Examples of architecture and environments in which geometric shapes are displayed. The students should discuss each example with each other and the teacher. Note - the dodecahedron near the end of this presentation is an animated gif image. It should rotate when shown using a Powerpoint viewer, but may not work on this site.

1. MathematicalMathematical
Concepts and Shape inConcepts and Shape in
Architecture andArchitecture and
EnvironmentsEnvironments

2. Geometric Shapes – "The laws of
nature are but the mathematical
thoughts of God”
- Euclid –
a
mathema-
tician who
lived over
2000
years ago

3. In Nature we can see many
geometric (mathematical) shapes.

4. Which shapes can you see in this
honeycomb?

5. Artists and architects have often
been inspired by these shapes and
mathematical rules.
The Pentagon building – Virginia, USA

6. Here the pentagon appears again,
in a partition wall design.

7. Often, natural
shapes and
forms have
near-perfect
Symmetry
(both sides
being identical
but reversed).

8. The arrow shows the Line of
Symmetry

9. An example of symmetry in architecture: the
Taj Mahal in India – built by a 'Shah'
(emperor), in memory of his third wife,
between 1631-54

10. These segments of an orange are
showing perfect radial symmetry.

12. Radial symmetry in a teapot!

13. An example in architecture is the
rotunda dome skylight in the Museum
African American History Detroit
Michigan USA

14. The fibonacci spiral is a shape with
mathematical rules that is found in
many places in nature, such as this
shell, our ears, the solar system...

15. The fibonacci spiral inspired this
path in a park (Eastwood Hill) in
New Zealand...

16. ...and this spiral staircase.

17. More shapes in architecture and
environments

18. The Sydney Opera House is one of the most
famous buildings in the world. This photo
shows it at night.

19. The designer of the Sydney Opera
House wanted the shapes to look
like the segments of an orange.

20. Can you notice the similarity in the
shapes?

22. Aluminium (a metal) was used to construct
this building in a Botanical Gardens
environment. (Michigan, US)

23. A view from inside the same
structure

24. This greenhouse in Gruningen
Botanical Garden, Germany, is
inspired by the shapes of trees.

25. A closer view
of the same
greenhouse
– it is made
of steel and
glass.

26. This garden pavillion was constructed using recycled
builder's 'palettes'. What shape are the spaces between
the palettes?

27. On the subject of recycled materials, here is a floor
design consisting of bottle tops. The architect Dan
Phillips of Texas uses many recycled materials in the
houses that he designs.

28. The Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, has
dome-shaped 'biospheres'. Which natural
creation do they also resemble?

29. Glass pyramid next to the Louvre, Paris, France

30. Office building - Chihuahua, Mexico

31. This modern
farmhouse
displays a
simple
arched
shape.

32. Interesting angular shapes in a
holiday residence in the Italian Alps

34. What other unusual shapes could be
included in your building or environment
design?

35. This is a
museum
of
architec-
ture in
Japan

36. How about a dodecahedron?

37. Should all our environments be still?

38. The possibilities for inventing new
and interesting designs are almost
limitless...
If you could invent an unusual
dwelling or environment, could you
create one like no other that ever
existed???