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Architect's Toolbox: Rotated Squares and Diagonals in Design
Geometric play accents a space and emphasizes a home's best features
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 »
A rotated square and movement along a diagonal are two devices architects and designers use to achieve emphasis and a sense of increased size. Both tools rely on a difference between the rooms and spaces on a regular grid of 90 degrees — and the sudden introduction of an element askew from that grid.
For example, creating a room that is a rotated square makes something special of that room. Sometimes this is done to capture views or because of some other site feature. Also it is often utilized on the last room in a progression of rooms, like the exclamation point on an emphatic sentence.
Architects and designers know that if the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, the longest straight line is going to be the one on a diagonal. So we use a diagonal to increase the perceived size of a room as well as to maximize a room's efficiency. Let's see some examples of these ideas in action:
For example, creating a room that is a rotated square makes something special of that room. Sometimes this is done to capture views or because of some other site feature. Also it is often utilized on the last room in a progression of rooms, like the exclamation point on an emphatic sentence.
Architects and designers know that if the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, the longest straight line is going to be the one on a diagonal. So we use a diagonal to increase the perceived size of a room as well as to maximize a room's efficiency. Let's see some examples of these ideas in action:
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This rotated square is a contemporary reinterpretation of the bay window, an architectural device that's been around for centuries.
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Here's another rotated square that reinterprets the bay window. The angle establishes the window that maximizes the view.
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Like the exclamation point, this rotated square ends and emphasizes the string of rooms before it. This room is made all the more special with its tall and stepped windows, abundant natural light and tall ceiling.
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Stairs exist in a special place in a home because they are the way we move from the public realm of the first floor to the private realm of the bedrooms. This staircase's geometry within a rotated square and the abundant natural light make it all the more special, celebrating the act of going up and down.
Sometimes the rotated square is just a small bit of countertop that creates a delightful place for two to sit and enjoy the morning coffee.
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| Stacked and rotated one atop the other, the rotated square is sometimes an entire floor level of the house. |
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| Sometimes an entire wing of a house will be rotated to accommodate a site feature such as topography ... |
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| ... trees ... |
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| ... or a lake. |
| With all this rotation, we should discuss movement along a diagonal. In this example, the diagonal created by the straight wall below the chair rail creates a longer route to travel, while the stepped wall provides places for the eye to rest. The stepped wall makes this hallway a place to enjoy rather than a passage to rush through. |
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by AMI Designs
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| By using the diagonal, this designer increased the overall size of the room and has been able to establish multiple functional areas within the one space. |
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| Using the diagonal in this bathroom plays off of the triangular art glass window and increases the dimensions available for the tub and vanities. |
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| Here, placing the door at an angle, slightly askew from the grid, provides the extra dimension needed for a sizable opening and creates a defined entry area. More: Why There's Beauty in Grid, Column and Row Skinny Windows: Exclamation Points of Light Fine Design: Tom Kundig's 'Houses 2' |
Comments
greengoat Being in the process of building a house, this was very informative and useful ... just like all your other Artchitect's Toolbox ideabooks. I appreciate your work and the effort you put into your books. Keep them coming
19 months ago · Like
Bud Dietrich, AIA Thanks greengoat. Let me know if there's something that I can write about that would be of use to you. And have a blast with your project. Building a house is an amazing amount of fun!
19 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Nov. 2, 2011.
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