Simplicity of Architecture

Simplicity of Architecture Emma Thomes

1. Grid 2. Direct Light 3. Part to Whole 4. Diffused Light 5. Geometry 6. Transformation 7. Movement 8. Hierarchy 9. Datum 10. Anaylsis 11, Order 12. Symmetry 13. Mass

14.Materials 15. Scale 16. Defamiliarization 17. Infrastructure 18. Surface 19. Concept 20. Space 21. Fabrication 22. Unity 23. Balance 24. Program 25. Balance 26. Alignment

G R I D “The grid system is an aid, not a guarantee. It permits a number of possible uses and each designer can look for a solution appropriate to his personal style.

But one must learn how to use the grid; it is an art that requires practice.�

-Josef MĂźller-Brockmann

GRID:

a network of uniformly spaced horizontal and perpendicular lines (as for locating points on a map)-Merriam Webster Dictionary

Direct Light

Direct light brings a focus to the simple flat surfaces of the forms.

“The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light.”

Le Corbusier – Architect

“Light has not just intensity, but also a vibration, which is capable of roughening a smooth material, of giving a three-dimensional quality to a flat surface.”

Renzo Piano

Part to Whole

“On one customary view of architectural objects, individual built structures (or their abstract counterparts) represent the primary unit of our aesthetic or, for that matter, any architectural, concern...� -Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Part to Whole emphasizes the smaller simplistic units that make up a greater piece.

Diffused Light Diffused light draws the eye to the piece overall, creating a simplistic overview.

“Diffuse light is produced by extensive areas that emit light...

This produces very uniform, softlighting, which illuminates the entire space and makes objects visible, but produces reduced shadows or reflections.� E.E.P.

Geometry The geometry of a piece creates a pattern or system that allows the viewer to understand the work.

By simplifying the geometry, one can better analyze.

“Geometry lies at the core of the architectural design process. It is omnipresent, from the initial form-finding stages to the actual construction.”

-Pottmann

“Architects use geometry to study and divide space as well as draft detailed building plans. Builders and engineers rely on geometric principles to create structures safely. Designers apply geometry (along with color and scale) to make the aesthetically pleasing spaces inside. Applying geometry in design is unavoidable.” -Lehner

Transformation Trandformations create opportunities for simplistic forms to change into something unique.

“Transformations are an act of transforming the figure, so its size, orientation, or location changes.” -The Architect’s Geometry

Movement

Movement through a piece causes simplistic forms to have a more complex experience.

“Architecture exists, like cinema, in the dimension of time and movement�

-Jean Nouvel

Hierarchy

Hierachy divides the planes of most importance from the smaller simplistic ones.

“Visual hierarchy controls the delivery of the experience. If you have a hard time figuring out where to look on a page, it’s more than likely that its layout is missing a clear visual hierarchy.”

- The Nielsen Norman Group

Datum Datum lines are simplistic focal points in a piece that draws the viewer’s eyes.

A datum is a form which ties together or anchors all other elements of the design.

It can be a line, like a road with houses arranged along its length, a flat plane, or even a 3D space.

Many buildings all share a plane which acts as a clear datum. -James Renwick Jr.

Analysis

Through formal analysis, one can divulge complex forms from simple structures.

“It is a space of dissection, observation and representation to establish (new) relationships creating elements that discuss, deepen and extend the ideas.�

-Shahram Shandiz

Order

“The responsibility of an architect is to create a sense of order, sense of place, a sense of relationship.�

-Richard Meier

A sense of direction or order causes a unique format created from simple structures.

Symmetry Symmetry points out the simplicity in different figures. It shows the values that stay the same on oppisite ends, making the piece repetitive.

“Symmetry helps bind various elements of a structure together into a single, unified whole.

It is also commonly used to create a sense of rational order and calm logic, a favored aesthetic of the ancient Greeks and Romans.”

-Christopher Muscato

“In architecture, symmetry is the reflection of shared forms, shapes, or angles across a central line or point called the axis.”

-Christopher Muscato

Mass

The weight of a form or the bulk of it can either highlight its simplicity or complexity. The mass points out the actual size of the structure.

“Mass combines with shape to define form.

Mass refers to the size or physical bulk of a building, and can be understood as the actual size, or size relative to context.�

-Phoebe Crisman

Materials THe material that projects are made out of can largely affect the perception of it. By having uniform materials, a piece comes across as simple.

“The role and importance of materiality thus includes much more than structural properties but equally informs a person’s experience of a building through its aesthetic, visual and haptic qualities as well as its associated social, cultural and historical meaning.” -Mohieldeen Yasser Abdelfattah

“Every material possesses its own language of forms and none may lay claim for itself to the forms of another material.”

-Adolf Loos.

Scale

“Scale may be manipulated by the architect to make a building appear smaller or larger than its actual size. Multiple scales may exist within a single building façade, in order to achieve a higher level of visual complexity.”

-Phoebe Crisman

The scale largely affects the simplicity of a work.

The larger the scale, the more detail can be formed.

Defamiliarization

“Defamiliarization is to present or render in an unfamiliar artistic form usually to stimulate fresh perception�

-Merriam Webster Dictionary

Defamiliarization simplifies a work into an abstract form in order to have a new perspective.

Infrastructure The underlying foundations or framework to buildings, are in themselves simple.

From these frameworks an architect can plan out more detailed contributations.

‘Infrastructure is the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)�

-Merriam Webster Dictionary

Surface

The surface is the one part of the building that is in contact with the exterior which causes its design to have to be relatively simplistic in order to withstand the elements.

“Surface is a building’s enclosure is its primary contact with an exterior” -Andrea Simitch, Val Warke

Concept

“A design concept is the big picture idea for the project. It shows the overall design intent and provides direction for everyone on the project team from the early schematic design phase all the way through construction.�

-YR Architecture Design

The concept is the first large idea about a project. Because of this, It tend to be simplistic at first in order to have room to grow or change.

Space A structure is sucessful when one is able to create a simplistic space inside.

“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space.”

-Louis Khan

Fabrication

“Manufacturing process in which an item is made from raw or semi-finished materials instead of being assembled from readymade components or parts�

-Market Buisness News

Fabrication of a project can largely affect the ending perception. The way the materials are made can affect whether the piece seems simple or complex.

Unity

The unity of a composition can largly result from with whether the piece stays simplistic throughout.

“Unity is when the elements in a space combine to make a balanced, harmonious complete whole. The space feels right and everything works together.

The result is a pleasing feeling, that everything is right with the space.�

-Hatch Interior Design

Balance The Balance of a form can be affected by the correlation between both sides as simple or complicated.

“Balance depends upon visual weights of the architectural and interior elements -- visual weight is determined by “the psychological impact an element makes on us and the the attention it demands.”

-University of Oregon

Program

The program’s “An architectural set of rules program is, in its can determine most basic form, thehow creative and complex a list of requirementsproject can be.

The program ofthat initiates a ten hinders project.” projects ito -Andrea Simitch and having a simplistic design.

Val Warke

Environment The environment is one of the constraints that a design could have. The environment might hinder a project in becoming more simplistic.

“Architecture must concern itself continually with socially beneficial distortion of the environment.�

-Cedric Price

Alignment

The alignment focuses on having the visual pieces of a work line up to form a more simple shape or structure.

“Alignment is the placement of visual elements so they line up in a composition. In design, we use alignment to organize elements, to group elements, to create balance, to create structure, to create connections between elements, to create a sharp and clear outcome.�

-Gareth David