Circles, groups, stacks, and people

In History and theory of design on Friday we took a mini field trip around UNC Greensboro campus.  The point is that we were trying to notice all of the reoccurring patterns or designs that architects have borrowed from nature for..well..forever.  Therse natural inspirations are circles, trees, stacks, and people.

Circles:  Often circles are seen in design.  For example, Stonehenge and Avebury and many other sacred spots all over the world are based on circles.  

Circle pattern on the floor

Above is a picture of a large circular pattern that our group found on the floor of a large entry way.  The circle is underneath an ever larger structural circle.  This entry way is perhaps the most crowded part of the building, and the most beautiful.  All students and teachers walk through this circle, therefore I believe that the rituals influenced the environment.  (Since people continually walk through this area, a circular pattern is appropriate)

circular structure above the floor pattern

Groups:  Groups in nature are often trees, or anything bundles together.  In architecture they are often seen as columns.  Some early examples are Knossos, Hatshepsut, and Khonsu.

Walkway from a building

The above picture shows both groups as well as REPETITION.  We have learned that repetition leades to contrast/emphasis, unity/harmony, and balance/proportion.  This picture is also an example of rituals influencing the environment.

Repetition and Groups in the columns

Stacks:  Stacks are materials on top of other materials creating layers.  This has been borrowed from nature from the very beginning, seen at giza, shang dynasty palces, and pyramids.

Stacks, as well as groups

Parking deck

The above picture is one that I thought was a great example of stacks.  Each floor is almost exactly the same as the one below it and all floors serve the same purpose (to park cars) and the floors are simply placed on top of the one below it.

Stacks

School bench

The simple stack above is a bench but it is a classic example of stacks.  It is called a "post and beam" and has been used for a long time.

People:  People are another part of nature that is used in design.  However, today, it is much harder to spot.  In fact, we learned that in order to find it you have to be pretty creative about the way you view it.  Some early examples are the sphinx and the San lorenzo monolith.  Designs can also just be based on certain body parts.

Columns

Our group decided that columns are without a doubt part of people.  This is because from the beginning when columns were first beginning to be utilized, they were designed accordingly to a women and a mans body.  For example, doric columns are based off a man and are larger and simple and sturdy.

half circle, hugging a building

The above picture is a more abstract way of thinking of people in structures.  It is a half circle that is on the outside of the circular structure from the beginning of the post.  Our group decided that it was similar to arms hugging the building.  

Through this exercise I have learned to notice my surroundings.  Our T.A re-quoted something some one had previously told her, and that is that "architecture is an art we are forced to notice", or something like that!  Either way, it was a time that we were really just focused on architecture and design, and I feel like I've been blind to it for so many years!!

Although circles, groups, stacks, and people are definitely a different approach on looking at design, I definitely have noticed how often they really do occur.

Simple sketches of sites we located