Trans RINA, Vol 154, Part C1, Intl J Marine Design, Jan - Jun 2012
concentration, to influence feelings of power and control and tapping into the release of oxytocin or testosterone to supply cohesion to a team. However, it is the ‘function’ and meaning behind that
function, that forms the
cognitively rich and ‘intellectual beauty’ in a philosophical approach. Elevating the optimisation of human efficiency to pleasure, enjoyment and mental well-being - and that in uncovering social, cultural and valuable moments or feelings
designers can extend
ergonomics, psychological and phenomenological human factors, to the ultimate theatre and journey of pleasure - and enjoyment in appreciating functional beauty [2].
Holding that a common knowledge accessible insight
of function is
consciousness’ [3], the philosophy of functional beauty communicates aesthetic significance
design. Making the approach
into ‘the content of the end users fluidly without
ambiguity and creates parameters that makes it very attractive to use in
scientifically accessible, helping understand how beauty can be transparent and can appear or promote an object’s (or experience’s) fitness for its task. That beauty appears in a things function, that is ‘integral to its aesthetic character’ and, according to Aristotle, beauty can be seen in objects that appear to have had ‘a need to be well made for special work’ [1].
Rather than being ‘research-led’, by small markets or individuals, it is fitting, persuasive and coherent to use a philosophical approach to aesthetic interpretation that can be from a collective point of view - culturally focused and that can enrich subjective experiences [4].
Using two case studies into an Elbe SWATH pilot vessel and the Oasis of the Seas to illustrate and objectify the scales around which functional beauty is judged, this paper shows that
visualisation of the most
Technology and perceived functions such as accommodation, ‘habitat’ [8], and the ‘organisational aesthetic’ [7], are considered subsequently. Those points of interest such as sea-keeping technology, masts and peripherals of the propulsion/power plant, or anchorage, are tertiary to the more obvious or salient focal points.
Post appreciation, i.e. visualising in retrospect over the elapsed time of the experience and as annotated in the case studies in figures 1 and 3, moves interpretation away from any static or first-hand impression of functional efficiency, to new knowledge of function, as discussed by Hekkert [9] and Cupchik [10].
It must be noted that, the major division and sequences of proportions of the golden ratio are indicated and noted in figures 1 and 3. Referenced in the text as human or natural scale, and that can be considered characteristics recognisable in natures ‘sharing out of the parts’, and those relative to the physics in the ships partitioning, which are pertinent and central to the functional beauty debate [11].
3. CASE STUDIES 3.1 THE ELBE SWATH (WORKBOAT) valued
function can be defined and enriched with a suitable reflection on subjective knowledge.
The overall form, or gestalt, can use shape recognition to order appreciation as noted in [5-7], and as listed below, which then can be visualised from the passenger’s perspective, categorising aesthetic significance next to each feature and facet of the case studies.
The gestalt order is thus taken initially from the overall form, both from an exterior point of view and when the ship is underway.
The primary function of transport is initially appreciated, i.e. the ships sailing functions; and the focal points of the primary physical form, which are taken as the prevalent and first part of overall examination.
The Elbe SWATH’s single purpose is to deliver and receive pilots from large ships and boats. Having to primarily navigate through rough tidal waters in pilot delivery, the small-waterplane-area twin hull (SWATH) is a practical working environment in delivery of said Pilots and facilities for housing its rotated team
From side view and front the superstructure appears very similar, castle like, blocky, a distinct planar residential like unit centrally placed on a nominally larger and raised foundation.
Having that a lighter appearance and
distinguishing her with a bi-pedal like stability, as we see her in three quarters view (in figure 2) the central section of hull
displacement is missing. Set back on the tops of the red hulls
weather decks a singular and the singular house, appearing
hermetically sealed, the junctions, small portage and rounded doors of the deck house define watertight.
is recognised in a traditional mono hull sealed deck-house
straddles a gently chined hull above the water line. Colour is reflected in a prominent stripe across the top of the bridge,
C-38
©2012: The Royal Institution of Naval Architects
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