History of Architecture - Essay Example

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE: COMPARISON THROUGH THEMATIC LENS CASA MILA BY ANTONI GAUDI & WAYFARERS CHAPEL BY LLOYD WRIGHT INTRODUCTION The numerous concepts and ideas that describe specific architectural plans, strategies, and intended outcomes constitute the themes underlying building projects. The function of architecture is to transform timeless archetypes into a new language for the age, and this was Wright’s genius, with a focus on organic architecture. Similarly, Gaudi’s distinguishing trait was “his attention to nature and the importance he attributed to geometric forms” (Crippa 12). Thesis Statement: The three themes: organic architecture, expressionism and futurism are common to both Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Mila (1905-1910) a multi-family housing in Barcelona, Spain and Lloyd Wright’s Wayfarers Chapel (1949-1951) in Palos Verdes, California. The purpose of this research paper is to comparatively examine the common architectural themes of the two buildings constructed in two different countries, and with a chronological gap of over forty years. DISCUSSION ORGANIC ARCHITECTURE Organic theme in architecture refers to different individual parts of the building being related to the integrated whole structure. The part-to-whole association as a basic element of the architecture has been consciously endorsed by Lloyd Wright (Harris 93), as seen in his Wayfarers Chapel. Similarly, Casa Mila (Figure 1.) depicting Art Nouveau architecture is a free-form mass located around a street corner. The organic architecture includes the façade which has a wavy cut-stone wall with a rough surface suggesting naturally worn rock. The undulating balconies appear like a series of oceanic waves. The façade is also considered to look like a cliff-like rock with caves, and the building was named as the “quarry” or Pedrera, which emphasized its natural look. Moreover, “the entrance portals (Figure 2) look like eroded sea caves” (Kleiner 848). Further the wrought iron entrance gates (Figure 2), balcony grills and interior window work (Figures 3a and 3b), besides woodwork and hydraulic mosaics (Gaudi et al 262) are based on organic botanical motifs with highly stylized, flowing forms. Distinctively, the roof top is adorned with twisted chimney stacks and ventilators in unusual biomorphic forms (Figures 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), with a surrealistic effect (Kleiner 848). The interiors are characterized by the curving lines of arches and room spaces with no right angles (Figure 5) From the plaster of the ceilings are created various organic designs such as the foam of waves, petals of flowers, or tentacles of the octopus (Figure 6). Like the Casa Mila, organic architecture is integral to The Wayfarers Chapel or the “Glass Church” (Figure 7) created by Lloyd Wright. However, in this case, the organic architecture is related to its location in a scenic setting in the middle of nature. It is meant for passersby to meditate and spend spiritual moments, and for church services in the natural environment. The chapel is on a broad cliff with a steep face, overlooking the magnificent seascape of the Pacific ocean (Figure 8). It is known locally as the “glass Church”, and is constructed of glass, redwood and stone. The building is surrounded by rare plantsand many trees. Because the walls of the chapel are made of glass, the surrounding greenery appears to be a part of the interior of the building, with no “division between architectural space and the natural space outside” (Kleinbauer 333). Additionally, the laminated wood framework optimizing structural support is shaped in Gothic arches, and are similar to nature’s tree trunks and arching branches. Consequently, Lloyd Wright’s famous architect father Frank Lloyd Wright’s concept of buildings and trees being closely related to man, and the intimate connection between spirituality and nature, are integrated effortlessly and aesthetically. EXPRESSIONIST ARCHITECTURE The essential elements of expressionist architecture: fragmentation, asymmetry, dicontinuity, unusual massing of components, use of natural biomorphic forms, distortion of form as in the chimney stacks (Figure 4b), conceptualization of architecture as a work of art, besides the use of innovative materials are all reflected in the Casa Mila. Antoni Gaudi considered each of his buildings to symbolize a living thing, depicting “passionate naturalism” (Kleiner 848). Unlike traditional architecture, walls at right angles are not used at all. Instead of the building resting on load-bearing walls, it is supported by pillars and arches (Gaudi et al 262). These components are used with steel to create floor plans which are completely irregular. Additionally, there are differences even in the height of the pillars and ceilings. Fixed partition walls are absent, as are straight lines or right angles in the rooms. To ensure the provision of natural light in all the rooms, there are two central courtyards or atriums open at the roof (Figure 9) one circular and the other oval-shaped, both surrounded by apartments on each floor. The subjective approach and the mutual interdependence of components characteristic of expressionism is seen in the Wayfarers Chapel architecture. The free, frenetic form of expressionism evident in the Casa Mila building is present in a different manner in the Wayfarers Chapel, a project constructed of glass walls. The interaction between the chapel interiors with the exterior greenery and garden is a manifestation of the architect Lloyd Wright’s self-expression. Similarly, the building exhibits a lack of