An ensemble in architecture is a functionally connected complex of buildings and adjoining nearby/neighbouring territory, that forms an artistic image. To the same extent as a separate building and its interior, it is an architectural creation and an architect’s object of originative work.
There are ensembles of urban, country and park. They can be small scale and large scale. Architecture always combines with nature to a greater or lesser extent, which also becomes an object of the architectual composition.
An integral attributive part of the project is the organization of nearby area. This concept means the territorial distribution and organization of streets, roads, buildings, engineering equipment. Mankind has a rich experience in architecture, and the greatest heritage concerns the field of architectural ensembles, where social ideals, artistic aspirations, tastes are expressed as well as in certain works of art.
There are two types of urban ensembles:
- The first type includes ensembles having been created for a long time (several decades, and sometimes even centuries). An example is Khreshchatyk in Kyiv.
- The second one concerns projects having been created in a single style, on a single plan. Examples are London ensembles. There are also many new ensembles, created by domestic and foreign architects.
The natural conditions have a significant impact on the architectural composition. Low, flat terrain allows you to make direct roads, avenues and streets. The high, hilly terrain makes you to construct curvilinear roads and streets, to lay bridges across the plains, adding picturesque view.
An important factor for planning a settlement as a whole is the presence of an adjoining reservoir and its natural kind, as in most cases it affects the planning of the ensemble of the city as well. Embankments, coastal parks and squares houses located on the relief towards the water are being formed. This way «ceremonial» facades appear, which go out on the banks of rivers and seas.
The connection with nature in internal urban ensembles is carried out by revealing the prospects of the surrounding landscape and the arrangement of parks, squares, ponds, fountains, and pools. In urban planning practice, certain planning techniques and forms have been invented, basing on which ensembles are organized (streets of different types, squares, embankments, city centers).
In the spatial composition of architectural ensembles, the following most typical constructions are distinguished:
- a deep-spatial perspective that can be revealed along an extended area, street, boulevard, canal, river, etc. It usually begins with or leads to the main composition element; the entire space covered by the prospect may be the main element in relation to the surrounding;
- enclosed space, limited by building or greenery arrays. This type of the ensemble composition includes urban and park areas, intra-quarter and factory-built objects;
- a free space in which the buildings are arranged in such a way that they do not form strictly defined linear boundaries. In this case, natural or perimeter structures are the elements that determine the spatial environment.
- The panorama scenery, which is observed from the highest points of view within the city or the village. In such ensembles, silhouette of the building and high-rise constructions are of great importance. And usually we observe a combination of these typical cases, especially because ensembles are perceived in motion and from different points of view.
In addition, we note some more basic techniques that are most the common in the construction of an architectural ensemble:
- setting up the buildings, which are distinguished by their significance, scale, composition and artistic qualities in separate places;
- usage of the historical monuments of architecture as composite units of the ensemble;
- staging of monuments dedicated to outstanding events and leaders in appropriate, well-known and visited parts of the ensemble.