Architecture introduction-to-humanities

1. ARCHITECTUREARCHITECTURE
Introduction to Introduction to
HumanitiesHumanities
The Humanities Through The ArtsThe Humanities Through The Arts
F. David Martin & Lee A. JacobusF. David Martin & Lee A. Jacobus

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Space and Space and
ArchitectureArchitecture
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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Four Necessities of Four Necessities of
ArchitectureArchitecture
cont’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.

11. Four Necessities of Four Necessities of
ArchitectureArchitecture
cont’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.

12. Four Necessities of Four Necessities of
ArchitectureArchitecture
cont’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.

13. Four Necessities of Four Necessities of
ArchitectureArchitecture
cont’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.

14. Four Necessities of Four Necessities of
ArchitectureArchitecture
cont’d p. 158-163 / p. cont’d p. 158-163 / p.
165-169165-169
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.

15. Four Necessities of Four Necessities of
ArchitectureArchitecture
cont’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.

16. 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

17. 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 They make that inside space available
for human functions. for 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.”

18. They bring out the power and embrace of They bring out the power and embrace of
the positioned interrelationships of the positioned interrelationships of
things. 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-the earth-resting, and 4. earth-
dominating architecture.dominating architecture.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. Urban PlanningUrban Planning
cont’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?