Baptisimal theory

The water at Palenque has a generative effect on the Mayan residents, their culture, and construction. I believe there is a missing construct that frames the courtyard, which would demonstrate programming of birth and origination. I have explored the idea of inserting a matriarchal presence within the time of occupation at Palenque with a baptismal which controls the flow of the Otulum river using gated aqueducts that direct a portion of the water into a pool carved into the courtyard. The name of the site called by its inhabitants was Lakam Ha, or “big water”. The site of Palenque differed from many Mayan cities because of its abundance of water. Central to their lifestyle water served as life, indispensible and sustaining , the mundane, to flush and purify, and death, access to the afterlife through cenotes and water caves under springs. Without the abundance of water the people of Palenque could not have developed such a rich culture which included a stunning architectural repitoir.
The construct would be located to just south of the Palace, and east of the Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque. The Palace is used for administrative purposes and its program can be interpreted as a construction dedicated to life, while the Temple of Inscriptions is programmed for death, being the tomb of the ruler Pacal, the third construct in the this trinity must be programmed of birth, and origination. The entrance on the south west corner leads to a large amphitheatre style gathering space, the declining seating levels scooped into the earth which is akin to the landscape also lowers towards the north. Because of the cascading land the area from which to view is well above the baptismal alter which gives a clear and unobstructed view of the ceremony. The solar orientation of the baptismal lends itself to afternoon until early evening use as this is the ideal position of the sun shining towards the alter behind the congregation. In order to accommodate the change in the height of the river during seasons the construct is built with stairs and platforms to be able to access the water at a variety of levels so as not to effect the ritual. The aqueduct gates allow a calm and gentle pool to be created alongside the rushing river resembling a cenote.
The ceremony of baptism begins within the courtyard where the people of Palenque gather together in preparation of the ceremony, they have brought small offerings of food, and are met by the new baby and mother. The mother then leads the congregation through the entrance of the baptismal, down the staircase allowing the congregation to cascade into the seats. When the crowd is seated the baby is passed from the mother, to a priest. The Priest exits the gathering space and brings the baby down into a stairwell hidden from the public eye, anticipation builds as the priest and child walk through a long hall, only to emerge through a concealed door, suddenly, on the stage. As the priest descends the stairs towards the water, the congregation throw their small offerings of food into the pool with prayers of health and protection to the gods for the baby. It is then that the baby is washed in this blessed and fertile water. After the child has been cleansed the priest will carry them to the alter where he will wrap the baby’s forehead with boards and cloth as a sign of beauty and wealth. The alter is framed such that the priest is no longer entirely visible except for his arms which skillfully swaddle the child. At this the ceremony is over and the priest returns on the path from whence he came to return the child to it’s mother in a small room, the mother may then take the child to the congregation to be received as the newest member.

Theory # 6: Mass and Void watercolor relief model and intervention.

The mountains hugging the central
void creating a volume in between.


Overall the water color relief model was designed to enhance the idea of mass being private power of the theocracy and the void being the people. For the water color relief model the mass and void relationship was created by popping up the surrounding context to form an impenadrable mass that pushes and volumizing the void found within the center of the site. While the Temple of Inscriptions is sunken down and collapsed to make room for the intervention.

The intervention is about a revolution. A new center for democracy is created by bulldozing the massive structure of the Temple of Inscriptions leaving only the original passageway to the ruler Pacal 's tomb (or void). This temple is a skeleton where before the inner workings of the government were hidden but are now exposed. A person enters the temple in a closed off individual experience with no reference to the tomb of Pacal. As a person moves up through the temple they come to meet and discuss with more and more people. As the passageways climb up they start to fold around the tomb of Pacal while mass falls away and the structure its self becomes more and more exposed accumulating in a completely free and open platform on the top.
The layered passageways of the intervention.

