Proportions and Light

This thesis is an inquiry between music and architecture. The rational and emotional aspects of music are applied into architectural language.

Rationally, the base for both music and architecture is mathematic, or proportions, which derives from the cosmic order, and gives the harmonic sense for the ears and the eyes. They are both carefully constructed on paper: scores and constructive drawings. Neither of them will make sense unless through experience, which will take to an emotional journey.

The numbers for Pythagoras scale are the agreement of sounds that affects our ears with delight, the same that can please our eyes and our minds. Since harmonic ratios inherent in nature are revealed in music, the architect who relies on those harmonies makes use of a universal harmony apparent in music.

Light moves within a space throughout time in a year, it can be considered as a time signature for the season and the day in architecture. The form and material change the quality of light. Light and shadow gives rhythm in a space.

Music is close to heaven with eternity. In Japan, Mount Fuji is the highest mountain and people worship it as a symbol of immortality. Both of them have their trace connect to nature. The journey for this thesis is about exhibiting a series of woodblock prints called Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, using knowledge of proportions and light. By ordering the prints into a certain order, the exhibition eventually celebrates the Mount Fuji itself.