RR 4 week of Feb. 7-11

Narthex: Hagia Sophia

Glass/Stone/Frozen Music/circles/stacking/axis/arches

·         Shows good use of how stacking by columns building from one floor to the next then to the circle on top with glass all over

·         The glass was meant for the feeling of the dome floating

·         Entire inside is stone, marble, and gold shows the expression on faith in a sense that is a powerful thing

·         It is located in Constantinople and is one of the greatest building in Western hemisphere

·         The dome on top represent a circle very well along with frozen music, It echoes and is made for when speaking to bounce off and come back louder

·         It has a neo classical look as well for the dome area, it is symmetrical on both sides with a atrium connected to the end on one side

·         Axis is represented as well in the middle of the dome there’s a circle and it leads you to an alter on one side and to the atrium on the other and doors to the other two sides. Good use of axis using  a circle as a focal point

·         The circle is enclosed into a square which the main center piece with arches on the four corners of the circle to make the square

I thought that the Hagia Sophia was a great place because it demonstrates a lot of the concepts we talk about it class on a daily basis. It has good representation of circles and how circles are used as the circle of axis and even squares with arches on the side of the circles to form the square. Which I think the arches point the four ways of the axis. Circles and columns are also in this because of the dome. The columns are stacking the layers of the building leading up to the dome on top. I feel if this was more than just a place of worship frozen music would be a great example. This could shape how music was made and played because of the structure and how sound can pass through. It is good for voices and it is a place of worship and a massive place. The dome carries the sounds and echoes them making this place a good area for voices and the music that comes with worship.