Abstract:This paper emphasises the restoration of labyrinths in the memorial architecture of the 20th century. Projects mentioned in the article evoke different interpretations of ‘labyrinth’. There are examples of memorials in Berlin and in Israel designed by different architects. This paper concentrates on holocaust memorials and reveals the universal language of architecture which is based on archetypes. Thereby, young generations can comprehend values such as freedom and security.
Abstract:When designing a contemporary garden, be it private or public, it should be remembered that it has to be not only functional and aesthetic, but it should also have some theme and unique atmosphere – this can be achieved through, for example, artistic objects. Properly selected and placed to catch the eye, they arouse emotions and engage the intellect. Every historical epoch and all types of garden have their own distinctive sculptural themes and materials.
Abstract:Other than their basic mission to collect and promote art, museums serve the important culture-producing role of creating architectural landscape in cities. This article provides an analysis of characteristic examples of museums’ spatial expansion (the Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art) characterised by specific urban, architectural and cultural conditions existing in Manhattan borough of New York City.
Abstract:Paint research aims to detect the colour schemes used in architecture whether they be the original colours from when the structure was new or schemes used for repainting and renovations. Discoveries, often partial, may result in making difficult decisions since we have to select polychromes worth preserving and to choose the best method to present them. In the following paper, selected examples of the presentation of original colour schemes from Silesia, Lower Austria, Saxony and Brandenburg are discussed.
Abstract:In this paper, the author presents a practical method for the construction of anamorphic images based on their analytical properties that are characteristic of reflective conical anamorphic images. This study is a continuation of the earlier work in which the geometrical principles from a real-life image were described. In this paper, the author presents a set of analytical formulas that are used to describe the transformation together with their digital notation in the MS Excel software. The originally developed analytical model of transformation lets the author generate anamorphic images of any designed objects on the condition that they are represented by the parametric equations. These parametric formulas make the essential condition for enhancing the creation of the final form of an anamorphic image. Some exemplary anamorphic images have been presented here together with their visualisation that has been created with the aid of a prototype, conical-shaped mirror. The solutions presented in this work provide a tool for the precise design and development of anamorphic images within the urban space of a town and in the interiors of a public use.
Abstract:A regulation plan for the city of Bielsko procured in 1899 described ways of arranging the city landscape in the circumstances of a dynamic industrial growth. The following dissertation is focused on the matters concerning municipal parks. Documents from the 19th century are compared with modern planning documents as well as today’s needs and expectations of residents of the city. It also presents the current condition of park greenery.
Abstract:The discussion contained in the paper highlights the relationship between the process of revitalisation and the specialisation of landscape architecture. This is an artistic, professional and scientific field that is focused on the theoretical foundations of shaping landscapes and the development of practical methods of designing them. Revitalisation, on the other hand, is defined as a process of the internal renewal of degraded urban or rural spaces. In order to develop a proper plan of action, it is necessary to perform various types of analyses with the aim of discovering the source of the crisis that has taken hold of a given area, as well as determining the natural and cultural values which define the identity of an area, on the basis of which, the right decisions regarding the composition of its space can be made. This paper also provides examples of rural areas in the west of Germany that have undergone multi-aspect renewal, as well as efforts that are being made in relation to rural areas located in Poland. These examples highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the process of revitalisation and its key issues: those of establishing spatial harmony and the preservation and highlighting of the heritage of the landscape.
Abstract:The paper contains a short history of the evolution of vaults and the principles of creating digital models of barrel vaults with the use of AutoCAD software. It is also richly illustrated with drawings of digital models created in AutoCAD.
Abstract:This paper contains several author’s propositions for the shaping of structural systems for the design of high-rise buildings. The author has developed these structural systems as special types of space structures. The main goal in the processes of shaping these structures was to strive to enhance their rigidity by relatively simple means. Additionally, there was the aim to incorporate alternative evacuation routes in cases of emergency rather than only by vertical transportation means, which are usually located only in the central cores of tall buildings. The proposed structural systems of aboveground floors need to be highly resistant to the maximum values of horizontal, vertical, thermal and earthquake loads. These structures for high-rise buildings can be constructed from steel, reinforced concrete or they can be compound systems. Applications of these systems will considerably enrich the scope of the architectonic views of the tall buildings in which they are incorporated. The safety of tall buildings is to a large extent determined by the stability of their foundation structure particularly when they are located in areas with subsoil of small load capacity or areas that are at risk of earthquake. The paper also presents some proposals for the shaping of the foundation systems devised by the author and indented for heavily loaded objects including high-rise buildings.
Abstract:European cathedrals and churches are not only a testament to faith but are also masterpieces of architecture and generators of the highest order of intellectual, emotional and aesthetic values. They are also important components of cultural contexts. The image of a temple often plays a part in the cultural space of a city – apart from the commonly understood religious function – it creates cities, it is a part of national memory, it strengthens social identity, in addition to fulfilling an aesthetic and marketing function. By remaining bound to each other, temples are a part of the multi-layered heritage of past generations.
