COUNTERPOINT: COMPASS

The idea for this project was to generate a compass composed of a 8.5" block. 1 scale, 1 form, and all aspects were to be addressed and for this project I chose the following:

Scale: Building

Form: 3d
Aspects: Nature, People, Material, Symbol

My idea was to build not a completely replica of the Pantheon in Rome, but to build parts of it and add an axis of rotation in the middle which meant to be more like a compass with Egypt located in the South, The Pantheon in the West, and The Parthenon in the East.

COUNTERPOINT: MAP

For this project I was given four buildings to work with which included The Villa Rotunda, The Empire State, New Museum of Modern Art, and The Syon House. The idea was to construct a map using 8.5" square blocks that fit together as a composition. On each block I included visual and written commentary analysis for each block. for each block we also had to explore
Scale: artifact, space, building, place
Form: 2d, 3d, word, paragraph
Aspect: nature, people, material, symbol

POINT: FOUNDATIONS

The foundations unit took us through a journey of different styles of architecture and different cultures from Greece,  France, Spain, Great Britain, and Italy. At the beginning of this unit we were introduced to the Minoan, Mycenaean, and Hellenistic cultures, this pretty much is the starting point where we began to dive in into the Greek culture and their fascinating building techniques and designs. 
Quite unlike the Minoans, whose society benefited from trade, the Mycenaeans advanced through conquest. Mycenaean civilization was dominated by a warrior aristocracy. The best examples of the Mycenaean palace are seen in the excavations at Mycenae, Tyrins and Pylos. From an architectural point of view, they were the heirs of the Minoan palaces and also of other palaces built on the Greek mainland during the Middle Age. They were ranged around a group of courtyards each opening upon several rooms of different dimensions, such as storerooms and workshops, as well as reception halls and living quarters. The Mycenaean culture took us to explore the Megaron which was the heart of the palace and the throne room, laid out around a circular hearth surrounded by four columns. The throne generally being found on the right hand side upon entering the room. The staircases found in the palace of Pylos indicate palaces had two stories. Located on the top floor were probably the private quarters of the royal family and some storerooms as well as frescoes. 
The Megaron was the architectural predecessor of the classical Greek temple. It was used for poetry, feasts, worship, sacrifice, formal royal functions, councils, and is said to be where guests of the king would have stayed during their visits. Originally it was very colorful made with the Minoan architectural order, the insides were made of fired brick and a wooden roof supported on beams. The rooftop was tiled with ceramic and terracotta tiles.
As the chapter developed, we were introduced to the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian  architectural orders. Of the three columns found in Greece, Doric columns are the simplest. They have a capital or crown made of a circle topped by a square. The tall part of the column or better known as the shaft, is plain and has 20 sides. There is no base in the Doric order. The Doric order is very plain, but powerful looking in its design. Doric, like most Greek styles, works well horizontally on buildings, that's why it was so good with the long rectangular buildings made by the Greeks. These innovated building techniques were used in most if not all buildings in ancient Greece and as well as other parts of the world. There are many examples of ancient Doric buildings. Perhaps the most famous one is the Parthenon in Athens, which is probably the most famous and most studied building on Earth. Buildings built even now borrow some parts of the Doric order.

An illustrated image of The Parthenon showing the Doric architectural oder and all the descriptions that I talked in the section from above. 

The Temple of Athena Nike in Athens, shown above, is one of the most famous Ionic buildings in the world. It is located on the Acropolis, very close to the Parthenon

Temple of Zeus in Athens also known as the Olympieion showing Corinthian architecture order.


The great architectural orders were discussed and then we were introduced to great techniques of the Romans with more modern buildings and cities looking a lot more like our own civilization. Widespread use of concrete and vaulting arches were invented, this type of architecture went from structural to more decorative buildings. A lot of new building types were introduced in this section such as the bath, market forum, basilica, colosseum, arch, temple, aqueduct, villa, dome, and mosaic. 

The Aqueduct that delivered water to the city was an innovated technique that incorporated the technique of being dropped every half inch for the water to be running and delivered. 

