Summary Part 5: Articulation of Building Massing - Architectural Composition by John Beverley Robinson

This week, we continue our series examining the classic book Architectural Composition, 1908, by John Beverley Robinson.

(Here are links to previous posts summarizing Robinson's discussion of fundamental architectural design principles):

1. Unity

2. Individuality and Continuity

3. Similarity

4. Hierarchy and Subordination

   

Today, we explore Robinson's discussion of important and universal principles for creating powerful architectural compositions using clear Articulation of Building Massing. 

To begin, Robinson postulates that:

Building compositions may be comprised of three hierarchical categories of forms: primary masses, secondary masses, and details.

1. Primary masses are the largest forms in a composition.  They are perceivable at a glance as the main body of a building, to which other smaller secondary masses and details may be added.
2. Secondary masses, or appendages, may either project horizontally from primary masses or may project vertically from primary masses.  A secondary mass connecting two primary masses is called a link.
3. After primary / secondary masses and links / appendages, comes a third level of forms: details i.e. doors, windows, chimneys, columns, brackets, arches, panels, cartouches, smaller turrets, and dormers.

Robinson goes on to explain that:

All buildings of character may be categorized into one of a limited number of combinations of single, double and triple primary masses, and associated secondary links and appendages:

Robinson then proceeds to delve more deeply into the important characteristics of these massing variations:

One Single Primary Mass:

A building consisting of a single primary mass possesses unity in the highest degree.  When it is possible to simplify a composition to a single mass, such as the Boston Public Library (below), do not give up the opportunity lightly:

Note: When designing very large buildings of a single primary mass, beware of imposing artificial vertical breaks in the composition if they are reveals of 8 inches or so (or even less) for the sake of visual variety.  The articulation gained is usually outweighed by the loss of unity caused by breaking the horizontal lines and fragmenting the mass.

Two Primary Masses:

Two primary masses connected by a linking form will typically read as a single building form.  The double primary forms must be combined via a visible link, otherwise the resulting duality is troublesome like two doors, exactly alike, placed close together.  The two primary forms must be similar, or discord will result.  The two primary masses must be similar in shape, but need not be similar in size to achieve unity, as seen with the Collegiate Gothic building (below) on the Yale University Campus in New Haven, CT:

Bilateral symmetry of two identical compositions is called “double composition” and requires great care to pull off well.  In order to unify a double composition, a single object, either a secondary mass or a detail, is often placed on the link between the two primary masses, usually at the center, such as porch and dormers of this apartment building (below) in Baldwin Park, FL:

Three Primary Masses:

Examples of compositions of triple primary masses, all the same size and all alike, almost never occur however examples where the central mass differs from the side masses are innumerably common.  Most commonly, the central primary mass is larger than the two flanking primary masses, as seen in the civic building example (below) on Tbilisi, Georgia's scenic Rustaveli Avenue.  Compositions of three primary masses tend to read simultaneously like two separate compositions welded together: one of two masses joined by a link and a single mass with appendages:

In general, the more similar the three masses are in size, the more similar they should be in appearance.  On the other hand, no matter how great may be the difference in size, it is always possible to use a substantially similar treatment (i.e. the Taj Mahal)

Beyond three primary masses, the mind fails to grasp a group of objects as a unit and only perceives plurality.  Groupings of four primary masses tend to coalesce into subgroups of two or three.

Secondary Masses:

Secondary masses must not be randomly applied, but must be composed with careful attention to number, size, shape and dimensions.  The form which is intended to be primary and the form which is intended to be secondary should clearly read as such.  Secondary masses that possess individuality (vertical expression) fit most naturally on primary masses that also possess individuality, like the gabled forms of this academic building example (below) from Michigan State University's campus in East Lansing, MI:

A single secondary mass maximizes a sense of unity just like a single primary mass.  A central classical portico or porch is the most common form of a dominant secondary mass, such as demonstrated by this house (below) on Beaufort, SC's Bay Street:  

When grouping two or three secondary masses together, all masses should be alike (if three masses, the central one can be larger) like the porticos of the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood in DeFuniak Springs, FL (below): 

Secondary subordinate masses may also be composed in balanced asymmetry, as seen in the example (below) from Boston's Back Bay.  This is one of the favorite motifs of the Richardsonian Romanesque and Victorian styles:

Secondary masses generally follow the same rules as primary masses.  An exception, three secondary masses of the same shape and size may be freely used.  Four or more equally sized and shaped secondary elements are aesthetically pleasing, especially when evenly spaced.  They can be jarring if unevenly spaced.  Four or more elements express unity through continuity rather than through individuality, as seen in the Collegiate Gothic Buildings (below) on Yale University's Campus:

Details:

Details are minor architectural objects such as windows, door openings, panels, niches, columns, arches, etc.  The rules for the number and composition of details are the same as for secondary masses.  As with secondary masses, a single detail properly placed will often be sufficient to give unity to a whole composition, as in the example (below) from the North End of Boston.  A single primary organizing detail is just as effective if placed asymmetrically or symmetrically:

 

When grouping multiple details, such as columns in a colonnade, avoid changes in spacing.  

