TRANSPARENCY

by Colin Rowe & R. Slutzky

Roosmayri L. Hermaputi, 学号： 12012149
Definition
Clear, Crystalline, Translucent and See-Through

As a result of transparent figures

interpenetrating each other without optical
destruction.

Implies spatial effects, a simultaneous

perception of different spatial locations. Space
not only recedes but fluctuates in a continuous
activity. (Kepes quoted in Rowe & Slutzky, 1982)
TYPE OF TRANSPARENCY
LITERAL
Perceptual transparency, inherent quality of substance or matter, such as
translucent walls. composed of transparent materials, and enable to rear
objects visible is ordinary and obvious; It occurs through the layering and
stacking of the physical material of the walls and surfaces.

PHENOMENAL
Conceptual transparency, inherent quality of the spatial or volumetric
organization. A visual device to percept the different spatial locations in which
space fluctuates in a continuous activity and pleasure the spatial experience; It
occurs through the layering, overlapping, and superimposition of axes and gridded
spatial orders, thus producing an ambiguity of spatial organizations, resulting
from a sequential ordering or a successive stratification and layering of space.
TRANSPARENCY CONTEXT
IN PAINTING
§ The Cubist Canvas (1910s) as illustrate phenomena of
transparency concept refer to space-time relativity:
Picasso’s The Clarinet Player(1911)- being literal, a figure
The Cubist Canvas (1910)
in deep space ; Braque’s The Portuguese(1911)- being
phenomenal, a shallow flattened extended space
§ Le Corbusier’s The Still Lifes (1920)– being both,
overlapping transparent figures (wine glass and bottle)
and overlapping – yet flattening – planes (objects) in
space. The painting depicts spatial ambiguities; a
property of transparency, due to an illusion of deep yet
shallow space; a fluctuation of back and forth movement
of objects and planes advancing and receding
simultaneously.

Le Corbusier’s The Still Lifes (1920)

 TRANSPARENCY CONTEXT
IN ARCHITECTURE
The Bauhaus Dessau The Villa Stein at Garches
The Bauhaus Dessau
Both have cantilevered slab and do not allow any interruption, also
both have built-in ground floor

Both paid attention to continuity of window at the corner

Glass Wall as translucent
attributes and the obvious
hovering relation and
overlapping of planes, the overall
constellation of spaces is quite
clear throughout.
Inherent quality of substance-
Literal Transparency
Layering of the interior space of
the house and creates
a succession or sequence of
laterally extended spaces
travelling one behind the
other,resulting continuous
fluctuations of interpretation
Inherent quality of organization-
Phenomenal Transparency
The Villa Stein at Garches
 Transparent form-organization as an instrument of Design

Continuity of
Space Experiment

Creating Dialogue
Between Space

No Boundaries,
connecting the
nodes through
axis (VOID Pattern)
APPLICATION IN URBAN SPACE
TRANSPARENCY – VOID DEPHT OF FIELD
ST.PETER SQUARE, ROME ITALY

St. Peter Square Solid and Void

1 created specific spatial organization

(enclosure), transparency found at
carve-void that reconnect city with
depth of field from people static
perspective (Seen as Phenomenal
Transparency), max transparency
achieve by 90o between object to
viewer, the light diffusion helps open
up space when people in motion.
APPLICATION IN URBAN SPACE
TRANSPARENCY THROUGH SOLID ARTICULATION
YK CULTURAL CENTER – ISTANBUL TURKEY

Transparency can be seen from dissolve

2 building boundary and the opacity of

space designing element. transparency of
façade creating depth perception from
different angles and elevation (Seen as
Literal Transparency), consist of
different layers, each takes part in the
public void without interfering one and
another, make the space more interactive
(Seen as Phenomenal Transparency)
APPLICATION IN URBAN SPACE
CONNECTION AND AXIS
PARIS HISTORICAL AXIS, FRANCE

Transparency can be found in the

3
connection and axis with city landmark
from la defence straight to Arc de Triomph,
Place de la Concorde, till Grand Louvre, in
the spatial organization shown that void
create axis connect all the historical
landmark. (Categorized as Phenomenal
Transparency)
 q Transparency is a a simultaneous
perception of spatial organization achieve
through overlapping and layering planes,
depth of field or spaces which create
ambiguous space, continuity space, and
dialogue between space with the purpose of
blurring the boundaries between space, plane,
or layers.
1 3 q Transparency in architecture and urban
space are can be both perceptual and
Continuity & experimental.
Dialogue of q Ambiguous space characteristic provides a
Ambiguous Space-
Space
Blur Boundaries: possibility that the transitions between
Opacity of façade
Spatial Depth: Layered different functions (In Architecture or Urban
Spatial Depth: Carve Pillar Column Space) are unconstrained.
Overlapping Planes
Light diffusion
Open up space max
perspective when
4 Shallow Ambiguous Deep
people in motion
2 Space Space Space
Picture Legend:
Layers creating interactive space- each 1,2 YKKS Building Istanbul
takes part in the public void without 3,4 St. Peter Square Rome
interfering one and another
“ Transparency means a simultaneous
perception of different spatial locations.
Space not only recedes but fluctuates in a
continuous activity
—Rowe & Slutzky, 1982
“
 THANKS
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