We also talked about the Pantheon in Rome and the innovated technique of the dome being rotated on an axis and its oculus providing the only source of natural light. 

READING COMPREHENSION 3

[1]

 AMIENS CATHEDRAL                    V.S.                    SALISBURY CATHEDRAL


Both of the cathedrals being based on gothic style architecture, Amiens cathedral being the tallest completed cathedral in France. Amiens cathedral contains the largest medieval interior in Western Europe, supported by 126 pillars. Both the nave and the chancel  are vast but extremely light, with considerable amounts of stained glass surviving, despite the depredations of war. The ambulatory surrounding the choir is richly decorated with polychrome sculpture and flanked by numerous chapels. One of the most sumptuous is the Drapers' chapel. The cloth industry was the most dynamic component of the medieval economy, especially in northern France, and the cloth merchants were keen to display their wealth and civic pride. The interior contains works of art and decoration from every period since the building of the cathedral.
The main body of the Salisbury Cathedral was completed in only 38 years, from 1220 to 1258. The cathedral has the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom 404 ft. The Salisbury cathedral clock is the oldest working modern clock in the world. The clock has no face because all clocks of that date rang out the hours on a bell. It was originally located in a bell tower that was demolished in 1792. Following this demolition, the clock was moved to the Cathedral Tower where it was in operation until 1884. The clock was then placed in storage and forgotten until it was discovered in 1929, in an attic of the cathedral. It was repaired and restored to working conditions. Although nearly as long as Amiens Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral is only 78 feet wide. Its nave is 37 feet wide with vaults 81 feet high, so the ratio of width to height is just 1 to 2.2, much less than Amiens Cathedral. 

                                                      

AMIENS CATHEDRAL                  V.S.                     COLOGNE CATHEDRAL

For these cathedrals I compared the floor plans and they both looked very similar, both cathedrals are based on gothic architecture.  The Cologne cathedral is one of the world's largest churches and the largest gothic church in Northern Europe. For four years, 1880-84, it was the tallest structure in the world until the completion of the Washington Monument,  It has the second tallest church spires surpassed by the Amiens Cathedral (404) ft. 

The great twin spires are said to have been used as an easily recognizable navigational landmark by Allied aircraft raiding deeper into Germany in the later years of the war (World War II), which may be a reason that the cathedral was not destroyed. It has been claimed that in June 1945 American troops used the cathedral as a rifle range.

 


AMIENS CATHEDRAL                      V.S.                FLORENCE CATHEDRAL 


This particular cathedral integrated more sophisticated features and techniques that english and french cathedrals did not have. The Florence cathedral incorporated various features of the renaissance period and was not based on gothic architecture, but based on mathematical principles and numerical relationship to make buildings more symmetrical. Florence Cathedral is built as a basilica, having a wide central nave of four square bays, with an aisle on either side. The chancel and transepts are of identical polygonal plan, separated by two smaller polygonal chapels. The whole plan forms a Latin cross. The nave and aisles are separated by wide pointed Gothic arches resting on composite piers. The cathedral most distinguished among the two because of its innovated dome and the science that domes contained as well as the frescoes painted on the ceiling. Above the main door is the colossal clock face with fresco portraits of four Prophets or Evangelists by Paolo Uccello 1443. This one-handed liturgical clock shows the 24 hours of the "hora italica" which means italian time,  a period of time ending with sunset at 24 hours. This timetable was used till the 18th century. This is one of the few clocks from that time that still exist and are in working order. The church is particularly notable for its 44 stained glass windows, the largest undertaking of this kind in Italy in the 14th and 15th century. The windows in the aisles and in the transept depict saints from the Old and the New Testament, while the circular windows in the drum of the dome or above the entrance depict Christ and Mary. They are the work of the greatest Florentine artists of their times, such as Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno.


[2]

The ancient arrangement of domestic Medieval Architecture Interior with one large chamber or hall is preserved in most of the buildings from the Medieval Period. The hall was a prominent feature in every building, even in farm houses. It usually occupied the whole of the central part of the house, sometimes from the ground to the roof; in other instances there were cellars or low rooms under it.  The floor of the hall was either of stone or of tiles, covered with straw or rushes. 

