Features of the Facade and Interior of Well-Known and Little-Known Architectural Structures - Assignment Example

Pic1: p.119 (96 Poelzig, Grosse Schauspielhaus, Berlin, 1919) The Schauspielhaus, theatre and concert hall, displays a performance area and the seating arrangement in the surroundings. The central dome displays a grid of trabeated rings arranged one above the other and having space in between that allow the placement of openings covered with glass. The dome displays great amount of structural audacity. Elements of expressionist architecture can be found in the design on account of its use of the hanging pendentives especially in the column and the repetition of this pattern in its design. These ornamentations, which were uncommon in the developing trend of modernist architecture of that period, derived its strength from its honeycombed structure. I appreciate this specific building on account of its marvellous weaving of ornamentation, function and structure. The use of ornamentation adds elements of interest to the architecture of the theatre. Pic2: p.165 (149 Mies van der Rohe, German Pavillion, World Exhibition, Barcelona, 1929) The picture shows the outside of pavilion. It is simple structure with a flat roof covering the interiors from top, supported by steel columns and panelled with glass and marble that act as side covers to the interiors. The picture shows the simple structure of columns on the right side with the panelled glass fitted in between two columns. The building shows experimentation with the steel frames and glass walls. In the structure, they are placed vertically or horizontally and can be freely positioned to form a flexible plan. In lines with the modernist philosophy, the building displays construction technology that was uncommon during the time it was built. It is devoid of any unnecessary ornamentation and does not follow any identified elements of any traditional architecture. Pic3: p.182 (168 Le Corbusier and Jeanneret, Plan for Zlin, Czechoslovakia, 1935) The plan of Ziln was influenced by the ideas of Corbusier. Corbusier proposed the introduction of modernisation in the plan of the city, in order to meet the requirements of the day. The plan displays the axial long and uninterrupted roads that are designed to take the heavy traffic of the city and help in better commutation in an industrial city. The plan also shows different districts separated from each other that seem to be assigned with specific functions; some for residences and the other with industrial development. Pic4: p247 (234 Mies van der, Seagram Building, New York, 1958) The Seagram building by Mies Van Der Rohe, displays almost all the attributes of modernism and I like the picture of this building for the same reason. The simple forms of the entire volume of building, resembles simplest form of geometry, as advocated by modernism. Devoid of any ornamentation on the outsides and realised with the materials like steel frames and glass panes, the building utilises the modern construction technology and materials. The building is self reliant in terms of its identity and the use of forms that are self referential and do not fall back on any historical styles. In its faade, it displays originality of function with it being devoid of any ornamentation and relying only upon the extruded sections of bronze in combination with the dark tinted glass in order to achieve its aesthetics. Pic5: p.320 (328 Barragan and Goeritz, Satellite City Tower, Mexico City, 1957) Barragan, in collaboration with Goeritz designed five abstract towers in Mexico City. The picture shows a set of five buildings that are self referential and independent in terms of its architectural style and grammar. The abstract towers, with its sharp edge, bear no resemblance with any identified style of architecture. The construction style of the buildings comprises of standardised mass production, a key element of modernism. The facades are devoid of any sort of ornamentation and treatment. I personally like the boldness of the forms that fall back to the basics of geometry for its generation. Pic6: P.325 (336 Ando, Koshino House, Osaka, 1981) The koshino house by Ando shows the use of light inside as an important element in architecture. The elements like walls, columns the floor and the steps, are all simplistic in its design and follow an architectural language of beauty in simplicity. The pictures show that the columns are split into parts to add element of lightness to the structure. This acts in complementary to the use of visible light in architecture. The sensitive use of materials like wood in the ceiling makes it interesting in its looks. The use of vegetation in the interiors makes the space look lively and homely. Pic7: p.117 (95 Taut, Glass Pavilion, Werkbund Exhibition, Cologne, 1914) The plan of the glass pavilion in the Cologne Werkbund Exhibition shows influences of the roman buildings with its circular planform and the arrangement of columns on the outer part of the plan. However, the plan that is devoid of sharp edges also and the structures with a flow in their shaper, (for example the staircase element) show traces of expressionist style in its architecture. The manner in which a play is created with the curved forms, all within a circle, is interesting to study. The plan as a whole forms a good combination of roman style buildings that is combined with the expressionist styled elements. Pic8: p.164 (147 Mies van der Rohe, project for a brick country house, 1923) The plan of the brick country house shows disjoint and discontinuous set of walls that create a flow of spaces that are at no point separated in totality with each other. It derives inspiration with the De Stijl school of paintings. The walls appear to be forming a composition of L and T shaped elements, when viewed in totality. The discontinuous flow of small and large spaces makes an interesting combination of the plan as a whole. The large openings of glass panes, which allow light to the insides of the house, act complementarily to the walls and act as an additional feature to the composition of walls. Read More