Rotation was important this week as we learned about Architecture Parlent, which is “speaking architecture”. This was an expressive and bold form of architecture that was rotated into the design repertoire of many French Architects. Etienne-Louis Boullee is one such architect known for his “boldly scaled and austere architecture whose symbolic forms would evoke a sense of function.” (Roth 408).
M O V E M E N T
In studio this week, we built our natural light fixtures. For my project, I turned the focus on moving the light. For my natural light fixture I built a “water box”. Because my natural element was water, I wanted to portray fluidity and translucency through my project. I created a boxed frame, which housed hot glue sticks in the center. Also, I dripped liquid hot glue onto the outside of the box to create the look of water droplets on the surface. My fixture was successful in conveying my natural element; it also bent and distorted the light successfully. The only thing I would change about the project is the frame, which wasn’t as thoughtfully integrated.
We learned about movement in Design history class by studying Bernini’s Piazza of St. Peter’s in Rome. “Inside, one discovers that the line of movement is along the short axis of an oval plan,” (Roth 367). This was important to learn because it allowed me to see that movement is important in all design; not just designs that focus on it.
R E F L E C T I O N
In our drawing class this week, we have been working on one-point perspectives of a room we designed. In my opinion, this was the most fun project we have had all year! I was excited about finally getting to design an interior. I especially liked this project because all of the rooms were different. It was a reflection of each of our personalities, which showed each person’s creativity and design abilities.
Reflecting back on the French Architecture partlent, we find that “Architecture was intended to communicate its purpose directly to the observer,” (Roth 448). I see this as the architecture reflecting the creator’s intent and emotion through the design of the space.
S O U R C E
For the drawing project, we had to place furniture in our rooms. This was interesting for me because I had the opportunity to research and use others’ furniture in the room I designed. I visited several different websites, searching for sources of furniture designs I liked. Although I changed the forms of some of the pieces, these sources were important for finding shape, dimension, and precedent.
We are not the first to use a source or precedent to create our own designs. “[…] in the early neoclassical period of Louis XVI, designers consciously, freely adapted and interpreted designs based on antique sources of influence” (Blakemore 337).
Drawings of furniture I used as sources to design my space.
I L L U M I N A T I O N S
This week I learned about illumination in a whole another way with our studio project based on natural light. I learned that there doesn’t need to be a light directly on an object for it to illuminate an area. Design can be simply illuminating.
“Baroque architects derived special satisfaction from the molding of sequences of interior spaces, alternately light and then dark, some confining, some expansive.” (Roth 385). Roth is showing us that through all design, perception of light and illumination is important.
Overall, this week has been about different ways of looking at design and the transformations design takes over time. Learning about changes in architecture was very interesting, while using information about the past to create new things was even more fun. I learned very much in history this week about Baroque France, the Enlightenment, and Architecture Parlent. I am excited to see what next week holds.
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