An Evaluatıon on the importance of window elements in elevations through different archilectural eras

Man first found shelter in caves due to the difficult environ mental conditions; he made a home out of the earth and rocks that he excavated. Once he reached a certain level of consciousness about building, he selected a piece of environment with the purpose of. shaping it to fit his specific needs and requirements. As a result, he covered it with a roof and with walls formed the space he was searching for. However he had to firmly relate this covered space to nature biologically and psychologically from which he had originally sepa rated the space. To connect the interior space with nature in some places; he opened the cover he had made. Opened it up and left "empty spaces" in the roof and walls that he had constructed. These "empty spaces" or "voids" which form the relationship between the interior and exterior spaces both visually and relatively and which provide the building with light and air are called "windows and doors". The "window space" which bears importance in terms of the biol ogy and psychology of man was originally created out of sheer need in the beginning of human history; and it has been developed into a building element which has a regular geometry and further more has gained an aesthetical value in addition to its functional value. Windows which are, in a way symbols of the life of the building; have been undergoing many changes due to the environmental conditions man finds himself surrounded by. Architecture has evolved through changing and developing tech nological pschycological and sociological demands. Besides the changes in function the visible changes that have obviously taken place are examined in this thesis. Various thoughts and various design principles have had an impact on the design of the plan, facade and the elements of the fa cade through the perspective of form and content. In this thesis, the factors of changes in various eras, which affect the windows helping to express the building and forming a re lationship between the plan and the facade, and helping the users communication with the inner and exterior spaces will be discussed in view of specific architectural trends. - viIn this study, studying a specific era and a specific building type was purposefully avoided. The reasons for this include "not to puta rigid frame" to the subject-matter, and "not to prevent the dis cussion of factors" since not all the design principles forming the window could be picked up. Therefore the examples are chosen to best illustrate the ideas given and in more or less chronological order to Architectural Eras. The thesis has four parts to it: in the first part, the goals of writing the thesis, the framework of the research and the method to proceed by are identified. Some other research on this topic done by others are mentioned in part; and the contribution of the thesis topic to the literature is put forward. Furthermore, the methodology of the research done by others and the significance of windows in Architecture is discussed. The reasons for selecting the thesis topic is also explained in this part. In the second part, the factors affecting the formation and design of the window, as a building element, are chosen as topic. These factors are:. Functional. Aesthetical. Climate. Structure. Socio-cultural structure. In view of "function" factor; the light-in taking, air circu lating and viewing activities which are important for man not only because of the physical needs of man but also because of the psycho logical needs of man are selected as functions of windows. Under the paragraph of aesthetics, the aesthetic value of windows are discussed in addition to the functional one. Each building and each building element must have an aesthetical appeal. According to Pevsner "a bicycle is a building, but Lincoln Cathedral is Archi tectural monument". This sentence expresses the significance of aesthetics in Arc hitecture. This quality is examined in the thesis under the sub topics of;. Formal aesthetic. Symbolic aesthetic. The importance of the climatic factors on such design principles of windows aesthetic of the window, its form and its direction, its location on the facade are picked up throughout this part. The other factor which affects the design of the window element structurally is the skeleton. The skeleton system of the building which is selected has an important impact on the size and shape of the window element depending on whether the skeleton system is;. Structural infill. Skeletal system. vn -As developments in technology take place, the window has gained its freedom in size and a form. In the buildings the factors of insu lation, construction material, the sun, heat and light have become more important than before; and innovations in these fields have been achieved in a short period of time. The socio-cultural factors which influence the window design are picked up under the headings of,. family structure. religion. privacy. economy and these influences are discussed in introduction and conclusion. Besides, the architectural importance of the "window" its his torical development since the Egyption Era, the changes it has gone through is studied in the early paragraphs of the second part. In the third part; the significance of "proportion" in Architec ture, its development, the proportion system used in the Classical Era its relation to Contemporary Architecture is emphasized. The analysis of the historical development of proportion is made under two sub-headings: 1. Proportion in Old Egyptian Architecture 2. Proportion in Greek Architecture. The significance of the use of proportion in these Eras and the specific proportion systems which are used are investigated here. In another perspective, the Proportion Systems are analyzed under the sub-headings of. The Golden Section. Renaissance Theories. Modulor In the first section the use of the Golden Section, its