Unit One: Point.Theories

The image above is of Queen Hatshepsut’s burial tomb. It was constructed over the years that she was empowered from 1479 to 1458 BC. This tomb is a great representation of the way buildings were constructed in the Egyptian world that evolved from earlier achievements. The vast use of materials and the precise measurements is something to praise in the architectural world.
This building meets all three of the conditions that Sir Henry Wotton said a great building should have: commodity, firmness, and delight. Even though it was used solely as a burial sight, it is large enough to host a numerous amounts of events. It is apparent that it is a very well built building since it has withstood over 1,000 years and counting. Furthermore, the very aesthetically appealing. Looking from a distance, the geometric precision can be seen, but when taking a closer look, the reliefs and statues are phenomenal.
There is no doubt that there were many successes and failures while constructing this building along with the previous ancestral creations. There is evidence that Stonehenge was developed after creating a serious of models. The development of scale models was a great advancement both in the way the people worked and also in the development of their mental capacity. It became a better way to communicate ideas. More so, the designers were able to physically see if their design was pleasing to them, whether it would withstand certain conditions, etc.
It is also apparent that in looking at the history of architecture and they way people are affected by it that it is a commonality amongst them. Everything is constructed for a reason, for the reasons people see it fit, but in most cases, someone else will visit and fall in love with it for different reasons. For instance, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water was constructed as a retirement villa for the Kaufmanns. Now that same house is a historical landmark. Not only is it a marvel because of its location and its use of material. It also serves as a great teaching tool to architects and designers world wide. When entering, the viewer is instantly taken back by the use of wood and the overall height of everything. Almost all of the furniture is constructed into the house, leaving a lasting impression of the designer into the home. In a sense, one could compare the built-in furniture to the hieroglyphics previous civilizations used.
Anyone can design a building. It is what is taken into consideration that sets it apart from all others. The architect or designer must always have a sense of how the building is going to interact with its surroundings and what materials it will be constructed with. They must also take into consideration who is going to use the facility, is it going to be a public or private place, how will people move in and out of the rooms, is there axial progression throughout. All these questions need answers before a building will ever have a chance of standing the so called “tests of time” to becoming a spectacle to the world around it and the world to come.