PROPORTION and ORGANISATION

“Major revolutions in architecture occur rarely in history. They usually come about in response to technological or cultural changes demanding a new symbolic expression.” Quoted by William Curtis.

Revolution is not the factor that affecting the way modern architecture today. Rowe’s anthology of essays contended that the context of modern architecture was not only dependent on the technological advances of the time, but was also reliant on historical lessons and external influences as stimuli for design development. So here come the question, are things beautiful because they give pleasure or give pleasure because they are beautiful?

Undoubtedly, things are beautiful because they give pleasure. The reference to beauty in architecture is merely a reference. The question raise again, what is the key to provide comfort and pleasure? From the three article, it can be concluded that proportion and organisation had play an important role in maximize human comfort and pleasure.

Rowe offers a historical view not a theoretical view, saying that mathematics is a device that explores organisation and proportion rather than a fixed principle. Rowe ideas on the application of proportion and organisation are what define architecture. Proportion is the relationship between parts or things. Every parts on the building must be design based on proportion, a low ceiling height room with a proportionally big door installed will result in unpleasant feeling. Organisation is to determine the separation or connection between similar or dissimilar uses of spaces, spaces with similar function can be combined to allow minimum negative spaces.

The application of proportion and organisation can create particular harmonious, proper or desirable relationships and the balance of symmetry. These had become the requirement of modern architecture to create a pleasure environment rather than a beauty aesthetic view. Most of the building today had been standardize in term of size and façade, what define the value of it is definitely the environment it created.

Le Corbusier mention that one must be in the space to be able to judge the proportion, a building with proper proportion can counteract the ocular deception. The height of a room can be mentally increased by playing with the vertical elements such as door and furniture. An organized space planning will also allow maximum space usage in a building. A standardize form of building have to depends much on organisation to provide pleasure and comfort environment. Andrea Palladio mention to hide the less aesthetic parts such as kitchens and servant, to emphasize the owner living quarters. A feeling is what today architecture seeks for rather than beauty.

The house that I used to show the proper application of proportion and organisation is a small residential house designed by CR2 Arquitetura architects in 2013 called House 7 x 37. The house with an area of 185 sq. m manage to fit in a barbecue grill, a swimming pool, two suites and a big green area. It was a successful compact house that do not even feel like a small and compact house.

This typical long and narrow type of house with an open spaces organisation that allow the garden, together with a small pool connects all the social area of the house at the ground floor. The social area included leisure, kitchen, living and family room. All the spaces is well circulated to others and it have successfully create a large and spacious environment.

For the interior spaces, the kitchen and living room is designed as a multiuse space. A comfortable human habitation is that it do not created a depress environment, a spacious and functional spaces have to be consider first. The multiuse space without any walls with a long bench that contains all the sinks, grill and cabinets from one side to another of the space create a larger space in a small land.

Proportion also play an important role in this building design. A full height glass wall is used as the façade and envelope to improve the space quality, a higher ceiling to floor height can be achieved. There is an entrance walkway located besides the building, a narrow walkway on a limited used of land. However, the used of proportionally large door and transparent glass wall have improve the space quality of that particular walkway. The form of the building also based on proportion, two horizontal elements, roof and first floor slab to indicate two level. Only minimum vertical elements is used to create a high floor to floor height.

The dimensions of the land, 7m x 37m, suggested a rational construction that optimizes the construction site. However, the theory of organisation and proportion have break the limit of the building. The result is a house with approximately 185sm, which appears to be bigger than it is.