Architecture by Elements

The first picture represents Edificio Princesa; residential housing for the military in Madrid. We can notice here that the principle “Accurate distinction of the elements of the building” is used. When looking at the building, you feel that it is combined from only a structure. the structural image is too strong and other elements like balconies are visible as well. It was built for military housing; therefore, I believe it successfully reflects the inhabitant’s characteristics. The building is too rough and heavy on the plot even the surrounding nature mitigates this roughness slightly and that gives the building its structural appearance.

 Moving to the next picture, it shows the Benesse House Museum in Naoshima with the principle “ Space as a totality “.When imagining being inside the exhibition, one has this strong lasting image of the open oval towards the sky. It gives the feeling as if you are in a hole buried in the earth and looking towards the sky. A void space yet a rich interior experience. It is merged with the surrounding nature found on the plot and the context, besides other elements of the design that emphasize the same idea.

The last image shows an old inhabitant; Çatalhöyük in Turkey using “The search for synthesis” principle, The cluster represents an old way of housing that connects small units, wall to wall spaces. The interior experience is so rich, yet the exterior consists of only simple exterior walls. The units are so close, connected tightly and when looking at them you see it as one large unit emphasizing the idea of “the small parts generate the whole unit”. The inhabitants can only access their houses through the roof of these units, and that changes the style of their lives completely.