Client and Program: Edge of Spaces for Celebration and Reflection

The Mayan calendar was utilized for many purposes in ancient times. Several of these purposes revolved around various celebrations and times of reflection based on the Mayan calendar: births, deaths, religious ceremonies, cultural achievements, the end of a Long Count cycle (52 years), etc. These events allowed for a significant gathering of people, but based on their purpose they would likely congregate differently. The range of the types of people that would amass at a location containing the Mayan calendar varied and could include commoners to elite as well as priests or spiritual leaders who would aid in celebration and reflection.

In general the calendar was a universal tool to organize time as well as predict the future holidays of a specific cycle. The calendar was such an important artifact in Mayan culture because of the belief that the gods granted the Mayans life 52 years at a time (the length of the Long Count cycle) and that this 52 years must be earned. Anxiety was a common sentiment nearing the end of each Long Count cycle and groups would gather to present offerings and then celebrate once they were inevitably granted longer lives. This affected every civilian regardless of social standing and they would likely feel the need to be connected to the calendar especially at this specific celebration. Large interior spaces and the massive size of the calendar allow for the general observance or exhibition of the calendar (roughly 12 feet in diameter, 3 feet thick) as well as movement throughout the space and differing perspective views of the calendar itself.

It is believed that the calendar could also be used to predict birth energies of an individual, along with divination to determine individual destinies. This would likely be performed by a spiritual healer and occur in a smaller setting where families or friends of an individual would be involved. The scale of such a space allows for intimacy within a group, therefore connecting the participants on many levels in such an activity.

Finally, on a much more personal note, the Mayan calendar was used "as a spiritual device that enables a greater understanding of the evolution of consciousness" and allowing one to "align [themselves] with this cosmic evolution toward Enlightenment." This type of reflection is clearly a very personal experience that allows an individual to feel connected and enlightened at the same time. In a smaller, more secluded space, this reflection could be possible and important for the spiritual and sometimes religious development of a Mayan civilian.

The calendar was used mainly as a tool to determine any date in the future or in the past. The system of telling time that the Mayans invented combined a few different cycles that overlapped to create the overall calendar system. This shows that the combination of things that have one main purpose in common - for instance, to tell time - could be applied to the construction of a space as well. My space contains three separate zones of different scales, but they are all tied into the important and awe-inspiring Mayan calendar. Much like the purposes of the calendar, the purposes of the room may differ but still have a strong connection and therefore allow for movement, exploration, and contemplation throughout the different spaces.

Program: Itinerary Across an Ancient Landscape

In order to adapt the site of Uxmal and break it down in a manner that can be easily interpreted by a client or observer, there must be a specific context. Uxmal is a large site in the Yucatan Peninsula that used to be occupied by an ancient Maya civilization. Over the years, several factors have diminished the integrity of the site’s architecture. Natural weather conditions, war and man-made fires, and time have deteriorated Uxmal to a certain extent, but the construction of the architecture has lasted significantly throughout the ages, and that lends a lot of credibility to the Puuc style architecture that was utilized during the site’s construction.
One of the aspects of the area that has remained intact is the strong itinerary throughout the site. There is a low wall surrounding the site with a few thresholds which guides an occupant around the entire site and into it; from here, the occupant believes they are deciding their path on their own, when in reality the placement of certain buildings directs the occupant in certain directions. Yes, there are options for each person making their way through Uxmal (especially today, when they are just observing), but it is the juxtaposition of buildings creates intersecting pathways that almost forces people to move in a certain direction. From movement inside the site around buildings we transition to movement between specific buildings and the creation of thresholds as a result of space created by the edges between the two buildings.
One such area in particular is the space between the governor’s palace and the large group of buildings in the southern area of the site (south group). The large space between these buildings leads an occupant to explore the south group in its entirety as well as the governor’s palace. Both of these constructions expose the Puuc architecture style to the observer, and they are then clued into another aspect of the Maya civilization when they finally enter the different constructions. This is where the transition from large group to small group to individual spaces is made. The observer can pass a series of thresholds (the edge between two buildings, the entrance to a building, the doorway to a room) in order to digress into these spaces. This movement can be made in respect to specific aspects of Maya civilization – the Maya calendar can be used to show relative scale between these spaces because the size of this artifact (which represents a large part of Maya culture) can be related to the client, the space the client occupies, and then the greater context of the site of Uxmal which contains the specific construction that the client occupies.
This relationship between scales is important as it connects the occupant to the past civilization through the cultural ties of the artifact and constructions as well as from construction to construction. The artifact is the link that solidifies the connection between past, present, and future occupants within the Uxmal site.

