DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18826#0341
90 practical building. [lect. ii.
The form of a building is either simple, or
mixed. The simple forms are either circular, or
angular: the mixed are compounded of both.
The circular form'is commodious, of great ca-
pacity ; strong, durable, and beautiful ; but the
most expensive; loses much room when divided j
and has an ill distribution of light, except from the
center: the ancients therefore, used the circular
form only in temples and amphitheatres, which
needed no compartition. Oval forms have the
same inconveniencies, without the fame convenien-
ces, being of less capacity.
Sir Henry Wot ton observes, that building loves
neither many nor few angles: the triangle, e. gr.
is condemned, wanting capacity and firmness;
also, because incapable of being gracefully resolved
into any other regular figure in the partitions, besides
its own. Figures of five, six, seven, or more
angles, are fitter for fortifications, than for civil
buildings. Rectangles are preferred, as being a
just medium between extremes. Of these an
oblong, provided the length does not exceed the
breadth by above one third, is usually most esteemed.
Mixed figures, partly circular, partly angular,
may be judged by the rules which regulate the sim-
ple ones ; but they offend against uniformity, though
they admit most variety; and however uniformity
and variety may feem to be contrary to each other:
yet they are both necessary to a happily composed
building.
The parts of a building, have been comprised
under five heads, the foundation, the tvaMs, the
apertures, the diistrihution, and the coverings.
For
The form of a building is either simple, or
mixed. The simple forms are either circular, or
angular: the mixed are compounded of both.
The circular form'is commodious, of great ca-
pacity ; strong, durable, and beautiful ; but the
most expensive; loses much room when divided j
and has an ill distribution of light, except from the
center: the ancients therefore, used the circular
form only in temples and amphitheatres, which
needed no compartition. Oval forms have the
same inconveniencies, without the fame convenien-
ces, being of less capacity.
Sir Henry Wot ton observes, that building loves
neither many nor few angles: the triangle, e. gr.
is condemned, wanting capacity and firmness;
also, because incapable of being gracefully resolved
into any other regular figure in the partitions, besides
its own. Figures of five, six, seven, or more
angles, are fitter for fortifications, than for civil
buildings. Rectangles are preferred, as being a
just medium between extremes. Of these an
oblong, provided the length does not exceed the
breadth by above one third, is usually most esteemed.
Mixed figures, partly circular, partly angular,
may be judged by the rules which regulate the sim-
ple ones ; but they offend against uniformity, though
they admit most variety; and however uniformity
and variety may feem to be contrary to each other:
yet they are both necessary to a happily composed
building.
The parts of a building, have been comprised
under five heads, the foundation, the tvaMs, the
apertures, the diistrihution, and the coverings.
For