Verities of detail the significance of detail on expression and function in architecture with special reference to resort hotel

Abstract

Although considered as a secondary element in architecture, architectural details played a major role through out the history till today. Our ancestors used variety of details in their creations for various purposes. Some of the details performing as signs and symbols even in the most primitive societies. This symbol creating function is said to be one of the mankind's primary activities, which developed in to a work of art. Incorporation of details in architecture adds beauty to the product and perform various functions. Details helps the integration of various building elements together and give uniqueness to it while showing the ethnicity, culture and the prevailing architectural style. It is therefore evident that the integration of uniqueness, ethnicity, culture and style together can give an identity to a place or a building, Through the identity of a place, a person perceive the sense of place, The verities or truths of details acts as the vehicle to create an appropriate ambiance for each individual to feel his own identity and to make him belong to that place. Sense of belongingness to a certain place makes oneself a part his surrounding environment; a part of the whole. This phenomenon is called as the concept of authenticity. Authentic places helps a person to become a part of his surroundings, bounding him to the context and to feel that the rest of the world does not exist. Creation of such appropriate detailing according to the perceiver's taste, together with architect's talents.But many of modern day architecture lacks this meaningful, appropriate details, catering only towards functional and constructional aspects. Thus making the human being lost, in the modern say building without a sense of place or identity. Many writers have echoed that modern life is filled with an overwhelming sense of fragmentation and transistoriness. This has created a need in urban man to escape from his everyday life, in search of something more real, than today s high rise buildings and materialistic life style. This demand has been met with many ways. One way of meeting this demand is the hospitality industry, with their creation of modern day resort hotels. This phenomenon has given rise to a new dimension in architecture. The tourist industry has creating a new niche by marketing what is termed as the concept of authenticity, according to many writers and researchers of Resort Hotel trade. This concept is meant to offer tourists a glimpse in to another culture via the resort hotels. Many examples of such, can be cited in Sri Lankan context. So that the modern day architect of these resort hotels is confronted with creating a real situation out of a exercise which in its extreme form of fantasy. This study intends to focus on how these resorts attempt to achieve this sense of authenticity through architectural details. The theme of the essay revolves around detailing as an approach to the creation of resort architecture.