The Humana Building in Louisville, Kentucky was designed and built by Michael Graves from 1982 – 1985 in what some say is a staple of the Postmodern movement. This skyscraper building is one of Graves’ most well known, due to its twist on classic features and the unique materials he used. It is 26-stories high and sits on the Ohio River. The Humana Building was made for the Humana Company which specializes in health care. There is actually a combination of many classical forms, from multiple time periods utilized in the design. Also, this building is unlike other skyscrapers due to the fact that, although it is a large rectangular box similar to other skyscrapers which surround it, each façade differs in a combination of style, shape and color.
The heavy appeal to the façade connects this building firstly to Romanesque architecture, where the front façade is considered the most important. This is a significant comparison because the building is putting on a show for the viewers who walk past, and the detail put into it makes the building more important to those simpler ones surrounding.
At the top of the building, or what is the conference floor, it shapes into a form similar to that of a ziggurat*; a Ziggurat is a type of temple. This once again connects the viewer to the grand feeling and gives of an air of importance about the company, and it helps to make the building intimidating.
At the base, the bottom eight floors of the building are made of large columns which are so wide and tall they will intimidate any customer. The idea of columns originates from Greek and early Roman design, and I believe is utilized by Graves to, once again, express the importance of the building.
The mix of these classical elements – a ziggurat from the Egyptian time, columns from the Greek and Roman period, an important façade from the Romanesque period – all occupy two reoccurring themes. These are, as I have mentioned, intimidation and importance. Healthcare is very significant to people in our country, it is difficult to live well without it. In this way, I believe Graves chose these significant features because they related to the point of the company. They also were easily recognizable and respected. The second factor, intimidation, was key in Graves design because health care itself is no easy thing. Unrelated to the business however, I think Graves also used these obvious designs because in the time of post-modernism, when it was considered okay to borrow from the past but American designers were still searching for what “American design” was, he wanted to put a twist on classic elements, making that statement and connecting the past to the present.
The building not only harkens back to classic designs, but it emulates the surrounding buildings which were previously in existence. He created the 8-story loggia – an Italian design – to sit with the small buildings and shops on the street front (to the right it you face the building), though he still made it taller reinforcing his buildings importance once again. The remaining 18-stories were built up into a skyscraper which places it on the same level of importance as those skyscrapers surrounding it, but most noticeably the tall skinny one to the very left.
Although it has the loggia, making the base almost square, the majority of the building is a rectangle, being vertical in shape. The building has these strong verticals, once again relating it to classic designs where buildings reached up ‘as far as the eye could see.’ This works especially well since most of the surrounding buildings are short – with the exception being the before mentioned tall, skinny skyscraper. It is definitely set apart from this building as well, and that is by the materials which were used to construct the Humana Building.
The skyscraper to the left is made of what seems to be steel and glass, popular during the revolution, while Graves’ Humana Building is made from unique pink granite. Most of the windows are small, differing once again from the other skyscraper which is basically all windows. Graves chose the pink granite** specifically because he wanted a unique material that was this pink color and texture, though it did cause uproar, because of where it came from.
Graves probably did not consider the three factors of commodity, firmness, and delight, but he did a good job incorporating them. The building has a unique design, provoking people to notice, to stop and look. The material is not widely used, and because of this it is very appealing to people walking by; it provides interest. It was functional and commodious, for example, because the columns at the base help to keep the structure standing, while also serving as a grand entrance way. There is also a large, open curved space near the top which serves as an observation deck. This deck allows for a wonderful view of the Ohio River as well as other surrounding buildings – accessible, though, only to those who attend the meetings, or those of importance, once again creating the superiority of the building.
When compared to the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, one can see many obvious differences; I chose it due it the subtle similarities. The uses of the buildings differ and, though the Proximity Hotel it quite large, it is not as tall as the Humana building. They are different classifications all together, one is a skyscraper. The similarities, though, are the geometric shapes seen through the facades of both buildings. The Humana Building has varying façades, but down to its basics the windows are all squares that follow in straight rows and columns, through the whole side of the building. The Proximity Hotel is the same – it has rows and columns of square windows which never vary in size or placement. They both also have an X mark on a window, or in the place of a window, which furthers the geometric pattern.