Arrangement of details follows the same principles as the arrangement of secondary masses.  Division of a mass into two parts by details gives an impression of continuity.  Division into one or three parts gives an impression of individuality. 

Endlessly creative combinations and variations are possible!

Amazon: Architectural Composition, 1908 (by John Beverley Robinson)

Designing with Color and Light for Emotional Impact

The great contemporary animated film artist Nathan Fowkes describes how, in his movie design art with DreamWorks Animation, he employs the power of different color combinations to elicit various responses from the audience.  He believes that "the visual storytelling process can be designed to powerfully affect viewers' emotions through the subtle use of color, light, shape and space".

Fowkes' preliminary illustration studies often focus virtually entirely on color and light.  He delineates only big shapes, with smaller details reduced to the point of abstraction:

Fowkes states that, for example, an image using bright yellow lighting usually looks cheerful and uplifting.  If one takes the same image, however, and begins to desaturate the yellows, a dry and desolate effect is achieved.  Even further desaturation of yellows in the same image can actually create a dank and moldy appearance.  Blue lighting in the ultramarine range tends to look peaceful, while blue lighting in the cyan range tends to look creepy, and so forth.  

In his wonderful recent book Color and Light - A Guide for the Realist Painter, fantasy and science fiction artist James Gurney also discusses the emotional impact of various color and lighting combinations.  Gurney recommends a study technique called "serial painting".  This is the creation of multiple versions of the same subject under different lighting conditions.  One of the most famous examples of a serial painting study is Monet's 1890s series of over 30 paintings depicting the Rouen Cathedral under various light and weather conditions:

Testing these Ideas
I recently decided to study the emotional effect of various light and color combinations in my own work with the following quick serial painting exercise.  I penciled in the same invented scene six times - each image just a small 2.5" x 3" in size to help me keep my design focus on big shapes only.  I then proceeded to watercolor each scene with a different combination of color and lighting to see how the emotional impact of the image would be transformed:

I attempted to focus on variations of mood as I explored each lighting and color combination.  Here are the results:

Variation 1:
Mood: Cheerful yet stately. 
Lighting: Full warm daylight from the front, upper left.  Crisp shadows cast toward the right.  Cool ambient light from the bright blue sky.  Warm reflected light from the ground plane.
Values: Dark trees, medium tone sky, light focal building with dark accents.
Colors: The full color wheel is represented - blue and yellow in the sky, orange in the pathways, green and red in the trees, violet in the shadows.  Colors are generally subdued slightly through blending and wet-on-wet mixing to avoid too many overly pure hues which could become cloying.

Variation 2:
Mood: Somber and autumnal. 
Lighting: Warm subdued orange back light from the left.  Slightly cooler ambient light to provide a subtle contrast of color temperatures across forms.  Reflected light is almost entirely absent to help give an impression of a low intensity lighting from the setting sun.
Values: Dark trees, light sky, medium value focal building with subdued details.
Colors: Colors are various saturations within the red-orange range.  Complementary contrast is introduced with a touch of ultramarine blue which was used to mute the foreground trees into the appearance of a foggy mist. 

Variation 3:
Mood: Romantic and earnest. 
Lighting: Warm direct sunlight from the front low right.  Cool violet ambient light to tone the shadows.  As in the previous example, reflected light is almost entirely absent to help give an impression of a low intensity lighting from the sun.
Values: A subdued value range with darker trees, medium toned sky, and lighter value focal building with crisp dark accents.
Colors: A muted blue-orange complementary contrast is employed.  Colors are tinted with a subtle warm rose hue to introduce a romantic note.  Saturations are kept fairly low to avoid tipping the emotional impact into the saccharine.  

Variation 4:
Mood: Enchanting. 
Lighting: Warm light from within the building.  Very muted violet ambient light from the sky.  Strong reflected light from the ground plane.  Up-lighting of trees and architecture.
Values: Light windows, darkly silhouetted building forms and trees, medium value sky.
Colors: A muted violet-yellow complementary contrast is employed.  As in the previous example, colors are tinted with a subtle warm rose hue to introduce a magical, romantic note.  

