Case Study: Body Analysis



Case Study: Body AnalysisNovember 22010Art Performing Center. Zaha Hadid. Abu Dhabi. 2007-4667253526155Blood flow through the bodyPatterns on the surface of the building/ Branching Network resembling vessels network in body-404495104775Pedestrian pathway (entrance of Performing Art Center): original point of people flow, movement and activityHeart: Original point of blood flow in body-34036097790-294300108068In this stage of this project I’m going to investigate body analysis of Abu Dhabi’s Performing Art Centre in three phases. First, I will demonstrate how the design and architecture of this center is similar to human body and its organs. Second, I will look at how an occupant or one’s body experiences the building and space and how Zaha Hadid’s approaches deal with this issue. Finally, I will examine the theory of feminism and how the architect’s gender affects the design.The diagrams above show the bodily analogy of Performing Art Center. It seems that the building establish its own body while resembling human body organs. In addition the activities and functions inside this body call what’s inside the human body.The design concept for Performing Art Center in Abu Dhabi perceives as a sculptural architecture that emerges from the context of pedestrian paths and gradually developing into a growing organism that produce a network of successive branches. As it goes through the site, the architecture builds up height and depth and achieving multiple summits in the bodies. In this case, this organic analogy is more than a mere analogy: through figural expression and through embodied geometries, building is, in a real sense, body and abstract, therefore, “the building is in its entirety like a body composed of its parts! This idea holds true in Performing Art Center as it represents both a body containing different parts which are working together and also it acts as a part for the whole body of the Cultural District, interacting with its environment and otherThe below diagrams show the interior of the Performing Art Center and how the inside of the building demonstrates alive tissues of the body as well as outside and how people movement is developing in the space.219872521950-321310244475-151765-2409825Interaction between Performing Art Center and the other important buildings and the whole body of Cultural Districtbuildings! In terms of considering Performing Art Center as body, branching network of the building can be literally seen as the projection of the vessels network in human’s body. In this way, the effectiveness of branching network on the surface (skin) might be perceived as vessels spread out inside the whole body and as they carry food and nutrients they set an effective network between different organs in body. In addition, this texture reminds alive tissues of body such as heart veins or lungs and larynx tissues, however, the fact that the building emerges from the pedestrian paths and gradually developing in growing organism, again, resembles heart action and connection in human body. This similarity, not only appears in the exterior and skin of the building, but in functions and applications. To clarify, the main arteries in body start and lead to the heart and blood flow originates from and ends in heart, in the same way, people movement and flow starts from the entrance of the building and then spreads out in the whole body of Performing Art Center. This analogy can be generalized into the context as well. While the building has its own identity, interacts and connects with other cultural buildings and the whole district too. In fact, the building acts as an organ for the whole body of Cultural District!-25518143741Integrated spaces which are connected not only physically, but more importantly visually. Different spaces (organs) are open to each other and organized in variation of layers. This approach of interaction between spaces results in perceiving Performing Art Center design as a unique, however contains different layer. Body movements which start from pedestrian pathway, which pulls and invites people toward itself, continue in different levels of the building. One would say that s/he has a feeling of magnificent while experiencing the building!-4064001028702166620103343Next, I will examine how the people movement, flow and function occur and how a person’s body would experience and perceive the building. This concept regards to the perception of the building through the perception of space. Zaha hadid tries to create successful relation between interior and exterior and through this strategy, one would make his implication of the building. Her design with fluid lines that transcend and meander through spaces and effective openings and voids, deals with her methodology of well-being as well as pleasure! Moving through the building, ends up with perceiving it as a consequence of various spaces which unites interior and links it to the exterior and finally contributes to one unique body.The integration and continuity of different spaces inside the building result in considering co-ordination of various parts of the whole body of the building rather than just their functions.The most privileged and effective example is the concert hall which is building’s summit and a huge window behind the stage will look out to the sea, allowing daylight into its interior with dramatic views of city skyline. Local lobbies for each theatre are orientated towards the sea to give each visitor a constant visual contact with their surroundings. Looking at the smoothness of both interior and exterior, one would say the building is given shape and substance, during its process of growing and nourishment, by a woman. The lines and the floating areas, reminds the analogy of female’s body and mind! In other word, the female body is projected, represented and inscribed in the design of the building. This consideration results in an architecture in which female body is not suppressed or excluded. However, that doesn’t mean this style couldn’t be created by a man.To conclude, I believe the design for Performing Art Center demonstrates how Zaha Hadid, as the only woman who got Pritzker Prize, accomplishes what she is looking for. She, besides four other men, was selected for this design and her design shows how Hadid is spoken through her architectural language. Notes ................
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