Studio 5: Anlalysis Fundamentals

Objective: Analysis is much more than collecting facts and figures and regurgitating them. Analysis
is reading between the lines of those facts to identify themes, trends, similarities, differences, and
patterns. Analysis is the process of answering the questions, “Why? What have we learned by studying these objects?” Analysis is a fundamental and critical component necessary for success in Studio V. Most of what work is performed throughout this quarter will be analytical in nature. As designers, we must analyze our clients’ problems and opportunities in order to determine the path to an appropriate solution. More and more we, as design professionals, are being challenged to provide evidence of the appropriateness of our design solutions. Establishing strong analytical skills now will only strengthen your potential for success in the industry (Totten, Syllabus, 2013).

FS&O: Design Concepts Part 4: Form & Space

Form and Space: The Unity of Opposites

We have a tendency to organize elements that we view and in order to understand a structure, we perceive both positive and negative elements. In the same way, form and space are viewed in architecture and interior design. This can be as simple as considering pieces of furniture in a room. In the image below, see the pictures of furniture and then how they can be viewed separately as form and space in the black and white diagram below.

Photo Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30792449@N07/3238863770/

Defining Space with Horizontal Elements - Elevated Base Plane

An elevated base plane is an example of a horizontal element of form. This means that it is on a plane above the ground and has vertical surfaces that are emphasized. The Parthenon in Greece is an excellent example of an elevated base plane. In the image below, note how it is elevated off the ground and how this plane is emphasized in the black and white diagram below.

Photo Source: http://www.powerplaces.org/emailpromo/crete_2006_conference/

Designing Space with Vertical Linear Elements - U-Shaped Planes

Vertical planes can also show the play between form and space. For example,  the image below is an example of a u-shaped plane with its 3 walls of enclosure. A u-shaped plane is primarily open at the end of the configuration. This can more clearly be seen in the black and white diagram below that depicts the same image in plan view.

Photo Source: http://tinyhouseblog.com/stick-built/tiny-house-in-portland/

Qualities of Architectural Space - Light

Daniel Libeskind's Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany, shows a strong interplay between light, shadow and form in the image of a part of the museum below. Light illuminates forms and spaces in architecture and create energy, or in the case of this image, solace and tranquility. The black and white diagram below emphasizes the light source in this picture.

 Photo Source: http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/jewish-museum-berlin/

Openings in Space-Defining Elements - At Corners

The amount of closure of a space can effect our visual perception of the space. For example openings at the corners, such as in ribbon windows like in the image below, can make the edges look weak, but can also link the planes together. This can create a relationship between adjacent spaces. This is emphasized in the black and white diagram below with the black box representing the ribbon window.

Photo Source: http://www.sizehouseofezis.blogspot.com/

FS&O: Design Concepts Part 3: Proportion & Scale

Golden Section

 Since antiquity there has been the belief that certain numerical relationships are used in the structure of the universe. The Greeks used this when considering human proportion and applied this also to their temples. Since then, architects have utilized this "Golden Section". The Golden Section is the "ratio between two sections of a line, or the two dimensions of a plane figure, in which the lesser of the two is to the greater as the greater is to the sum of both" (Ching, 2007, p. 302). The builders of the Taj Mahal in India utilized in the Golden Section. See below in the black and white diagram where the square, a primary solid, is emphasized and also is dimensionally transformed to a rectangle.

Photo Source: http://rajivawijesinha.wordpress.com
Book Reference: Ching, F. (2007). Architecture: Form, Space and Order. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The Orders

The Greeks and Romans believed that the Orders showed perfect beauty and harmony. The diameter of the column was the unit of dimension. They wanted all parts of the building to be in harmony with one another. The Orders include: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite. The image below shows a portion of an Ionic column. The geometric features of the column are represented in the black and white diagram below. The circle and square, both primary solids, are seen. In this particular viewpoint, the circle and square have been dimensionally transformed to ellipses and a rectangle. They are clustered to form the image below.

Photo Source: http://www.123rf.com

Renaissance Theories

Renaissance architects also used the Greek system of proportions. They used a progression of ratios to determine ideal plan shapes for rooms and to determine the heights of rooms. Palladios used these systems repeatedly in his designs and can be seen in the drawing of Villa Emo below. Note the proportional use of the three rectangles (square as a primary solid, dimensionally transformed to a rectangle).All three figures are contacted by a dotted line, creating a linear connection between the figures.

