Comparative Analysis of Plans
in Quondam's Collection
A set of plan drawings representing a same scale comparison of the many varied buildings in Quondam's Collection.
Comparative Analysis of Domestic Plans
A set of plan drawings representing a same scale comparison between Palladio's Villa Rotunda and the many other domestic buildings in Quondam's Collection.
Comparative Analysis of Domestic Elevations
A set of elevation drawings representing a same scale comparison between Palladio's Villa Rotunda and the many other domestic buildings in Quondam's Collection.
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1.7.98
more on the Comparative Analysis of Plans
Putting together the plan comparisons generated some ideas I never had before, for example, comparing Kahn's Hurva Synagogue and Le Corbusier's l'Eglise St. Pierre as religious architecture similar in size, and also comparing Kahn's Domincan Convent with Schinkel's Altes Museum, likewise for their closeness in size.
The Hurva Synagogue-L'Eglise St. Pierre comparison is primarily about similar scales in plan, but very different scales in elevation. As religious buildings, moreover, their comparison may provide further information about how each building potentially fulfills their respective religious programs. Additionally, each building could be compared to the Pantheon.
The Domincan Convent-Altes Museum comparison allows the creation of a new composite building--something potentially very original.
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1.17.96
A number of ideas concerning scale in architecture have lately come together:
a. the relation of english and metric scales, and what 1/8 or 1/16 scale etc. actually means
b. the "gigantism" of Piranesi
c. the colossal in today's built environment
d. the history of the world's tallest buildings
e. the purposefully reduced scale of Disneyland
f. Durand and a political history of architecture scale
g. contemporary plan comparisons
h. brief history of how scale has been treated within architectural theory thus far
i. 3-D superimposition of Giza pyramids and center city Philadelphia
j. Venturi's house for Absecon
1.18.96
Durand's Recueil et Parallele des Edifices de tout Genre - Anciens et Moderns contains a number of comparative scales within its introduction, and Aronson's reprint of Nolli's Map of Rome contains a table of scale conversions. Both these resources suggest collecting as much information concerning scales and systems of measurements as possible, and thus producing a concise reference set.
There is also the relationship of body parts to measurement systems. This information also be gathered, along with information regarding classical ratios and anthropomorphic design since the architectural literature that addresses scale groups scale and proportion together.
1.18.96
There are three short chapters on scale and proportion in Harbeson's Architectural Composition, and the third of the three chapters contains a discourse on the ratio and slope of various famous staircases, both interior and exterior. Perhaps I will generate 3-D models of each staircase, place the models next to each other, and then view them from different angles.
1.18.96
I have to mention CAD's role in the study of scale in architecture. CAD allows the easy comparison between different buildings because the "drawing plane" in CAD is "actual size" and is, in turn a virtually unlimited drawing plane.
2.16.96
The study of domestic scale will incorporate a comparative series of plans, as well as a comparative series of elevations. Palladio's Villa Rotunda will act as the prototypical house plan against which all the other house plans will be compared.
Other issues to address are:
a. the extra and/or separate roof element that adds scale to the house -- Plecnik's Houses under a Common Roof, Le Corbusier's Heidi Weber Pavilion, Krier's housing at La Villette.
b. the raised box -- Savoye, Wagner, Bye.
c. central space/radiating plan, big central space -- Palladio's Villa Rotunda, Kahn's Goldenberg House, Guirgola's Retreat House, Venturi's Absecon House.
d. scale play on the house elevations -- analysis of Venturi's Absecon House
e. domestic architecture from Piranesi's Campo Marzio?
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