Author: Ryan VanderVelden

A building is comprised of a series of elements, such as doors, windows, and roofs. Some elements can be structural, like the exterior walls and roof, and some elements can be non-structural, like ornaments. The elements in a building meet at a junction called a joint. Articulation refers to the arrangement of these joints in the overall architectural design. A highly articulated building emphasizes each element and so each element is independent and distinct. The opposite is a fluid articulation. Here is the emphasis is on continuity and fusion. Both styles of articulation can be visually distinctive. I like when cities feature examples of multiple styles of articulation.

Here are some examples of some visually distinctive buildings.

“What kind of architect puts balconies on a building that stands nose-to-nose with an elevated expressway? No one would be hanging out their sheets to dry or lingering on the balcony with a gin and tonic to watch the evening rush-hour traffic.”

Haruki Murakami, 1Q84

Balconies that don’t look out onto anything. Windows that look out onto the house next door. Narrow strips of grass labeled as a backyard. In an effort to find a compromise on budget, space, and convenience, we are forced to contend with terrible design decisions.