SOLIDS AND CAVITIES IN ARCHITECTURE

In architecture is very important to mention that all the work that is done in terms of creating something aesthetic it has to do with the art of playing with solids(forms) and cavities(spaces)

To simply explain in other words solids are the containers and the cavities are the contained like the relationship between the glasses and the liquids in them. It is very important to say that these two depend o lot on the function and the structure of the building with no doubt.

BUT WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT CREATE SOLIDS AND CAVITIES?

These elements can be horizontal such as base planes elevated,overhead ones ,but also vertical elements such as linear,l-shaped,parallel planes etc.

There exist the relationship between formal and spatial elements too,where we can mention the interlocking spaces or the space within the space.

Something we should not forget is the organizing of these two

TO HAVE A BETTER PERCEPTION ON SOLIDS AND CAVITIES we should understand the relationship between them,this being a figure ground one.

When an architects designs he/she can start by the design of main forms and later on think about the details.BUT ARE WE SURE THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO? NO

AN ARCHITECT SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE FORMS AND SPACES AT THE SAME TIME.

The best example is the BEAUVAIS Cathedral where the structural features were aesthetically treated by giving it a sculptural form.

CAN AN ARCHITECT HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH ?

YES.He/she may work firstly with the empty space--the cavity--between the solids and consider the forming of that space as the real meaning of architecture.

If in the cathedral we had the stone mass which was the reality in the second are the cavities within the mass.(2d vase example,the temples in Karli,India

If we are to group architects on the way they design we have the cavity--minded and the solid--minded architects.

We have the best representatives of these two :GOTHIC ARCH --EMPHASIZED THE STRUCTURAL FORMS

RENAISSANCE PERIOD IN ARCH --EMPHASIZED THE CAVITIES(THE DOMES)

Whats interesting is the contrast effects that the solids and the cavities have in architecture. It creates a visual drama and this is shown and found in old massive buildings with a big hisory behind them but also in the modern times--THE WORK OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT creating a fantasy of the contrasting material and so on.

To sum it up we can say that solids and cavities are a way for the architect to find a true expression to his work.