architecture introduction-to-humanities

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ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE Introduction to Introduction to Humanities Humanities The Humanities Through The The Humanities Through The Arts Arts F. David Martin & Lee A. F. David Martin & Lee A. Jacobus Jacobus

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Page 1: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTUREIntroduction to Introduction to HumanitiesHumanities

The Humanities Through The ArtsThe Humanities Through The Arts

F. David Martin & Lee A. JacobusF. David Martin & Lee A. Jacobus

Page 2: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTURE

Buildings are works of art – that is Buildings are works of art – that is architecture.architecture.

Buildings possess artistic quality -- they Buildings possess artistic quality -- they make our living space more livable. make our living space more livable.

They draw us to them rather than push They draw us to them rather than push us away or make us ignore them.us away or make us ignore them.

They make our living space more livable.They make our living space more livable.

Page 3: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Centered SpaceCentered Space

Centered space is the positioned Centered space is the positioned interrelationships of things organized around interrelationships of things organized around some paramount thing as the place to which some paramount thing as the place to which the other things seem to converge.the other things seem to converge.

Space is the material of the architectSpace is the material of the architect Centered space has a pulling power that, even Centered space has a pulling power that, even

in our most harassed moments, we can hardly in our most harassed moments, we can hardly help feeling.help feeling.

Page 4: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Space and ArchitectureSpace and Architecture

Architecture as opposed to mere Architecture as opposed to mere engineering -- is the creative engineering -- is the creative conservation of space. conservation of space.

Architects perceive the centers of space Architects perceive the centers of space in nature, and build to preserve these in nature, and build to preserve these centers and make them more vital. centers and make them more vital.

Architects are the shepherds of space.Architects are the shepherds of space.

Page 5: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

ChartresChartres

Chartres, like most Gothic churches, is shaped roughly Chartres, like most Gothic churches, is shaped roughly like a recumbent Latin cross: p149 or 156 Fig 6-2 & 6-like a recumbent Latin cross: p149 or 156 Fig 6-2 & 6-33

The apse ( a projecting semicircular and vaulted part of The apse ( a projecting semicircular and vaulted part of a building) or eastern end of the building contains the a building) or eastern end of the building contains the high altar.high altar.

The nave (the central part of a church running The nave (the central part of a church running lengthwise) is the central and largest aisle leading from lengthwise) is the central and largest aisle leading from the central portal to the high alter.the central portal to the high alter.

But before the altar is reached, the transept crosses But before the altar is reached, the transept crosses the nave. Both the northern and southern facades of the nave. Both the northern and southern facades of the transept of chartres contain glorious rose windows.the transept of chartres contain glorious rose windows.

Page 6: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Living SpaceLiving Space

Living space is the feeling of the Living space is the feeling of the positioning of things in the environment, positioning of things in the environment, the liberty of movement, and the appeal the liberty of movement, and the appeal of paths as directives. of paths as directives.

Space infiltrates through all our senses, Space infiltrates through all our senses, as our sensations of everything influence as our sensations of everything influence our perception of space. our perception of space.

Page 7: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Living Space cont’dLiving Space cont’d

Each of our senses helps record the Each of our senses helps record the positioning of things, expressed in such positioning of things, expressed in such terms as “up-down,” “left-right,” and near-terms as “up-down,” “left-right,” and near-far.” far.”

These recordings require a reference These recordings require a reference system with a center.system with a center.

With living space, since all the senses With living space, since all the senses are involved, the whole body is a center.are involved, the whole body is a center.

Page 8: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Cont’dCont’d

when we relate to a place of special value, when we relate to a place of special value, such as the home,such as the home,

, a “configurational center” is formed in a place , a “configurational center” is formed in a place that is a gathering point around which a field of that is a gathering point around which a field of interest is structured.interest is structured.

To oversimplify we can say that for Romans, it To oversimplify we can say that for Romans, it was the city of Rome to which they most was the city of Rome to which they most naturally belong, constituting their naturally belong, constituting their configurational center.configurational center.

