May 23, 2011 8:32 AM
Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright.
As an architect, I am frequently asked to describe what makes a space feel comforting, inviting, warm or serene.
Is it the materials, the lighting, the overall volume of the space? While these design elements can contribute, most often it is the use of the horizontal line.
Going to the beach or lake is the perfect place to test this theory, as the horizon line between water and sky allows a place for the eye to rest and focus without interruption. It is both calming and soothing, thus we return again and again to experience this effect.
Such is the case with architecture. And no culture understands this better than that of Japan. The use of the horizontal line in Japanese buildings is key to understanding the further development of their gardens and... more
Is it the materials, the lighting, the overall volume of the space? While these design elements can contribute, most often it is the use of the horizontal line.
Going to the beach or lake is the perfect place to test this theory, as the horizon line between water and sky allows a place for the eye to rest and focus without interruption. It is both calming and soothing, thus we return again and again to experience this effect.
Such is the case with architecture. And no culture understands this better than that of Japan. The use of the horizontal line in Japanese buildings is key to understanding the further development of their gardens and... more
