Geometry behind the position of stairs: balance in the mind
Abstract
In this paper we examine the link between the human body and architectural design. For this purpose, we combine Cognitive Metaphor Theory (CMT) and geometry. We start from the hypothesis that the organization of space and the positions of stairs within the building floor plan is the result of the embodiment of human mind, which implies that abstract aspects of human thought are grounded in physical aspects of human body. CMT claims that BALANCE is a prototypical schema consisting of countervailing forces acting on a target. This mental structure arises from living in symmetrical bodies
which are able to balance two equal halves and maintain erect posture. Having established the metaphorical mapping between the building and the human body (and, consequently, between the stairs and human spine) we examined the position of stairs in the building. We geometrically analyzed floor plans of a set of buildings applying the theoretical framework of Projective geometry and methods of Computatio...nal geometry. Our findings reveal that stairwells tend to stretch along the line which divides the building basis in two equal halves.
Keywords:
conceptual metaphor / balance / centre of gravity / area bisector / symmetry / stairs.Source:
Conference Proceedings „MONGEOMETRIJA 2018", 2018, 156-168Publisher:
- Novi Sad:Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad
- Novi Sad: Serbian Society for Geometry and Graphics (SUGIG)
Funding / projects:
Note:
- http://www.arhns.uns.ac.rs/mongeometrija/ 6th International Conference on Geometry and graphics, Novi Sad, Serbia, 6-8 June 2018.