Download Activity PDF Shapes in Architecture
One of the previous programs in our children’s series was called I Can Be an Architect. We used geometric shapes to build the Hammond-Harwood House. Below is the actual house and then a construction of the house using circles, triangles, squares, and rectangles.
The children went on to decorate it with windows, doors, trees, shrubs, and a background of the sky.
We are now going to look at other shapes called irregular shapes.
Another name for such shapes is free – form. Below are some free-form shapes in nature and in buildings.
Can you see the difference between the regular shapes in the Hammond-Harwood House and these free-form shapes above?
There is a wonderful book called Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty. The character Iggy wants more than anything to be an architect. He uses common items to build a castle, a tower, and other buildings. Some are regular shapes and others, free – form.
First, I want you to read the book by finding this link on the internet. Type in Iggy Peck, Architect – YouTube. Find the one by the author Andrea Beaty. As you see and hear the story, try to find regular and free-form shapes.
Here are some to get you started. The picture of Iggy’s mother and father contain some free-form shapes. What are they? In this picture of Miss Lila Greer, what are some regular shapes? See if you can find another picture with free-form shapes!
Now you will have a chance to design buildings or houses just as Iggy did. First, look at these shapes.
This is called a Crooked House and it is found in Poland. Would you like to live in this house? Why or why not?
This building is in Nice, France. It has both a regular shape and then a free-form shape. What would you call it? Answer is below the picture.
This one is an easy shape to recognize. It was built by a man who was a shoe salesman and later owned a company that made shoes. The living room is in the toe and the kitchen is in the heel. Would you like to live in this house? Why or why not?
Now you are going to make you own house or building but this time you are going to use ONE of the shapes on the next page. Use 8 1/2 by 11” paper or larger and create your own house with windows, doors, and whatever else you wish to put on your house.
Once you have built your house, please take a picture of it, and send it to Rachel Lovett at hhhcurator@gmail.com. We would like to have one page in our newsletter devoted to the houses you made out of these regular and free-form shapes.
Miss Judi
Volunteer Educator
Get the SHAPES TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE here:Shapes in Architecture
