Videos
The Art of Seeing Buildings
The Art of Seeing Buildings
The Art of Seeing Buildings
Buildings are static, architectural performances.
We, the viewing public, are the audience.
Brent has spent 50+ years thinking about how we experience our architectural surroundings. Recently he has focused on the impact of details—contemporary and traditional architectural ornament. The Art of Seeing Buildings is a narrated series of animated videos, offering an introduction to how details at all scales—at tops and bottoms, the surfaces in between and the openings that pierce those surfaces—affect the way we respond to buildings.
Support the project.
The full 7 volume, 39 video series will be free and available for everyone to view on our website. Support our project by purchasing the full series in the two volume, Architectural Ornament, Old & New: Practical, Social & Visual Uses on Apple Books.
Thank you for your support and for helping spread the word!
Volume 1\Communication
1.1 Communication—People Communicate
1.2 Communication—Architects Communicate Via Ornament (1 of 2)
1.3 Communication—Architects Communicate Via Ornament (2 of 2)
1.4 Communication—More Ornamental Communication
1.5 Communication—Associative Ornament
1.6 Communication—Ornament & Composition
1.7 Communication—Spires & Towers—With/Without
Volume 2\Definition
2.1 Definition—Characteristics—Degree & Scale
2.2 Definition—Characteristics—Materials
Volume 3\Where It’s Put
3.1 Where It's Put—Introduction
3.2 Where It's Put—Meeting The Sky
3.3 Where It's Put—Meeting The Ground
3.4 Where It's Put—At Corners
3.5 Where It's Put—At Edges
3.6 Where It's Put—At Structure
3.7 Where It's Put—At Entrances
3.8 Where It's Put—At Windows
Volumes 4\Surface
4.1 Surfaces—Simple Patterns
4.2 Surfaces—Patterns Define and/or Distract
4.3 Surfaces—Pattern That Focuses
4.4 Surfaces—Pattern Can Dissolve and Break Up
4.5 Surfaces—Moldings
4.6 Surfaces—Reveals—Anti-Moldings 1
4.7 Surfaces—Reveals—Anti-Moldings 2
Volume 5\Miscellaneous
5.1 Miscellaneous—New & Old
5.2 Miscellaneous—The Jewel
5.3 Miscellaneous—Serendipity
5.4 Miscellaneous—Buildings As Ornament
Volume 6\Ornament & Composition
6.1 Ornament & Composition—Contained & Uncontained
6.2 Ornament & Composition—Uncontained Flexibility
6.3 Ornament & Composition—Nested
6.4 Ornament & Composition—The Human Element
6.5 Ornament & Composition—Style Not a Factor
Volume 7\Ornament & Scale
7.1 Ornament & Scale—Far & Near—Traditional
7.3 Ornament & Scale—Street Scale
7.2 Ornament & Scale—Far & Near—Modern
7.4 Ornament & Scale—Far & Near—Street Scale
7.5 Ornament & Scale—Far & Near—City Scale
7.6 Ornament & Scale—Urban Orientation