UNDERSTANDING THE RELATIONS AMONG SYMMETRY, FACADE, AND ENTROPY

Abstract

Facade aesthetics is among the main areas of interest in architecture, urban design, and environmental psychology. In the interaction between the observer and the environment, the facades have a kind of communication value. Facades have repetition and similarity features and also represent various differences and uniqueness potentials. These properties show their aesthetic value. Within this aspect, symmetry is an important factor in the architectural and aesthetic value of the facades. However, the question of to what extent a facade should have symmetry and similarities, and to what extent it should have diversity and unique qualities, is among the discussion topics of the design field. These debates have the context of mathematics and science as well as design, psychology and philosophy. Digital aesthetics issues contribute to the interpretation of symmetry relations such as the golden ratio, fractal geometry and information entropy. Relationships of information entropy with Gestalt psychology and symmetry in visual studies led to the development of a different methodology of the subject defined as symmetropy. The architectural facade, symmetry, and entropy issues have different relationships with each other. The aim of this study is to discuss and interpret this trio of relationships among the facades, symmetry, and entropy with a literature-based review. This review will include critical approaches and the contextual origin of information entropy. The metaphorical, philosophical, and methodological content of the approach is discussed together with its controversial aspects.