Power Theory

Both the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace represent Power by relating to the topography. Edge conditions display that it creates the boundary in every direction. They are the center points of the site, and in every direction, all other constructions are less significant.
The Temple and Palace were both made for Pakal, and are therefore the most prominent structures. The Temple was built for Pakal's occupation in death, and the Palace was built as his occupation in life. The nine levels also represented the levels of the Underworld, relating to his death.
Being that they are both the largest and tallest buildings, they are the two constructions you can view the rest of the site from them. the height They are bordered by the river and the hills, making their immensity visible to all. The hills and river create edge conditions while also placing the Palace and Temple as the center points of the site.

Theory 8

There are core, structural and situational similarities between the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace in Palenque. The structural similarities are primarily shown through the relationship between the piers of the temple and the houses of the palace. Specifically there are seven different sectors of the palace that relate to the seven different piers of the temple.
Though there are numerous entrances to both the temple and the palace the main ones are situated on the northern face. This further proves a structural similarity within the two constructions. This specific situation of the entrances provides a sense of uniformity not only between the two constructions but also within the general site.
This then leads to the situational similarities between the two. It was common in Mayan architecture that when a site was developed it would first be divided into various sections. These sections would then serve as a grid-like system in which the constructions were situated. Specifically in Palenque, it is apparent that the two largest constructions, which are conveniently placed almost perpendicular to one another perhaps to emphasize the grid-like system, provide a point to which the west side of the site almost draw to. This type of uniformity, once zoomed into, provides us with a site within a site. In other words the Temple of Inscriptions and the Palace both present a critical role within the site of Palenque however are also able to stand alone within their own field/zone.

Theory # 6: Palenque, through a mass and void relationship, joins stereotomic construction with the context of the site creating a carved edge.

Support: Though the Mayan architecture seems like impenetrable masses, by sectioning the entire construction and context of the site as one mass, a void is created above and below this mass. The underground passageways beneath the palace and the tomb of the Pacal’s temple reach up to connect with the voids created by the public spaces and sky forming a contending negative mass. This solid/void relationship continues down in scale when focusing on the palace and temple of inscriptions as well.

Diagram: By connecting the mountainous landscape with the Temple and the Palace and then the more planar landscape following it, one continuous mass is created. In response to where the tomb of Pakal, which is embedded in the Temple of Inscriptions, and the underground passageways sunken beneath the Palace, a one void is formed. By pushing this void through the top of the stone Palace and Temple masses and connecting it with the sky, a second contending mass is created. The Plan in the corner further emphasizes the the positive/negative special relationship formed by the structure of the site.

Theory: REVISED
There exists with in the site a mass/void relationship where mass joins stereotomic construction and context forming a carved solid for private individual experience that controls and organizes public plazas .
Overall the water color relief model was designed to enhance the idea of mass being private power of the theocracy and the void being the people. For the water color relief model the mass and void relationship was created by popping up the surrounding context to form an impenadrable mass that pushes and volumizing the void found within the center of the site. While the Temple of Inscriptions is sunken down and collapsed to make room for the intervention.
The intervention is about a revolution. A new center for democracy is created by bulldozing the massive structure of the Temple of Inscriptions leaving only the original passageway to the ruler Pacal 's tomb (or void). This temple is a skeleton where before the inner workings of the government were hidden but are now exposed. A person enters the temple in a closed off individual experience with no reference to the tomb of Pacal. As a person moves up through the temple they come to meet and discuss with more and more people. As the passageways climb up they start to fold around the tomb of Pacal while mass falls away and the structure its self becomes more and more exposed accumulating in a completely free and open platform on the top.

Theory # 16- Relation to Ground Resources and Construct

Palenque is a multi-layered site developed by the Mayans to unite the existing resources and the construct. The system of underground waterways channeled by the Mayan's aqueducts establishes a clear purpose for the river as means of hygiene, transportation, trade and acquiring water in its hilly terrain. The suppressed edge of the Temple is created by the river and used as waste disposal from the Palace. It also serves to create another linkage to the position of the Temple and river. The river, viewed as mundane, shifts away from the Temple of Inscriptions, a place that was sacred to the Mayans, and burial place of the great ruler Pakal.

