PROPORTION
Animating its Face

The 8 x 16 face of a typical concrete block has a ubiquitous and relentless presence when organized in a typical wall of running bond. Without challenging the normative 8 x 8 x 16 block size nor the pragmatic virtues of running bond, our research considered strategic proportioning of each Block face to yield a more varied and dynamic character when organized in a simple wall of running bond. Utilizing three fundamental strategies for re-proportioning, our design research yielded blocks with greater dynamic presence, multiple possibilities for organization in running bond and an underlying set of regulating mathematical intervals.

SPLAYED SURFACE
As demonstrated in the Fold Block, sub-dividing each face with both splayed and plumb surfaces with three facets in a proportion of 1:1.5, 1:3 and 1:4 allows for light, shade and shadow to fully animate each wall dynamically. The wall achieves a smaller sized texture that pulls the joints into richer composition.

FIGURE FIELD
As demonstrated in the Egg Block, sub-dividing each face with solid and void figures in a 1:1 ratio to each other and a 1:5 ratio in relation to the plumb surface allows for dissolution of the typically prominent joint lines and moves the block wall into more suitable and suggestive relationship to people and animals.

RULED SURFACE
As demonstrated in the Ripple Block, sub-dividing each face into two ruled zones of 1:1 proportion, one syncline and one anticline creates variable proportional relationships when organized in running bond, dependant on the block orientation selected for the wall. This dynamic proportional reading is activated in light, shade and shadow and extended with the flow of water down the wall and the growth of moss developing a natural gradient as it clings to its host in the most conducive locations.