Idiom
Means "construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the same way in the second language." In history, Stonehenge can be interpreted as an idiom. The meaning of the stone circle has been in question for over centuries. Our meaning of Stonehenge might be completely different than their original meaning. This week in Studio we learned the importance of having symbolic meanings in our work. The American idea behind the color red could be perceived as love, where as in another country it could symbolize communism or the devil. This is idiomatic. The choice a designer makes in materials has to be well thought out, as to not offend ones client.
Material
Material plays a big role in design. In Egypt, the people had limited materials at their disposal, so they had to work with what items they did have. This hindrance led them to adapt their technology to make what they needed. In the desert there was an unlimited amount of sand to use so they made a variety of structures with it. They used the sand in one instance to build a hill to move slabs of sandstone into columns towering above to the heavens. This limited use of materials can be adjusted into modern day as well. If we only have one piece of MDF available and a chair, server, and workstation needs to be made, we have to adapt our design to fit the materials at hand.
Illuminate
This word can have many different meanings. In Suzanne’s class we illuminate objects every day by drawing them. We went and found vignettes in our everyday lives and drew them to remember that day. When I go back to that page later in life, it will “shed some light upon” that specific day. Light can also affect how humans perceive an object. Manipulation of light has been used over thousands of years as far back as the Egyptians. The Egyptians wanted to make the Giza pyramids stand out from the desert, so they covered the sandstone with a slick limestone, so that the top would gleam during the day. This effect made the top of the pyramid look like it was lit up. Roth writes that “Light is a most effective element in creating a sense of mystery and awe” (Roth 86)* The Egyptians must have stood in amazement when the pyramids were in full glory in 2560 BC.
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Commodity, Firmness, and Delight
The basic elements of architecture were first described by Vitruvius as “providing utility, firmness, and beauty” (Roth 11) Sir Henry Wotton later shortened that phrase to just commodity firmness and delight (Roth 11). Any design must have a function. Whether that function changes over the years or stays the same it is inevitable for it to occur. The pyramids in Egypt are an example of this once again. Careful consideration went into making the building withstand the test of time, because The Egyptians wanted the buildings to outlast them. The tombs were being robbed and other pharaohs were taking from the graves to build their own legacy, therefore, a new plan had to be made to deal with firmness. The tombs function was unchanged, but to show power, a new plan was devised to deal with all three elements .After thousands of years the pyramids at Giza Egypt are still standing. The limestone has eroded away almost completely, but it is still standing after all these years. The Egyptians with limited tools created one of the Seven Wonders of the World (Roth 196). There in lies delight. The human mind “seeks out mathematical and geometrical relationships”. The pyramids at Giza have precise measurements of 51 degrees 50’ to face up directly with the sun. (Roth 196). This connection gives our eyes and minds something to ponder and gives it beauty or delight. If the pyramids were off on one side, they would not be as well perceived as they are now. As designers we must incorporate these three things into our work, because when one element changes the other is then affected.
*Roth, Leland M. "Understanding Architecture." Its Elements, History, and Meaning. Cambridge: Westview Press, 2007
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