CATEGORIES of OPENINGS' TREATMENTS

CATEGORIES of OPENINGS' TREATMENTS

Post  148 --by Gautam Shah 

 

Openings’ treatments are exclusive to the purposes they serve. Such as the orientation (solar exposure, illumination, wind), usages (domestic, commercial, industrial, jails), space units (living areas, kitchens, toilets, store rooms), users (adults, children, disabled, afflicted). Openings’ treatments occur on the outside face -broadly called architectural systems or, on the inside face -largely known as interior treatments. Yet, some treatments are placed within the body of the opening and so do not belong to exterior or interior systems.

There are many exclusive classes of openings' treatments. Other categories of treatments emerge by the contrast they pose.

•  Architectural treatments
• Interior Design treatments
• Barrier systems
• Protection and insulation systems
• Environmental systems
• Utilities
• Signs, Symbols
• Announcements and Declarations
• Identification systems
• Decorations
• Figurines, artifacts, statuettes, seals
• Masking or Framing systems

Other classes of openings

• External versus Internal systems
• Seasonal or temporary
• Individual against Collective treatment systems
• Personal systems and Public systems
• Revealing versus Camouflage systems

Architectural treatments generally occur on exterior faces, but also could be a scheme for the internal face or space. Architectural treatment over openings is one that is designed with the building and can be called the prime strategy.

Interior Design treatments occur with the occupation of the building and user is the key reference. These are often improvisations to customize the architectural design. Some features are corrective actions to add or distract the architectural provisions.

Barrier systems control the transactions occurring through openings. The transactions include passage of human beings, pets, insects, objects, light, air, moisture, odours, radiation, sound, etc. Barrier systems through their nature transparency or opacity allow or bar the transactions. The action of barricading by openings’ treatments occurs through passage and refraction, reflection or absorption. Curtains, blinds, mats, screens, lattices, films, etc. are some of the barrier systems.

 Protection and insulation systems barricading or filtration devices such as barriers, parapets, grills, trellis and other preventive tools such as curtains and blinds.

Environmental systems are more affective if on the exterior side of the building, however, some openings’ treatments are mounted on the inside face so that their handling is much easier. Weather protection systems and shading devices such as porches, verandahs, Chhajjas, louvres, awnings, projections, galleries, balconies, arcades, planter boxes, all are environmental systems.

Utilities are placed over opening’s to take advantage of the change that occurs near or across it. These include: cloth lines, shelves for planters, hooks and frames for climbers, bird feeds, air conditioners, air coolers, exhaust fans, air curtain fans, lift pulleys, ladders, service cat walks, storm shutters, niches and recesses for diyas (lamps).

Signs, Symbols are placed over openings for protection, luck, blessings, omen, to cast a good or bad spell, and to ward off evil. Signs are used for identification such as faith, religion, seals, coat of arms, profession, employment or social position, clan or group, educational and other achievements. Abstract presentations to instruct, warn, welcome, bid farewell, declare wishes, feelings or emotions, congratulate, felicitations.

Announcements and Declarations are placed over entrance or exit openings like doors and gates to catch attention of passerby. These include messages, honors, notices, results, legal orders, declarations of rights and prohibitions, seals, employment or social position.

Identification systems allow a visitor (entering or exiting) to declare, register or celebrate. The identifier systems are declarative through visual, audio and other sensorial faculties or mere registering (recording, acknowledging, checking devices). The identification system associated with openings are: bells, knockers, buzzers, talking pipes, chimes, whistles, sirens, rattlers, vibrators, horns, intercoms, video recognition and surveillance systems, finger, retinal image, DNA and other bio recognition devices.

 Decorations are declaration as well as objects for occupation or possession of space. Toran, Festoons, Plants, shrubs, Bonsai, flower arrangements, climbers, dry arrangements, artificial plants, pots, vases, baskets.

Figurines, artifacts, statuettes, seals are placed over doors of public, religious and also on residences. The purpose is for declaration of faith or affinity, or protection such as the Chinese warlords as door gods, or Ganesha as vignaharta (the trouble shooter).

Masking or Framing systems are placed over the opening to modify the view in or out and to adjust the size of the aperture. Traceries have been used in Gothic windows. Toran have been used over Indian doors as decoration and to ward off birds flying in. Grills are used to impose patterns on the view. Sheer curtains are used to tone the brightness.

Openings’ treatments as scaling device have been used to enhance or reduce the size or importance of the opening. These systems have in many periods of history become very stylized, overwhelming the architecture. Doors and gates have elaborate doorways and gateway structures.

  OTHER CATEGORIES are the contrasting entities.

External versus Internal systems of openings’ treatments. The former, are more exposed to the effects of environment and are usually more substantial or structural in nature. The later ones are in protected or interior locations and so can be very delicate in nature. External treatment substantially depend on their scale and form to be operative, whereas the interior systems take the advantage of their sensorial qualities to be effective.

