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Art and Architecture

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Unit two Project Art and Architecture
Kaplan University
Ishmael Andrew Mills

Art and Humanities
HU: 300-01
Professor Ellie Schamber
Tuesday 12, 2012

My unit two project will explore both a piece of architecture and a work of art. I will first begin by locating a piece of architecture that catches my attention then provide a brief detailed explanation of what I see. I will then explain the element of form and function as it relates to the architectural work. Meanwhile I will locate a piece of art work that I find engaging and start by describing the work using terminology from the text. The following question will also be addressed. What is the medium? When was the work made? Is this work abstract or representational? What is the purpose of this art work? And what does it mean to me? For my selection of architecture I have chosen the Burj Al Arab Hotel. Retrieved from the following web link: http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm
The Burj Al Arab hotel is located on Jumeriah Beach Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was designed by Tom Wright of W.S Watkins. The hotel stands on an artificial island with a height of 919ft and is connected to the mainland by a private bridge.

Retrieved from the following web link: http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm
While the hotel was being constructed, the workers had to drive 230 meter long concrete piles into the sand in order for it to have a good secured foundation. The found was protected from erosion by creating a surfaced layer of large rocks which formed a circled honey combed pattern around it.
The interior was designed by Khuan Chew, design principal of KCA International. The hotel consists of the tallest atrium which stands approximately 590ft.

Retrieved from the following web link: http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm
If you take a close observation of the atrium you would realized that it was built like a V shaped span between the building. The atrium occupies at least one third of the interior space and consists of 36 stories. There is a fountain that is located at the base which forms a three dimensional Islamic star pattern. There are corridors located between each guest room and at the atrium is a classic Arabian architectural design form.
Meanwhile if you take a close look at the exterior portion of the hotel, you will notice that the building is shaped like the sail of a dhow with two wings that is spread in a V form. It consists of a design feature of a steel exoskeleton wrapped around the reinforced concrete tower. The space between the wings is enclosed by a Teflon coated fiber glass. The purpose of this coated fiber glass was to protect the building from extreme heat temperatures, wind and dirt. At the top of the building is a helipad which is a supported by a cantilever. Based on my view the helipad doesn’t look so much secured because it has no borders or fences on the edges.

Retreived from the following web link , http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm.
The Burj Al Arab hotel combines form and fucntion. Althought the building is not the tallest hotel in Dubai. It is not the size that makes a difference, but its form. The white exosleton is considered to be the main invention and feature. The strong sleek with an enormous sweep transform the building into a distinct object. Some say its just magnificent.
The hotel has attracted a few famous athletes and singers. The irsh singer Ronan Keating shot one of his music videos there. The notorious golf player, tiger woodswas there in 2004 hitting golf balls off the helipad. Professional tennis players, Roger Federer and Andre Agasis played an unranked match there on the helipad. The hotel has 28double story floors which facilitates 202 bedrooms. The exteriror is beautiful while the interiorin a bit different. The bright color and sharply cut pattern could blow your sight away. During the day the white walls glowsto illuminate the atrium, while at night providing a dramatic illuminated show scene, http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm.

The art work that I have chosen to discuss is the Christ of Saint John on the cross.

Retrieved from the following web link http://dali.urvas.lt/page24.html
The Christ of Saint John on the cross was created by Dali in 1951 using the oil and canvas. This piece of work relates more to abstract art. According to the book, The Art of Being Human Chapter 4 Art, page 130, abstract art refers to art that takes from reality only what the artist wants or that renders a visual depiction of concepts in the artist’s mind ; a work of art that in no way resembles the real world. Based on my observation this picture definitely does not resemble much in this world except for where a man is being hanged on a cross.
The purpose of this work was to illustrate a drawing preserved in the Convent of the Incarnation in Avila, Spain, and done by Saint John if the Cross himself after he had seen this vision of Christ during ecstasy, http://dali.urvas.lt/page24.html.
In conclusion my project discussed both a piece of architecture and art work and addressed several questions as it pertains to them. I chose to research on the Burj Al Arab hotel which is located in Dubai for my architecture portion of the project, and then I chose the painting of Christ of Saint of the cross that was created by Dali in 1951.

Reference
Books: The Art of being a Human-The Humanities as a Technique for living
Internet sources: http://dali.urvas.lt/page24.html. http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm.

http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-003.htm.

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