A Small Detail

In the words of Marco Frascari, “details themselves can impose order on the whole through their own order.” Details go beyond the typical definition of what we think an actual detail is; often when I think of details, I immediately picture an intricate design embedded on a building or even a piece of clothing. But when thinking about those details, I struggle to define what that means exactly and how it pertains to the bigger image of something. Frascari’s viewpoint of a detail clarified my confusion about the topic and the complexity for which it actually stands. A detail is much greater than a simple design—it has to do with the relationship to the piece as a whole. A whole piece is made entirely up of details and when they are construed more closely, it becomes shockingly evident just how many details can be incorporated into one place and one building at the same time, because details are the basis for bigger images and buildings.

The detail focused on in this charrette is a “material joint” that physically makes a connection. The joint I examined is a hinge on a glass door, which materially allows for it to open and close and hence perform its proper function. Without this hinge, its function and overall construction would be destroyed, nor would it make sense—almost like a missing puzzle piece. One way in which I think about details are small puzzle pieces; at first they start off as individualized and irrelevant but once they are assembled, they give rise to a much greater image. This joint happens to be more elegant than most, which says a lot about the overall building. This section of the building is the more modernized part in comparison to the older section, which tends to be a bit more classical. The concept of a steel joint and a glass door displays a true depiction of modernity and the 21^st century, as well as the overall larger understanding for the building. These are both materials that are prominent in this day and age and when combined, they create a rather up-scale image.

Its glare makes it aesthetically pleasing to the eye while simultaneously performing its structural purpose—allowing a door to open. Part of what can be seen through this material joint is collocation, or “the functional placement of the details.” When first looking at the joint, one may not even realize its intention—that its job is not merely to help a door open, but rather contribute to the aesthetics and grandeur of UMMA. This type of detail is seen more frequently and easily once the eye knows what to look for. By examining the bigger picture, one may just realize that what they are looking at is not just a large image, but rather many tiny details that form a whole.