Artifact: Mayan Calendar - facts, thoughts, and theories

          (scale of artifact in relation to observer or "client")

          The Maya calendar is one of the most easily understood versions of Mesoamerican time documentation that has survived the ages. It combines several ideas or systems of time into one artifact. The two main systems used are known as the Tzolk'in and Haab; the Tzolk'n date system revolves around a 260 day cycle, and the Haab consists of a 365 day cycle. The two sync every 52 Haab years, and this period of time is known as the Calendar Round. Mayans used to wait in anxiety to see if the gods would grant them another 52 years of life, so the end of every Calendar Round cycle was stressful in ancient times. The 52 year cycle was later adapted to the Long Count calendar for practicality because previously only one cycle would occur in a lifetime.

          The completion of certain cycles was marked by monuments or dedications, usually in the form of buildings - stelas or twin pyramid complexes. While there are no such specific monuments in Uxmal, the ideas are carried through from the calendar to the ornamentation and style of certain buildings at the site. 

          The relation of this artifact to an occupant or observer is important to consider because of the varying aspects of the artifact itself. The Maya calendar can be found in many different sizes, each relating to a human being at a different scale. The most common size is the one displayed above, where it is shown in an exhibit. The significance of the fact that there are various sizes lies in the possibilities of the calendar's meaning. The calendar is still used to a certain extent today; there is a lot of speculation and fear about the supposed end of the world due to Maya predictions based on the calendar from ancient times. It is amazing to think that an artifact from such a long time ago can be held with such credibility in current times, and it is equally amazing that the Mayans could predict time so many years into the future.

          Time is an integral part of any civilization, and thus this artifact is relevant across the ages. It allows for the creation of a sort of itinerary through time and guides people through their lives. Having a consistent, reliable method of telling time and separating one day from the other is something that will always be historic, contemporary, and futuristic all at once.

Itinerary Through an Edge Condition: Part 2

 

This reworked version of the Uxmal analytical diagram focuses on the edge created by the threshold between the governor's palace and the southern complex of constructions. This threshold guides a major pathway throughout the site and intersects with the path created by the governor's palace, as shown. Once the threshold has been crossed, the itinerary broadens as the occupant moves toward the north end of the site. The perspective view shows the continuance of path through the threshold and to the rest of the site.

 

Itinerary Through an Edge Condition

 

The site of Uxmal consists of a series of intersecting paths which create an itinerary for the occupant. The section of the site surrounding the Governor's Palace and the southern group of constructions has many strong paths that are centered around the entrance to the governor's palace and the intersection of the space between the south group and the palace. These are emphasized through a strong edge condition that leads to a threshold between the two complexes.

Itinerary, Hierarchy, and Puuc Architecture Within Uxmal

This watercolor/digital rendition of the site plan of Uxmal is a compilation of ideas about Uxmal's construction and the relation of each of the buildings within the site to one another. One main focus is the idea of movement or itinerary throughout the site. There is a certain itinerary of movement throughout Uxmal that is informed by the natural landscape as well as the placement of each construction in relation to the next. The occupant is guided through three main thresholds, or openings in the low-lying wall that surrounds the site, and these thresholds serve as gateways to the most significant areas of Uxmal's site. There are two entrances that fall in line with cardinal directions (north and south), and one which faces the east. The east-facing entrance is considered the main threshold, and the hierarchy among the three apertures is depicted in the watercolor diagram through the use of light tone. Another focus was the Puuc architecture style which is shown both in the mass vs. detail construct of the Pyramid of the Magician as well as the split between elaborate ornamentation and simple appearance of the facade of the Governor's Palace. There is, too, a hierarchy within the constructs themselves - as shown by the Nunnery Quadrangle which uses tone to specify the different layers of importance.

