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The Flower of Life 1
The Flower of Life 1
Sacred Geometry
LSAD
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Section: A1403
Guide Name:
Abstract
The paper aims at understanding the sacred relationship between the different
musical notes an architecture which when applied together could bring out meticulous and
creative designs. With the incorporation of music into architecture it will help in creating a
design space that is rational, reasonable, sensational and passionate thus furnishing a liveable
space which would dedicates meaning to each and every space as aspired by the user.
NEED
The study describes about the proficiency of sacred geometry which when
AIM
The strategic application of the musical harmonics in the various stages of
design in order to evoke the essence of the space is the aim of this paper.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this paper is to understand the presence of sacred geometry in
both music and architecture and deduce the bridge within sacred space that amalgamates
SCOPE
The deduction of the bridge within the sacred space between these two art forms
is the main scope of this paper. Through the in depth study of the musical harmonics the
METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
Sacred Geometry is the ultimate Seed of Life (philosophy) which circles the entire
living and non living world thus forming the source of existence of life. Therefore it
can be comprehended that Sacred Geometry when applied in an appropriate
manner to architecture can provide a better design composition satisfying o every
needs and demands of sustainability
NEEDS
The study describes about the proficiency of sacred geometry which when
used as a design source can evoke the genuine sanctity of a place.
CONCLUSION
The ‘critical’ relationship between music and architecture is a highly
subjective notion, where different people might view different issues as being
critical.. Music is one of such art form that plays with time and can affect the
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INTRODUCTION
Sacred Geometry is derived from the Latin word “sacrum” which means the last bone of the spine
that holds the whole structure. Similarly sacred geometry is that seed or focal point that forms
the basis of all living and nonliving world. All the tangible and intangible factors such
flowers, math, cosmology and every art form has taken its birth from sacred geometry. Like
the religious ethics forms the basic structure of a being and is considered as holy therefore the
word sacred is used for the spirituality.
In order to trigger the emotion response of the listener through music, the laws of physics and
mathematics are being used. Based on “Twelve” note section, mathematical laws and systems
are used to create harmonized music in the Western music world. All the songs that were
ones created and has been in the process of creation is based on the number twelve. It’s just
like telling the time and measuring time. Musical scale was designed to play the harmonies of
the heavens, the music of the spheres, allowing higher principles to enter our lives through
our sense of hearing and emotion. It was seen as having great power for producing heaven on
earth. Music also has the power to heel and therefore could overthrew any intellectual
abilities with its power of manipulating the passion and emotion of the player as well as the
audience. During the ancients times such musical pieces were properly tuned and purified in
order to maintain and preserve the unseen divinity of this art in the world by playing the
instruments properly and accurately. It was a sign of devotion and the creation of tranquil
ambience within. .
The clock is a circle divided evenly into twelve hours. An octave of music is divided evenly
into twelve semitones. Therefore, if the twelve semitones of an octave of music is assigned to
the twelve numbers on the clock, and a line is drawn from each number to each other number,
then harmonisphere is formed.
The Flower of Life 7
If the project of Daniel Libeskind is analyzed, one can notice that the architect had a vision of
creating successful designs by the meticulous application of certain philosophical musical
symphony which was then converted to actual lines. The main idea was created due to
Arnold Schoenberg‘s Moses & Aaron, an allegorical opera whose subject, according to the
writer and pianist Charles Rosen, is the impossibility of realizing an artistic vision. Due to the
death of the German maestro during World War II the symphony of that opera was
considered as unfinished. Since the architect was Jewish, his religious ethics made him
inclined to the opera representing the great stories of the Hebrew prophets.in order to put on
symphony graphically, zigzag line were used to represent the formation of melodies and the
sequential high waves of the notes as can be seen in the unfinished opera. Therefore it can be
conceived that music can be used in architecture not only for the purpose of beautification but
also to cater the functional aspect of it. Therefore it is difficult to understand the musical
relationship with respect to architecture.
The Flower of Life 9
Hollein, rather than adding element to the building has subtracted from his design in order to
alter the geological difficulties to his favor. The most dominant theme of the museum’s
architecture is the contrasting interaction of black and light areas which approximately
reflecting the same contrast and the sublime effect as can be seen in Mozart’s The Magic
Flute. His aim was to transform the caverns concealed mountain into exhibition areas so that
the visitor could climb laterally up the cliff to an excavation of 20 meters wide and40 meters
high, thus illuminating it from above. Stairs acted as the main circulatory path of the building
thus leading to halls inside the caverns first and then to the large exhibition spaces, which
illuminated the upper side through lights.
Musical Analogues
The musical analogies can be used in the architectural design system to formulate design
theory and the constructive principles. The common cosmological analogies of both music
and architecture were drawn from the scientific and metaphysical foundations of the
Pythagorean Theory of harmonic proportions. In the book “Musica Enchiriadis” it explains
that the notes which create good music can also create different tones determining the way of
life, the behavior of human body and harmony of universe which are of the same numerical
proportion. St. Augustine in his treatise has mentioned that “the contemplation of geometry
in music and architecture was seen to play an "anagogical" function: one leading the
mind from the world of appearances to an understanding of the Divine. ” One such
example is Chatres Cathedral in which the use of multiple musical ratios can be perceived from the
proportions of the width of the naive which creates a triangular hypotenuse respectively on the
naïve wall. Even architects like Frank Lyod Wright and Le Corbusier has also articulated music to be
their source of generating harmony, proportion and symphony in their designs. The quality of
movement is an essential aspect of all music and the first step towards the musicalization of
architectural experience may well be to stimulate the perception of movement in spatial and
architectural experience. Irrespective of the structural characteristics of architecture, the
architectural experience possesses the dynamic quality as music. A dynamic sense of rhythm
and tempo can be created in architecture through a choreographed progression of spaces
varied in accentuation, scale, and form. Architecture can simulate music's metrical
accentuation through formal emphasis or variation.
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ANALYSIS
Through this entire journey of design approach through music it can be deduced that music can be
definitely used in creating architecture. But it depends upon the user as in how the inspiration shall
be drawn and in which field. This includes application of this approach only for the aesthetic purpose
such as in façade or else the creation of spiritual and dynamic space through the understanding of
the various harmonic notes. The latter is the most creative and critical part of the design approach if
achieved can create architecture which would serve as the universal resource. To create and
maintain the essence of a space is the most difficult task of any designer. But if music is chosen as an
approach then study of the timing of various notes and its impact on the human psychology can be
used to generate the spirituality of the space thereby creating a living space responding to the
various future demands.
CONCLUSION
The ‘critical’ relationship between music and architecture is a highly subjective notion, where
different people might view different issues as being critical. The lack of a singular critical
relationship between music and architecture can be the motivation of initially connecting the
two for the purposes of exploring the creativity. Music is one of such art form that plays with
time and can affect the feelings of the listener. Therefore by understanding the harmonic
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notes and its effects on human psychology at various time events can be used in creating
more spiritual spaces.
REFERENCES
Source: http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/handle/188681
Source:https://lirias.kuleuven.be/bitstream/123456789/340882/1/Sven+Sterken-
+Proof+09+12+2006+FINAL.pdf
Source : http://faculty.arch.utah.edu/benham/group%201/Sara/Musical%20Analogies.pdf
Source : http://ancientquest.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/10/SacredGeometryArticleKarenRallsWebsite.pdf