Photo Source: http://www.intbau.org

The Modular

Developed by Le Corbusier, this system combines mathematics and human proportions. Based on the Golden Section, it consists of a grid that has three measures - 113, 70 and 43 cm. Adding all of these up, we get 226. Le Corbusier developed the Red and Blue series based on 113 and 226. He therefore applied the human scale to his architecture.  His use of the Modular can be seen in his building, La Tourette, below. Note the use of square primary solids in the black and white diagram below, dimensionally transformed to rectangles and also their integration, facilitated by the dotted line.

Photo Source: http://www.arcspace.com/architects/corbusier/La_Tourette/letter/

The Ken


A Japanese unit of measure, the Ken was initially used to show the interval between two columns and its size varied. However, it was then used for residential architecture and became and absolute measure. It was also used for ordering structure, materials and space in architecture. There were two methods: the Inaka-ma method (room based on center spacing of columns and six floor mats that had slight variations to allow for the columns) and the Kyo-ma method (the floor mat size was the same, but the columns spacing varied with the room size). The image below shows an example of a floor plan exhibiting the Ken method. Note in the black and white diagram the strong use of the rectangle and emphasis on the floor mats.

Photo Source: www.hbp.usm.my/1b/100/HumanDIMENSIONS(1)


Anthropomorphic

Using the size and proportions of the human body, Anthropometry seeks functional ratios. It affects the distances between chairs and tables - in terms of the human reach - and even gets down to the details of walking down stairs or distance between people in interactions. Ergonomics is a development from this field. The image below shows two seating areas where anthropometry would have been considered when placing the distance between the tables and the sofa/chairs. The black and white diagram below emphasizes these distances more clearly.

Photo Source: http://luxury-furniture-design.com/category/modern-furniture/page/5/

Scale 

Scale refers to how the size of something is perceived in comparison with something else. There is visual scale and human scale. The image below shows an interior room with a wall panel. The blurred image of a human going up the stairs gives the viewer an idea of the size of the panel. This is emphasized in the black and white diagram with the slant of the stairs included.

Photo Source: http://www.atlantahomesmag.com/article/stylish-simplicity

FS&O: Design Concepts Part 2: Form

Primary Solids

A primary solid is a primary shape (such as a square, circle or triangle) that is expanded to create a volume that is easy to recognize. For example, a square becomes a cube and a circle becomes a sphere or cylinder and a triangle becomes a cone or pyramid. In the example below, Le Corbusier has transformed a square into a cube in the structure of his design for his famed Villa Savoye in France. In the final diagram, note how prominent the cube shape is in his design. It was used to determine the shape of the house itself.

Photo Source: http://www.minimalismic.com/blog/2010/10/le-corbusier/

Dimensional Transformation

Dimensional transformation occurs when a form is changed dimensionally. For example, a cube might be stretched into a rectangular shape. In the example below, a side table and couch parts were stretched from their original cube shape. This shape is repeated throughout the room and diagrammed in the final black and white below.

Photo Source: http://www.trendir.com

Subtractive Forms

A subtractive form occurs when a form is changed dimensionally by taking away a portion of it. If the edges, corners and overall profile remains, then the shape is easily recognizable, such as in the image below of a table, where its original shape would have been a cylinder/sphere. Parts were then cut out to create the resulting form.

Photo Source: http://www.lessardgroup.com/web/page/609/sectionid/557/pagelevel/2/interior.html

Additive Forms

An additive form occurs when a form is stuck on to its volume. There are several relationships that can occur, such as: centralized form, linear form, radial form, clustered form and grid form. The image below is a bird's eye view of Eastern State Penitentiary, known for its radial form. It has a central position with radiating arms that can clearly be seen in the black and white diagram below.

Photo Source: http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/ghosts/easternstate.php

Formal Collision of Geometry

Formal Collision of Geometry occurs when two forms of different geometry collide, challenging each other for dominance. The example below shows a collision of geometry between a circle and a square. Combined they form the beautiful arc on the fireplace, creating a new form. This interaction between the square and circle can also be seen in the black and white diagram below.

Photo Source: http://www.painting-powerwashing.com/