Reflections

Taking Risks


Dormant Trees


Painting


Camp Carefree


Personal Art


Music


Dance


Community Service


Acropolis


3D Modeling

Unit Summery: Reflections

The reflections unit focused on the design styles and practices of the 18th and 19th centuries. During this time the industrial revolution had begun and this greatly changed the way the design world was advancing. Styles from other countries were coming together with the trade with china opening up and with faster means of acquiring imports. Exotic imports began to flow across the world and create new styles among Europe. The movement of style across the world can be experience at the Royal Pavilion which was turned into a resort in Europe. The pavilion is in an Islamic style of architecture an the Royal Palace’s interiors were done in a Chinese style creating a multi cultural work.

The battle between depth and surface soon began. This dispute was between depth, such as the placement of items within a space for its natural appearance, and surface, the “decoration” of the space with wall paper and paint. This led the way into the Aesthetic and Arts and Crafts movements.

The Aesthetic movement began and in this movement it was thought that every surface within a structure should be covered by art. There were some who thought that machines should not be used to create multiples versions of a piece and that everything should be hand crafted. This was the view of William Morris who, during the Arts and Crafts movement, became the predominant voice against machinery.

The 19th century began the development of newer and less traditional structures and spaces. The introduction of new materials, technological advancement, and meaning behind design helped to advance the design world in ways that no one could have predicted.

Alternatives Unit Summery

The Alternatives unit covers the eras of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Baroque. As each of these eras came about new styles of design were created to go along with the times. Throughout these periods we can see how the boundaries were being pushed and the rules were being broken through the evolution of design and architecture.

The Gothic period began with the spread of Christianity. As the spread of the religion moved further out, the cathedrals began to grow in size and elegance to accommodate the worshipers. “The Gothic cathedrals were covered virtually from top to bottom with sculptural representation of biblical stories.” (Roth) This showed the great detail and dedication the artists and the worshipers had to Christianity and how the cathedrals seemed to be reaching up into the heavens. The highly decorative windows, and lights gave the cathedrals heavenly feel.


Nita Travelling

The time of the Renaissance gave leeway to architecture that was less strict and allowed for designs to incorporate more curves and fewer straight lines. This entailed more fluidity and freedom of movement that was not seen in earlier styles of design. Also, more private residences were being sought out by the wealthy to escape the city. They wished for a place in the countryside that was secluded but close enough that they could be under the protection of the city and obtain goods from the market. The Villa emerged from this desire.

The Baroque period was a time where art and architecture showed a great amount of emotion and where the work showed rationality instead of religion. This time was all about movement of detail in art and in architecture. One of the works that most stands out in showing the difference between the Baroque style and earlier styles is Bernini’s David compared to Michelangelo’s David. Michelangelo’s version of Davis is more religious in how he seems to be contemplating the battle he had just won. Bernini’s Davis is frozen in action showing a more rational view of David. Also, the first David simply stood with nothing extra while the Baroque David allows the eye to move and not stay put on one specific spot. Another example of movement is the Alter that is in the Vatican, also designed by Bernini.


NATQ


Ned Hettinger

Unit Summery: Foundations

Phranswa

The Coliseum in Rome is a prime example of a structure that represents the Foundations Unit in how Commodity, Firmness, and Delight can be easily observed.

The Foundations Unit is about the basics of Architecture and where it all began. It covers the beginnings of architecture with the Mesopotamian to the much more advanced and civil Romans with the Egyptians and Greeks in-between. Each one of these civilizations perfected each other’s methods creating a structure and then evolved it further to create something unique to their own culture. All of these cultures focus on a phrase, whether consciously or not, that we still follow today to make architecture the most it can be. Commodity, Firmness, and Delight.

Someone once said that “Good things come in threes” and the Foundations unit has various examples of three ideas coming together in History and Architecture. The most predominant one is Commodity, Firmness, and Delight. All of these words have their own meanings that pertain to architecture. Commodity: being the utility of the structure such as a stable to house horses or the Baths of Diocletian to keep cleanliness and civility amongst the citizens of Rome. Firmness: standing for the strength and stability of the structure and how well it will hold up through the elements and over time much like the Pyramids at Gaza have. Delight: how the building is not ugly and appeals to the viewers like the Parthenon which is still beautiful but we know it to have once been even more extravagant. All come together to represent the idea of making a useful, non-ugly, structure that will stand for as long as needed.

Another set of three that is undoubtedly prominent thought out history and architecture is “Archetype, Prototype, and Hybrid.” Archetype being the first design, prototype being the final, and hybrid being the designs in between. The Classical Orders is the prime example because one can see how each column evolved from the one before it and had become more complicated. The Tuscan order was the most simple and plain (archetype) of the five while the Composite is the most complicated and elaborate (prototype). The three in between (hybrids) were the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian which are the most commonly seen columns in Greek and Roman architecture.

“…tripartite arrangement that begins with the reception spaces and is followed by the great hall and a private section.” (Blakemore 6) “Porch, Court, and Hearth is the final of the ideas of three that particularly stand out. This idea can be observed all throughout history, architecture, and city design when looking at how the building or city was laid out. Porch, court, and hearth each represent a different part of a structure where different events happen. The Porch is a place of welcoming, greeting, and entering into the structure. The court is an open area that allows for conversation and gathering. And the hearth is the most important part of the structure where only a select few may go and worship or partake in special ceremonies. In Greece and Rome temples had a porch, a court, and a hearth in which people worshiped a god or a goddess. In the city of Acropolis the porch was the entrance to the city, the court was the large greeting area that was seen upon entering and the hearth was the Temple of Athena.

The Foundations Unit has set the basics and the foundation for the history of architecture. From the foundation we will continue to build upon with the history of the structures and the civilizations that advance the methods and evolved with the styles of these structures.