orthogonal furniture, fits into buildings way easier, grids make it clear what is important, easier to understand, relate spaces where ever they sit, produces hierarchy (of streets and blocks), easier to measure area and fit things, produces housing for lots of people and is less expensive, easy to create, repeat, expandable and entirely the same, can be reduced.

Parti

Course of action, strategy of choice, decision, outline, thesis. Prendre part: to make up one’s mind, to take part.

Analysis

Detailed exam of elements or structure of something, a basis for discussion or interpretation. Contrasted w/Synthesis

Composition vs. compose

Composition into artistic form, compose is to orderly form.

Typology

The method of studying or grouping phenomena that are similar to one another. As a analytical tool, organizes thoughts, explores all possibilities. Organizational relationship, and problem solving tool.

Proportions

The comparative, proper, or harmonious relation of one part to another or to the whole.

Gestalt Psychology - Principles of how people organize into patterns

Proximity, similarity, good continuation, closure

Frank Lloyd Wright

The complete architect is a master of the elements:
earth, air, fire, light, and water.

Typology vs. Taxonomy

Typology is The study of, or analysis or classification based on types or categories. Taxonomy is the study of general principles of scientific classification. Ordering and naming of groups.

Parti extra definitions bc its hella confusing

Parti’ encapsulates the essential minimum of
the design, without which the scheme would
not exist, but from which the architecture can
be generated.
Parti: Course of action, strategy, choice,
decision

Diagram that defines the basic spatial organization of a project. Not the same as a concept or a program, it is the geometry/structure.

Types of Grids

Non-orthogonal examples

City scale

When all gridded cities are compared at the same scale, they show the differences in block and street sizes

City Organizations

Organized around malls, around houses, around offices. ETC

Urban Fabric Diagram

Plat

a small piece of ground with actual or proposed features

Articulation

the action or manner of jointing or interrelating, the act of giving utterance or expression

Transformation

to change entirely or essentially in
composition or structure;
can mean a change in outward
shape or form or in character,
nature, or function

On Growth and Form reading

Stretch a fish, and it looks like another one.
Differences between the form of related species
are represented geometrically

Chronophotography

Photographic documentation
of movements or processes

Animation

A series of images visually
linked together to give the
illusion of motion; drawings or
cartoons that achieve this end
typically require a consistent
frame as a reference

Transparency

Simultaneous awareness of various spatial locations

Literal Transparency

Glass, transparent surfaces, see-through, clear, low-opacity materials

Phenomenal Transparency

apparent space between objects, openings, visual connections

Transparency of meaning

apparent space between solid objects, light, air, view, colors and geometries can create transparency

In-between

Where two spaces overlap, a threshold

Plat

grain of difference, plot of land