Architecture

Building design, aesthetics, and engineering.

The architectural composition of a traditional Japanese Noh theatre. The stage is typically constructed from hinoki (Japanese cypress). Originally, noh was played in open fields. When a theatre is recreated inside a building, it’s designed complete with details such as a roof, bridge with a handrail and a pine tree painted on the back wall. The complete noh stage is comprised of the hon-butai (main playing area), hashigakari (bridgeway), ato-za (seating section for musicians and stage attendants) and the jiutai-za (seating section for the chorus). The main playing area is 5.4m per side. At the back of the stage is the kagami-ita (back panel, usually displaying a painted pine tree). In the front of the stage is the kizahashi (decorative staircase). Coming off the left side of the stage is the hashigakari (bridgeway). At the end of the hashigakari is the agemaku (curtain) which marks the entrance to the backstage area. 📸: @joannakawecki

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gabriel

Vernacular design outside of architecture

I've been thinking about how this idea applies to design in fields outside of architecture. Architecture is unique in its geographic, climatic, and cultural contexts, since the "localism" aspect is particularly relevant. But there are probably some parallels that could be drawn to modern software design, pr... See more

Coleman McCormick • Designing from Experience, Not Expertise

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Alexander is inspired by how design occurs in the natural world. "Things that are good have a certain kind of structure," he told me. "You can't get that structure except dynamically. Period. In nature you've got continuous very-small-feedback-loop adaptation going on, which is why things get to be harmonious. That's why they have the qualities tha

Tomas Petricek • On architecture, urban planning and software construction

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I find an interesting parallel here to the ideas James Scott proposes in Seeing Like a State (which we covered back in RE #4): a top-down, central planning-style of design can't effectively predict the diversity of user needs. It turns out, contra to the "expert architect", that the users know best what they need from their space. And often even th... See more

Coleman McCormick • MIT's Building 20: a Masterpiece of Utility

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Modern living, home design ideas, inspiration, and advice.

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Zachary Roush

Philosophers and practitioners of architecture have long studied the relationship between physical spaces and ritual, ritual and the creation of culture, culture and the embodiment of thought.

It’s why, as a complete novice to the field, one of the first things you learn is that architecture is an irreducible mode of thinking in its own right . It’s... See more