Rhythm in Architecture

What does rhythm in architecture mean?

As found in music and dance, rhythm can create a feeling of sound and motion. But with music and dance, the sound or movement starts with silence or motionlessness and then becomes something you experience and then resolves to what is was before.

Rhythm is a time element based on movement. But architecture generally speaking doesn't move. In the idea of physical work. It is easy to see how sub-dividing the difficult labor into short regular intervals is less tiresome then to do it in one long stretch. Therefore, by creating some kind of rhythm, where regularity exists, where one gives rise to the next without conscious effort changing from one interval to the next, the work load is lightened.

Although architecture is static, we still experience a rhythm about it. Visually we follow patterns that although no sound or motion about its self occurs, we can follow it with our eyes or physically move past and through these spaces ourselves. Vertically, horizontally, as well as 3-dimensionally, architecture creates rhythm.

In the example of the terraced houses in London during the 18th century, The facades were subdivided by three bays with the entrance to one side. The patter visually created a triplet or waltz rhythm. As architecture progressed these rhythms became more complex and occurred on not just one level but differed from one level to another; as to create a composition of alternating rhythms as your eyes read both horizontally and vertically.

In the example of the Venetians and their four story homes. The rhythms alternated from floor to floor and the outdoor chimney would act similar to that of the vertical bar of a music score, keeping order over notes on the staff.

In the example of a cathedral, each bay alone has no meaning; it is only in their rhythmic relation to each other that they become something of meaning.

The rhythm in architecture is easy for one to experience and absorb. Often without any conscious effort, architectural rhythms allow the mind to be free to experience the more complex and adventurous elements of space. Rhythm is more then a construct of function. Rhythm in architecture creates the foundation for the visual and physical transformation one experiences within built space. Creating feelings of tension and mystery as seen in Gothic architecture or harmony and clarity as seen in Renaissance architecture. Furthermore, rhythm can create spatial sequencing; a series of individual spaces dynamically connected rhythmically to create the whole. If you were to take one space away from the series it would feel incomplete. Rhythm then creates feelings of completeness. Wholeness.

Today in architecture we have seen a change in rhythm from the rigid frontal style to a more plastic style. I will speak to this as I learn more. If anyone cares to make a comment on this topic feel free to respond to this blog or email me.

to be continued...