Direction
Elements of Design
The element of direction offers basically three options- horizontal, vertical or oblique.
The dominant direction in an artwork has a powerful influence over the atmosphere generated by the work. It is an element that is easily overlooked, but when taken advantage of, is an extremely useful tool.
Notre Dame de Paris – Eastern Facade
The dominant vertical direction seen in Notre Dame de Paris gives a feeling of lightness, balance and elegance. The open flying buttresses and steeply pitched turrets defy the solid stone construction and make the building appear to be floating upwards.
Houses of Parliament -London, Charles Barry – 1840
The British Houses of Parliament employ the same vertical gothic thrust but, with the addition of a dominant horizontal direction, the feeling is more of power, solidity and permanence.
30 St Mary Axe – London, Foster and Partners, 2004
30 St Mary Axe in London takes sweeping diagonal lines spiralling to its apex to give the building a strong upward thrust and dynamic animated character of power and movement.
The same change in character can be seen in the following three photographs. The subject is the same in each, the change in directional emphasis creates a different atmosphere in each image.
Dominant Vertical Direction
Dominant Horizontal Direction
Dominant Diagonal Direction
The vertical emphasis in the first image gives a feeling of orderly formality the second horizontal emphasis feels calm and stable while the third diagonal emphasis feels active and animated.
Direction is an element that should be considered and controlled in a design. Emphasise the direction that reinforces the atmosphere you are trying to generate.