Activity 15: Curved Lines

Curved lines can sometimes add interest or drama to a building.

Look at the picture of the bay window in the parlour




and also the cupola at the top of the stairs.




Also you will notice the use of curved lines in the decoration of the banisters and walls of the rooms.

The general aerial view of the house before renovations also shows the use of circles in the garden area.




Drawing curved shapes outside is different from drawing on paper. In your jotter you can use a pair of compasses to draw a circle but that is different outside where the sizes are larger.

Draw a circle 10 metres in diameter outside

You will need two people, a piece of string or rope 10 metres long and a piece of chalk.

One person stays at the centre of the circle with one end of the string.

The second person holds the string taut and walks round the other person making chalk marks on the ground as she or he goes round.

The result should be a circle 10m in diameter.

Measure the circumference with a trundle wheel. How long is it?
What is the radius?

By approximately how many times is the circumference longer than the radius?