Organic Architecture

Organic architecture - that is, natural architecture - may vary in concept and form, but it is always faithful to natural principles. The architect dedicated to the promulgation of organic architecture rejects outright all rules imposed by individual preference or mere aesthetics in order to remain true to the nature of the site, the materials, the purpose of the structure, and the people who will ultimately use it. If these natural principles are upheld, then a bank cannot be built to look like a Greek temple. Form does not follow function; rather, function is independently pursued to create harmony between the artificial and the nature.

In reality, a building should be inspired by nature's forms and constructed with materials that retain and respect the natural characteristics of the setting to create harmony between the structure and its natural environment. It should maximize people's contact with te utilization of the outdoors. Conversely, the rule of functionalism is upheld; that is, the principle of excluding everything that serves no practical purpose.

Natural principles, then, are principles of design, not style, expressed by means and modes of constuction that reflect unity, balance, proportion, rhythm, and scale. Like a sculptor, the organic architect views the site and materials as an innate form that develops organically from within. Truth in architecture results in a natural, spontaneous structure in total harmony with the setting. For the most part, these structures find their colors in the surrounding palette of nature.

From the outside, an organic structure is so much a part of nature that it is often obscured by it. In other words, it may not be easy, or maybe not even possible, for the human eye to separate the artificial structure from the natural terrain. Natural light, air, and view permeate the whole structure, providing sense of communication with the outdoor. From the idside, living spaces open into one another. The number of walls for separate rooms is reduced to a minimum, allowing the functional spaces to flow together.