Vocabulary

The following is a compilation of vocabulary found during research and analysis for the Uxmal Ruin project (to be expanded as more terms are identified):

• step pyramid - layers of stone to create pyramids with stair-like edges rather than smooth edges; can have a base of almost any geometric shape
• stele (plural: stelae) - wooden or stone constructions that are taller than they are wide, carved and ornamented with names of ancestors; found in Nunnery Quadrangle
• Puuc style - means "hilly country"; architectural style that features elaborately decorated upper level stonework and basic, flat lower portions; stone mosaics and alternating geometric patterns are common
• corbel arch/corbel vault - construction method used to span a space or void (i.e. entrance); supports a roof's superstructure
• cenote - underground water reservoir; sometimes called cistern

Theory: Uxmal as an Architectural Pioneer Site

Along with Chichen Itza, Uxmal is one of the premier sites of Maya architecture, and one of the first to use Puuc architecture. Puuc architecture is characterized by elaborate horizontal stonework on upper levels and flat, blank lower portions of facades. The structure of Puuc architecture is a concrete core with a stone veneer, and there are often stone mosaics and alternating geometric patterns. The Puuc architecture was used elsewhere in the Yucatan following the use in Uxmal, thus allowing Uxmal to set the example of this new architectural style for years to come.

 

diagram of typical Puuc architecture style

Theory: Geography as a Challenge

Geographically speaking, Uxmal is not located near any sources of water. Typically, ancient civilizations were built near bodies of water in order to create an irrigation system, allow for drinking water, and to aid transportation. To cope with the terrain, the Maya built underwater cisterns called chultunes - which held up to 6,000 gallons of water - to collect rainwater (which was also sparse), but this did not solve the issue of transportation.

Despite the challenge, Uxmal flourished during its time and was one of the largest cities at around 25,000 people. The terrain is incorporated within the construction of the city, rather than being altered to fit it. Overcoming obstacles that exist naturally within a site is a challenge even today, and it is impressive that Mayans could create such a well-preserved area that interacts harmoniously with a site regardless of difficult conditions.

diagram of Yucatan peninsula, depicting isolation of Uxmal

Theory: Contrast Between Mass and Detail

The scale of Uxmal ranges from large masses that construct buildings to minute details that convey the cultural influences of the time period. The contrast between the mass and detail is very apparent at Uxmal. The juxtaposition of the huge spaces between buildings and the large buildings themselves imply importance and authority.

In contrast, the finely detailed facades on many of the buildings depict interwoven serpents, lattice work, and masks of the rain god, Chaac. These are representative not only of Uxmal itself because they are found everywhere, but also of Puuc architecture in general, thus representing the past and serving as a sort of time line of cultural patterns.

diagram of Magician's Pyramid

Artifact: Maya Calendar

The Maya calendar is carved out of stone and is based on a system that was typical and widely used at the time; it shares characteristics with other early Mesoamerican calendars, but the Maya calendar is the most sophisticated, best documented, and most easily understood of the versions. The Maya had three main methods of documenting time: Long Count, the Haab, and the Tzolk'in. The majority of Maya time concepts are cyclical ideas.

Theory: Layers and Preservation in an Archaeological Site

The name Uxmal is believed to originate from the archaic Mayan language phrase meaning "built three times."

Due to the fact that Uxmal was built on a core of concrete rather than plaster, it is well-preserved to this day compared to other Maya architecture of the time. One of the most prominent buildings, the Adivino - or Pyramid of the Magician - contains layers not only in its physical construction but in a conceptual sense as well. The pyramid is built in a stepped pyramid style with an oval or elliptical base, and unusual feature in Maya architecture at the time.

(the layers of the Adivino can be seen in the above section cut)

Another uncommon architectural aspect of the pyramid is the fact that it is built centered slightly to the east of the previous pyramid, rather than directly on top of the old site. It was typical in Maya architecture to layer one pyramid on top of an old one, however at Uxmal, the previous temple was preserved. The juxtapsition of the old and new pyramids allows for a simultaneous sense of renewal and preservation.
Layers existed within the design of other builds as well. In the Nunnery Quadrangle, for example, each individual building is built on a platform that is on a different elevation. This creates visual hierarchy through layers within the building.
The way Uxmal was constructed allows for a unique study of the site. Each layer can be studied and analyzed individually, and so the site as a whole can be considered both as a whole and separately.

diagram of layers in Nunnery Quadrangle