// Differing Design Language in Structural Shapes //

I really enjoyed working on this exploration study as I got to explore a few shapes and forms of common structural objects that I never saw prior. Such as the African temple made with an semi-spherical roof, very reminiscent of the shape language in Star Wars (large simple shapes sprinkled with small distinguishable details.) I also loved thinking of the 'why' when seeing certain repeated elements, such as the round ornamental design on top of Russian temples, or the flat yet spiked roofs of Assyrian temples. Although there are many cultural elements embedded within these designs, function truly dictates the overall form. For instance, the flat roofs would not work in any geographical area with snow, or heavy rains, otherwise there would be no where for the snow or water to go until it melts or evaporates. This could lead to serious structural integrity issues that could lead to the structure's demise. And that is why the design almost only works in the deserts or dry, arid areas. This way of thought will be carried through into my future creative thinking; to achieve a level of believable realism, we must first think of the 'why'.