LINE Although a line theoretically has only one dimension,it must have some degree of thickness to become visible.Itis seen as aline simply because its length dominates its width.The character of a line,whether taut or limp,bold or g40e。00.0。g000.00t000 tentative.graceful or ragged.is determined by our perception of its length-width ratioitsconour 银 and its degree of continuity. Even the simple repetition of like or similar abc8defgghbyklmnopqrstumwsyz(12S..123456789o elements,if continuous enough,can be regarded as a line.This type of line has significant textural 字肆津学学率堂堂拿常堂生空津宝米米米米米米米米米米米米米米半 qualities. The orientation of a line affects its role in a visual construction.While a vertical line can express a state of equilibrium with the force of gravity. symbolize the human condition.or mark a position in space,a horizontal line can represent stability, the ground plane,the horizon,or a body at rest. An oblique line is a deviation from the vertical or horizontal. It may be seen as a vertical line falling or a horizontal line rising.In either case,whether it is falling toward a point on the ground plane or rising toa place in the sky.it is dynamic and visually active in its unbalanced state. PRIMARY ELEMENTS /9
PRIMARY ELEMENTS / 9 LINE Although a line theoretically has only one dimension, it must have some degree of thickness to become visible. It is seen as a line simply because its length dominates its width. The character of a line, whether taut or limp, bold or tentative, graceful or ragged, is determined by our perception of its length–width ratio, its contour, and its degree of continuity. Even the simple repetition of like or similar elements, if continuous enough, can be regarded as a line. This type of line has significant textural qualities. The orientation of a line affects its role in a visual construction. While a vertical line can express a state of equilibrium with the force of gravity, symbolize the human condition, or mark a position in space, a horizontal line can represent stability, the ground plane, the horizon, or a body at rest. An oblique line is a deviation from the vertical or horizontal. It may be seen as a vertical line falling or a horizontal line rising. In either case, whether it is falling toward a point on the ground plane or rising to a place in the sky, it is dynamic and visually active in its unbalanced state
LINEAR ELEMENTS Vertical linear elements.such as columns.obelisks,and towers.have been used throughout history to commemorate significant events and establish particular points in space. Bell Tower,Church at Vuoksenniska Imatra,Finland,1956.Alvar Aalto Menhir. Column of Marcus Aurelius. Obelisk of Luxor. a prehistoric monument consisting of an Piazza Colonna,Rome,A.D.174. Place de la Concorde.Paris.The obelisk.which upright megalith,usually standing alone This cylindrical shaft commemorates marked the entrance to the Amon Temple at Luxor. but sometimes aligned with others. the emperor's victory over Germanic was given by the viceroy of Egypt,Mohamed Ali,to tribes north of the Danube. Louis Phillipe and was installed in 1836. Vertical linear elements can also define a transparent volume of space.In the example illustrated to the left,four minaret towers outline a spatial field from which the dome of the Selim Mosque rises in splendor. Selim Mosque,Edire.Turkey, AD.1569-1575 10 ARCHITECTURE:FORM,SPACE,ORDER
10 / ARCHITECTURE: FORM, SPACE, & ORDER Vertical linear elements, such as columns, obelisks, and towers, have been used throughout history to commemorate significant events and establish particular points in space. .FOIJS, a prehistoric monument consisting of an upright megalith, usually standing alone but sometimes aligned with others. $PMVNOPG.BSDVT"VSFMJVT, Piazza Colonna, Rome, A.D. 174. This cylindrical shaft commemorates the emperor’s victory over Germanic tribes north of the Danube. 0CFMJTLPG-VYPS, Place de la Concorde, Paris. The obelisk, which marked the entrance to the Amon Temple at Luxor, was given by the viceroy of Egypt, Mohamed Ali, to Louis Phillipe and was installed in 1836. #FMM5PXFS $IVSDIBU7VPLTFOOJTLB, Imatra, Finland, 1956, Alvar Aalto Vertical linear elements can also define a transparent volume of space. In the example illustrated to the left, four minaret towers outline a spatial field from which the dome of the Selim Mosque rises in splendor. Selim Mosque, Edirne, Turkey, A.D. 1569–1575 LINEAR ELEMENTS
