Five Images

                               

                         

            I have chosen five images from The Architectural Digest, circa 1920’s, which are labeled for you figures A through E. First of all, I would like to point out one major similarity all five of these have that was also discussed intensely in class, and that is they all show signs of a design which includes areas for the common man, and also spaces which are reserved for the important and most trusted guests, either interior or exterior. As you can see with figure A, right off the bat we have a rod iron gate right at the entrance of the property so that the owner may approve of any guests coming in. Moving on to figures B and C, even on the interior we see rod iron gates to section off a certain room. This was probably where the owner would entertain his closest trustees and friends, or maybe no one but himself. Unfortunately for a man of no status, the lonely chair in figure D is where someone like him would sit while his boss, or maybe even master, would finish his visit.

            Furthermore into the overall style of the period, it seems to be a very gothic feel. For instance, figure E appears to me to take inspiration from a gothic manor one would find in Romania. That along with the iron gates, and certainly low ceilings in figures B and C, I begin to get the feel of a medieval gothic fortress. Finally just for good measure, notice the Greek wave above the gate in figure B.

Unit Summary 8

            For this unit summary, I have chosen a certain motif found on many types of furniture throughout history – the claw and ball foot – to help relate these concepts to experience. The claw and ball foot is thought to originate from a Chinese motif of a dragon’s paw clutching a ball of marble. Adopted into Europe by the Dutch around 1700, this motif can now be found in a form native to whichever country it originated; a lions paw in England, and more times than not an eagle’s talon in the United States.

            Furthermore, relating this back to experience, this type of foot is a very good object to convey an experience of naturalistic surroundings. Unlike ancient times when the Chinese may have invented the dragon’s foot motif to honor a God or the dragon itself, today these natural motifs are used to transport you outside. Nonetheless, bringing the outside in will obviously require more than one item. Accompanied by elaborate depictions of forest scenery, and maybe even a taxidermy hanging upon the wall all will tie together to get the full effect of a rural location. Given that the claw and ball foot became very popular in England during the Chippendale and Queen Anne periods, the countryside is where you will find many of these motifs.

Palladio

   

                Andrea de Palladio was born into a time in which traditions and customs of the last hundreds of years were being challenged. With the Reformation starting around 1517, a more or less revamp of the views or the Catholic Church, this gave Palladio fettle grounds to start his own revolution is a sense of architecture. Palladio tended to 'borrow freely' from past eras of design, more specifically ancient Roman and Greek architecture, and brought them to light with a whole new meaning in a time of change for the common man's way of belief. For instance, looking back on Greek architecture, we see the use of massive columns and grand temple-style facades used in only the most important structures around the state - which can be classified into churches and temples for the God's (Pantheon). As Palladio progresses onto the scene, we see this type of grandeur design take place not only in the largest of churches and temples, but also in city hall's and courthouses; and finally even onto private property in aristocratic villas. Palladioism architecture became more of a symbol of the powerful and wealthy, as well as for aesthetic pleasure. This continues today, just go look at your local courthouse.

Representation

Ryne Morse

ID 162

22 March 2016

                                                                     Representation

                  In my words, representation has more to do with multiple elements coming together, in this

case in a particular interior space, to represent or symbolize something or some place completely

different. For example, a bedroom decorated for a small toddler girl may have multiple different aspects

in the finishes, paint, and layout designed to teleport her to a princess wonderland. Things such as

colorful wallpaper, maybe even depicting a fairy wonderland in the background to give a 3-dimensional

aspect. Even as simple as a steeple over her bed and a play 'moat' around that will make her feel cooped

up inside of a castle. On another note, you also see here many of our previous chapters dealing with

furniture, finishes, and experience are all now working simultaneously together in order to allow this

experience to happen in whatever world that particular space in meant to represent.

Case Study 8

Ryne Morse

ID 162

18 March 2016

Case Study 8

            For this case study assignment, I would like to discuss some of the ways that this bright purple wingback egg chair effect how one would experience this space. First of all, I would like to point out how much attention this chair draws from your eyes immediately after looking at this picture. Not only is it and one more matching chair the only bright colored pieces of furniture in the space, but notice also how high the egg chair sits compared to everything around it. The sectional couch, the semi-circular seating area in the middle, even the chairs at the dinner table seem to sit lower. Although I do not think that this chair was initially meant to dominate the whole room, but more or less add to the effect of futuristic, almost UFO feel.

I feel as if yes it is the largest and brightest piece in possibly the whole building, but the design included with the soft, felt finish tend to make it very easy on the eye and in turn very comforting. Keep in mind, that the scale of this space is meant to feel not quite as tall or high up into the sky, but to give the impression almost of a wide-open range in front of you. If you remember from my earlier case study, this section of the house has a completely open floor plan, despite a bar jutting out from the kitchen. On top of that, the panoramic windows are added so that you may continue to look out the window without anything impeding your view. Aspects such as the half-open floor plan, low ceilings/long spaces, and the curves of the modern egg-chair, all tie together to form this one huge image of modern technology and comfort of the future. It almost seems as if this picture is straight out of a Knoll exposition.