Body & Building ---------- Y A N C H Y U A N K A I

B O D Y   &    B U I L D I N G

We see what we see , but do we really understand it ?...

In today's architecture , we see more & more building are closely related to the shape of human body , no matter it is an inspiration or direct design corresponding to the homosapien's body . For that matter , we will determine what is the connection between BODY & BUILDING and voice my opinion on this relationship . 

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Human Body .....

"Proportion is a correspondence among the measures of members 
of an entire work" 

Marcus Vitruvius and his infamous Vitruvius Man creation . The body is the ideal human proportion with its certain fixed geometry .


In architecture way , it helps to create the ergonomics between the user and object , which in a way help us to understand more of the comfort interaction of one body to the surrounding and object interacted . 

We do believe the importance of connection between body study and architecture , but is the study of the proportion of human body only for the sake of :-

       1. Study the requirement needed for a human or maybe a group in a space

       2. The maximum reach of a human to the ceiling

       3. The space required for comfort 

Or is it more than that ? ...

Some building are the metaphor and abstraction of the human building . I believe if that architecture is metaphor and abstraction then the building has its design derived directly through an idea of symbolization , particularly human body . 

Santiago Calatrava 

A master in symbolization and metaphor in designing a building . In his bundles of designed buildings , he have numerous number of designed building that has the symbolization of a human body , which suits to explain the relationship between human body and architecture building.

Turning Torso - Santiago Calatrava , 2005 . 

Designed by Santiago Calatrava himself . This architecture works symbolizes the anthropometric form of a human body , its physical properties . He said " it symbolized the body movement when it is turning backward"  

Turning Torso . Name of the building itself has mentioned the symbolization of a torso ( upper body part of a human) turning , a direct symbolizes and direct translation. From building , it shown the obvious part of the building is turning , it is designed directly to the movement of the body is turning to a certain degree . 

If we look at the piece of art from the architect's drawing showed a very distinct characteristics traits of the human figures directly corresponded to the building . 


Next building .....

This is the World Trade Center Transportation Hub , also by the same architect , Santiago Calatrava . 

The building consist the metaphor to part of human body , prominently the hand , which the hand is releasing a bird to the air . Mr Santiago Calatrava said it is the initial inspiration when it is in the designing stage.  The inspiration coincide the function of the building , which is a transportation hub . As we know , transportation hub is place where passengers and cargo are exchanged between vehicles or between transport modes. How it metaphor-ED is that , the bird release is as the same as the transport , doesn't really matter what vehicles , depart from the transportation hub is the same as the bird is released . A simple but a very meaningful metaphor used by Mr Santiago Calatrava .

Conclusion , i believe in what we see in modern day's , human bodies is very efficient and widely used to express the feeling to the building design , where we don't have to speak for the building , as building will speak on its own . The way human bodies effect the architecture has way beyond ergonomics and anthropometry studies , has gone beyond the expression of the architect . 

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References :

https://www.calatrava.com/projects/world-trade-center-transportation-hub-new-york.html

http://www.archdaily.com/381166/calatrava-to-build-world-s-most-expensive-transportation-hub

https://www.google.com/search?q=function+of+a+transportation+hub&rlz=1C1CHBF_enMY753MY753&oq=function+of+a+transportation+hub&aqs=chrome..69i57.8927j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.google.com/search?q=anthropometry&rlz=1C1CHBF_enMY753MY753&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjm3qb35Z_WAhWJOo8KHV_pDK0Q_AUICygC&biw=1536&bih=710

Article from LMS 

Week 7 article .