The architecture of humanism; a study in the history of taste

HUMANIST VALUES

229

ineveryindividual,

butobviouslyofinfiniteantiquity

intherace. Itisnotsurprising,

then,thatitshould

have beconoie the

body's veritable symbol of well-

being,andthatspaceswhichsatisfy

itshouldappear

beautiful,

thosewhichoffenditugly.

^ _

We cannot, however, lay down fixed

proportions

of space as

architecturally right. Space value in

architectureisaffectedfirstandforemost,no

doubt,

by

actualdimensions

;

butitisaffectedbyahundred

considerationsbesides. Itisaffectedbylightingand

the

position

ofshadows: thesourceof

lightattracts

theeyeandsetsupanindependentsuggestedmove-

ment of itsown. Itis

affected by

colour: a dark

floorand alight roofgive a totallydifferentspace

sensationtothatcreatedbyadarkroofandalight

floor. It is affected by our own expectancy:

by

thespace wehave immediatelyleft. Itisaffected

by

the character of the

predominating lines: an

emphasis on verticals, as is well known, gives

an

illusionof

greater

height

;

anemphasisonhorizontals,

givesa sense ofgreaterbreadth. It

is affected by

projections

—

^both

in elevation and in plan

—

^which

maycutthespaceandcauseusto

feelit,notasone,

butseveral.

Thus,

in asymmetricaldomed

church

it willdepend onthe relation

of the depth of the

transepts

totheir

ownwidth,andtothat

ofthespan

ofthedome,whetherwe

experienceitasonespace

Of

asfive

;

and aboldly

projectingcornice

mayset