Variation 5:
Mood: Mysterious. 
Lighting: Warm light from a point source on the ground in front of the building.  Low key ultramarine ambient light from the sky.  Strong reflected light from the ground plane.  Up-lighting of trees and architecture similar to the previous example.
Values: Light architecture, dark trees, medium value sky.  Crisp shadows to indicate a strong primary light source.  The building's windows are almost identical in value to the building facade creating a "facelessness" that lends a sense of mystery.  (If the windows had instead been rendered strongly visible, this color and light combination would likely have taken on a grand and perhaps even triumphant appearance).
Colors: A fairly full spectrum of hues with blues, violets, reds, yellows, and greens, but almost all greatly muted with intermixing to create harmony. 

Variation 6:
Mood: Serene and ethereal. 
Lighting: Cool direct light from the front upper right - perhaps moonlight.  Low key ultramarine-cyan ambient light from the sky.  Very weak reflected light from the ground plane to help indicate a subdued primary light source.
Values: Light architecture, dark trees, medium value sky.  Soft shadows to indicate a subdued primary light source.  Darkened windows introduce a feeling of peaceful slumber, but also a slightly mysterious air.
Colors: The entire image is in the ultramarine-cyan blue range.  Ultramarine tends to look peaceful, while the slight cyan cast perhaps lends a bit of a mysterious feel to the scene.

Amazon: Color and Light - A Guide for the Realist Painter (by James Gurney) 

When They Must Leave Their Cars Behind, How Quickly Can People Learn to Enjoy a More Urban, Walkable Environment?

Answer:
Instantly.

Main Street USA - Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL

I visited Walt Disney World recently with my family, and was struck by the high design quality of the urban environment of Main Street USA, the park's primary gathering place. I was further struck by the fact that visitors to the park - many of whom no doubt come from highly suburban, auto-oriented environments - seemed to adapt to this urban environment seamlessly and were having a wonderful time!

Walt Disney World is designed specifically so that visitors must leave their cars behind. A massive parking lot intercepts those arriving by car. Visitors must then dramatically and memorably traverse the large Seven Seas Lagoon via ferry boat or monorail in order to reach the park itself:

Once arriving by transit at the ferry boat landing or the monorail station, the entrance to The Magic Kingdom is dramatically framed by arches under the picturesque station of the small replica train that encircles the perimeter of the park:

Once passing under the train station, one immediately enters a beautiful and well-shaped town square:

This square then leads to Main Street USA, which frames the iconic view of the focally-placed Cinderella's Castle in the distance:

Looking from Cinderella's Castle, a vista is framed of the beautiful train station back at the arrival end of Main Street USA:

This "theme park stage set" creation actually forms a strikingly effective urban spatial sequence: 

The fundamental details that are critical for walkable places are incorporated so convincingly that Allan Jacobs includes Disney's Main Street USA in his seminal book Great Streets.  (Jacobs documents the entrance to Disneyland in California, which is urbanistically virtually identical to the example in Walt Disney World in Florida):

Jacobs documents that Disney's Main Street USA:

• Is approximately 54 feet wide from building face to building face.
• Features 12 foot wide sidewalks.
• Has frequent doorways, one every 18 feet on average.
• Has an appearance of many buildings, one every 22 feet on average.
• Represents an idealized dream-memory of what made a great street, with stage set physical qualities that exist on the best streets: buildings lining the street, architectural details over which light constantly moves, transparency at ground level, pedestrian comfort, a hint of housing and habitation, a beginning and an ending.
• Is an example of how little area it takes to create a sense of urbanity.

As Walt Disney planned Disneyland and Disney World during the 1950s and 60s, he seemed to be painfully aware that the automobile, among other forces, was transforming the physical fabric of American towns and cities, often to detriment.  Main Street USA was inspired by Walt Disney's memories of his own hometown of Marceline, Missouri:

With additional stylistic influences from main streets in other regions of the United States, Main Street USA attempts to capture for posterity the character of a turn-of-the-century small American town.

Walt Disney said about his creation, "For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of their grandfather's youth." 

Thanks to Disney's Main Street USA, today over 17 million annual Walt Disney World visitors get to experience how enjoyable a more urban, walkable place designed around people (rather than just their cars) can be.  

Amazon: Great Streets (by Allan B. Jacobs)   

Kid-Friendly Urban Spaces

I’m teaching 2nd Year Architecture Studio at the University of Miami this semester.  The focus of the class is town planning to create walkable urbanism.  I and the other 2nd Year instructors recently took our students on a cross-state odyssey to visit the new beachfront resort town of Seaside, FL.  Seaside is the landmark project that, designed by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk 30 years ago, began the international revival of traditional town planning.  Seaside has continued to mature and grow more complete over the decades, and today is a wonderfully vibrant example of a highly walkable place.

