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Loading ...Optical Illusions in Architecture
Posted 23/04/2010- The corner columns of Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens seem to be of one width when there’s bright sky behind, though their diameters differ.
- The Columns of the Athena’s Temple in Paestum, built in the end of VI ct BC seem to be higher than for real because of optical corrections and they seem to have the same diameter in the lower and medium parts.
- Stonehenge seems to have rectangular stones but it’s just an optical illusion.
- Optical corrections make the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra more steady and upward-looking. Orthodox temples inside seem higher than outside. This illusion is achieved by walls bending towards the centre of the temple and by steep lines of arcs and domes. Picture: Cathedral of the Annunciation – interior.
- The Belfry of John the Great seems to be falling behind. This illusion deals with the illusory building size change when looking up.
- Campanile Giotto di Bondone is projected in laws of the reverse perspective. This technique strengthens the impression of building’s monumentality.
- The statue of Goddess Athena surrounded by the 2-floor colonnade looks like a real colossus. (Reconstruction of the Parthenon sanctuary in Athens.
- Eyes often deceive us and we see things that don’t exist. This is called optical illusions – errors of eye perception. For centuries people try to overcome them and even use. And we have to say, people are really good at this today.
Playing With Colors
Architects knew how to fix the perception errors common to a human eye even at ancient times when they built different architectural forms. Optical illusion often deals with the choice of the