Page 9: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Four Necessities of Four Necessities of ArchitectureArchitecture

The architect’s professional life is perhaps The architect’s professional life is perhaps more difficult than that of any other artist. more difficult than that of any other artist.

Architecture is a peculiarly public art because Architecture is a peculiarly public art because buildings generally have a social function, and buildings generally have a social function, and many buildings require public funds. many buildings require public funds.

More than other artists, the architects must More than other artists, the architects must consider the public.consider the public.

Page 10: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Four Necessities of Four Necessities of ArchitectureArchitecturecont’dcont’d

Thus architects must be psychologists, Thus architects must be psychologists, sociologists, economists, businesspeople, sociologists, economists, businesspeople, politicians, and courtiers. politicians, and courtiers.

They must also be engineers, for they must be They must also be engineers, for they must be able to construct structurally stable buildings. able to construct structurally stable buildings.

Architects have to take into account four basic Architects have to take into account four basic and closely interrelated necessities: technical and closely interrelated necessities: technical requirements, use, spatial relationships, and requirements, use, spatial relationships, and content. content.

Page 11: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Four Necessities of Four Necessities of ArchitectureArchitecturecont’dcont’d

Of the four necessities, the technical Of the four necessities, the technical requirements of a building are the most requirements of a building are the most obvious.obvious.

Buildings must stand (and withstand). Buildings must stand (and withstand). Architects must know the material and their Architects must know the material and their potentialities, how to put the materials together,potentialities, how to put the materials together,

and how the materials will work on a particular and how the materials will work on a particular site. So architects are engineers. site. So architects are engineers.

But they are something more as well - artists.But they are something more as well - artists.

Page 12: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Four Necessities of Four Necessities of ArchitectureArchitecturecont’d p.153 / p.162cont’d p.153 / p.162

Functional Requirements of ArchitectureFunctional Requirements of Architecture Architects must not only make their buildings Architects must not only make their buildings

stand but also usually stand them in such a stand but also usually stand them in such a way that they reveal their function or use. way that they reveal their function or use.

Some believe that (form must follow function).Some believe that (form must follow function). If form follows function in the sense that the If form follows function in the sense that the

form stands “for” the function; of its building, form stands “for” the function; of its building, then conventional forms or structures are often then conventional forms or structures are often sufficient. No one is likely to mistake Chartres sufficient. No one is likely to mistake Chartres Cathedral for an office building.Cathedral for an office building.

Page 13: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Four Necessities of Four Necessities of ArchitectureArchitecturecont’d p.158 / p.165cont’d p.158 / p.165

Spatial Requirements of ArchitectureSpatial Requirements of Architecture A building that is technically awry with A building that is technically awry with

poor lighting or awkward passageways or poor lighting or awkward passageways or cramped rooms will distract from any cramped rooms will distract from any artistic meaning,artistic meaning,

and so usually will a form that fails to and so usually will a form that fails to reveal the function of its building, or a reveal the function of its building, or a form that fails to fit into its spatial context.form that fails to fit into its spatial context.

Page 14: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Four Necessities of Four Necessities of ArchitectureArchitecturecont’d p. 158-163 / p. 165-cont’d p. 158-163 / p. 165-169169 Revelatory Requirements of ArchitectureRevelatory Requirements of Architecture

The function or use of a building is an The function or use of a building is an essential part of the subject matter of that essential part of the subject matter of that building, building,

what the architect interprets or gives what the architect interprets or gives insight into by means of his form.insight into by means of his form.

Page 15: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Four Necessities of Four Necessities of ArchitectureArchitecturecont’dcont’d

Essential values of contemporary society are a Essential values of contemporary society are a part of all artists’ subject matter; part of what part of all artists’ subject matter; part of what they must interpret in their work, and this--they must interpret in their work, and this--because of the public character of because of the public character of architecture--is especially so with architects. architecture--is especially so with architects.

The way architects (and artists generally) are The way architects (and artists generally) are influenced by the values of their society has influenced by the values of their society has been given many explanations.been given many explanations.

