Form and Philosophy — some amazing drawings from Bertrand Goldberg on the geometries of space, how architecture creates or blocks movement and how it can be structured to facilitate human work and communication.
These are all from Goldberg: Dans la Ville of course, as I continue working my way through it.
1. The ancient syntax of space included the square, the circle and the triangle. To these static forms, we now add the curve. The shape of space affects human behavior.2. The static square brings motion to rest; the circle is restless.
3. The corner violently changes direction.4. The circle has a centripetal force.5. The center can force us to the circle.6. The shape of the body comes to rest only when it is contained in the rectangle.Daisy-shaped floor plans of three apartment towers. Each petal is an apartment module which converges from the contour (balcony) towards a central core containing the mechanical and electrical risers.The changing action in the San Diego Theatre is constantly changing its space. The building requires a theme with variations. A central core is not required , but a common structure can provide the message tor the community.The Menninger clinic is not an institution. but an assembly of individuals. The individual is studied and respected. The psychiatric physicians become patients and the patients become physicians. Each needs his own space. The stem, the corridor, invites the movement of the individuals. Invites communication. And nourishes the individuals. The building becomes a living room.The Raymond Hilliard family building identifies each family as a separate unit. They come together only in their motion. and at the functions they share together. such as laundry or play. Once they enter their apartment door, the boundaries of their space contain their family unity and support it.Three cluster types developed for health communities, each based on the principle of a central core radiating out towards the perimeter where the patients are installed . Communication is established diagonally between quadrants (top left and centre) ensuring shorter distances than a rectilinear arrangement . Efficience is also improved . Below right, dental patients are treated in pods around the perimeter .
1. Many human relationships depend upon creating a focal center, best supported by a geocentric plan. The development of numerous geocentric relationships for highly specialized health care functions are possible: plans A and B indicate surgical clusters wherein the center is preserved for sterile medical care, and the exterior perimeter provides for “dirty” traffic access to the cluster. Cluster C is a delivery area. which has different characteristics of room planning, but operates on the same principle of sterile and non-sterile areas. Clusters D and E and Fare labor room arrangements . which provide constant observation from the nurse ‘s station located at the center of the labor rooms. 2. A detailed arrangement of a surgical or obstetrical cluster, with a sterile medical area located at the center. 3. View of the detail of a tabor room cluster with nursing support at the center.
Just communities. Just cities. Just connections between country and city. Also, the weird and wonderful.
