Building & Body
Architecture building and human body has a strong and inseparable relationship since ancient times till nowadays. The question not only emerge by exploring the relationship about finding the proper dimensions within architectural space to accommodate a person and their behavior “anthropometry” within it. Besides that, the relationship between architecture and human body has delves deep into why people manifest in the first place, which the characteristics and qualities are both combined together that will impacting not only the occupant behavior through the body, but also affecting occupants intellectually, emotionally, physiologically even spiritually through the body.
As stated by Vitruvius in The Ten Books on Architecture, “Since nature has designed the human body so that its members are duly proportioned to the frame as a whole.”
Yet, different person have its own human body proportion. Architect should consider about the human diversity in terms of gender, age, race, nationality, occupation,ability and socioeconomic condition. Moreover, different program should also be consider and provide different design to suit the respective human anthropometry. For example, design a childcare center and an age care center is totally differences from the age, size, activities and ability.By Lance Hosey, “Hidden Lines: Gender, Race, and the Body.”
In the others hand, Le Corbusier stated that “ Building should be the concern of heavy industry, and the component parts of houses should be mass-produced. And, in order to do that, it is necessary to standardize.” He claim that one day “Le Modulor” can be an ideal basis for universal standardize, which the world has same communication method and all the construction problem can be simplified. Yet, the modular is only specific to male. So, “Whose body?”
One of the contemporary case study to explain with the statement is Cité du Corps Humain (Museum of the Human Body) in Montpellier, France by BIG.
“explore the human body from an artistic, scientific and societal approach through culture activities, interactive exhibitions, performances and workshops”
It’s design, orchestrated by eight undulating forms which “weave together” to create an underlying continuous space. The stunning views, access to daylight and critical internal connections will all be revealed by museum’s shifting form. A series of seemingly singular pavilions that weave together to form a unified institution- like individual fingers united together in a mutual grip. Which it is fully integrate with different people anthropometry.
Dynamic landscape of vegetal and mineral surfaces that allow park’s visitors to explore and express their bodies in various ways - from contemplation to performance - fro relaxing to exercising - from soothing to challenging. It provides the sence of human to explore the activities in the building.
The museum will contribute to local’s rich scientific and cultural heritage, attracting tourists, families, as well as school classes, academics and art lovers.
Another case study is The Marilyn Monroe Buildings, a residential condominiums twin tower skyscraper complex in Canada by Burka Architects, MAD studio. They officially called as Absolute Tower. The buildings look like entire bodies. The buildings in honor of the former movie star’s famous buxom shape. Which I think the buildings are metaphor o the body, where it intents to adopted the human body into the structure.
In my opinion, building nowadays are the combination of both metaphors of the body and direct responses to the body. The function of building is to provide a comfortable and specific space follow by the diversity of users and the specific program. In the same time, the aesthetic value and safety shall integrate together as well.
