The Essay On Human Geometry's Role In Historic Building Designs Is Significant.

Discuss the changing importance of anthropomorphism in three examples of architecture or landscapes.

This task is aimed to develop your understanding of the inherent geometrical proportions of the human body and how architects and landscapers throughout history have used these proportions in their designs. Take three examples from the lecture case-studies to examine and discuss through drawing and written explanation how human geometry has informed its plan and spatiality.

You are required to examine systems of proportion used throughout history showing how particular systems have influenced the spatiality of historic buildings and/or landscapes.

The Pantheon and its Role in Architecture

The Pantheon, Rome 126CE

The Pantheon has remained to be largely preserved monument in the ancient Roman Empire. It was originally built by Agrippa in the year 27 BC during the reign of Augustus rule. The building is has a circular dome shape, (Hetland 2007). The Pantheon is composed of rectangular portico which has three lines of granites which form a circular design forming a hemispherical dome. It has a cylinder having 43.3 meters. The ideal hemisphere touches on the lower central points of the floor as shown below in figure 1.

The hemisphere has a circular opening of 8.3 m wide at the top. The huge mass of the building gives a strange outlook and impression of coldness and darkness.

The original setting of the building ought to have had a coffered ceiling, with bronze grille and great bronze which have survived the test of time. The inner side contains entrance door and niches and column recesses which have alternating options.

Influence of the systems on spatiality of history buildings

The Pantheon has played a critical role in influencing architecture since the time of renaissance, (McDonald, 1976), with this critical role in history, the building has deep connections to past wonders such as the Giza pyramids. The reason for building the Pantheon remains largely unknown and its usage, however, it has had significant contributions to solving the daily problems and solving connected symbolisms in projects.  The fundamental aspects of the Pantheon design aimed at solarisation process of the emperor and the foundation divine of power, (Hannah 2009).

The influence of the best preserved ancient Roman monument building has influenced tremendously on the western architecture, starting with the examples of Santa Maria Fiore which was completed in 1436. Other notable versions include Santa Mara of Assunta in Ariccia, Belle Isle House in England, Thomas Jefferson Library at the University of Virginia and other notable replicas include Rotunda of  Mosta found in Malta. The style of the Pantheon has been detected in many buildings found in 19^th and 20^th centuries. Various government buildings and public gatherings have all echoed the portico and the dome structure, (Joost-gaugier, 1998).

The anthropomorphism and the dimension of designing the Pantheon have recognized the use of the platonic idea. The human body as shown in the diagram below has shown significant construction. The application of human geometrics has shown to have human embodiment and its application in building geometrics which signifies the human geometrical proportions.

Influence of Historic Buildings on Architecture

The human body has a central point referred to as navel, which indicates that if a man lies flat on the back, the navel can be drawn, while a circle touches on the feet and the fingers when stretched, (Sperling, 2004). Further there is a linked generation of a square in its dimension. The human geometry informed the designed of the Pantheon into its shape with significance on the application of human geometry anthropomorphism. The figure below illustrates the dimensions at hand.

The construction of the Pantheon followed a geometrical dimension analysis and construction procedure which follows the aspects of human geometry. The figure below shows the different dimension of how the Pantheon followed in the creation of the navel central place for the location and the construction of the building.

The domes shaped followed the above drawing displaying the typical nature application of human geometry. The figure below shows the different dimensions of the designer of the structure with the dome-shaped in sight.

Hence for this dimensions of the Pantheon have showcased the relevance of human geometry and the importance of human anthropomorphism on the human architecture. The use of human geometry as seen from above and the construction of the Pantheon followed this narrative.

The baroque building design began in the late 16^th century during the reign of Roman Empire and the renaissance of the architecture. This exemplified the triumph of the Catholic Church. This translated into designing of baroque architecture having gigantic proportions, with a large space where there is the large overview of the central space with a viewing of the altar.

St Peters church has an architecture designed due to its nature in the Renaissance style it has. It has spaces showcasing oval designs which have giant orders of columns which stretches across the ends. It has steps which stretch on the end standing at 5.55 m. The basilica has a cruciform shape which has an elongated err in Latin cross, (Bonechi, 2000).  The navel leads to a central shaped dome which has piers supporting the barrel vault, which is the highest point in the building. The figure below shows the overview design;

The entrance allowing entry into Saint Peters is the St Peters Square, which stands at 376 feet long and 150 feet high. The basilica is one of the major Rome Basilica, it’s a dome-shaped and stands as the tallest dome in the world.

