Tune In to the Music of Architecture
Great buildings and interiors can bring music to mind, having rhythm and style and inspiring a range of experiences. See how the two relate
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
It's a truism that architecture is, as Goethe so famously noted, "frozen music." Just as in music, architecture has rhythm, beat, cadence, tone, style, etc. And just as in music, architecture can be experienced slowly, quickly, forcibly, gently, sweetly, etc. So it shouldn't be a surprise that some of the greatest architects were accomplished musicians. For example, Frank Lloyd Wright was a proficient pianist, having learned the instrument at a very early age.
So let's see how some musical terms and their meanings relate to and can be applied to architectural design.
So let's see how some musical terms and their meanings relate to and can be applied to architectural design.
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by Gary Hutton
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| Adagio. In music, "adagio" means "to play slowly, to be at ease." Architectural spaces can also be "played" slowly and at ease. These are spaces to linger in, to enjoy as if time didn't exist. Soft colors and spare furnishings allow us to relax and take in the serene environment. Of course, some rooms are like some songs, made to be a due (for two). |
Dolce. Simply put, "dolce" means "sweetly" and is used to instruct the musician to play tenderly and with a light touch. In architecture, dolce is the care, detail and craftsmanship used to create a building or space or object. Some places, like some music, can go beyond simply dolce and be experienced dolce con affetto (with affection).
Legato. Quite the opposite of staccato, legato has the notes "tied together" such that one moves without separation into the next. While architecture depends on articulation and distinction (staccato) to create distinct rooms and lessen the overall scale of a building, architects use elements such as trim to tie and bind the pieces together.
Ma non troppo. Musically "but not too much," as in allegro ma non troppo (fast but not too fast). The idea of "but not too much" is certainly applicable to architectural and interior design. It's the notion that not the entire room should be of the same color, nor every shelf be filled to the brim. That knowing when to say when is important.
Marcato. This is when a particular piece (note, cord or passage in music) is played louder and more forcibly. This is akin to the accent wall in architectural design. Maybe another color or another material, the piece that is played marcato takes center stage and enriches the space it inhabits.
Pastorale. In both music and architecture, this refers to a composition that is peaceful and simple such as basic cubic volumes arranged against a flat, green lawn. No adornment, just a bucolic milieu into which simple forms are inserted.
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| Sforzando. Architecturally and musically loud, strong and with force. It can be a roof that's lit for emphasis and then extends out into space aggressively, having all the characteristics of a musical passage that's played sforzando. |
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| Staccato. In music, staccato is making each note "brief and detached," much in the way that articulation does in architecture. Though they may all combine into a coherent whole, each piece is detached and separate from the surrounding pieces. So while the spaces are connected, each is distinct from the other, as are the objects within the spaces. |
Vivace. While in music "vivace" refers to a composition that is very lively and up-tempo, in architecture it can refer to a design where there's a lot going on. Stairs, cable-suspended bridges, spaces that are connected vertically and horizontally, natural and artificial lighting that comes at us from many directions as well as all the objects that inhabit the space create an architecture that is decidedly vivace, maybe even vivacissimo (even livelier).
Comments
SPACIFY INC, We also live in the Seattle area and would LOVE a detached room like this for our three boys to run around and blow off steam when it's chilly, rainy and gloomy outside. All I can say is "Perfect!" and I'm adding many of these pictures to my ideabooks. Thank you for sharing!!
13 months ago · Like
Susan Brilliant comparisons with pics that perfectly communicate each idea. Well done!
13 months ago · Like
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Heartwood Corp Great way of putting it into words of music and mood.
13 months ago · Like
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opata This is really sweet comparative analysis between music and architecture
13 months ago · Like
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comfy by design What a wonderful piece. Life is music. Everything we do or see has a flow, strength-softness, seperateness-connection, quietness-loudness to it. Music describes these in architecture perfectly.
13 months ago · Like
sheddesigner Whether an architect, musician, designer, artist; all fields of artistry are connected by the need to create. There is no difference.
13 months ago · Like
simpledwellings great article!!
13 months ago · Like
Becky Harris You've taken all the words I can never remember from my childhood flute lessons for the crossword puzzles and related them to architecture. Brilliant Bud!
13 months ago · Like
Bud Dietrich, AIA FYI everyone - the inspiration for the piece came from some middle school students studying (more like cramming) for a musical terms test their teacher was giving them the next day!
13 months ago · Like
patscats2 Thanks, enjoyed these photos.
13 months ago · Like
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ozinga architectural products Enjoyed the comparisons. Good Job!
13 months ago · Like
Another Eye Brilliant
13 months ago · Like
Bud Dietrich, AIA By the way, let me know what your homes are. I'd especially like to know if there's a disconnect between the "music" you want to hear and the "music" you do hear.
13 months ago · Like
Katrina Kelly I have a degree in music and landscape architecture. I love this blend of music and visual design!!!!
13 months ago · Like
Heather Braun My kitchen/dining area is often discordant, with too many notes and way too much forte. But my living room and bedroom are legato and I work hard to keep them that way.
13 months ago · Like
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JTBaldwin Wonderful article! Our home is a blend of the music we want to hear and the music we do hear and because most of my product designs are inspired by vintage audio, our environment is sprinkled with music we remember.
12 months ago · Like
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Maureen Smith Beautifully put!!!
12 months ago · Like
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carlajc Just lovely. Stairways, hallways and rooms make you dance through architecture, with quick steps, pauses, slow steps, coming together and moving apart.
12 months ago · Like
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Anca Gagiuc A simple reminder that nothing in life is isolated, that everything can be expressed with the same intensity, but using different tools. Nice article, Bud, thank you.
10 months ago · Like
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Ideabook updated on June 15, 2012.
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