Selected Bibliography Architecture - Form Space and Order | Page 266

E N T RA N C E

Entrances may be grouped formally into the
following categories: flush, projected, and
recessed. A flush entrance maintains the
continuity of the surface of a wall and can be,
if desired, deliberately obscured. A projected
entrance forms a transitional space, announces
its function to the approach, and provides
overhead shelter. A recessed entrance also
provides shelter and receives a portion of exterior
space into the realm of the building.

In each of the above categories, the form of the
entrance can be similar to, and serve as a preview
of, the form of the space being entered. Or it can
contrast with the form of the space to reinforce
its boundaries and emphasize its character as a
place.

In terms of location, an entrance can be centered
within the frontal plane of a building or be placed
off-center to create a condition of local symmetry
about its opening. The location of an entrance
relative to the form of the space being entered will
determine the configuration of the path and the
pattern of the activities within the space.

The notion of an entrance can be visually
reinforced by:
• making the opening lower, wider, or narrower
than anticipated
• making the entrance deep or circuitous
• articulating the opening with ornamentation or
decorative embellishment
Palazzo Zuccari, Rome,
c. 1592, Federico Zuccari

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