Patterns in Urban Settings

In the heart of every city, each day there are constantly new buildings and houses in the making, especially in a city like Toronto. Everywhere we look we are surrounded by vast amounts of patterns created through lines and repetition.


"Pattern": "can  be made with forms, shapes, lines, colours, textures, or symbols that move across a surface in a recurring sequence." (Schirrmacher & Fox, 2009)

Lights hanging on the ceiling,
Hillcrest Mall

The focus of my photos were taken in a mall that I went to for the very first time, and I was immediately captured by it's aesthetically pleasing interior. Although the mall was quite small, and I personally did not find too many things that I wanted to purchase, it was interesting just to walk around and look at how everything was designed. I payed close attention to the ceilings and the floors in particular. To the right is one of the images that I too of the rows of lights that hung on the ceiling. There is an ongoing pattern that can be recognized from each light in accordance with the lines created between each of them. It is also interesting to see the pattern in a linear perspective, which gives a greater sense of depth through the repetition of lights decreasing in size. The two images below shows a different view of the lights. It shows the patterns in each SINGLE light, rather than a whole row of them. 

Bottom view of a single light
hanging off the ceiling.
Hillcrest Mall

Bottom view of the light in the center of the mall,
(dome-shaped center)
Hillcrest Mall

I have always wondered how the human species managed to build cities after cities that inhabit so many parts of the world. Sure we have machines and technology that help to build houses easier, but when we think about it more deeply, every single house and building were built by people. Machines assist us, but everything is placed on brick by brick by somebody. I live in an apartment building, and my room has an enormous window where I love staring out of every night. I can see all the lights from the city in a higher view, and it never fails to fascinate me how much work must have been put into assembling a house, let alone an entire city. The patterns that surround us mark our "urban" lifestyle.


Here are several more images that I took of the mall.

Pointed glass ceiling,
Hillcrest Mall

Side view of pointed ceiling and light,
Hillcrest Mall

Floor of mall center,
Hillcrest Mall

As an early childhood educator, urban settings can be a great place to teach children about pattern. By allowing children to notice patterns in places and settings that are relevant to them, the learning becomes more meaningful so that they will be able to learn easier. Children can be asked to find patterns that they see around their house, or even in school. This creates a learning experience that is more engaging and inclusive, and will help in the development of each child.

References:

            Schirrmacher,R., & Fox, J.E. (2009). Art and creative development for young children (6^th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Delmar.