Unit 1 summary

I believe all designs can be described and analyzed by both principles and elements. Before the beginning of this course, I didn’t look at designs the way I do now. I used to look at an object or structure and only recognize it was aesthetically pleasing, without breaking down why. After completing unit 1, I see things from a completely different perspective. I went to Rome last fall, and saw various incredible structures with fascinating history behind them. An example would be the colosseum. Through the last lecture on Roman structures, I broke down the principles and elements of the colosseum and realized how many principles and elements make it what it is. Not only do I look at large structures differently at this point, but I also can take more from simple and smaller designs as well; such as a small model, or a teapot. On my first visit back to my hometown this month, I went to one of my favorite restaurants designed by a family friend of mine. In my previous visits to this restaurant, I noticed the aspects that made it beautiful, but after learning how to determine the principles and elements, I looked at it from a designer’s perspective and also noticed its modernism. After touring the campus with the class, I do not just walk by white hall anymore without much thought. I notice the detailed design in the door, and the use of brick and concrete throughout it. Not only in this class, but my other design classes as well, I have learned principles and elements can be pulled from any design in the world. No matter what you’re looking at, at least one principle or element can be given.

The Power of Ten

  I enjoyed this activity not only because of the abstract product, but also because I didn't know what to expect while putting together our 8x8 squares to create one large image. I found it difficult to portray the tiny image I was given and wasn't sure how it would look compared to its surrounding squares, but I believe it ended up being successful. 

Campus Reconnaissance

Each of these buildings has unique characteristics about them.  One thing that stood out to me is that each building contains vertical lines, similar colored brick, and multiple windows.  If I had to choose a favorite it would be the Engineering Quadrangle. I thought it was a very beautiful structure, not only for the buildings but also for the brick ground. Although The Engineering Quadrangle was completed in the early 1900's,  I think of it as more of a modern structure because of the look of its design, and beautiful landscaping as well. Each of these buildings has unique characteristics about them.  One thing that stood out to me is that each building contains vertical lines, similar colored brick, and multiple windows.  If I had to choose a favorite it would be the Engineering Quadrangle. I thought it was a very beautiful structure, not only for the buildings but also for the brick ground. Although The Engineering Quadrangle was completed in the early 1900's, I believe it has a more modern look, and beautiful landscaping as well. Specifically, the Oliver H. Raymond building stood out to me most, it is very balanced and harmonious with the large arch in the center and many windows on both sides. White Hall and Miller Hall look the most alike I believe, each because of their brick and style. I do believe these three buildings make a cohesive statement for design in the time period they were constructed.

White Hall

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Engineering Quadrangle 

Miller Hall

What is modernism? 

According to Webster, modernism is: a style of art, architecture, literature, etc., that uses ideas and methods which are very different from those used in the past.

When I think of modernism, I think of new style, things that trendy now opposed to what was trendy many years ago. 

A design that represents mondernism to me is a restaurant recently designed in Owensboro, Ky, by a family friend of mine, Laura Ruth Edge, called Lure. 

Lure was designed to represent all the different personalities of the great people of Owensboro. Rustic, Urban, Industrial, and Chic. A Barn wood Backdrop for the dramatic bar was designed and constructed from a barn of surrounding county. Hand blown glass bubbles are draped between two curved walls to create the king of all chef’s tables. The multitude of lights is interpreted differently among the patrons. Bubbles, constellation, and fishing bobbers, all of which are great descriptions of the soft, abstract “water” themed seafood restaurant. 

Something I find interesting about this space especially is that she used multiple styles of chairs for each table instead of only one style. I believe Lure represents modernism especially because of its many trendy, unique elements and principles of design. 

Hunt-Morgan House

I do agree that a large part of the design is through coordination of architectural elements, furnishings, wall colors, and objects. All of these things are important to represent the age of time in a house such as the Hunt-Morgan House. In that time period, generally the doorways or mantles in the dining room were painted the same color as the dishes that we used. This color was green here, as you can see. Also furniture and carpet can be very big giveaways on a time period as well. The patterns on the carpet and dishes show it. 