As described by Roth in page 346, two floor plans are shown (lower and upper floors), these floor plans illustrate how the kitchen, court, shop, bed chamber, and the family's room were in relationship to each other.
The kitchen was frequently a detached building, either of a square or rectangular form, connected with the hall by a passage or alley leading from the screens. The kitchen seems to have been generally on the ground floor, and as distinct as possible from the other buildings, as a security measure against fire. It was usually vaulted, and in some instances seems to have been under the hall, the vault in such cases being considered as sufficient security. There were usually two or more kitchens in the larger castles. A great kitchen and kitchens are frequently mentioned. Many of the kitchens of this period were large, with fire-places and chimneys of massive brick-work. The furniture appears to have been of the rudest construction and was probably the produce of domestic handicraft. The tables were rough boards laid upon trestles, and the seats mere three-legged stools. The kitchens contained also the ovens, and sometimes even forges were erected in them, as everything necessary for the use of the household was provided on the spot. Besides the kitchen there were two offices necessary to the preparation of the dinner, namely the buttery and the pantry. They were placed as near as possible to the hall, their usual position being behind the screens, one on each side, sometimes with a passage or staircase between them leading to the kitchen. One was used for the distribution of bread, and the other for the distribution of wine

EGYPT, GREECE, AND ROME SUMMARY

EGYPT MORE THAN ONE GOD

-ARTIFACT- Objects were very well decorated with hieroglyphics.

-BUILDING- Stacking was very common on buildings.

-SPACE- The Pyramids of Giza were the central focus of Egypt believing that light stroke the four     corners of the earth.

-PLACE- Lots of buildings built for after life and for mummification purposes

         East- cities of living

         West- cities of death

GREECE 

Introduction to three architectural orders, doric, ionic, corinthian.

ROME

Widespread use of concrete and vaulting, technological breakthrough = arch 

Horizontal expression rather than vertical 

Diverse building types including basilica, colosseum, arch, temple, dome, etc. 

READING COMPREHENSION 2

[1] 


The validity of Hersey's argument about the fact of Greek architectural elements being based on the idea of sacrifice is an argument that supports ancient Greek beliefs and their gods. Most of the Greek designs were inspired on the idea of religious beliefs  and sacrifices just like other cultures around the world, not necessarily just the Greek. The Greeks participated in a number of rituals, rites, ceremonies and sacrifices in order to impress and placate the gods. Temples, shrines and statues were erected as a designated place to offer sacrifices to the gods. The role of the temples were meant to serve as homes for the individual god or goddess who protected and sustained the community. These temples normally stood inside a sacred enclosure known as the temenos reflecting the rural origins of most cults. It generally included natural features such as springs, a grove of trees or caves which was the actual focus of public worship. It was the only part of the complex open to the general public, only priests were admitted into the divine presence to perform the necessary rituals on behalf of the community. Private groups and individuals were encouraged to contribute to the upkeep of the temple through offerings and dedications but otherwise, public participation was limited to taking part in religious festivals and processions. These culminated in lavish sacrifices of prime livestock at the god's altar which stood within the temenos but outside the temple proper.


[2]


When using the Internet one has to be careful of the information being presented, not necessarily all the information being displayed on google is true, and for me as a personal experience, books are more precisely on the information that one is looking for. One strategy to avoid  mis-reading evidence when using the Internet is to do the research on google and always back it off on books to expand more on it, and see if the information coincides with what is being displayed on the Internet. The evidence uncovered  at the Motel of the Mysteries is a good example of how mis-reading evidence could lead you to follow false data or false information. 


[3]

One of the reasons why Queen Hatshepsut chose to build her building in that form was because queens  did not have the same power as the pharaohs.  Pharaohs had the power to build their buildings at any scale, shape or form they wanted. Like any other pharaoh, Queen Hatshepsut built her temple to commemorate her achievements and to serve as an honorary temple for her, as well as a sanctuary of the god, Amon Ra.  When comparing Queen Hatshepsut's building to the pyramids of Giza one begins to see the relationship and start to get a sense of scale. The pyramids remained the tallest man made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. 


