Foundations: A Unit Review

The first four weeks of this semester focused on the foundations of architecture across the globe. Each week focused on a different concept that helped synthesize the design trends in architecture.

The first week we focused on the concept of object, space, building, place as a tool to define the various scales that make up architecture. We compared and contrasted how various levels of scale can tell about key principles of design for a culture. And through the work of Jules David Prown and Dick Hebdige, we discussed ways to define a culture and subculture and how it relates to the artifact we were studying. For me, the most important moment of the week was when we watched a video by Charles and Ray Eames called the Powers of Ten (which can be watched here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0). This video for me was the ‘aha!’ moment of understanding the impact of scale in design.

The second week of class introduced the concept of circles, groves and stacks as the fundamental design elements for early architecture (with the addition of the occasional imitation of people). We explored Stonehenge as an example of this concept and discovered that there was actually more than one Stonehenge. The circle, groves, and stacks concept has been integral for me as we moved forward into looking at more complex architectural structures, because by figuring out the basis of organization for architecture, commonalities across cultures and time periods is quite evident, which indicates to me that these three basic design principles are the foundations for basic human organization of spaces as well. We put this concept into practice at the end of the week with a tour around campus, linking the various buildings and spaces on campus with these basic design principles.

 Week three we explored the Acropolis and the Xiang Yang Palace as case studies for the concepts of prototype, archetype and hybrid and the real to the ideal. We looked at comparing and contrasting the two sites that are considered the archetypal temple or palace form for their respective cultures. Both sites are a combination of stacks and groves placed together. Additionally, both sites include a porch, court and hearth, which are key elements found around the globe in the cultural architectural center.  This concept of centrality also became important as we tied it into the first week’s concept of scale, with the ideal world created in the center.

The final week of the foundations unit involved the concept of commodity, firmness, and delight as we explored Rome and its creation of new building types. This organizing principle is used in our text as a way to describe and define the design of various architectural buildings and places. Commodity refers to the function or purpose of the space, firmness is the performance, stability and safety of the space, and the final delight factor refers to the relative beauty of the space. Additionally, Roman architecture developed the concept of the circle as an organizing factor for design, which was seen in domes, arches, vaulting and strong centralized urban planning. We took another tour of campus, this time focusing on various Roman architectural foundations and concepts and how they related to the design (or lack thereof) on campus.

Understanding these basic concepts in the foundations unit has opened the door for a world of understanding to the basic organizing concepts humans have used in the creation of their spaces across cultures. This is particularly helpful in creating my own organizing principles for thinking of design as I begin in this field.  Additionally it has provided for me a basic vocabulary with which to discuss design that is immediate accessible and applicable for today’s architectural buildings. The music building on the UNCG campus is one example of an excellent culmination of many of these foundations concepts, which is in the picture below, taken during one of our tours of the campus.