“The Gothic church…stood for the Heavenly City of Jerusalem…and was a monument that seems to dwarf the man who enters it, for space, light, structure and the plastic effects of masonry are organized to produce a visionary scale.”(Roth 301) An impression is something that is long lasting and something that will be remembered. In the middle ages Gothic architecture was formed. People of this time were focused on making the Gothic cathedrals very large in scale with a great amount of detail. They wanted to make an impression on the city and any visitors who came.. The cathedrals succeeded and were the epicenter of the city they were in. Everything was focused on the church and it marveled visitors.
Porch, court, hearth
The porch, court and hearth were created in ancient Greece. The porch is the part of the trio that leads you towards the main building. The court is used for socializing. People gather here for different reason but in Greece the courts were mostly used for political speeches and religious gatherings. The hearth however was strictly for the main person of the house this usually meant their sleeping quarters. An example of the porch, court and hearth is Athena’s home the Parthenon on the Acropolis. Most buildings in Greece and buildings since have the three. “A residence in Priene…illustrates how elements of…[a] plan were adapted to later functional needs. Here the porch opened from a court and provided access directly into the hall, the large room immediately behind it [, the hearth.]”(Blakemore 31) This is a home that is centered around the porch, court and hearth making them the most important aspects of the home. While thinking about the porch, court and hearth I noticed that almost all architecture includes these aspects into the design.
Detail
We worked with detail in Suzanne’s class in our drawings. We were asked to revisit our building and pick out a detail that we thought would translate the building. I chose to draw a light fixture in the stairwell of the Ferguson building. In class the teacher’s assistant said that it was obvious what building I had from the detail that I chose. This shows that details are very important in drawing and design because sometimes it’s the little details that help convey the idea. Details have shown to be very important in Stoel’s drafting class. When drafting the details are important in conveying ideas to a client. In architecture details sometimes “make” the building. Gothic cathedrals included much detail into their walls inside and out making them something magnificent. “The most commanding ceiling of the medieval period was that of the hall which extended two stories in height and featured the structural detail of open beams supporting the pitched roof.”(Blakemore 81) This quote exhibits the idea that detail is found throughout these cathedrals and they make a difference in the way you perceive them.
Composition
Composition is the way something is put together. In history the way the buildings were composed was very important to the way people moved throughout the space and how functional it was. "Hagia Sophia was a stupendous achievement-perilously balanced masses and shells of brickwork laced with stone reinforcement, lifted into the air."(Roth 290) The architects who built Hagia Sophia diligently composed a building that attracts the eye of anyone passing by. In drawing the way you compose what you draw on a page has an effect on how successful the drawing is. By balancing the drawing and filling voids you will create a composition that accentuates what you have drawn.
Diagram
A diagram is a picture that conveys an idea without words. For Suzanne’s class we have been given an assignment where we are required to draw a diagram of our building. Christy and I worked on the circulation diagram and we were required to watch the flow of traffic. We had to see where people congregated and where there was no one. We then put all this onto a piece of paper and made it so that people could understand it without having to ask. "...Constantine ordered that there be built in Jerusalem 'a basilica more beautiful than any on earth.' The architect Zenobius...work[ed] from general plans possibly sent from Constantine."(Roth 284) Even in ancient history plans were used to communicate what needed to be done for a piece of architecture. These plans could be read and understood by the architect and a masterpiece would be built.
Summary
This week was about ways to better your work so that it leaves an impression on others. When creating any piece of work whether it be drawing, drafting or designing you need to have the ability to convey your ideas to the viewer. The diagram is an excellent way to show your ideas in an understandable yet fun way. When expressing your ideas on paper you need to make sure your work is well composed. This makes for a positive reaction and a sense of professionalism. By adding detail to your drawings or a design you can enhance your work. It makes it more interesting and will show that you are interested in doing all you can to improve something. In Greece the buildings all utilized a porch, court and hearth this is an example of enhancing the building so that it leaves a lasting impression upon the people.
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