GOTHIC CONFIGURING

Of all architectural styles the Gothic is probably the one that is most successful in bridging the divide between structure and ornament. Where classical architecture first creates an abstract structure to then decorate it locally with curved scrolls, garlands and volutes, the Gothic uses thin elements (“ribs”) which can bend and flex to create a large variety of figures that combine into enormously complex webbed vaults, bundled columns or rose windows. The idea is not to develop a Neoneo-gothic to design our projects; we will slowly move away from the Gothic as a historical style to create our own sets of configurations and spatial organization. For our research we will be concentrating on window tracery (lancet windows and rose windows) of the English Decorated and the French Flamboyant styles.

Of all architectural styles the Gothic is probably the one that is most successful in bridging the divide between structure and ornament. Where classical architecture first creates an abstract structure to then decorate it locally with curved scrolls, garlands and volutes, the Gothic uses thin elements (“ribs”) which can bend and flex to create a large variety of figures that combine into enormously complex webbed vaults, bundled columns or rose windows. The idea is not to develop a Neoneo-gothic to design our projects; we will slowly move away from the Gothic as a historical style to create our own sets of configurations and spatial organization. For our research we will be concentrating on window tracery (lancet windows and rose windows) of the English Decorated and the French Flamboyant styles.

Such an academy is not a typical school, and would harbor not only post-graduate design students but also practioners that have decided to leave their practice behind, either temporarily or for good, to deepen their research into design. The DRA is a platform for experiment, for learning as well as unlearning. Such an academy would not house a fixed staff; it would itself function as a harbor, where designers and teachers would meet to do high-end research for short or long periods, and seek discussion, study and renewal.

Such an academy is not a typical school, and would harbor not only post-graduate design students but also practioners that have decided to leave their practice behind, either temporarily or for good, to deepen their research into design. The DRA is a platform for experiment, for learning as well as unlearning. Such an academy would not house a fixed staff; it would itself function as a harbor, where designers and teachers would meet to do high-end research for short or long periods, and seek discussion, study and renewal.

Nodes From Compound Curves

Pre - Existing Shape Created Shape