The Greek word hēmikýklion derived from the Latin hemicyclĭum , which came into French as hémicycle . In our language , the notion arrived as hemicycle : this is what half of a circumference or a circle is called.
Something arranged in a semicircular manner or that has the shape of a semicircle is called a hemicycle. For example, it may be an architectural space with the aforementioned characteristics.
The concept of architectural space is defined as an environment that is part of a construction made by humans, such as a building or a park. For its existence, architectural elements are necessary, that is, the parts of a work of architecture that fulfill decorative or structural functions, among others (it can be said that the architectural element is to the word as the architectural language is to the text).
To enhance the architectural space , it is possible to configure the environment (this is related to the concept of urbanism ) or recreate it (as occurs with the decorative arts ). The hemicycle is an architectural space as it belongs to a larger work, such as a stadium.
Hemicycles are often semicircular rooms or places that have steps . This way of organizing the space helps people in the stands to see what is happening in the center, where a stage is usually located.
The theaters of Ancient Greece that were built between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC were usually hemicycles. They were raised on mountain slopes to facilitate the view, developing the koilon (the set of steps) in height. The semicircular shape guaranteed good vision and also adequate acoustics.
Precisely, when an architect chooses the hemicycle to shape a space within a work, he does not always do so for aesthetic, stylistic or symbolic reasons, but in general he pursues a practical objective, such as that all visitors enjoy an optimal perception of a certain public event.
If we talk about an architectural construction with a concave shape, we cannot fail to mention the following two:
* Plebiscito Square : located in Naples, Italy, in the center of the city. It covers about 25 thousand square meters and overlooks several of the most emblematic buildings of the place, such as the Royal Palace , the Salerno Palace , the Basilica of San Francisco de Paula and the Prefectural Palace ;
* Republic Square : it is one of the most characteristic points of Rome. It is located near the Rome Termini railway station, the most important in the city and one of the most relevant on the entire continent. Not far away we can also find the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and the Martyrs . The Plaza de la República is a fundamental node in the communication of the city, since a road passes through it that connects the central station with that of Plaza Venezia.
It is common for legislative chambers to also be hemicycles. Even the graphic representation of the conformation of a given chamber is usually a hemicycle. By extension, a parliament or legislature is colloquially called a hemicycle.
For example: “The opposition left the chamber and the project presented by the ruling party could not be voted on,” “I believe that society managed to bring the debate to the chamber thanks to the strong pressure it exerted in the streets,” “It is still early to "know how the seats will be distributed in the chamber."
Making a space constitute a hemicycle, in short, is usually a decision linked to practice . However, the hemicycle may be due to aesthetic or even symbolic reasons.