Lecture: October , 2022
Introduction:
• Buildings have points of similarity, like
walls, doors and roofs but have different
purposes and appearances.
• In any architecture which is worthy of
the name, the exterior of a building
expresses the internal function and so
manifested character is the external
expression of the internal qualities.
• The element of character grows out of
the function of the building and the
consideration of all the creative
principles of composition.
Character in architecture is derived
from three (3) types
1. Functional or use of the building.
2. Association or influence of traditional
types.
3. Personality or the human quality or
emotional appeal.
1. Functional Character
• The most important kind of character in
architecture is that which results from
the purpose of the building or the reason
for its erection.
• The use of a building naturally calls for a
certain disposition of parts, and this
arrangement affects the appearance of
the exterior by which we largely judge
character.
Examples:
a. Museum – must have contain galleries
with ample wall space and top light
which eliminates windows and
necessitates the use of skylights.
Vitra_Design_Museum. en.wikipedia.org
V&A at Dundee, Architect – Museum www.e-architect.co.uk
Guangdong Museum - Rocco Design Architects – China | Simbiosis
Newssimbiosisgroup.net
Hong Kong Space Museum | Hong Kong Tourism Board
b. School building – must contain many
windows to admit the necessary side light and
to offer an interesting contrast with possible
monotony of the classroom walls.
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edy_School_Littauer_Building.jpg
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_Portland_Oregon.jpg
c. Shop – a building with large show windows is
usually a shop for the display and sale of
merchandise. www.telegraph.co.uk
The Shops at Sunset Place, a Simon Mall - South Miami, FLwww.simon.com
Skåne - Shoppingwww.arrivalguides.com
d. Factory – readily seen from the exterior
to express the efficient operation of the
manufacturing within.
• The exterior shows often only the
structural members which are stripped of
all unnecessary decoration together with
the enclosing expanses of the glass to light
the interior.
• The building has little architectural show, it
is simple since it is to raise revenue.
Bangladesh Factory Disasters Are Increasing - Business Insiderwww.businessinsider.com
Ferrari Factory Store | Massimo Iosa Ghini : plusMOODplusmood.com
Ferrari Factory Store | Massimo Iosa Ghini : plusMOODplusmood.com
• Centre National d'Art et Culture Georges Pompidou, Paris 2
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Einstein tower
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e. Monument – serves to perpetuate a
memory of a person or an important
event.
• It does not produce any revenue.
• It must be impressive and should have
dignity and command respect.
• Its function then is to be monumental
usually symmetrical in arrangement and
uses permanent materials like stone,
steel, concrete, or some durable and
heavy materials to produce a feeling of
lasting effect.
Ancient monument - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org
Background Desktop Wallpapers Nature Other Ancient Monument ...wakpaper.com
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monumentwww.roadtripamerica.com
Panoramio - Photo of Monument des Martyrs à Ouaga 2000www.panoramio.com
Useless Trivia and Mindless Rants: LOST IN JERSEY; The 9/11
...uselesstriviaandmindlessrants.blogspot.com
f. Bank – should have dignity, it is a
building designed to house an activity
which is very near to the heart and mind
of the average citizen, that of caring for
his money.
• The building should inspire confidence in
its integrity.
Vectors - Bank Building | GraphicRivergraphicriver.net
Economy of the Palestinian territories -
Wikipedia, the free ...en.wikipedia.org
File:Bank of Cyprus huge offices in Aglandjia suberb area of ...commons.wikimedia.org
File:Bank of Napa, 903 Main St. and 908 Brown St., Napa, CA 9-5
...commons.wikimedia.org
g. Movie, cinema house – a place of
relaxation or recreation after a hectic day
of discharging one’s obligations of the day.
• In this building, psychological use of color
and decoration is important.
• Bright colors and unusual or unique
architectural effects quicken the
imagination and cater to the holiday spirit.
• This building houses an activity of man –
that of relaxation.
Top 10 3D Cinema Houses Around the Worlduptenlist.com
Photo of Raj Mandir Theatre by Photo Stock Source - people, Jaipur
...www.photostocksource.com
h. House – should reflect the informal intimacy
of home life. “An upside-down house is seen in
Trassenheide, Germany”
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Interior: The house was built to enable an alternative
view on everyday life for visitors
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Log Cabin
2. Associated Character
• This comes from influence of ideas and
impressions related to growing out of
the past experiences.
• We know by association and experience
that the various races have different
physical characteristics, and we are thus
able to distinguish between oriental, a
negro, a Caucasian, and an Indian.
• We often associate such feature as color,
eyes, height, nose and others.
• In a similar manner, we have come to
recognize buildings by features which
have long been associated with that
particular building.
• A spire atop a building with stained glass
windows has always told us that the
edifice was a church edifice.
