Journal Entry No. 4
A love affair with arches.
Arch, or ‘porta’, set into the town walls of Monte Castello di Vibio, Umbria
Strength, grace, elegance, frame. Beyond the fact that arches are engineering marvels, I find arches simply gorgeous for they are both graceful as well as strong. Arches have a softness to them, one that an otherwise rectilinear structure can not match, and they also have an unparalleled strength that I feel is transmitted when standing below one. I feel safe under an arch, secure from what is above.
A contractor once said, ‘oh - there’s Francesca and her arches again...’ rolling his eyes but dutifully carrying out the profile requested, to perfection. I look to arches to bring a bit of classicism to contemporary architecture, often layering one in with the desire to ‘open up a space’ in an effort to bring a hint of visual division to what could otherwise be a cavernous room. Arches can both divide as well as join. An arch between rooms brings some segregation as well as connection, the eye travels along the arch and tells the mind that these walls are connected.
An arch also frames the view. It can be a view into another room or a view to the outdoors - whatever the picture is, an arch will make it all the more special for the frame it provides. I always find a view much more intriguing when I don’t see all of it. Hiding a bit of the beauty can be more beguiling than showing of its entirety.
Elegance. The elegance of an arch - from a simple curve to a more complex shape - elevates a space. A narrow street in Venice, buildings leaning in to each other, shadows and sunlight jostling for space on the cobblestones, this street (or, rather, ‘calle’) becomes more elegant with an arch. Likely introduced to buttress the walls of the old palazzi from falling in onto each other, the arch now creates a bit of theatre, a stage for life to unfold below.
Similarly, a narrow hallway in a home - an area that is given little thought save for how efficiently one can cross it from one point to the other - can become an enlivened talking point with an arch, perhaps even a barrel-vaulted ceiling painted night sky blue. This is now a space with interest, curiosity and that invites pause, all for the inclusion of a simple curved shape.
My adoration of the arch will always be a constant, it’s not a trend, it’s a deeply rooted understanding of its value. The arch reminds me of Italy, of my days under the proscenium arch designing sets and costumes for the theatre, and it reminds me of the great things man can create when both form and function are in harmony.