Use of Human Geometry in Historic Buildings

The structure displays the use of 3d spatial applications which offers perfect geometry, St Peters square has shown geometric differences on the eclipse and ovate shapes as observed in the physical space. The architectural culture adopted shows how curved shapes used in buildings, can be utilized in construction elements of urban spaces, (Driggers, 2006).

The shape of St Peters square displays an eclipse and ovate shapes transcribed in the same rectangle. The figure below shows the correlation of eclipse formation and the building itself;

The image shows perfect display of human geometry underplay with the eclipse formation and the welcoming arms of the connotation of the human body.

St Peters square display the similarity of the ancient Roman architect and the human body symmetry. The nature designs of the architecture show how the human functions and its proportionality in the human body. The dome-shaped figure of the baroque square is a clear illustration of a human body and the architectural design. The figure below shows the appearance of this design with the human anthropometric analysis

The human geometry and the St Peters square, as shown above, shows a similarity of the geometrical influence on the human anthropometry which influenced its design. The design of the church utilized central plan having the cross with equal terms. This central plan has an equidistant. The influence of the church is based on the classical architecture which influences d the Roman architecture. The circle symbolizes the perfection and eternal nature of God. The antiquity and the reissuance of the whole universe were based on the concentric forms moving in a circular path.

The glass house is a historic house which houses a museum built in 1979 by Philip Johnson. It is termed as modern and important influential project used in modern architecture. The building has an essay having minimal structure, geometry and transparency effects.

The structure displays a stunning structure of glass with meticulous proportions. The absence of interior walls and the ability to look in and out showed the perfect mix of architecture. The structural collections of the building are rectangular and circular formations which are fitted with brick fireplace which faces glass house. The brick has a rectangular face with concrete circular sculpture.

The figure below shows the architectural design of the Glass

The glass house shows perfectly the art of human geometry and anthropometric at work. The rectangular formation of the building structure and human geometry indicate a similarity index. With the focus being on the rectangular formation of the glass house, (Hunt et al, 1980).

The geometry of this building shows the incorporation by the designer to involve the use of our bodies in mathematical reasoning which gives a better understanding of the geometry and developing spatial sense, (National Park Service, 2007).

The figure below shows the interactive view of the glass house and human geometry in assessing its influence

The illustration above shows borrowed concepts on the application of human geometry in the development of the glass house. The rectangular shape in the glass house depicts the human geometry as drawn from the human body.

Conclusion

The three structural designs of the various historic times show the importance of anthropomorphism attribution of human traits in structural designs. The designs have shown to incorporate human geometry which informs its designs and the models involved. The buildings of the Pantheon, Glasshouse and St Peters Square have exemplified the use of human geometry and its relevance is observed inherently. As stated by Polovan, the use of geometry in architecture has a pragmatic view than a philosophical point of view, (Padovan, 1999). The essence of geometry in designs is thus critical and illustrates how human beings have influence and continues to influence future architectural designs in the postmodern world arena.  

References

Bonechi, Casa E. The Golden Book of Rome and the Vatican. Trans. Erika Pauli. Italy: Centro Stampa Editoriale Bonechi, 2000.

Driggers, Jenne. "Piazza San Pietro: the Rhyme and Reason Behind Great Art." 2006. Art History Presentation Archive. June-July 2008.

Hannah, R. (1998). Games for Mars and the temples of Mars Ultor. Klio, 80(2), 422-433.

Hetland, L. M. 2007. “Dating the Pantheon.” Journal of Roman Archaeology20: 95-112.

Hunt, William Dudley, Jr., editor, "Johnson, Philip Cortelyou" article, p 302, Encyclopedia of American Architecture (1980), New York: McGraw Hill, ISBN 0-07-031299-0

Joost-Gaugier, C. L. (1998). The iconography of sacred space: A suggested reading of the meaning of the Roman pantheon. Artibus et Historiae, 21-42.

Joost-Gaugier, C. L. (1998). The iconography of sacred space: A suggested reading of the meaning of the Roman pantheon. Artibus et Historiae, 21-42.

MacDonald, W. L. (2002). The Pantheon: design, meaning, and progeny. Harvard University Press.

National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.

Richard Padovan , (1990). Proportion: Science, Philosophy, Architecture (London: E & F N Spon (USA and Canada: Routled