13. Planes

Planes

Planes in architecture can refer to two different yet sometimes interdependent things. A plane is a level like the ground plane of a building with which other objects can be said to be on. A plane is also a flat form in which objects and features are placed on, into, or around. For example, Symphony Tower in Atlanta, Georgia, has 42 horizontal planes due to its 41 floors and the ceiling of its 41st, and the walls of the building are also planes. The tower has an interesting feature, however. Part of the wall plane on two sides continues well past the building’s roof and bends inward, creating an iconic silhouette. My continuous plane exercise is a little different in its approach to planes. The model is one continuous sheet of paper, which means it came from one plane, but this plane can now be divided into smaller planes due to cuts and folds. Thus, a series of planes move up, down, and back up, and two small curving planes accentuate the other planes. Planes, both flat and curved, help to create the forms of both the building and the model.

From top to bottom:

A continuous plane composition I created using a sheet of Bristol board.

The upper portion of Symphony Tower in Atlanta, Georgia. Designed by Pickard Chilton. Photo by Matthew Salazar.