Page 16: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

To participate with a work of public To participate with a work of public architecture fully, we must have as architecture fully, we must have as complete an understanding as possible complete an understanding as possible of its subject matter - - the function of the of its subject matter - - the function of the building and the relevant values of the building and the relevant values of the society which subsidized the building. society which subsidized the building. p.162 / p168p.162 / p168

Page 17: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Works of architecture separate an inside Works of architecture separate an inside space from an outside space. space from an outside space.

They make that inside space available for They make that inside space available for human functions. human functions.

And in interpreting their subject matter And in interpreting their subject matter (functions and their society’s values), (functions and their society’s values), architects make space “space.” architects make space “space.”

Page 18: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

They bring out the power and embrace of They bring out the power and embrace of the positioned interrelationships of things. the positioned interrelationships of things.

Architecture in this respect can be Architecture in this respect can be divided into four main types:divided into four main types:

1) the earth-rooted, 2) the sky-oriented,3) 1) the earth-rooted, 2) the sky-oriented,3) the earth-resting, and 4. earth-dominating the earth-resting, and 4. earth-dominating architecture.architecture.

Page 19: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Earth-Rooted Earth-Rooted ArchitectureArchitecture(1)(1)

The earth is the securing agency that grounds The earth is the securing agency that grounds the place of our existence, our center. the place of our existence, our center.

No other thing exposes its surface more No other thing exposes its surface more pervasively and yet hides its depth dimension pervasively and yet hides its depth dimension more completely.more completely.

Architecture that is earth-rooted discloses the Architecture that is earth-rooted discloses the earth by drawing our attention to the site of the earth by drawing our attention to the site of the building or to its submission to gravity, or to its building or to its submission to gravity, or to its raw materials, or to its centrality in outer and raw materials, or to its centrality in outer and inner space.inner space.

Page 20: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Sky-Oriented Sky-Oriented ArchitectureArchitecture(2)(2)

Such architecture discloses a world by Such architecture discloses a world by drawing our attention to the sky bounded drawing our attention to the sky bounded by a horizon.by a horizon.

It accomplishes this by means of making It accomplishes this by means of making a building appear high and centered a building appear high and centered within the sky, defying gravity, and tightly within the sky, defying gravity, and tightly integrating the light of outer with inner integrating the light of outer with inner space.space.

Page 21: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Earth-Resting Earth-Resting ArchitectureArchitecture(3)(3)

Most architecture accents neither earth nor sky Most architecture accents neither earth nor sky but rests on the earth,but rests on the earth,

using the earth like a platform with the sky as using the earth like a platform with the sky as background. background.

With earth-resting architecture - unlike earth-With earth-resting architecture - unlike earth-rooted architecture--the earth does not appear rooted architecture--the earth does not appear as an organic part of the building. Rather, the as an organic part of the building. Rather, the earth appears as a stage.earth appears as a stage.

Page 22: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Earth-Dominating Earth-Dominating ArchitectureArchitecture(4)(4)

An earth-dominating building does not sit on An earth-dominating building does not sit on (like earth-resting) but “rules over” the earth.(like earth-resting) but “rules over” the earth.

Earth-dominating buildings generally are easily Earth-dominating buildings generally are easily identified.identified.

Usually earth-dominating buildings are large Usually earth-dominating buildings are large and massive, but those features do not and massive, but those features do not necessarily express earth-dominance.necessarily express earth-dominance.

Page 23: Architecture introduction-to-humanities

Urban PlanningUrban Planning No use of space has become more No use of space has become more

critical in our time than in the city. critical in our time than in the city. Therefore, the issues about space and Therefore, the issues about space and

architecture take on a special relevance architecture take on a special relevance with respect to city planning. with respect to city planning.

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Urban PlanningUrban Planningcont’dcont’d

Most cities are planned either Most cities are planned either sporadically in segments or not at all. sporadically in segments or not at all.

Some cities have height restrictions and Some cities have height restrictions and in some cases top stories have been in some cases top stories have been removed from buildings in construction.removed from buildings in construction.

Some tall buildings create dark streets in Some tall buildings create dark streets in the middle of the day. Is it possible to the middle of the day. Is it possible to make the city a place to dwell?make the city a place to dwell?