Art and Architecture

HU300 Unit 2 Assignment

September 4, 2012

While slowly perusing my humble late 1970'S neighborhood, I noticed some of the homes have tall gable style roofs while others had flat tops. While the flat top roofs usually fair better in a bad storm due to less wind resistance, typical Florida weather is bright, sunny and hot! Which makes a gable roof more appealing. The gable roof works better to deflect heat and it also allows for higher ceilings. As far as aesthetics is concerned, the absence of a shadow at the gable ends emphasizes the simple geometry of the roof shape. Though its primary purposes may be to shed water and protect us from the elements, a roof can fold us into the landscape and let us dream of the up and beyond. The classic inverted "V" of a gable roof is far more distinctive compared to the flat slab roof. Even to amateur or visiting eye the gable roof has a better curbside appeal, making the house look bigger and more home-like from the road as opposed to the commercial utility look of a flat top roof. Also, due to the higher ceiling of the gable roof, the inside of the home looks larger and less claustrophobic. Starting as a simple gable, the roof follows the geometry of the form below and welcomes those who get beneath it with welcoming warmth and shelter. The simplest of roofs can provide such awe inspiring impressions with the sky has its backdrop. The gable lights flicker as the moon rises up from behind and the sun sets behind you over another roof.

The gable roof can easily be discarded as too simple to be art yet, being a fan of Pop Culture since the day I was born, my eye is drawn to the likes of Peter Max, Leroy Neiman and Andy Warhol, to mention only a few of the artists I consider as tremendous contributors to the modern world of art. Many of their works are simple and lack the great detail of the classic artists and masters. Many Pop Art artists wouldn't even try to compete with the true masters. Instead, another type of...