Unit 1 | Summary

unit 1| Foundations

“everything we do is related to a scale beyond us.” –Patrick Lee Lucas

how do we interpret  things such as objects, spaces, building, and places? According to Jules David Prown, there is a three step was to relate what we do to a scale beyond on us. The first method would be description.  Description is the physical inventory.  What the eye perceives at first glance. Next would be deduction. Deduction is using the senses to create a link between the sight and the world. Lastly, speculation. Speculation is imaging something through they eyes through hypothesis. For example, our first observation 

of stonehenge is a pile of rocks on top of a 

hill. We the further deduce that they are arranged 

carefully in a circle. Historians have come to the 

speculation that stonehenge lines up with the 

equinox and the solstice. The circle lets us know 

that there is a sense of equality being that it is a 

complete circle. they have also concluded that 

the center of the circle was used for sacrificial 

purposes. It also showed that the inside of the 

circle were those who were included and those 

on the outside were not. Showing that there was 

a sense of hierarchy even in three thousand bc. 

This shows how Stonehenge related to a scale 

that was beyond on us. The universe is far greater 

and beyond us. 

Circles+stacks+groups

As stated previously, circles usually represent sacred spots. Stacks represent gatherings. Groups represent things stretching vertically.  The circle not only can be seen as sacred spot, but it also is the point where connections are made. Where things collide. Stacks are a way to gather things. For example a pyramid is a way to gather a dead pharaoh’s possessions and the gathering of stones in a mound formation.  Groups reach vertically, such as a group of trees. Sometimes, all three elements come together. The coliseum in Rome represents this idea well. The structure of it is in a circle. The center is used as the main entertaining space. The outside is arranged to where the layers of the building are stacked on top of each other. The columns all extended upward, creating the group effect. the reasoning for the environment which this space was built was because of the rituals performed in the space.  If the seats were not stacked up in vertically, it would make it incredibly hard for the audience to see what is going on in the middle of the auditorium.

Porch|court|hearth

In every society there is a hierarchy. Even in ancient architecture there was an order. The order helped structure things and also gave the building a sense of proportion. Of course, the most important things were the largest. The usual trend of ancient architecture seems to be that they all included a porch, court, and hearth. The porch was the entrance area. The court was the receiving area. The hearth was the most important area. The acropolis in Greece is a great example of it. The porch would be the small temple guarding the entrance, the temple of Athena nike. The court would be the center area. It is in the middle of the acropolis. From the court, our eye is drawn to the Parthenon, the temple of Athena. Even within the temple of Athena there is still a sense of order. The porch area was where are the people of ancient Greece would enter the area. Since only the priest were allowed inside the temple, the court would be the gathering area right outiside of the temple. The hearth would be the center of the temple where the statue of Athena stood.

“The end is to build well, well building hath three conditions, firmness, commodity, and delight.” –Sir Henry Wotton

One of the the biggest motivation in the ancient world, was to make buildings last. They were not worried about making a name for themselves, and then once they died, their name was lost forever. They wanted their name to live on forever. By using commodity, firmness, and delight in their buildings, they insured that they would last on. Firmness, maybe the most important of all, was to make sure it withstood the test of time. Commodity meant that it served the purpose in which it was intended. Delight meant that is was pleasing to look. Romans had a good sense of this idea. Not only did they incorporate these three ideas but also many others such as plan, roads, baths, basilicas, arches, columns, amphitheatres, coliseums, and domes. The city plan was probably one of the most influential things that the Roman empire left. Even though it started as a military plan, it was translated into many cities all over the roman empire. It is still influential in the building neighborhoods and plans today. The roman empire structure of planning streets and roads was laid out in a grid pattern. It was usually surrounding a body of water. It was firm because it was well thought out. Not only did it withstand the test of time but was replicated multiple times. It demonstrated commodity because it functioned well with all the things that goes on in a city. It was delightful because it did not have many issues and pleased numerous societies.