Hard and Soft Furnishings as openings’ treatments, both are interior elements. However, soft furnishings consist mainly of fabrics and to a very small extent other pliable materials like paper, leather, etc. Some plastic sheets and films come within soft furnishing category. Soft furnishing items for openings’ treatment are not very long lasting and must be replaced frequently. Hard furnishings are qualified by their rigid format and permanence. Hard furnishing treatments are not easily detachable.

Seasonal or temporary treatment systems are meant to for a season or occasion, beyond which these are removed, stored for the next use or discarded. There no effort to integrate such opening treatments unless the effort to mount them requires technical expertise and heavy man-power.

Fixed systems versus Manipulable systems. Fixed opening treatment system require no triggering of any mechanism to be operative, or need to be intensified or slowed down. Manipulable system offer a series of choices through mechanical stops or rests, electrical energy step up-down and boost-stop systems, programmed choices.

Individual against Collective treatment systems. An individual system relates to single opening, and does not occur as the intervening unit between openings. A collective system ties up or disciplines several openings by providing a reference, linkage or a common enclosure.

Personal systems and Public systems allow use of an opening by the single user or offering customized facility. A public system is meant for large number of users often neglecting the needs of individual users. Public systems may be controlled away from the opening, by someone, often a non user.

Revealing versus Camouflage systems. A revealing system allows the ‘original’ character of the opening, but a camouflage system conceals the opening. A camouflage system may even completely negate the opening itself.

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DOORS

Links on DOORS from Blog >>> INTERIOR DESIGN ASSIST

1 BEVELLED GLASS in DOORS and WINDOWS

2 DOORS – INTERIOR and EXTERIOR EXPRESSIONS

3 SLIDING DOORS

4 WIDE DOORS and MULTIPLE DOORS

5 STRUCTURES over DOORS

6 OTHER TYPES of DOORS

7 INTERIOR ILLUMINATION through DOORS

8 DOORS in LITERATURE

9 AWNINGS or SHADING DEVICES

10 NATURE OF OPENINGS

11 OPENINGS in COLONIAL PERIOD of INDIA

12 VENTILATION in TROPICAL BUILDINGS

13 DAY-LIGHTING – in Interior Spaces

14 DOOR HINGES

15 ARCHITECTONIC ELEMENTS over OPENINGS

16 DOOR HEADS

17 OPENINGS and FINISHES

18 GATES and GATEWAYS

19 CLASSES of OPENINGS

20 DOOR and HEARTH

21 TORAN

22 SIZE of a DOOR

23 DOOR SECURITY

25 EXPRESSION of OPENINGS

26 OPENINGS and BARRIER SYSTEMS

27 DOOR CASINGS

ENTRANCE

 Post 102 -  by Gautam Shah 

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Entrance to cave no. 19 in Ajanta Caves complex, India Wikipedia Image by Marcin Białek

An Entrance is associated with the presence of a door or gate, and it is a point of arrival or departure. The entrance, however as a place has much wider significance, of the associated intermediate entities, like the verandah, porch, courtyard, vestibule, lobby, hall, foyer, archway, arch, porte-cochere (a carriage entrance passing through a building to an enclosed courtyard), vomitory (an entrance to an amphitheater or stadium), etc. 

An entrance is a recognition that there is an enclosure (place), and one needs the privilege (of entering), and the opportunity (structured facility) to do so. The enclosure is a finite spatial entity, the privilege derives from the purpose and familiarity, whereas the opportunities facilitate the process of transition. With entrance one begins to socialize with the residents of the abode.

The entrance to Dartmoor Prison wikipedia image by Brian Henley

The entrance is a point of connection, introduction, incursion, intrusion, penetration or admission, but always overflowing with possibilities. It is a point of coming of the good or evil, friend or enemy, known or unknown, invited and uninvited. It is a place of fears, doubts and dangers as well as hope, fulfillment and safety.  Entrance is also an exit, as often both co-exist in space as same or parallel entities. Entrance is associated with excitement, expectations and surprise, whereas an exit is an escape to freedom, disappointment, a desired or enforced change. Entrances are made bold, exciting and impressive to denote the change but exits are dull, unmarked and passive. 

An entrance is a transitory facility, where one is expected to leave out the physical baggage, carriers, bearers, vehicles and also drop-out the personal beliefs and prejudices. It is only at the entrance one realizes what one can do without. Even if one gains an entry somewhere, the past catches up, similarly there is no escape on the exit, as seamlessly one enters a new domain.

A visitor, and everything else, is expected to arrive at the main door, in spite of many other convenient points. Means of physical and spiritual defense or totems are placed here even though there may be more vulnerable locations in a building. The exit, however, occurs through less known or least expected points, such as ‘windowing’ (a practice of throwing unwanted person or object out of a window rather then a door -so that there is no chance of return).

