Palais Garnier Opera Bastille

THE CONTEXT OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Strengthening a Sense of Place ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Within every city is a sense of place. An experience that is unique to it and it alone. It is an experience that reflects the ideals, A sense of place is most commonly defined as “a multidimensional construction representing beliefs, emotions and behavioral history, and aspirations of a community. Which is manifested in its architecture. When a building seeks to fit within this context commitments concerning a particular geographic setting.” It is the essence of the culture and values of the people in any it builds upon what is already there to fortify the character and overall meaning of the buildings around it. It does this by using particular location. The two main categories that contribute to a sense of place are physical and symbolic factors. Essentially the similar architectural motifs, proportions, and materials. All these elements come together to promote the singular voice of the answers to the following questions: what are the physical attributes of a place that make it unique? And what is the perceived people that built it. However, when a building doesn’t seek to fit into its context it disrupts the conversation of the buildings meaning or symbolism of that place? The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how the architectural design of a building can around it. If more and more egotistical buildings are built, the place becomes at risk of losing its voice and true self. In this study strengthen or weaken the sense of place established by its context. we seek to answer the question: How can a building strengthen a sense of place? METHODOLOGY: This study will analyze the physical and symbolic design of two architectural precedents. These precedents include the Palais Garnier and the Opera Bastille. Both of these precedents are prominent opera houses located in Paris France and share the same contextual sense of place. The characteristics of design that we will be looking at include: massing/scale, materiality, proportioning systems, and ornament/architectural details. These unique characteristics will then be compared to the precedent’s context. Context meaning the buildings and urban design of the precedent’s location. This will identify how well the design narrative of each building supports that of its context. PRECEDENTS:

MACRO: MICRO: PHYSICAL & PHYSICAL & SYMBOLIC SYMBOLIC NARRATIVE NARRATIVE

SENSE OF PLACE ARCHITECTURE PALAIS GARNIER OPERA BASTILLE

PROPORTION MASSING/SCALE ORNAMENT MATERIALITY PROPORTION MASSING/SCALE ORNAMENT MATERIALITY

PALAIS GARNIER OPERA BASTILLE Precedent Average building Precedent Average building height height

Physical: Physical: Physical: Physical: Physical: Physical: Physical: Physical: Classically ordered facade. 7 Exterior almost aligns Facade with various highly Stone exterior No order to facade Exterior does not align with Mechanical and repetitive Glass and metal Horizontal bays, 3 vertical. with adjacent buildings. details sculptures, carvings, adjacent buildings. Tallest and facade Exterior is large but human and other motifs. High level of Symbolic: Symbolic: largest building in vicinity. Symbolic: Symbolic: scale. Prominent dome and craftsmanship. Strength Chaos Symbolic: Industrial and mechanical. Order & Hierarchy. pediment. Symbolic: Emphasis industry. Strength and fragility. Symbolic: Very important almost Craftsmanship and high Symbolic: High culture is very important oppressive. culture not important. Place of importance. to people. Approachable facade, for CONTEXT: pubic use. CONTEXT: PROPORTION MASSING/SCALE ORNAMENT MATERIALITY PROPORTION MASSING/SCALE ORNAMENT MATERIALITY

Physical: Physical: Physical: Physical: SENSE OF PLACE SENSE OF PLACE Physical: Physical: Physical: Physical: Classically ordered facade. 9 Almost uniform heights Facade with various highly Stone exterior OF OF Classically ordered facades. 4 Almost uniform heights Facades and monuments Stone exterior Horizontal bays, 3 vertical. between buildings. Human details sculptures, carvings, PARIS, FRANCE PARIS, FRANCE vertical divisions between buildings with various highly detailed scale facades. and other motifs. High level of Symbolic: sculptures, carvings, and Symbolic: Symbolic: craftsmanship. Strength Symbolic: Symbolic: other motifs. High level of Strength Order & Hierarchy. Symbolic: Order & Hierarchy. Unity as a people craftsmanship. Unity as a people Symbolic: CONCLUSION: High culture is very important In conclusion, the architectural characteristics of the Palais Garnier match those of its context. Symbolic: to people. High culture is very important Strengthening the location’s sense of place by continuing the existing design narrative. Where as the Opera Bastille doesn’t not share similar design characteristics of its context. Therefore, undermining the location’s sense of place by promoting a different design narrative than that of its context. When a location’s sense of place is undermined it clouds the understanding of what the culture and values are of the people that live there. Theoretically these findings can apply to UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY any other building and its location. Further research should be conducted to determine if this is ARCHITECTURE & STUDENT: DEREK STEVENS ENGINEERING DESIGN true. These further studies should include other factors such as input from the public. This input RESEARCH ADVISOR: BRANDON RO could help better understand how buildings can support a sense of place.