Creating an Aesthetic Assemblage from Diverse Elements
DC Metro Area
insights on residential architec-
ture have been published in
House Beautiful, the New York Times, Southern Living, the Washingtonian, Washington
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“How can I create unification among diverse architectural elements, like windows? ”
Answer:
Throughout architects’ careers, we encounter design problems that require a thoughtful design approach. For centuries, architects have used the design concept of placing a frame around a diverse group of architectural elements to unify them. For example, two adjacent architectural elements—such as windows, doors, or other features—are placed within a perimeter frame. Further embellishment is achieved with a decorative panel placed between the windows. Thus, the individual architectural parts are grouped within a perimeter frame and the new assemblage creates an architectural feature with more visual importance.
Window Groupings to Create Architectural Unification
You can see real-life examples in the photos below, which show homes built from 1880s – 1920s utilizing this design concept.
Conclusion
By doing this, the design architect judiciously decides what building features are worthy of this architectural treatment. But the design concept is applicable to any and all architectural design—regardless of style.
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About Bruce
Bruce Wentworth, AIA, is a practicing architect whose insights on residential architecture have been published in House Beautiful, Southern Living, Washingtonian, Colonial Homes, and other periodicals.
