Rhythm

RHYTHM Rhythm in visual arts is an attribute of any object that is marked by a systematic recurrence of elements having recognizable relationships between them. In Architecture, much of the effects of a building will depend on the harmony, the simplicity, and the power of these rhythmical relationships Types of rhythm: repetition of shape: windows, doors, columns, wall areas, arches repetition of dimensions, such as the dimensions between supports or those of bay spacing repetition of differences. Rhythms may be indefinite and open or definite and closed. the rhythm of lines. Such rhythms can be merely systematic variations of linear lengths or curvatures. Piet Mondrian made an intensive study of linear rhythm and exercised a strong influence on modern architects, especially Mies van der Rohe.

In exterior rhythms, the problem is in the rhythms of the masses themselves. Example: The repeated masses of Rockefeller Center are similar to each other yet different. There has to be a rhythmical basis for the changing heights, widths, and setbacks. There is a rhythm in the relation of end wings to the point of central interests; there is rhythm in the outline of a good tower as it narrows from the bottom upwards.

Preferences in rhythm type have varied greatly in different architectural periods. The Greek ornament, for example, indicates an intense love of small, regular, and perfectly studied rhythms. The Romans à ornaments, some elements project boldly and some die away into the background; the shadows are no longer linear but instead form varied areas of changing value. Gothic à Architects liked to establish many clearly defined and persistent rhythms in their ornaments.



__**Rhythm in different architectural styles **__

This is Cathedral of Chartres, located on Paris, and is considered one of the finest examples in all France of the Gothic style of architecture. In this facade of the Cathedral, we can see the three types of rhythm.

The repetition of shape is created by the windows, they are located every two floors and with a column in between. The columns also generates some rhythm, becouse they make a space between them.

The repetition of dimension we can see in the facade, because is divided in three parts and the one in the middle is the more important one.

The third and more complex type of rhythm is the repetition of differences, we can see that in the two towers, they create a space between theme generating a rhythm with space and materia.