Theory No. 13: Unfolding Edge

I believe that this site was chosen as an example of an edge that organizes the the landscape and the site. The site folds outward from an edge created by the palace, the Temple of Inscriptions, and the river. The site is organized by the mountains around it and the river.

My map establishes the edge created by the two constructs, and the river with two heavy black lines. The thin, lighter lines show the edges of the hills and mountains, and the dotted lines outline other constructs within the site. The system of lines show how the organization of the site folds out from the edge.

Theory No. 11: Organic Growth

I believe this site was chosen because the Maya intervened in a landscape, but used the ground as a tool to map the site. The Maya established a core and allowed the city to grow organically from that core.

As Miller said, “The Maya found no attraction in rectilinear city streets or the city grid pattern.”* They established a core with the Palace and the temple of Inscriptions. From that point, the rest of the city unfolds along with the landscape. “The Maya rarely leveled a hill;” they used the topography as a starting point, a map. The use of the landscape allows the Maya to create interesting public spaces protected by both the construction, and the natural landscape, a true hybrid of a natural setting and an intervention.

*MILLER, MARY ELLEN. MAYA ART AND ARCHITECTURE. THAMES AND HUDSON LTD. LONDON. 1999

Theory No. 7-A (Process and Growth from the core outward and from the bottom-up.)

The structures of the Maya grew organically, from the core outward, and from the bottom up. The Palace was built as a complex of several connected and adjacent buildings and courtyards built over several generations.
In Palenque, three main vertical structures, Houses E, B, and C radiate out like spokes from a northern point of House E and register completely through to the bottom of the structure. House E was the throne room, House B for Lords to meet and discuss, and House C remained a place of memory of Palenque’s early 17th century defeat. All three houses are significant places of importance in the Palace. After Houses E, B, and C were created, they were converted into subterranean passages. The "connector" Houses A-D were then added. Later, the Tower, followed by H, G, I, F, and L were constructed.



A nodal moment of three main rectilinear figures radiate from a central point. These transition into different fields that register with lines that extend to the full length of the page and beyond. Four line weights are present, one for each of the periods of construction; the heaviest for the three main figures (Houses E, B and C,) the next for the connecting structure (Houses A-D), the next for the Tower and the final for the remaining houses built last. In essence, the map read as a whole depicts the construct of the Palace, a system of interweaving and juxtaposed structures that form a compound.




In the relief model (shown above,) The Palace sits on an elevated platform that serves as a visible edge between itself and the rest of Palenque. The main Houses, E, B, and C also sit higher than the other houses built later on in the Palace. The three Houses do not intersect originally, but do intersect at one moment in this alteration. Where the subterranean passageways may intersect underground, is a node that creates an inverted tower that serves as a system of passages and private spaces for reflection and council for Maya leaders to occupy.

SOURCES:

Maya Art and Architecture by Mary Ellen Miller (Pg. 25, 37)

The Palace at Palenque National Park:
http://www.palenquepark.com/palace.htm

Theory#24- Water System as a Basis for Building

My theory explains how the building process of the Mayans at Palenque was based off of a major topographical feature that was seemingly mundane. I believe that the Otolum River provided the Mayans with a foundation for the way in which their structures were situated at the site.
By developing a water system through a series of tunnels and aqueducts, a large network was created in order to sustain the entire structural complex. This networked system also allowed for the outward expansion of other surrounding structures at Palenque which were all connected via subterranean tunnels.

Theory #23- Spatial (Vessel) Relationships to the Mayan Underworld

My theory explains how Pakal’s construction of vessels at Palenque physically manifests the final spiritual journey taken in the afterlife as believed in Mayan religion. I propose that the constructed tunnels and Ik windows not only acted as ventilation and underground systems of the buildings, but also served as a symbol of the 9 levels of the underworld.

With the use of the Ik windows throughout the buildings, there are purposes beyond reality for them that closely relate to the Mayan underworld. Perhaps they are a symbol reminiscent of a vessel or portal that allowed one to reach the underworld after the journey taken in the afterlife. The tunnels along with the vertical passageway in the Temple of Inscriptions that leads to Pakal’s tomb also convey a similar meaning.