Personally I find the Humana Building by Michael Graves to be a very intriguing building. He combines many classic elements, as well as new modern one to create a place for people to enjoy. I believe he blends the elements together nicely, and I appreciate the way in which he designed all the façades differently. Last, I believe he designed the building well in comparison to its use – a calming yet complex place that deals with things that aren’t so simple such as healthcare.
*http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/kentucky/louisville/humana/humana.html
**http://eng.archinform.net/projekte/6402.htm
Michael Graves: Buildings and Projects 1982 – 1989; Princeton Architectural Press
Kings of Infinite Space: Frank Lloyd Wright & Michael Graves; Charles Jenks
Friday, May 8, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Explorations
http://en.structurae.de/files/photos/2018/amiens/am_c1_st.jpg
http://www.destination360.com/europe/italy/trevi-fountain.php
http://www.revellphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/2326031072_f5d4c3d022.jpg
http://ocw.core.org.cn/CORE/architecture/the-history-of-ancient-chinese-architecture/the-history-of-ancient-chinese-architecture
http://www.sjctax.us/stjohns/images/fort.JPG
http://media.photobucket.com/image/church%20stained%20glass%20winter%20park/MyLeftWing/Chartres_Cathedral_The_North_Rose_D.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/Stonehenge.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/Colored_pencils_chevre.jpg/800px-Colored_pencils_chevre.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.burnsland.com/photos/wdw043/wdw043_06.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.burnsland.com/photos/wdw043.shtml&usg=__Vv5EOrURupUMRdb-Oc5gnmZP3NE=&h=375&w=500&sz=78&hl=en&start=16&um=1&tbnid=sceYlsx3A0fnYM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmain%2Bstreet%2Bdisney%2Bworld%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4TSHB_enUS277US277%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Oregon_zoo_peacock_male.jpg
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Opus 14
Community
Architects wanted their buildings to have meaning. They wanted to give back to the community with an attempt at architecture being “exalted to become rich and meaningful.” (Roth 608) These designers created environments for groups of people, living and working together in traditional ways (Roth 607) – they were not designing based on what they wanted in particular. They wanted to create places of less monotony and more life, establishing clear identities. Also at this time a main influence which affected the community was sustainability. There are some exceptions to this, but by and large, the issue of sustainability has grown in importance on a global level, and also for the whole of the design community. (Massey 219) This has affected multiple aspects of design; renewable resources are being used, making some ‘exotic’ materials – such as ebony – banned, and there is a more careful thought out use of energy, the use of natural light for example. (Massey 219-221). An example of a design excelling in this is Yeang’s Menara Mesiniaga Tower. It has separations between the floors and an open service core allowing air flow; the windows which face the east and west are shaded to prevent the use of excess air conditioning. (Roth 609) This is just one buildings example, however, in how the entire design community is working to decrease the amount in which they negatively affect the land, and increase sustainability.
Stewardship
This issue of sustainability - which some say is the main issue of design at this time – I have already mentioned is a way in which designers have displayed stewardship. They are trying to improve the effects of their buildings and designs for themselves and others present, the future inhabitants of the earth, and the earth itself. They are picking products which require “less intrusive extraction of the raw materials and less toxic production process” and yet they are still maintaining a wonderfully designed building which also “depends less on the consumption of nonrenewable energy.” (Roth 608) This list, along with what I have already given expresses how designers and architects are trying to make the world a better, cleaner place to live.
Innovation
With a new century comes new inventions, and new ways of thinking. I have already described one building, the Menara Mesiniaga Tower by Ken Yeang, in which he uses innovative ideas to create a more sustainable building. There are other aspects of design, however, where designers create new, modern, innovative ideas. The use of minimalist designs are seen throughout modern buildings – the Prada store in Tokyo has a minimal quantity of clothing on display, but a futuristic design with digital databases of the clothes in stock (Massey 235). Another example, the 4-you Youth Savings Bank in austria, by Burgler and Petrovic, utilizes a baseball themed design to attract young people to the bank.