Seaside is the cover image of the seminal book The New Urbanism, by Peter Katz:

I’ve been to visit Seaside a number of times in the past, but never the way I would on this trip.  I decided to add a few extra days to the trip, give my wife Krisztina a little break, and take my 20 month-old son Benji with me - turning the journey into a father son road trip!

I’ll admit that I was a bit daunted by the prospect of travelling solo with Benji for 5 days.  The drive from Miami to Seaside takes about 10 hours, traversing the entire State.  And Benji is a very energetic little boy!  I planned the trip with two days to travel in each direction, giving plenty of time to stop, stretch our legs, and to show Benji some of my favorite places in Florida along the way.

My epiphany: on this journey, I discovered that the destinations in Florida that I love for their lively urban spaces are also wonderful kid-friendly places!

Stop 1: Winter Park, FL
Our first stop was Winter Park, just north of Orlando.  Winter Park has a great main street, Park Avenue, where Benji and I stopped for lunch.  Dover, Kohl & Partners, the office I work for, helped to plan for the refurbishment of this street a number of years ago.  Park Avenue has a wide sidewalk, narrow travel lanes, on-street parking, street trees, and other details that make activities like outdoor dining work well.  These same details made Park Avenue a great location for Benji to stretch his legs!

Park Avenue also has a great collection shops along pedestrian passages leading to beautiful mid-block courtyards with fountains.  These passageways, such as Greeneda Court shown here, were a perfect place to let Benji run and explore:

In one of the courtyards, the owners of the little cafe were thoughtful enough to place a couple of toy boats in the fountain for kids!  Benji could play while I sat just steps away with a coffee - a perfect kid-friendly and adult-friendly urban space!

Just steps away on the other side of Park Avenue is a large square called Central Park.  After our lunch, I took Benji there to run around before the next leg of our trip:

Stop 2: Gainesville, FL
Our next big stop was Gainesville.  We visited the University of Florida campus and the central quadrangle was a great safe place to let Benji run free.  He especially loved playing on the gator statue:

Stop 3: Madison, FL
Our last stop before Seaside was the little town of Madison, in Florida's panhandle.  The town's square has a great gazebo, monuments and fountains that Benji loved exploring!

Seaside, FL!
At long last, after 10 hours of driving over two great days, Benji and I arrived in Seaside!

We met up with the University of Miami students in the town square near Seaside's little classical Post Office, originally the first structure built.  Seaside has a great variety of urban spaces and Benji really enjoyed exploring them all!  

A farmers market was being held in the town square - another great example of a place where a kid can run free in an environment that is interesting and stimulating for all ages:

The famous Airstream Trailer food truck roundup in Seaside's town square:

Seaside's open-air market bazaar near the beach:

Cool and shady Ruskin Square, surrounded by rowhouses and small shops:

Seaside does have a wonderful, quiet, shady children's playground that Benji enjoyed for a bit, but he was soon ready to get back to the action of the rest of the town!

A testament to Seaside's well-connected, narrow, traffic-calmed streets - I could play with Benji right in the street and not worry about speeding cars!

Benji loved climbing up into the little gazebo in the middle of the roundabout at the end of Tupelo Street.

In the evening, I bought Benji a little toy guitar at a shop on the town square, and then we strolled through the market bazaar, and down one of Seaside's well-marked public beach accesses.  The whole route was so easy to follow that I was able to walk behind Benji as he found his own way from the town square to the water's edge!

Alys Beach, FL
After Seaside, we took the University of Miami students to visit nearby Alys Beach, another new walkable beachfront resort town also designed by Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andres Duany.  This next-generation project has continued to evolve the state-of-the-art in pedestrian-friendly (and therefore kid-friendly) urban spaces.

Alys Beach incorporates a fascinating blend of influences from places with great walkable urbanism optimized for hot climates including: Bermuda, St Augustine, the Greek islands, Dutch South Africa and the cities of North Africa.  The growing town features a number of exquisitely designed, narrow streets and intimate squares that are often free from motorized vehicles.

In conclusion: 
Main streets, urban courtyards, parks with fountains, academic quadrangles, farmers markets, food truck roundups, open air market bazaars, pedestrian-friendly streets and squares are all wonderful places to spend one's time, and even better when spending time with a child! 


Amazon: The New Urbanism (by Peter Katz)