7/4/2020

Architecture as the Highest form of Art

Ar. Franz Allan M. Rodriguez

HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTURE
Department of Architecture
Lecture Content in Theory of Architecture 1 (ARTHEORY1)
1st Semester, Curriculum 2018-2019

Target Program Outcomes (PO):

(a) create architectural solutions by applying knowledge in history,
theory, planning, building technology and utilities, structural concepts
and professional practice.
(i) effectively communicate orally and in writing using English or Filipino

Week 2 Learning Output:

•Determine the various theorists and philosophers that influenced the
world’s view in Architecture
• Recognize Architecture as the highest form of Arts
• Identify the facets Architecture being an outline of art, science &
profession
• Elaborate Vitruvius’ view on Architecture; Utilitas, Firmitas & Venustas.
• Understand Vitruvius’ views as reflected in his book; Ten Books on
Architecture
• Display effective communication skills

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ART
•the expression or application of
human creative skill and imagination

•typically in a visual form such as

painting or sculpture, producing works
to be appreciated primarily for their
beauty or emotional power

Art is an expression of one’s personal

emotions that cannot be confined to
one definition. It takes on endless
forms and can be interpreted in
multiple ways through diverse
perspectives - Avery Singer, 3rd Year at
University of Virginia & Reality Television Personality

Art is imagination in motion. Taking

something from the brain and
transforming it into something
tangible; something that can be
questioned, loved, hated, moving, and
easily remembered or forgotten.
Without art there is no point in life and
without life art could not flourish - Brad
Bass, Broadway Actor (Wicked, Memphis, Jersey
Boys)

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Art is an alternative world, one we create

that stands in contrast to the world we
regularly live in, which is messy, unplanned,
unedited, uninspired, unfocused, draining,
largely immoral....Art is the best of our
imaginings, shaped to share. - Vanessa Ochs, Creative
Writing Fellowship Recipient from National Endowment for the
Arts

Art reflects humanity and provides a

means to process unspeakable joy and
unbearable pain. It is an avenue to
express what words can’t convey. In
that sense, art can be more real, more
truthful, than reality. - Lucinda McDermott,
Award Winning Actress & Playwright

Major constituents of the

arts include:
•Literature (including
drama, poetry, and prose);
"acquaintance with letters"

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•Performing arts
(among them
dance, music, film
and theatre) and;

•Visual arts (including

architecture, ceramics,
drawing, painting,
photography, and sculpting).

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"Architecture is the highest form of art by definition.

The mother of all arts, it's said. A lot of people do buildings. That
doesn't mean they put up architecture. There's a huge difference.
And the missing link is, is it a work of art?" – Harry Seidler

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ETYMOLOGY
GREEK :
ARCHI = first or
original

TECT = the ability to

put things together

Sanskrit root
ARTS = everything
in its right place

ARCHITECTURE
It is the ART The product or result of architectural
architecture work: buildings collectively

and SCIENCE A style or method of building

architecture characteristic of people, place or
time.
of DESIGNING The profession that embodies
“Architecture”
architecture

and CONSTRUCTING The conscious act of forming

architecture things resulting in unifying or
coherent structure.

BUILDINGS

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Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (born c. 80–70 BC, died

after c. 15 BC) was a Roman writer, architect and
engineer. He is best known as the author of the multi-
volume work De Architectura ("On Architecture").

VITRUVIAN VIRTUES:
•UTILITAS - it should be useful and function well for
the people using it. (Functional & Utilitarian)
•FIRMITAS - it should stand up robustly and remain
in good condition. (Strong & Stable)
•VENUSTAS - it should delight people and raise their
spirits. (Aesthetically Appealing)

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DE ARCHITECTURA :

Excerpts from De architectura:

1. The architect should be equipped with
knowledge of many branches of study and
varied kinds of learning, for it is by his
judgment that all work done by the other
arts is put to test. This knowledge is the
child of practice and theory. Practice is the
continuous and regular exercise of
employment where manual work is done
with any necessary material according to
the design of a drawing. Theory, on the
other hand, is the ability to demonstrate
and explain the productions of dexterity
on the principles of proportion.
2. Architecture depends on Order,
Arrangement, Eurythmy, Symmetry,
Propriety, and Economy.

DE RE AEDIFICATORIA
De re aedificatoria (English: On the Art of
Building) is a classic architectural treatise written by
Leon Battista Alberti between 1443 and 1452.
Although largely dependent on Vitruvius' De
architectura, it was the first theoretical book on the
subject written in the Italian Renaissance and in 1485
became the first printed book on architecture. It was
followed in 1486 with the first printed edition of
Vitruvius.

Alberti’s Ten Books consciously echoes

Vitruvius' writing, but he also adopts a critical
attitude toward his predecessor. In his
discussion, Alberti includes a wide variety of
literary sources, including Plato and Aristotle,
presenting concise version of sociology of
architecture.

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INFLUENCES ON ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN

Physical Needs
Self Preservation – Basic Needs
include Food, Shelter & Clothing (Others
include Power, Water, Transportation,
Ecological Balance, Education, Sports,
Medical, Livelihood).

Reproduction – for the population to

increase & continue in existence.

SHELTER – something that covers,

protects, or defends as a root that shields
one from the elements & changes.

INFLUENCES ON
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
The modern man’s shelter shall
have:

a. Necessities – warm, dry house

with glazed doors, windows,
sanitation & permanency.

b. Conveniences – rooms shall be

arranged economically.

c. Comforts – must contain the

labor saving devices which
provide heat, ventilation & instant
communication. The furnishings
are designed for comfort.

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INFLUENCES ON
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Emotional Needs
The emotional reactions of man have to do
with the instincts stirred by the forces of
RELIGION & ART and with the desire to
indulge in RECREATION.

Intellectual
Needs
EDUCATION, SCENCE &
GOVERNMENT, demand a
proper Architectural Setting.
Intellect or reason alone
may erect a utilitarian
building; emotion will endow
it beauty & interest

INFLUENCES ON
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

ACTIVITIES OF MAN
•Desire for PRESERVATION – in obtaining food, shelter, clothing &
security, civilized man must have commerce, government &
religion.
e.g. residential, commercial, religious & government
buildings.

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INFLUENCES ON
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ACTIVITIES OF MAN
•Desire for RECOGNITION – this is a desire for prestige, pride &
ambition, social status, physical supremacy, intellectual
attainment, personal or civic, result in the struggle for position.
e.g. Skyscrapers & Landmarks; Paris has the Eiffel Tower, New
York has the Statue of Liberty, Sydney has the Sydney Opera
House, Greece has the Parthenon, et. al.

INFLUENCES ON
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ACTIVITIES OF MAN
•Desire for RESPONSE – this arises from his wish for love,
friendship & sociability.
e.g. semi public buildings with banquet halls & ball rooms,
living rooms, mall streets, etc..

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INFLUENCES ON
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

ACTIVITIES OF MAN
•Desire for SELF-EXPRESSION – This is the urge of man to assert
himself as an individual.
e.g. theaters & museums

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