articulation

Articulation refers to the character of joints in an architectural form. Specifically, this means the ways that a particular design goes about differentiating between planes, lines, and points in shaping its distinct sections; as such, articulation is highly related to an organizational system. While especially true for buildings in which the articulation informs the programatic function, articulation can also serve a primarily aesthetic purpose. A building with very little articulation, such as the Centennial Tower, typically maintains a more minimal, rectilinear structure, presenting as almost monolithic. Alternatively, a highly articulated building, like Mercedes-Benz stadium, is composed of many more planes with a more angular character. With triangular shapes and sharp points, this characterizes the building as sharper and more dynamic.