From classical to modern architecture, the art of creating spaces for human is still one of the first and most
important consideration in designing a building. Architects define and enclose space, creating bounded areas
for human inhabitation, each with a particular geometry, proportion and organization. Proportion is a central
principle of architectural theory and an important connection between mathematics and art, it is the visual effect of the relationships of the various objects and spaces that make up a structure to one another and to the whole, while organizational space describes the influence of the spatial environment on the health, the mind, and the
behavior of humans in and around organizations. Although architecture gone through a lot of transformation, but the spatial proportion and organization are still in the major conversation for centuries, showing how vital of both
the relationship contribute to the history of architecture.
LECTURE 09
ARTICLE READING
What is the role of proportion & organization in architecture today? Are proportion & organization necessary for human habitation & functioning are they compositional strategies of drawing and design, some combination of these; or something else?
Proportion and organization plays an important order of architecture for usefulness, strength and beauty. The
proportions and organization of a space can dramatically change how the users feel and the proportions of a
facade design can affect whether a building appears welcoming threatening, or impressive. A good architecture should employ appropriate proportions and organizations for its functions and its particular users, and should fulfill
structural requirements and provide aesthetically pleasing order.
The use of proportion and organization changes differently to fit in different generations. The images that
appeared in our mind when we heard of symmetrical proportion are mostly classical buildings or government
buildings designed with classical architectural style; on the other side, there are more modern buildings we can
relate to when we talk about asymmetrical proportion. I think this is the most significant examples that we can
obviously witness the difference of how proportion and organization architecture has changed gradually and still
remain essential until now.
Da Chang Muslim Cultural Center by He Jingtang is a combination of classical and modern symmetry. The
national palace is thus endowed with multiple functions, serving not only as the recreation center of the city, but
the essential cultural site for the introduction of local religion and history as well. Based on traditional mosque, the building subtly interprets the spatial structure of mosque with new materials and technologies. The plan and facade was design proportionally forming a harmony symmetry. Also the plan was organized with semi-spaces sided to the angle so that the circulation from the entrance can direct to the main space which is positioned in the center.
School of Design and Institute of Urban Studies designed by Sebastián Irarrázaval is organized around two patios
with different spatial qualities, that create new intimate spaces in the campus. With regard to the organization of
spaces, the program of both the School of Design and the Urban and Territorial Studies Institute are distributed
along two patios of quite different proportions. One is proposed extremely narrow and the other; extremely wide. Relating to the creation of an order, it is important to highlight the strong composition of axes that rest in a parallel grid and on the other, in a persistent repetition of elements and rhythms. This elemental way of doing architecture
is resembled in the new building through the composition of the plan and the facades where all opening have
same size.
