Opus 4...Parts : Whole

Archetype, Prototype, Hybrid

An example of this phrase is "the orders." This refers to a series of columns that have been improved upon over time. First it started with the Greeks and resulted with a hybrid column from the Romans.

"The role of the orders was significant in defining spaces of the Greek interior; not only did they divide spaces horizontally but they were also instrumental in creating visual interest by the attention drawn to them vertically through decorative detail in the capitals and in the entablature" (Blakemore pg. 28). The Doric column created in Greece was the archetype when it comes to columns. They added details and made adjustments to the design with the next two columns, the Ionic and Corinthian. Then the Romans made their own changes and created the Tuscan Doric and and Composite column. The middle three are the prototypes while the last one is the hybrid, since it combines different aspects of the design.

We use this system in almost everything we design, whether in a drawing or a model. You have to create a series of sketch models and build off of that to get to your final design. The "Found in Translation" project is a good example of this.

Source

I think that source is very similar to the idea of archetype, prototype and hybrid. When designing something you have to find a source to look back to and learn from it. This is evident in the evolution of the temple structure, first found in Greece. "Perhaps as early as 1050 BCE, the crude form of the temple emerged, a wooden structure with upright columns completely around the central chamber" (Roth pg. 230). This is seen through the series of temples we learned about in History. The Temple of Hera at Paestrum had interior columns in the center of the building. However, 30 years later the Temple of Athena was built without interior columns.

Temple of Hera i

Temple of Athena


Entourage

We first learned of the word entourage in Suzanne's drawing class. The objects you include around a subject is the "entourage." I did this in the following vignette drawn at caribou coffee:


As well as in this thumbnail drawn of the EUC:

I included the tables, chairs, and the bear head on the wall in the first drawing. In the thumbnail, I tried to give a sense of the environment by showing some of the tables, chairs, signs, and lighting. This helps create more ambiance and draws you into the image. This can also be seen in vase paintings from the ancient Greeks. "For example, in a satyr play, a deity reclines on a couch while frolicking satyrs encompass a flute player who sits on a klismos" (Blakemore pg. 39). They tried to include objects surrounding their subject in order to give a feel for the space. This also helps us learn more about the ancient Greeks, such as what their furniture was like.

Hierarchy

Hierarchy is very important in design. It is shown by arranging objects in a certain order that places more importance on a certain one. Even something as simple as a power point presentation needs to show hierarchy. In Drafting, having a difference in line weight shows hierarchy. Darker lines are used for the lines of the object, while lighter weight lines are used for annotations on the side of the drawing. That way you notice the most important information first.

On a larger scale, the organization of the Acropolis is a good example of hierarchy. It begins with the smaller Temple of Athena Nike:


"Its delicate Ionic columns, only four at each end, contrast with the massiveness of the Doric columns of the next element to come into view, the entrance gate to the Akropolis, the Propylaia" (Roth pg. 232). It is much smaller compared to the Parthenon, which implies how much more important that building is.

Order


The human brain perceives order whether it was intended or not. This is based on the gestalt principle that we learned about last semester. Therefore, almost anything is designed with some sense of order, whether a building or space. The Acropolis is an example of a space designed to create order. The buildings are positioned so that you see certain buildings when standing at a specific place. Mainly it was designed to move people during a ceremonial procession. "For those quadrennial occasions, pilgrims and celebrants gathered outside the Dipylon gate on the city's northwest side and formed a procession that moved along the street called Dromos, through the agora, and up onto the Akropolis" (Roth pg. 232). The people would celebrate the Goddess Athena every four years and make their way to the Parthenon. This is a good example of design having a purpose and yet still be delightful.