proper ties, its geometric and arithmetic expressions and the ways of applying them to building are explained. In the "Renaissance Theories" section the root of the propor tion systems in this Era; the formula by which Palladio found the most appropriate room sizes; the proportion system which is based upon musical scales; and the formula which shows the application of geometry from human body; with the help of drawings are described. In addition, the idea that mathematics and geometry was the ba sis of Art and Architecture in the Renaissance Era has been kept alive. The cases and examples of buildings on which the proportion systems were implemented on their facade designs are provided to show how these systems were utilized. vmUnder the sub-heading of "roodulor", Le Corbusier's use of pro portion systems in 20tn Century Architecture is explored through cer tain formulas and drawings. Similar to Palladio, Le Corbusier perceived the harmonic propor tion as the appropriate definition of design. This has formed a beau tiful and a harmonious balance between the past and present Architec ture. In all these cases, the importance of geometric aesthetics and mathematics on Architecture is stressed. In the Fourth Part, other facade elements which are used to gether with windows and which affect the design of the facade are identified. A number of approaches to the facade of the buildings in various Architectural Eras is examined in relation to their effect on the window as a building element. The concept of the facade has varied during the centuries de pending on political administration, the social attitudes, the social structure and the Architectural trends that followed them. The facade reflects the inside of the building on the outside; but it further reflects the various ideologies. As Kortan says "Architecture is not only to live inside, but also to view from outside". Kortan (1986). During Architectural History, different facade designs are im plemented to show the significance of the windows. These implementa tions have taken place under the direction of certain philosophical and Architectural trends. To start this part approaches to facade Resign in various Eras are given. However it has been avoided to compare them with each other to prevent superficial interpretations. Only a general level of information about these Eras is provided. In this part, those elements of facade design which are examined i ncl ude :. window. columns-plasters. cornice-eaves. bay window. balcony. texture. The elements cited above are described in various Architectural Eras and the way they have been changed until the present time is expressed. Each elements importance within a specific era is pointed out. At the end of this part, moving from general to the specific, all the information is focused on the window. The emphasis put on window design on the facade throughout the Architectural Eras is examined, supported by examples. The presenta tion is given in a chronological manner. - ix -The purpose of this is to take the design principles of the window in the past and present to allow the reader to make comparisons, Such a comparison does not appear in the thesis. Yet the reader is to derive this by himself. The principles of windows on facade design are picked up under the sub-headings of. Hierarchy. Space-Filling. Symmetry-Assymmetry. Form The design of the window element in various forms or various sizes on the facade to evoke hierarchical impression will be discussed by using examples. In hierarchy, an element is larger than another element. Thus the differences in size is observed to state its importance through contrast. To clarify the concept of hierarchy, the window is usually chosen as a facade element. are In addition to hierarchy, the concepts of the voids and fillings used to express facades. Spaces and fillings are aids in the expression of the building, on the plan and on the facade. This can be expressed through court yards on the plans and on the facades; through windows, doors, balconies and colonades creating the contrast of the spaces and the fillings. Horizantal and vertical impressions on the facades can be created through the forms and proportions of the spaces. The massive building without any spaces gives a feeling of being unoccupied. On the other hand a building which has a facade with spaces on it is more expressive and invites people into it. Another impression on the facade relates to the balance of symmetry versus asymmetry. A symmetric order reminds one firmly of Renaissance and Pall adi on Architecture. Both of these topics are taken up in this thesis. Approaches to symmetry and asymmetry during the classical era architecture have been different from that of contemporary Architec ture. The differences can be attributed to the users requirements, design principles and economic factors. The impact of symmetric and asymmetric order on the window ele ment is explained and its implementation illustrated with examples. Under form, the impact of various window forms on the facade and how this is perceived in psychological terms is explained through examples. At the end of this part, the messages reflected through the window forms and conveyed to the uses are explored. - x -The window form can provide clues about the country, and also can facilatate the recognition of the building designed by a particu lar architect. In the conclusion part, the significance of the window element throughout Architectural history in various eras under the influence of all these components mentioned above is once more emphasized. It is proposed that, with the help of the unlimited technolo gical opportunities of today, window designs, which would reveal the users comfort, and which will incorporate physical and cultural fac tors should be aimed at. Furthermore windows must be integrated into the facades of the buildings to create identity to the interior spaces as well as to the building exterior as a whole. - XI