First Principles: Three Aspects of Architecture

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14_EBO_Construct_Specs_Spring_10_Full_Page.pdf (15.61 MB)
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First Principles:  Three Aspects of Architecture

 The practice of Architecture as an art requires cognitive tools to categorize and classify the myriad bits of information about the design, the code compliance, the products and materials of a facility to produce a coherent whole.  Here is a brief overview of some ancient and modern classification tools and how they can be used to orchestrate the necessary content.

 Marcus Vitruvius Pollio is the first architect of ancient times whose writings have been preserved intact.  Fortunately for us, he was a prolific writer on his topic and we owe him for a great deal of our present knowledge about design and construction technology of Augustan-era Rome.

 The attached engraving, titled “Portrait of Vitruvius” appeared in Architetto Prattico by Giovanni Biagio Amico, in 1726.  We no have idea if this is a good likeness of our Roman benefactor, of course, since no images of him from his time are preserved, but for purposes of reference today, it will have to serve.

 Vitruvius Pollio was a practical man like many Romans, and his work is filled with details of brickwork,  mix designs for mortar, and the proper method of providing fall in aqueducts, all matters of concern for architectural practice then.  But he considered the theoretical aspects of design as well.  One of the significant portions in his treatise discusses aspects of Architecture, as distinguished from mere “building”, where he claims each building must possess three characteristics, to be worthy of the name Architecture:

 Firmitas: Strength, Adequacy; Includes Structural strength to bear imposed loads; weatherproof, watertight, safe and secure; also code compliance measures of all kinds, including fire, life safety, accessibility, environmental resource protection provisions and code-mandated sustainability aspects. For purposes of discussion, also includes the roles and responsibilities of the parties, risk allocation and similar topics.

Commoditas (or Utilitas):  Commodity, Utility; the aspects of function and use, the ability to fulfill the required Program. All the attributes required for the facility's function as required by the Owner or inherent in their purpose, including Owner-requested quality requirements exceeding the codes (such as sustainability, or  high performance functional attributes or process systems).

Venustas: Beauty, Delight. The Design. The artistic or “designed” aspect of the facility as conceived by the Owner or Architect to please the occupants and arouse the higher emotions of appreciation and the sublime in viewers and occupants.  Architecture as an art.

The Specifier's challenge is to assemble all the critical information about the Facility Design described in this rubric and orchestrate it into a coherent whole, which can be used and understood by all the Parties to the construction to complete the Facility in accordance with the Contract Documents.  Future posts will describe tools designed for this purpose, published by the Construction Specifications Institute, www.csinet.org.

Next Post:  The Architect's Dream.