These two designs have little to do with the functions of the building, but are new ways of expressing the meanings. Also, another design being utilized recently is that of music being blasted through stores and buildings. This music creates a feeling, similar to that of the buildings meaning or location perhaps, but not necessarily to what is actually seen in the design of the building. (Massey 239)
Authenticity
At this time in design, I see it as difficult for anything to be authentic, or perceived as authentic. Many designs emulate pre-existing designs. Even if a designer or architect has a new innovative idea, chances are it was already in use in some way at some time. This can be difficult to judge, however. Take sustainability for example – although it is a design aspect that has recently become popular, the first sustainable designs can be linked back to when people used local materials which were in abundance, large windows, or the weather to their advantage, the even if it was unintentional.
This week I have learned through the discussion and reading that community has lead to less ‘crap in the suburbs’ housing being built, though it is still being built quite a lot. The consideration of community has also brought forth the aspect of sustainable design and how designers and architects have been trying to become better at sustainability. All of these considerations have created new (somewhat authentic) innovative designs to our community, local and global.
Architects wanted their buildings to have meaning. They wanted to give back to the community with an attempt at architecture being “exalted to become rich and meaningful.” (Roth 608) These designers created environments for groups of people, living and working together in traditional ways (Roth 607) – they were not designing based on what they wanted in particular. They wanted to create places of less monotony and more life, establishing clear identities. Also at this time a main influence which affected the community was sustainability. There are some exceptions to this, but by and large, the issue of sustainability has grown in importance on a global level, and also for the whole of the design community. (Massey 219) This has affected multiple aspects of design; renewable resources are being used, making some ‘exotic’ materials – such as ebony – banned, and there is a more careful thought out use of energy, the use of natural light for example. (Massey 219-221). An example of a design excelling in this is Yeang’s Menara Mesiniaga Tower. It has separations between the floors and an open service core allowing air flow; the windows which face the east and west are shaded to prevent the use of excess air conditioning. (Roth 609) This is just one buildings example, however, in how the entire design community is working to decrease the amount in which they negatively affect the land, and increase sustainability.
Stewardship
This issue of sustainability - which some say is the main issue of design at this time – I have already mentioned is a way in which designers have displayed stewardship. They are trying to improve the effects of their buildings and designs for themselves and others present, the future inhabitants of the earth, and the earth itself. They are picking products which require “less intrusive extraction of the raw materials and less toxic production process” and yet they are still maintaining a wonderfully designed building which also “depends less on the consumption of nonrenewable energy.” (Roth 608) This list, along with what I have already given expresses how designers and architects are trying to make the world a better, cleaner place to live.
Innovation
With a new century comes new inventions, and new ways of thinking. I have already described one building, the Menara Mesiniaga Tower by Ken Yeang, in which he uses innovative ideas to create a more sustainable building. There are other aspects of design, however, where designers create new, modern, innovative ideas. The use of minimalist designs are seen throughout modern buildings – the Prada store in Tokyo has a minimal quantity of clothing on display, but a futuristic design with digital databases of the clothes in stock (Massey 235). Another example, the 4-you Youth Savings Bank in austria, by Burgler and Petrovic, utilizes a baseball themed design to attract young people to the bank.
These two designs have little to do with the functions of the building, but are new ways of expressing the meanings. Also, another design being utilized recently is that of music being blasted through stores and buildings. This music creates a feeling, similar to that of the buildings meaning or location perhaps, but not necessarily to what is actually seen in the design of the building. (Massey 239)
Authenticity
At this time in design, I see it as difficult for anything to be authentic, or perceived as authentic. Many designs emulate pre-existing designs. Even if a designer or architect has a new innovative idea, chances are it was already in use in some way at some time. This can be difficult to judge, however. Take sustainability for example – although it is a design aspect that has recently become popular, the first sustainable designs can be linked back to when people used local materials which were in abundance, large windows, or the weather to their advantage, the even if it was unintentional.
This week I have learned through the discussion and reading that community has lead to less ‘crap in the suburbs’ housing being built, though it is still being built quite a lot. The consideration of community has also brought forth the aspect of sustainable design and how designers and architects have been trying to become better at sustainability. All of these considerations have created new (somewhat authentic) innovative designs to our community, local and global.
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