Urban growth and new perceptions of time / space
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New perceptions of the horizontal/vertical dimensions in townscapes and landscapes:
- An example of shifts in the built environment: rollover the image, you will see the classical architecture of Russel Street in Bath alternate with the industrial housing of Belper (North of Derby).
In both cases, builders had to deal with streets on sloping ground. In Bath, the architects wished to preserve the horizontal lines of classical architecture, so that the windows in each house are on the same horizontal line, and the roofs as well, though neighbouring houses have staggered lines. In Belper, a workmen's village, there was no attempt to conceal the lie of the land: the houses have sloping lines for the roofs, and the windows in a house are on different horizontal lines. Classical and industrial surroundings used different architectural codes and created distinct visual experiences. An intermediary case was that of 'rus in urbe' housing, where the corners of friezes in terrace houses on hilly ground could have a slight slope.
- Transport and shifts in the scientific perception of the environment: canal construction led engineers to study geology in order to select rocks suitable for opening a horizontal route - canals having to be horizontal; this led William Smith, in charge of a coal canal linking to the Kennet and Avon canal, to classify the different rocks in successive horizontal strata, thus inventing the notion of geological strata and producing the first geological map (1815) as well as cross sections; this was an early example of colour coding.
Discussion:
Discuss the topics raised in the previous pairing exercise of the present chapter, concerning the new urban industrial culture :
- the role of machines in defining space and time, or as models of urban society; the practical and symbolic role of machines: technological transfer, emblematic objects
- changes in material and visual culture; the multiplication of objects in domestic surroundings; the representation of space and time in graphics; quantification.
In addition to the present course on the Georgian Cities website, search for websites on these topics.
Skills:
- knowledge of issues in cultural and material history
- debating skills
You may either click on "Add a new discussion", or, after reading the contribution of a previous participant, click on "Answer" to continue the discussion