[4] 

The two buildings that I chose from each culture to compare are Queen Hatshepsut Temple and the Parthenon. The similarities of these two structures is the orientation of each building, both buildings are located on a mountain, and both buildings were surrounded by trees and nature. Both buildings were designed with columns, and both buildings have stacking. Stacking is shown on Queen Hatshepsut's Temple by the three levels of the temple that are connected by two ramps. However on the Parthenon, stacking is shown by the stairs at the east facade of the building.  Both buildings are very rectangular, no domes nor geometrical floor plans were being designed during these periods of time. The differences between the two is that the Parthenon was a place to conduct city business and store house of wealth. The Parthenon all the proportions are perfect and entirely made of marble. Queen's Hatshepsut Temple was built  to commemorate her achievements and to serve as a funerary temple for her. This building was made of limestone and not sandstone like most other funerary temples of the new kingdom period. 


[5]


Pyramids were only built for pharaohs and wealthy people during that period of time, these pyramids are gigantic and heavy in terms of space wide. The furniture being displayed does not contain as much decorative features as the pyramids. I'm thinking the pyramids displayed more decoration because the pyramids were built for mummification purposes as to be believed for the afterlife. Perhaps people did not pay much of attention to furniture back then, architecture was more important because of volume and space that each structure occupied. 


[6]


Basically women are shown serving the men, and this is interpreted as women being ranked at a much lower rank than men. Men is shown wearing a crown and seating on a well decorated chair, I wonder what the material is, if it is marble or gold , or any other precious mineral. The image on the left seems like the man is giving something to the woman, on the other hand, the image on the right seems like the woman is giving offerings to the man.

POINT: THEORIES

WACHOVIA BANK CENTER W.S. NC
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jbtuohy/3893535336/in/photostream/

Commodity, firmness and delight are the three elements Sir Henry Wotten stated in 1624 and the image I chose that satisfy this three elements is the Wachovia Center Headquarters located in Winston Salem, NC. This particular building I have personally visited, the building materials, the design, the colors, the texture, every detail of the building is amazing. One of the many interesting facts about this building is the fact about being the tallest granite domed building and its unique design makes it suitable for its natural site.
 One of the concepts that is very important to me is the fact that architecture constantly touches us, shapes our behavior, and conditions our psychological mood. Every moment, awake or asleep, we are in buildings, around buildings, in spaces defined by buildings, or in landscapes shaped by humans. Since the very early period of humanity, humans have always been surrounded by landscapes or any sort of architectural shape object.
Light, color, materials, and furnishing are some of the key concepts that link the iar 222 class and iar 211 class. Studying light and shadow is one of the projects that we are working on iar 211 and is pretty interesting how light enters a building and creates different lighting effects and lighting motions. Just like we are always surrounded by architecture, we are always surrounded by light and its effects.
Is pretty interesting to see how egyptians started to incorporate different designs in their buildings to record a certain information that they believed was important, and is pretty interesting when comparing architecture from Europe, Asia, North and South America. As one begin to explore different styles of architecture throughout the world, one begin to see the concepts that each culture  believe on. For example Japanese and  Chinese designs are inspired on religious philosophies, rather than the American architecture design is more towards modern and building gigantic structures. Before entering the modern architecture, Japanese architecture designs included the asuka and nara styles, then later the heian period began, then the kamakura and muromachi period, then the azuchi - momoyama period began, then later the edo period, then meiji and showa periods began, and finally the modern period. Now in the present every structure built is to be designed and integrate green design which relates to the sustainability of a building. Sustainability design is the future of modern design as an effort to preserve our environment and have a better future for future generations.
It is really interesting how architects from around the world are able to influence their cultural believes through their designs in architecture. For example, at the beginning of the 19th century italian and french architects influenced on the design of buildings in Buenos Aires. A number of young italian architects went on to establish successful careers in Buenos Aires working in a number of styles including Art Nouveau. Their buildings were some of the most important of the 20th century in Buenos Aires and those that that remain continue to play a significant role in defining the city's architectural landscape.