LINEAR ELEMENTS Linear members that possess the necessary material strength can perform structural functions.In these three examples,linear elements: express movement across space provide support for an overhead plane form a three-dimensional structural frame for architectural space Caryatid Porch,The Erechtheion,Athens,421-405 B.C..Mnesicles. Salginatobel Bridge.Switzerland,1929-1930.Robert Maillart. The sculptured female figures stand as columnar supports for the Beams and girders have the bending strength to span the space entablature. between their supports and carry transverse loads. Katsura Imperial Villa,Kyoto.Japan,17th century. Linear columns and beams together form a three-dimensional framework for architectural space. PRIMARY ELEMENTS /11
PRIMARY ELEMENTS / 11 Linear members that possess the necessary material strength can perform structural functions. In these three examples, linear elements: t FYQSFTTNPWFNFOUBDSPTTTQBDF t QSPWJEFTVQQPSUGPSBOPWFSIFBEQMBOF t GPSNBUISFFEJNFOTJPOBMTUSVDUVSBMGSBNF for architectural space $BSZBUJE1PSDI, The Erechtheion, Athens, 421–405 B.C., Mnesicles. The sculptured female figures stand as columnar supports for the entablature. ,BUTVSB*NQFSJBM7JMMB, Kyoto, Japan, 17th century. Linear columns and beams together form a three-dimensional framework for architectural space. 4BMHJOBUPCFM#SJEHF, Switzerland, 1929–1930, Robert Maillart. Beams and girders have the bending strength to span the space between their supports and carry transverse loads. LINEAR ELEMENTS
LINEAR ELEMENTS A line can be an imagined element rather than a visible one in architecture.An example is the axis,a requlating line established by two distant points in space and about which elements are symmetrically arranged. Villa Aldobrandini,Italy.1598-1603,Giacomo Della Porta House 10,1966.John Heiduk Although architectural space exists in three dimensions,it can be linear in form to accommodate the path of movement through a building and link its spaces to one another. Buildings also can be linear in form,particularly when they consist of repetitive spaces organized along a circulation path.As illustrated here,linear building forms have the ability to enclose exterior spaces as well as adapt to the environmental conditions of a site. Cornell University Undergraduate Housing(Project).Ithaca. New York,1974.Richard Meier 12 ARCHITECTURE:FORM,SPACE,ORDER
12 / ARCHITECTURE: FORM, SPACE, & ORDER A line can be an imagined element rather than a visible one in architecture. An example is the axis, a regulating line established by two distant points in space and about which elements are symmetrically arranged. Although architectural space exists in three dimensions, it can be linear in form to accommodate the path of movement through a building and link its spaces to one another. Buildings also can be linear in form, particularly when they consist of repetitive spaces organized along a circulation path. As illustrated here, linear building forms have the ability to enclose exterior spaces as well as adapt to the environmental conditions of a site. $PSOFMM6OJWFSTJUZ6OEFSHSBEVBUF)PVTJOH (Project), Ithaca, New York, 1974, Richard Meier 7JMMB"MEPCSBOEJOJ, Italy, 1598–1603, Giacomo Della Porta LINEAR ELEMENTS )PVTF, 1966, John Hejduk
LINEAR ELEMENTS Town Hall,Saynatsalo,Finland,1950-1952.Alvar Aalto At a smaller scale,lines articulate the edges and surfaces of planes and volumes.These lines can be expressed by joints within or between building materials.by frames around window or door openings,or by a structural grid of columns and beams.How these linear elements affect the texture of a surface will depend on their visual weight,spacing.and direction. Crown Hall.School of Architecture and Urban Design,Ilinois Institute of Technology. Seagram Building.New York City,1956-1958. Chicago,1956.Mies van der Rohe Mies van de Rohe and Philip Johnson PRIMARY ELEMENTS /13
PRIMARY ELEMENTS / 13 At a smaller scale, lines articulate the edges and surfaces of planes and volumes. These lines can be expressed by joints within or between building materials, by frames around window or door openings, or by a structural grid of columns and beams. How these linear elements affect the texture of a surface will depend on their visual weight, spacing, and direction. 5PXO)BMM 4ÊZOÊUTBMP, Finland, 1950–1952, Alvar Aalto $SPXO)BMM, School of Architecture and Urban Design, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, 1956, Mies van der Rohe 4FBHSBN#VJMEJOH, New York City, 1956–1958, Mies van de Rohe and Philip Johnson LINEAR ELEMENTS