The duality of architecture lies in the intersection between form and function, art and science. Famous architect Louis Sullivan believed that form follows function, and his mentee Frank Lloyd Wright went on to expand upon this teaching in his own work, amending the saying to clarify that form and function should exist in perfect harmony, acting as one. This principle can be seen in Wright’s design of the Guggenheim in which he planned for visitors to enter the building and take an elevator to the top, then descend in a continuous downward spiral as they viewed the artwork displayed along said spiral. This is just one of many examples of how form and function coexist in architecture. The Wainwright Building in St. Louis, Missouri, and the Prudential Building in Buffalo, New York, are two examples of skyscrapers whose form follows their functions, ensuring that the inner necessities of the structure are reflected in the exterior’s design. Let’s take a look at what form and function actually are, as well as how art and science converge in architecture.
Form
Form refers to the shape of a building and its relationship to the space around it. Form is the outward appearance of a structure, and it is given shape and scale in the design process. "All things in nature have a shape," Sullivan said, "that is to say, a form, an outward semblance, that tells us what they are, that distinguishes them from ourselves and from each other."
Function
Function in architecture refers to a structure’s use. It includes the purpose the building was designed for. A church’s function is for prayer and worship, a museum’s function is to display art (and provide a seamless viewing experience for visitors), a shopping center’s function is to house stores, etc.
Form Follows (and Coexists with) Function
The idea of form follows function proposes that a building’s purpose should be the starting point for its design, rather than its aesthetics. As previously mentioned, this axiom is commonly attributed to Louis Sullivan. The phrase was associated with modernist architects in the early-20th century, as skyscrapers (the ultimate example of form following function) became more prominent following their introduction in the 1890s. The birth of the office reflected the changing workforce and introduced a new age of architecture, as disruptors such as Sullivan began to challenge the idea of buildings based solely upon innovations from ancient Greek and Roman architecture.
Beauty, Art and Science in Architecture
Architecture ultimately represents the convergence of art and science. A building’s form is beholden to the laws of science, but breakthroughs in engineering (many emerged in the pursuit of beautiful, unique architectural designs) have allowed art and science to exist harmoniously within architecture. Take the Pont du Gard aqueduct in France for example. The ancient Roman aqueduct bridge was built in the first century AD to carry water over 50 kilometers to the Roman colony of Nemausus, and it utilized rounded arches that had been invented by the Mesopotamians 4,000 years prior. Yet, this symbiotic relationship between art and science is not always achieved — the realization of a successful design that illustrates the unity between form and function is often dependent on the cultural and scientific standards of the time period. In the Classical period, form was prioritized over function; a structure’s aesthetics were considered before its purpose was. Following the Industrial Revolution, the modern age of architecture reversed this sequential preference for form before function. As time goes on and architecture continues to evolve with engineering innovations and societal standards, we will see whether form and function will continue to exist in sync with one another, or whether one will once again take precedence over the other.