• The use of classical orders often
indicates the presence of a bank, and
collegiate Gothic frequently discloses the
identity of an educational institution.
• However, when a mode of construction
or type of design is found to be
antiquated, it may be discarded, provided
that a worthy successor has been
developed to take its place.
• The ultra modernists would eliminate all
association with the past. They would
allow the function of the building to
control the exterior regardless of the
effect.
• The contemporary movement in
architecture has, however, caused many
revisions in our association ideas.
• It has been necessary to adjust our points of
view to the many influences which are now
changing the character of our modern
buildings.
• New method of construction have grown out
of new material, and it is now possible to use
openings in ways which were not practicable
according to our former conceptions of the
limitations of brick and stone.
• Our attitude toward physical comfort has
been revolutionized.
Dancing House in
Prague by Vlado
Milunic and Frank
Gehry
Dancing House Site Location
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Dancing House
Concept
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Dancing House
Concept
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Dancing House
Concept
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/dancing-house-original-concept.jpg
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MIT's Stata Center, opened March 16, 2004.
• If a building functions properly and is
composed according to the rules of good
design, it then follows that character shall
or rather should be satisfactory.
• A bank for example, need no longer be
heavily and semi fortified.
• Our bank architecture was borrowed
from the temples of Greece.
• The massive walls inspired the depositors
with confidence.
• Changing conditions have brought about
a realization that there is a little relation
between thick stones, barreled windows
and the security of investments and
savings.
• Only conspicuous vault doors remain to
advertise the safety of the deposits.
• Our banks have now become efficient
places in which to work, and they present
cheerful and dignified interiors in which
to transact business.
3. Personal
• Personal character in architecture bears
a certain relation to the same attribute in
the life of an individual.
• It is found out that the element of
personality plays an important part in the
revealing of character both with man and
architecture.
A selection of the interiors shown to participants in a
neuroimaging study designed to assess viewers’ approach-
avoidance motivation in response to curvilinear vs. rectilinear
spaces. [High/Low roof; Open/Enclosed space.] [Figure reprinted
with permission from Vartanian et al., 2013]
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• Members of various races have different
traits – some common to serve groups,
some peculiar to a particular group.
• The plantation negro is often happy and
carefree.
• The oriental is a mystery to the
Caucasian, the Indian is stoical and
taciturn.
• Individuals are gay, or gloomy, sparking or
stupid, graceful or gawking.
• Building have qualities which are directly
related to their functions but in addition,
they may possess characteristics which
have to do rather with emotional reaction.
• Set up in the mind of the observer. Like
members of human race, buildings may be
stern and forbidding, light, and playful.
• Or sedate and dignified with reference to
the impressions which they are capable of
giving.
• Personality in a building has more to do
with the spirit of the building than its
purpose they are abstract rather than
concrete.
• A building may display the quality of
strength. It may be simple or ornate,
picturesque or formal.
• A building in itself may be of good design
but out of place when transplanted to a
setting for which it is not intended.
• A mountainous summer home would
appear unsuitable in highly urbanized city
and a magnificent cathedral would look
ridiculous on a lonely superhighway.
• Character thus also a matter of location.
• Personality of character in a building can
attained by the ingenious application of
masses, lines and color treatment.
• Character maybe expressed in
architecture by the following:
a. Scale… when increased, it gives a
feeling of grandeur, dignity and
monumentality. However, when scale is
reduced, these characteristics are
lessened if not reversed.
b. Proportion… regard to produce
formality in character when applied.
Example like triangular massing. The huge
proportions applied in the parts of the
classical buildings give them the formal
character.
c. Style... Many architects believe that
style is character expressive of definite
conceptions as for example – grandeur,
gaiety or solemnity.
• On account of traditions, certain styles of
architecture were adapted for specific
types of buildings.
• This give the proper good ambience.
City hall, London
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Novelty architecture
• Novelty architecture is a type of
architecture in which buildings and other
structures are given unusual shapes as a
novelty, such as advertising, notoriety as a
landmark, or simple eccentricity of the
owner or architect.
• Many examples of novelty architecture
take the form of buildings that resemble
the products sold inside to attract drive-
by customers.
• Others are attractions all by themselves,
such as giant animals, fruits, and
vegetables, or replicas of famous
buildings.
• And others are merely unusual shapes or
made of unusual building materials.
Dog bark park inn, Idaho
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Redwood house sta cruz California
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Bulldog café, florida
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Mother goose café, Florida
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Ice cream cone building, Sarasota, Florida
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Twistee Treat Melbourne located at 1924 N. Wickham Rd.
Melbourne, FL 32935.
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END!
References:
• Salvan, George S. (1999). Architectural theories
of design. Quezon City: JMC Press.
• Internet
