Subsymmetries for the Analysis and Design of Housing Facades

Abstract

With symmetry, complex designs as a whole can be decomposed to several parts for analysis. On the other hand, these parts can be recombined into multiple sequential designs using the same principles. The complementary applications of the symmetry idea are extremely valuable in a constructive sense. This article discusses the seven frieze groups of symmetry and subsymmetry as a compositional device in the analysis and synthesis of building facades. A few housing facades are analyzed with respect to the symmetry and a new facade design in rows of houses, where all seven frieze groups of symmetry are overlaid, is constructed to demonstrate the application of symmetry in a formal composition.