Solids and cavities in architecture

The first impact we get from architecture is through visual observation. We, as observers can’t completely remember or understand what we see in a short amount of time, so our brain “chooses” through different elements details that it recognizes, and recreates it later. This an be seen in architects work as well when after making their first sketches begin to evolve their designs, combining different shapes and structures to what they find to fit the best.

Architecture, is however a spatial art, thus its not only dependent on what is already there to be seen(solids) but also what can be seen from the missing (cavities). Solids and cavities in architecture differentiate according to the function and structure of the building. They are being created by some elements such as objects or boundaries and planes which define limits. Horizontal elements that create solids and cavities may be in different positions, for example: base plane, elevated base plane, depressed base plane or overhead plane. Vertical elements may also be in different types such as: vertical linear elements, single vertical plane, L-shaped plane, parallel planes, U-shaped planes or four planes closure. Using openings (within planes, at corners, between planes) is another way of defining forms and spaces. Some organizing principles of formal and spatial elements can be: centralized, linear, radial, clustered or grid.

The architect decides the way how the solid and cavity functions, by working with structural forms or the cavity itself. The constructing process in this case would not be as assembling materials in a structure, but it would consist in removing material from a mass ( as seen in Karli,India -cave temples). A good architect should not think of these separately but in whole, both the structure and the void should be kept in mind. However there are 2 main divisions of architects in this aspect: structural minded( start from the frame and then continue to make the whole design) and cavity minded ( start from a group of clusters and then fill the whole design). This has been evident even in different periods of time for ex the Gothic and Renaissance eras. In the Gothic period the forms were put together to function as parts of sharp pointed structures. While during the Renaissance period the vertical elements converted into horizontal ones and the cavities took importance.

Obviously as both eras have proven, there is no right division of architecture style just an instinctual choice by the architect. I believe that this instinct isn’t always born but develops through time, as the architect earns experience and educates himself on his style and expressive means. Maybe it can even change over and over again as ideas and inspirations are never the same as well. What is for sure, is that every architect is at least the intermediate between the solid-minded and cavity-minded approach.