Proportion and Organization
What is the role of proportion and organisation in architecture today? Are proportion and organisation necessary for human habitation and functioning: are they compositional strategies of drawing and design; some combination of these; or something else?
Spatial geometry, proportion, and organization have been central discourse in architecture for centuries, but their hierarchical relationships among them have varied.
Organisation is to determine the separation or connection between similar or dissimilar uses, helps to clarify aspects of use and establishes similarity or contrast between spaces. Based on Le Corbusier, the organization is based on his design on a lifestyle stand point, the creation of the modern house for modern living, function based. It is highlighted in his planning of houses, the idea of circulation within the house.
Proportion is the relationship between parts or things. In particular, harmonious, proper or desirable relationships and the balance of symmetry. According to Le Corbusier, proportion discusses how one feels proportion, not a set of mathematical rules and guidelines. One must be in the space to be able to judge proportion.
In terms of Andrea Palladio’s text, The Four Books of Architecture and Le Corbusier’s The Plan of the Modern House, the main difference is the two architects design style, where Palladio is more symmetrical and Le Corbusier is asymmetrical, which both contribute to how buildings were organised and proportioned. Whereas Colin Rowe, the architectural historian compared the two architects in terms of their proportion and organisation of their works and theories.
To my mind, proportion and organization is necessary for human habitation and functioning in which I think the architecture nowadays is approaching to minimal of space without consideration on the space organization and human proportion, due to constraint of space and cost.
A good example for that is the caged home and cubical apartment in Hong Kong.
Hence, architectural design should be based on human body anthropometry studies. The spatial organization is a reflection to the circulation of the space. The senses and feelings of human in a building should be focused based on the proportion and organization of space.
TUCÁN HOUSE@MEXICO
It was designed by Taller Hector Barroso in 2015, in which it sits on top of a hill of Valle de Bravo, on a rectangular plot with a narrow front and a generous depth. The land has an upward slope of fourteen meters from the entrance to the highest point of the property.
Taking advantage of the topography, the project was developed through a sequence of stepped sections generating pavilions at various levels and maximizing views of the lake. Its extended roof plane with minimun supporting column gives the people a sense of boarderless among the building and the nature.
The concrete pavilions are interrupted by openings: gardens, terraces, balconies and patios; making people looking to extend the interior spaces to the outside, making the division between the two almost imperceptible.
Reminiscence of the cuts to the natural terrain is marked on walls and earth slopes where the architecture is based and rooted with the site. It offers feelings of the interior spaces blending in with the site context.
The house is connected to the context and becomes part of the landscape allowing the contemplation of its surroundings. Wind, natural light, nature and its sounds take command and form an integral part of the house.
This building is able to play well with proportion and organisation by its ability to make itself looks bigger and spacious in a limited area by well-played proportion.
In conclusion, Proportion and Organization play an important role in all three commodity (usefulness), firmness (solidity or strength) and delight (beauty), as it provides guidelines for laying out useful spaces, for designing structural systems, and for creating an aesthetically pleasing environment. The proportions of a space can dramatically change how visitors feel in it, and the proportions of a facade design can affect whether a building appears welcoming threatening, or impressive.
"Proportion provokes sensation."
Le Corbusier