inhibiting principles, total freedom for self-expression and the use of representational art as essential elements of expressionism (Bletter 20). The Wayfarers Chapel interprets the use of glass symbolically as a transformation to a changed society. FUTURISTIC ARCHITECTURE Futuristic architecture in the Casa Mila is depicted by the lack of symmetry, irregular shape of the building, dissimilar renderings, differing interior spaces, individually distinctive organic designs of the wrought iron railing for the balconies and entrances, and the various types of biomorphic forms on the roof terrace for ventilation add to the building’s expressionist architecture. Moreover, the rough stone exterior walls, as well as windows and doors which look like cave openings are essentially expressionist in design. On the other hand, the futuristic design of the Wayfarers Chapel is simple with Y-shaped rigid redwood frames (Figure 7), with these roof triangles interspersed alternately with glass and tile panels. The building uses angles of 300 and 600: a symbol of the Trinity (Sharp 184). The glass chapel is futuristic in design, incorporating nature into the interiors, and providing visionary look into the future of buildings with an overview of nature. ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1. Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Mila (1905-1910), Barcelona, Spain. Exterior Façade, Overview (1.www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009) Fig. 2. Exterior, Entry and Balconies of Casa Mila by Antoni Gaudi (2.www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009) The wrought-iron work on the balconies, entrance and interiors of the building Casa Mila is intensively organic with a Gothic inspiration, and biomorphic in theme, drawing upon the curving forms of nature’s foliage and flora. The designs were improvised on the spot, while creating the grill work (Kliczkowski 19). Fig. 3 a. Balcony Details, Casa Mila by Gaudi (3. a. www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009). Fig.3b. Interior Wrought Iron Details, Casa Mila by Gaudi (3.b. www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009) Fig.4.a. Biomorphic Ventilators and Chimney Stacks on Casa Mila Rooftop (4.a.www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009) Fig. 4.b. Biomorphic Ventilators and Chimney Stacks on Casa Mila Rooftop (4.b.www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009) On the rooftop of Casa Mila, the staircase boxes are extravagantly large, and covered with small ceramic pieces. “The helical form of the chimneys emphasize the whirl of the smoke” (Gaudi et al 262). 4c. and 4d. Close-up View of Biomorphic Forms Illustrated Above Fig.4c. (4c.www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009) Fig.4d. (4d.www.GreatBuildings.com, 2009) Fig 5. Irregular Shape of Rooms in the Casa Mila Interiors (Gaudi et al 269) Fig 6. Roof Plaster Shaped into Organic Forms (Gaudi et al 268) Fig.7. Interior of the Wayfarers Chapel Made of Glass (Wayfarers Chapel, 2007) The Y-Shaped redwood frames supporting the walls are seen at the sides of the glass chapel. The visual expanse created by the transparent glass walls, and the inflow of nature into the building are distinctive of this project. Fig. 8. Wayfarers Chapel Gardens and Pacific Ocean View (Wayfarers Chapel, 2007) Fig.9 Casa Mila Atrium (Gaudi et al 265) WORKS CITED Bletter, Rosemarie H. The interpretation of the glass dream: Expressionist architecture and the history of the crystal metaphor. Journal of the Society of the Architectural Historians, 40.1 (1981): pp.20-43. Crippa, Maria A. Antoni Gaudi, 1852-1926: From nature to architecture. The United States of America: Taschen Publications. (2003). Gaudi, Antoni, Cuito, Aurora & Montes, Christina. Obra completa. The United States of America: A. Asppan S.L. Publishers. (2002). Harris, James. Integrated function systems and organic architecture from Wright to Mondrian. Nexus Network Journal, 9.1 (2007): pp.93-102. Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s art through the ages: A global history. Edition 13. Massachusetts: Cengage Learning EMEA. (2008). Kleinbauer, W. Eugene. Modern perspectives in Western art history: An anthology of twentieth-century writings on the visual arts. Canada: University of Toronto Press. (1989). Sharp, Dennis. Twentieth century architecture: A visual history. The United States of America: Images Publishers. (2002). WEBSITES USED FOR THE ILLUSTRATIONS 1.www.GreatBuildings.com. Photo. Exterior façade, overview. Casa Mila. Barcelona Spain. Photo by Howard Davis. (2009). Retrieved on 28th March, 2010 from: http://www.greatbuildings.com/cgi-bin/gbi.cgi/Casa_Mila.html/cid_2341031.html 2.www.GreatBuildings.com. Photo. Exterior, entry and balconies. Casa Mila. Barcelona, Spain. (2009). Photo by Michael- Leonard Creditor. Retrieved on 29th March, 2010 from: http://www.greatbuildings.com/cgi-bin/gbi.cgi/Casa_Mila.html/cid_1171404749_barCasa_Mila_Front_06-31-18.html 3a.and 3b.www.GreatBuildings.com. Photos. Balcony details and Interior wrought iron details.Casa Mila. Photos by Johnson Architectural Images. (2009). Retrieved on 28th March, 2010 from: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Casa_Mila.html 4a., 4b, 4c. and 4d. www.GreatBuildings.com. Photo. Biomorphic ventilators and chimney stacks, rooftoop of Casa Mila. Photos by Bonsirven and Michael-Leonard Creditor. (2009). Retrieved on 28th March, 2010 from: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Casa_Mila.html Wayfarers Chapel. Wayfarers Photo Gallery. Retrieved on 29th March, 2010 from: http://www.wayfarerschapel.org/your-visit/wayfarers-photo-gallery/?album=1&gallery=4 Read More