Obviously over time the sources of light changed due to advanced technology. Also an old fashioned bed warmer was necessary during this time period and now no longer is. There is a large contrast in the different types of patterns and textures as well which have changed over time. Color is also something, and is very aesthetically pleasing. Although we did not tour the Civil War exhibit, I see both bedrooms and the character they possess. The fireplace in the master bedroom had a pattern of line and shape, and I found it interesting they still have same bed that was there since the beginning. The daughter's room has changed overtime throughout the transfer of furniture and artwork on the wall. There is contrast in these rooms because of the new and old objects contained in each room.

Salisbury + Amiens [time, town]

                   Because Amiens was constructed after its surrounding city, I believe room was made for this extravagant structure by building upwards. To be exact, Amiens has an exterior length of 476 ft.  Salisbury however was constructed before the time of its surrounding city, causing the city to be formed at the edge of its site. While Amiens served its city as a place of worship  and a place of civic functions, Salisbury served sole as a Cathedral. 

                   The construction of Salisbury was completed over a time period of 38 years. The building that took place from 1220 to 1258 represents a single generation of continuous building. Unlike Salisbury, Amiens took nearly two centuries to complete. Throughout 1220 to 1410, they faced many challenges and nearly collapsed!  Although some would say Salisbury was completed more efficiently because it was built at a faster pace with less struggles, I believe the time stretch it took to complete Amiens gives it character, due to the fact it was built by different generations and it indeed makes for a more interesting story. 

Salisbury

Amiens

acropolis + xianyang

acropolis + xianyang

1. As mentioned in the lecture, the Acropolis is something that builds overtime in reaction to the environment where the Xianyang palace was built all at once. The Xianyang palace contains the stacking element along with horizontal lines, while the acropolis has a pattern of vertical lines. 

2. Both structures were constructed using extreme detail. Xianyang has a little more of a variety of textures and color, being that it is made up of both stone and wood as well. They both represent their culture in how they look. 

3. They are both harmonious because of repeated patterns using shape and line.The acropolis having repeated vertical columns and the xianyang palace having repeated rectangular shape and contrast in color. 

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

I think of Stonehenge more as calendar or calculator more than anything, but I see it as a religious structure as well. It was mentioned in the lecture that each trilithon represented an important event that took place on a certain day, such as an important event in the sky like a solar or lunar eclipse. Stonehenge is is a central unify space, it serves as a form within a defined field, and freestanding structures in the middle of the field all point to a point above the earth's surface. There are patterns and rhythm within this structure as well. Some of it is proportioned and some is not, but there is still a principle of harmony in the way the different stones form a circle. It fascinates me the accuracy the stones aid in reading solar and lunar cycles, and It's interesting that they built a structure to keep track of events. Stonehenge is such a popular site because of the great mystery behind the structure. I believe It is very relevant to design today, because it is a structure that contains multiple principles and elements.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/history/significance/#

Circles Groups Stacks

Circles
This is an image of the Nation Museum of the American Indian. This building not only is made up of circular shapes but it also contains the stacks element as well. Here there is a large emphasis on the circular structure, and there is harmony through the entire exterior. There is rhythm that draws your attention down the sides, and we also see balance with the the different shapes throughout.Location: Washington, D.C.

Dates: 1990-2004

Designer: Douglas Cardinal

Stacks
On the exterior of Hagia Sofia there is a large emphasis on the stacks element. You see here how this structure was built upwards, made up of different shapes and forms. There is a mixture of circles, groups, and stacks throughout this structure. I believe there is emphasis on multiple parts of Hagia Sophia. Harmony and balance are important principles here because of the symmetrically and distribution of interest.

LOCATION: Istanbul, Turkey

DATE: 523- 537

DESIGNER: Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus

Groups

In this image of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, you see groups of vertical lines throughout the columns. There is a pattern of squares and rectangles in the glass windows, and contrast between the dark and light sections of the structure. There is a rhythm throughout as well because of the windows and columns.

Location: Frankfort, KY

Dates: 2000-2004

Designer: EOP Architects