Apollonian Design Process - Western Historical Tradition

Research Sketchbook - Front Cover

Historical Approach to Design

The intent of this book is to apply research from Vitruvius' Ten Books on Architecture recorded in an accompanying sketchbook. The sketchbook contains selected notes from the version translated by Ingrid D. Rowland published by Cambridge University Press 1999, and tracings of illustrations and commentary by Thomas Noble Howe. The design approach sees the Ten Books on Architecture as a benchmark, from which work can be critically observed and further developed by a formative process. This book will begin with generalized technical information that can be referred to later. The next stage is to analyze four previous design projects in the order they were completed, and at each stage, provide recommendations for further development. The next stage develops an entirely new design project with a historical basis in mind. This process will show that Vitruvian classicism is intuitive, and provides an important basis for design in Halifax. My design approach is guided by a scientific method, in the tradition of unified thinking. Historical information will be selected within modern precepts. In essence, classical architectural theory, combined and interpreted through the lens of the modern scientific method will produce Modernism. Thus, the following work is Modernist.

Chapter 2

Previous Work

The following is an account of work prior to research conducted on Vitruvius. By referring to The Ten Books on Architecture, one can see that certain responses to the site are intuitive. With a new understanding of classical principles, each project will be developed further according to one or two elements. The choice not to build on a site is also a design solution, while developing each studio further allows one to reframe initial stages. The primary objective of this project is to understand site analysis through the lens of modern architecture, where every revision uncovers new potentials.

The Halifax Memorial Library is currently proportioned to the size of the site. Adequate distance from St. David Church and an off-axis front facade preserves a separation between sacred and profane public spaces, and maintains their autonomy and prominence, one as a war memorial and the other a denominational place of worship. The elongated facade with its many windows, received most of its sun from the east, demonstrated by Vitruvius for the placement of library rooms. Other exposures are minimized from the west due to the plan and exterior trees. As a neoclassical building, the orders of architecture are clear in its design, symmetry, modularity and proportion. The entrance is centrally located and detailed. The library was modeled after a temple, while the ornamentation of the facade resemble a row of books.

Chapter 3

The Market

In order to relate research to formative design, one must be selective in application. The instructions of Vitruvius are not entirely unified, so the designer must select from various principles for consistency. The Market is therefore seen as a cross-section of Vitruvian classicism. The Ten Books on Architecture describes that the site may require "good judgement" to accommodate new or adapted designs, giving flexibility for a variety of solutions. Previous projects will inevitably be considered as a set of recurring themes, refined and unified under modern scientific motivations. The process begins with an esquisse as an intuitive exploration and will be resolved based on observation.

Conclusions

"Vitruvian Classicism", investigated with a scientific method, has produced a wealth of modern architectural form spanning from the beginning 16th and 17th centuries to present. Architects have had diverse interpretations of The Ten Books on Architecture, by combining or augmenting theoretical approaches, resulting in a transformation of classical knowledge to produce a wide and varying scope of modern architectures.

Modern science observes the interconnectedness of nature and has produced many interpretations of classical theories that have relied less on a complete integration of its principles. As a result, Modern scientific reasoning may require a broadening of its philosophy either to further unify its understanding of natural phenomena or to develop new theories. Further insights can question what are the next stages of modernism?

Throughout the history of architecture, architects have more often adopted rather than developed philosophical approaches. In the case of Vitruvius, he was influenced by classical philosophers in the same way that modern architects are influenced by modern theory. Philosophy may precede architecture, but their mutual development may also coincide.

In physics, the bridge between the classical and modern occurred in the late 19th century. In mathematics, it is roughly around the same time that a modern approach to mathematics was adopted. Architecture has also seen a change between the classical and modern with similar origins in the 16th and 17th centuries. Along with other academic and professional fields, including but not limited to globalization, this transition was shown to be cross-disciplinary.

The most remarkable character of modern science has been its wide-ranging influence. Modern philosophy is still developing a complete understanding, such as areas of cosmology and the theory of origins. Philosophical modernism may still be developing a new or more broad set of principles. Architecture, among other fields will grow in accordance with these new principles. Apparent dichotomies in fundamental physics are one example, where quantum theory and relativity require an integration of "scale" in an attempt to provide a unified theory.

Scale itself has also challenged modern architects and planners in relating the scale of the city to the scale of the building and individual. Modernism may be resolvable, but otherwise it is interesting to postulate new approaches. The current drive for universality and interconnectedness in modern thought is a powerful influence on our culture, where the challenge to unify scale, may require a new set of natural principles.