Function and Form of Space in The House

Form follows function and form creates space. I believe us “amateur architects students” sometimes get caught and worried about the form of the building when in some cases the spaces are looked at more and paid closer attention to. Form deals with the structure of the building and the outside while space is dealt with the inside of the space and even the outside areas. Space is mostly understood through plans and is executed by how someone may feel through space. That what architects should strive for is the human relationship and interaction in the building. Ideally, that what our jobs are is to design for the people. The layout of the house achieves the relationship between the implied cube and the filled cubed. It is basically two squares in the plan but double cube in perspective which one is enclosed and the other is open.

The form of the house is split into 2 sections. The first being the approach to the house which is very open. You are faced with stairs that you can walk under or on. Once you passed the stairs you greeted into the second section which happens to be the house. The form of the house is “cubelike”. Majority of the form is represented through squares or rectangles. Simple forms can be very strong in architecture if executed correctly. I believe buildings can take on complex forms or simple clear forms.

There are three phases the house where it becomes densified as you walk more towards the back. The first phase being the first facade when you enter. Then you are faced with the second phase which is the center composition. The living space and open area and terrace above is the second phase. Finally, the third phase is the densest where Michael Graves mural is on the wall. That happens to be on the most intimate spaces and most expensive parts of the house. Graves portrayed a great example of space through the different phases.

The organization of space throughout the house is very intriguing. This house is unorthodox to the typical American home. The main entrance is on the second floor which is directed by stairs which host the living space and kitchen. The master bedroom is located on the third which is separated from the rest of the house, yet is open. It happens to be a mezzanine overlooking the living space. I strongly disagree with the idea of no walls. I believe master bedrooms are the space that needs to be hidden from the rest of the house on display. The idea of it being on the third floor is nice just not the openness part.

The Hanselmann displays great architecture and takes on a different style of form and spaces. The form follows the space that deals with phases and portions. As the cube becomes smaller and smaller the spaces become smaller and condensed. He shows directionality through the forced stairs the main entry being on the second floor. Graves work achieves a great representation of how someone moves through space.