Hey Comrades! Were you aware that, consciously or unconsciously, we, the rest of us, play a major and vital role in the Hierarchy. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we must identify or gain experience or, unknowingly, participate in it. The hierarchy is all over it. As an illustration, When there is a procession, there will be a head and several disciples. In the case of a film, there will be one or two primary roles and several supporting roles.
In these two illustrations, the hierarchy can be clearly expressed and understood! What are they trying to say or to express themselves? If there are no followers, then this is not going to be considered a parade. If there are no more supporting and vocal roles in the film, it will not be filled. Like this, Showing or expressing hierarchy in the design or other things is not mandatory but an essential lifestyle or.
As Mason Cooley says, “ Every seeming equality conceals a Hierarchy.”
Relation Between Form and Space
There are two celebrated concepts which govern the world of design. The first is “Form Follows Function” by Louis Sullivan. The second is “Form Doesn’t Necessarily Follow Function” by Antonia Gaudia. It may or may not be dependent on the designers and how they approach or deliver ideas. But, as far as I’m concerned, “Form creates function as a source of space”. Let me clear this.
Consider a vacant space, which is surrounded by large buildings on three sides and a long path on one side. This location is situated near a city center. An average of hundreds to thousands of people cross the site. The design is yours.
In that case, when I told you to consider an empty space, you don’t even think of the environment or the environments. You just imagine a vast and useless land. You do not know how to proceed or what to do thereafter. But once I noted that it was surrounded by large buildings, it certainly gives you a diverse overview of buildings and their shapes. It suggests you imagine how it will look or what kind of function or activities it will incorporate. Moreover, I have just added two notes as city center and public movement. It gives you an overall concept and ideas of your design output.
Hence, From these illustrations, Forms are predominant which gives an idea of the activities through space (like community participation and benchmark).
Need and Purpose Of The Space
When you’re sitting on the bench behind the pillar in the corridor, plants are placed on either side. How do you determine your space? Or how do you go about it? If you are going to narrate the site or simply go tell the spot about your presence. You will narrate the location, because of its spatial organization. When you say I’m on the bench, no one gets to understand. But once you narrate the location. It will guide them to access you.
From this context, Plants on either side of the bench, Pillar in the corridor, and bench behind the pillar are in Hierarchy. This kind of space creates an active place and encourages society to access and properly use the space.
Participation Of Spaces In The Environment
When you place a small chair on the large lawn, it creates more activity and becomes a focus instead of leaving it empty. Each item has a storyline and a role to play in the environment.
In this urban green area, We can classify it into five, 1. Path, 2. landscape, 3. Lush green lawn, 4. Play area, and 5. setbacks (Bushes). In this closed environment, each space has an individual role to play along with the community. Pathway, which acts as a cycle or running track. Lush green grass creates leisure and a tranquil atmosphere. The landscape filters out polluted air and purifies microclimates. Playzone that activates users to use the space. And finally, setbacks with bushes make the space look elegant with the space goal barrier.
Need To Hierarchy Of Particular Space
The Benjamin Franklin courtroom in Philadelphia, USA, was designed by Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi. In this design, we can see the dots and lines apart from the volume. But it creates volumetric space and provides the sense of volumetric composition in space without really evolving it. Two different kinds of structures emphasize the activity of space. The one which invites and acts as an entry place for the user. The other with some irregular concrete blocks encourages the community gathering and makes them communicate with each other.
Imagine, when there will be no such structures, those spaces become empty and make users cross that annoying path as soon as possible. Despite the absence of shade, it invites society. This kind of hierarchy not only gives prominence to the building but also the environment.
Sources Needed To Hierarchy
We don’t need big structures or bold components to rank things on the horizon. Need to be aware of the significance and purpose of space. It is important to understand the shape or structure of the environment. We need to know the needs of users and give them room to participate in the environment. Hierarchy is not something individual, it is something group. Everything counts.
When the structure is asymmetrical or with a high cantilever does not result in a hierarchy of space. It creates a virtual hierarchy and creates enthusiasm amongst users to publicize the space. But when they are emotional or encourage the hierarchy of participation, that would be the best of their purpose.
