Below are two examples of athroisis. The first is a building designed by Antonini Darmon called Arches Boulogne. The images are available here at archdaily. I found the following quote very instructive with regards to Fractal Design: The width of these balconies varies according to their orientation; they are narrower to the north thus maximizing illumination. However to the South, East and West the arches provide shade against natural overheating in summer. Athroisis is an effect. The causes are multiple, just as in nature. In this case, while the intent was to vary the lighting, the result is still a clustering of…
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Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings are considered masterpieces of modern art. This method drips and flicks paint onto a surface laid out on the floor. Pollock employed this technique to produce rhythmic, energetic paintings. Initially his works received mixed reviews by critics, such as the quote from art critic Emily Genauer the paintings ‘resemble nothing so much as a mop of tangled hair I have an irresistible urge to comb out.’ But as the years went by, these paintings were accepted as works of genius. The patterns created are not simple splashes of paint thrown onto a surface, but a deliberate display of…
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A friend visited Seattle and we stopped by the new Starbucks Roastery and Tasting Room. It is a combination of cafe, roastery and restaurant, along with a souvenir shop. It is dedicated to roasting reserve coffees. While sitting at a table, I glanced up above the bar and noticed a series of wooden beams that were joined together in an odd arrangement. They were clustered in different amounts. This is an application of athroisis. Just as a group of trees will gather in varying amounts, the designer decided to do the same with this ceiling. Note the three dimensional application. The…
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We humans are linear. We love our straight lines and do our best to find them wherever we look. We like straight roads, straight pillars, tall buildings and straight edges on paper. We try to find straight lines in our scientific endeavors. Sometimes it works, and sometimes the match is way out of line—that pun was unintentional, but I’ll keep it since it works. The stunning rhythms in architecture that consist of straight lines and sharp angles are a joy to view. The colonnade of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Parthenon, a structure by Mies van der Rohe and thousands of…
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One of Nature’s gifts is that it relaxes our senses and promotes healing. There is a peace and calm that overtakes us when we experience a natural setting. In contrast, an environment that continuously demands concentration and focus is not healthy; the mind and body will suffer over time. Why does Nature have such a calming effect? There are most likely dozens of reasons; fresh air, the sounds of birds and a susurrus wind all come to mind. I think the way Nature arranges herself can also play a role, and that role can be used in design. Regularity In…