From Oculus to Orbit: The Symbolism of the Circle in Architecture
This article traces the evolution of circular forms in architecture, from ancient cosmic symbols to futuristic space-age motifs. It begins with the Pantheon in Rome, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC and reconstructed by Emperor Hadrian after fires, featuring a 9-meter-wide oculus that illuminates its spherical interior. The medieval rose window, first integrated into the facade of the Abbey of Saint-Denis by Abbot Suger around 1135, is also highlighted. The article then explores how portholes, derived from ship design, became architectural features, popularized during Art Deco and inspired by Le Corbusier's 1923 book 'Towards an Architecture'. Notable examples include Jean Prouvé's Tropical House and Clorindo Testa's Naval Hospital of Buenos Aires (1970) and National Library Mariano Moreno. The Futurist movement, with Antonio Sant'Elia's 1914 manifesto, embraced circular forms as symbols of technology. Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion House (1920s) and the experimental community Bolwoningen in Den Bosch (1984) by Dries Kreijkamp further advanced the use of spheres. The article concludes by noting that contemporary architecture still uses circles, but their symbolism has shifted from technological optimism to resilience, ecological systems, and alternative ways of living.
Key facts
- The Pantheon in Rome was originally commissioned by Marcus Agrippa and inaugurated in 27 BC; after fires, it was reconstructed by Emperor Hadrian.
- The Pantheon's oculus is 9 meters wide and illuminates the interior.
- The rose window at the Abbey of Saint-Denis was first integrated into a church facade around 1135 by Abbot Suger.
- Portholes originated in the 16th century when King Henry VIII of England ordered cannons installed on ships, requiring circular openings in the hull.
- Le Corbusier's 1923 book 'Towards an Architecture' encouraged architects to draw inspiration from ships.
- Jean Prouvé incorporated portholes into his prefabricated Tropical House.
- Clorindo Testa designed the Naval Hospital of Buenos Aires (1970) with Héctor Lacarra and Juan Genoud, featuring porthole-like windows.
- Antonio Sant'Elia wrote the Manifesto of Futurist Architecture in 1914.
- Buckminster Fuller designed the Dymaxion House around 1920, which was never built but influenced prefabrication and sustainability.
- The Bolwoningen community in Den Bosch, Netherlands, was built in 1984 by Dries Kreijkamp, featuring spherical houses.
- Kreijkamp said: 'We live in a sphere, we are born from a sphere... why not live in a sphere?'
- The article is part of ArchDaily's theme 'The Attraction of Escapism in Architecture and Alternative Worlds'.
Entities
Artists
- Agustina Iñiguez
- Marcus Agrippa
- Emperor Hadrian
- Emperor Domitian
- Abbot Suger
- Colin Bisset
- King Henry VIII
- Le Corbusier
- Georges-Henri Pingusson
- Jean Prouvé
- Clorindo Testa
- Héctor Lacarra
- Juan Genoud
- Antonio Sant'Elia
- Jacques Tati
- Buckminster Fuller
- Dries Kreijkamp
- Bernard Tschumi
Institutions
- Pantheon
- Abbey of Saint-Denis
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- ArchDaily
- Tate Modern
- United Nations
- Library of Congress
- Deutsches Architekturmuseum
- Greater Dog Architects
- Bernard Tschumi Architects
- Roman Pantheon
- Abbey Church of Saint-Denis
- Naval Hospital in Buenos Aires
- Mariano Moreno National Library
- Archigram
- Bolwoningen
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Saint-Denis
- France
- Worms
- Germany
- Buenos Aires
- Argentina
- Den Bosch
- Netherlands
- London
- United Kingdom