  If the en-trance is an entrance that beguiles the visitor and captivates the attention. The en-trance is the first impression that makes a lasting effect, due to the novelty of experience and the environmental and architectural facilitation. If (Entr)-ance is the action or process of doing something, then an entrance offers that amply. The first entry of an actor into a scene is called entrance. The place, time and purpose of entrance, are always fascinating as something new dawns. The entrance is a point in a musical score, at which a performer begins, as it is the only point where one can be relevant.

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PERSONALIZATION of OPENINGS

Post -by Gautam Shah
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Opening systems on the street or entrance foyer are the prime places for personalization. These are straightforward or direct declarations, as much as they are subtle identifications.

The Direct Expressions highlight the building number, street name, postal distribution code, and name of the owner. They also show timings and conditions of visitations. Identifiers like, the status of the owner, the nature and antiquity of the ownership, occupiers’ name, caste, educational qualifications, honors, nationality, titles, are marked over the door.

The identifying elements are in linguistic expressions like Quotes and couplets. These are often in ancient languages, or in forms which are incomprehensible to themselves or others, but placed as traditions demand it. Names and indicators of Gods and saints not only reflect the religious affinity, but also the faith in specific groups. Display of forms, patterns, signs and symbols reveal the owner’s affiliation with secret communities. 

The declarative elements announce the nature of opening like, entry, exit, restricted access. These elements are placed on the outer face of an entrance to warn new visitors. And the same are occasionally placed on the interior side to reinforce the message to a departing visitor (e.g. close the door gently or fully, visit again).

 

The Indirect Expressions are little more abstract or implied. These somehow suggest the ethnicity, social standing, religion or faith. These also show the nature of building use like place of residence, worship, or commerce, etc. Often the abstracted forms are placed as continuation of traditions without being aware of the purpose or significance.

 The street side openings are the chief locations where the declarative elements are placed. But these can also occur at entry points of sub spaces such as kitchen, prayer room, bed room, toilet, etc. 

The identification and declarative elements are very essential enrichment and for personalization of the building and its sub sections. Some declarations result from attempts to personalize a building. Immigrants try to enrich their homes with a lifestyle they have inherited. These lifestyle enrichments are like the colours, fabrics, furniture, landscaping, sculptures and other decorative feature. Similarly the peculiar odours of foods and sounds generating from their buildings declare the owner’s identity.

 Identification elements differentiate a building within a group, or associate the building to a category such as class or colony. In a mass housing colony, people treat their doors, windows, or curtains, extravagantly different from their neighbours. Opposite to this, identical doors and windows conjoin several, even differently styled buildings into a cohesive entity, a colony.

 The entrance door (or a street window) is not just the place of arrival but is a metaphoric point of entrance for everything, good or evil, friend or enemy, known or unknown. A visitor, and everything else, is expected to arrive at the main door, in spite of many other convenient points. In some way it is a point of fear, doubt and danger and hope, fulfillment and safety. Means of physical and spiritual defense are placed here, even though there may be other vulnerable locations in a building.

 Door signage and graffiti are placed by owners and by street users. This may be for revenge, for the political or hate messaging or as a billboard. The door or surround area declarations are for publicity, information or as extremely personal statement.

 The visitor’s announcement and identification systems are placed near the formal entrance, This entrance-based entities include: bells, knockers, buzzers, talking pipes, whistles, sirens, rattlers, vibrators, horns, intercoms, video recognition, surveillance systems. 

A door or front side opening like windows, balconies are the focal point of a building, so anything that is or placed here is considered as delivered to the owner or occupier of the space. In case of a religious building it is an offering to God. At pragmatic level the messages of welcome, farewell, congratulations, facilitations, list of honours, notices, results, declarations, legal attachments, seals, custodial notices, etc. are placed over the door. Indicative objects or symbols are placed to identify faith, religion or profession, etc. but also as protecting and beneficiary signs. Chimes or sound creating hanging devices, hanging mobiles over the openings are believed to bring in good luck.

 There are many objects whose presence or absence over an entrance signifies certain conditions of the family. Absence of a Rangoli pattern (a colourful pattern drawn in the morning in front of the house) or a floral Toran means there is a mourning period for the family. Hindu household hangs the urn containing the ashes post cremation of the dead, outside and beside the door. The urn remains there till appropriate ceremonies are conducted and ashes are disposed off. The presence of an urn outside the door is a message to others that invitations for all joyous events may not be accepted by the house-owner. The presence of a swastika or other markings in vermilion colour over the door threshold indicates it is flourishing family and not a lonely widow’s residence. Bride and groom leave their palm prints over the door the marriage ceremonies. Similarly foot prints of a newly married bride and a pregnant lady in front and inside the entrance door are considered auspicious.

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