Rhythm

**Concept:** Rhythm is the ordered recurrence of elements in a composition. It is about the relationship between elements. This relationship is based on having similar proportions and characteristics between two or more elements. In Architecture, much of the effects of a building will depend on the harmony, the simplicity, and the power of these rhythmical relationships
 * Rhythm**
 * Types: **
 * Repetition of shapes: windows, doors, columns etc. It can vary in spacing.
 * Repetition of dimensions: between supports or those of bay spacing. It can vary in size or shape.
 * Repetition of differences: the ascending and descending progressions are built up from small to large and to small again. But when the large is in the center, you experience a sense of swelling to an important element and diminishing to a small one progressing from a quiet beginning to a climax and then relaxing again.
 * Open Rhythm: A mere repetition of similar units equally spaced and without a defined beginning or a defined end.
 * Rhythm of lines: it can be merely systematic variations of linear lengths or curvatures.
 * Spiral: Interesting progression in the radius of the curvatures from small to large. The spiral is one of the most rhythmical of forms because of its combination of repeated curves around a focus and the continual progressive change in the radius of the curvature. The fact that the spiral finally winds around to a point of minimum curvature gives it a powerful close.


 * Rhythm in spaces:**
 * Interior spaces: In complex buildings, the changing and progressive rhythm of shapes, with alternations of open and closed, big and little, wide and narrow, create an ordered variety of effect which contribute to the power of great and monumental structures. Forms which in plan are rhythmically related necessarily create a sense of motion and a sense of direction.
 * Exterior spaces: The problem is in the rhythms of the masses themselves. There has to be a rhythmical basis for the changing heights, widths, and setbacks. There is a rhythm in the relation of end wings to the point of central interests; there is rhythm in the outline of a good tower as it narrows from the bottom upwards.


 * Preferences in different architectural periods: **
 * Greeks: ** Their ornaments, for example, indicate an intense love of small, regular, and perfectly studied rhythms. It is essentially linear: the relief is regular throughout and shadows count almost as purely linear elements.


 * Romans: ** They love rhythms of a much freer and more plastic type.The basic composition is further distinguished by great rhythmical freedom; strong progression from big to little, from high relief to low relief, and from free swinging curves to tight spirals.


 * Gothic: ** It is extraordinarily varied in its rhythmical content. Architects liked to establish many clearly defined and persistent rhythms in their ornaments such as repeated vertical lines of wall panels which develop rhythmical power and the exaggerated staccatos on the edge of spires and gables which emphasize their rhythmical richness.

__ **Rhythm in different architectural styles and urban spaces** __

The Greek Parthenon embodies the principles that raised Greek architecture to perfection -- harmony, proportion, elegance, and grace. We can clearly see that columns with the same proportion and characteristics are repeated throughout the perimeter of the Parthenon. The rhythm here is created by these repeated media type="file" key="rhythm.wav" align="right"structural elements.