1. Perspectives on Architecture
Written Journal Assignment : week 1
Dermot Davis, stage 1, Landscape Architecure
Student No. 94121401
Photograph of the 'Seagram Building, New York City
This is a massively tall rectangular straight form building. It has prominent horizontal divisions and
within these divisions it is cladded with glass window panes. Its structural base stands on a flat
raised platform and its load-bearing supporting columns exposed that one can walk freely among
them.The building's orientation is part of a network of other built structures; spaced apart by road
pathways, lines and edges, a familiar image, the building is a sky-scrapper in a city.
For me the most relevant elements of this building in the photograph is its symmetry of lines and
rectangles which emphasises its continuity of the enclosure and does not interupt the surface or the
quality of its reflective glass. The building disappears beyond the top of the photograph given the
observer only the anticipation of its true height. The tall building in the background, I feel plays an
important role in the picture as it too portrays height and granduer and may even be taller, but gives
way to its new architectural rival on the cat-walk of 'sky-scrappers'. I also feel whats relevant to the
photographer is its scale and airiness, portraying to the novelist onlooker its impression of
unsturdyness if gale force winds were to prevail, pushing its heavy body and snapping its spindly
unprotected legs. It may be deliberately designed by the architect to give this impression of
unstability, a perception of lightweight form but with its hidden inner supporting structure. I feel
also that the building is positioned off-centre on the platform to allow the pedestrian observer to
pause and gaze upwardly to appreciate its scale and height, as I have done gazing up at the sky
reaching 'Spire' in Dublin City Centre. It portrays a quality of cinematic beauty, a space where film
makers, actors and celebrities hang out and where the expiring 'wanabe famous' enthuasiasts want to
be seen.
The fact that the photograph was taken at night time is significant as it shines like a beacon light
silhouetted against the dark sky, a landmark at this time of the day, a meeting point for visitors
unfamiliar with the city.
Initially on looking at the photograph I presumed it was a true rectangler shape, but on closer
inspection, Im questioning it as it seems slighly curved but can't tell for sure as I can't see the other
sides of the building.
The building's appearance looks aesthetically pleasing but could be controversial in its design
continuity in relation to the rest of the city, but this and my mentioned observations might be shared
with the photographer only on a more indept analysis of the photograph image.