Pyramid Design
Architecture, Art, Form & Power

I'm interested in the pyramid as a modern architectural form, and more generally as a deeply rooted archetype. I hope this project will convince you of its universal appeal.

The Pyramid Design web project poorly represents a prospectus for a book: PYRAMID DESIGN: Architecture, Art, Form, and Power. The book will:

  • Survey pyramid structures from residential to massive scales, and where possible include construction details, design decisions, specifics of each pyramid, anecdotes, profiles of architects, and so on.
  • Explore the pyramid theme in paintings and sculptural works.
  • Look at pyramid-based designs for stoves, awards, appliances — generalize.
    See the pyramid used as a graphic design element.
  • Cover the mathematics of the pyramid form, and its dynamic properties.
  • Conduct a skeptical inquiry into Pyramid Power — what's it about, if anything?

Conclusion: Pyramids have a way of attracting attention — why?


This site is for your enjoyment only, and should not be copied. See note at bottom.
Although not identical to the iBook in progress, this work is ©2016, JoHN MiLLeR, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Pyramid Architecture


Architecture: Pyramid Houses

Some Pyramid houses have been built. Also see unbuilt or future fantasy pyramids below.


See my design considerations for pyramid houses, with links to architect Ron Hexum.
A Pyramid House (unbuilt)
Pyramid House (James Onan)
Margus
Atop Smith Tower

Architecture: Large Venues

The Pyramid Arena — a sad story.
Walter — another arena undergone transformation.
Goja Music Hall

Architecture: Science / Environment / Mechanical

Muttart Conservatory
Moody Gardens
Christa McAuliffe Planetarium
HALO aka Piramide Esterno Giorno
Botanic Gardens Glasshouse
The Tropical Pyramid
Kolding Bioworks
Allan Green Conservatory (Legacy)
Tree Hill Nature Center
East Daegu Station

Architecture: Museum / Theatre / Library

Astana — Pyramid of Peace and Accord
I.M. Pei Pyramid
Ulm Bibliothek (Stadtbibliothek)
Southland Museum
Kayne West Pavillion

Architecture: Smaller (Entertainment, Food, Social) Venues

Summerhill Pyramid, aka Cipes
The Hard Rock Pyramid
Dynastie (restaurant)

Architecture: Churches / Spiritual Centers

Pomona House Church
Osho Commune / Mirdad pyramid(s)
Maitreya-Buddha
Autobahnkirche (Road Church)
Summum Pyramid
Capstone Cathedral

Architecture: Hotel / Recreation / Mixed Use

Kazan Recreation Center
Luxor Hotel / Casino
Wafi City Dubai
Le Centre Innovation

Architecture: Corporate HQ / Business

AstraZeneca (pharmaceutical company)
The Transamerica Pyramid
Rayonex Corp Pyramids

Architecture: Civic / Government

West Virginia Tourist Info
Matkailukeskus Alppiruusu (Travel Center)
Edmonton City Hall

Architecture: Medical Facilities

Pyramid Clinic at the Lake, Zurich
Benben (Clinic)

Architecture: Cultural Centers

Castries, St Lucia

Architecture: Pyramid Monuments, Tombs, and Cemeteries

Forest Lawn
Pyramide van Austerlitz
Center of the World
Groussay
Hunt
Miller Tomb
Karlsruhe
Cestius Pyramid (Roman)

Architecture: Proposed / Unbuilt / Future / Fantasy Pyramids

Falcon City
Juan Carlos Ramos concept house
Hexum Pyramid Architecture - This 128' base pyramid was Ron Hexum's design proposal for a sports athletic clinic and fitness center on the Boise River Greenbelt, called The Nautilus. Rendering done by Dave Broman in 1992.
Pyramid House, 2-Story, John Miller
Pyramid House, 3-Story, John Miller
Portland Pyramid
The Great Pyramide Monument
Stargate

Architecture: Inverted Pyramid Buildings

Tokyo Big Site
Tempe City Hall
Slovenský (Radio Building)
Pyramid (on) Central

Pyramid Art

The pyramid is a common theme in paintings and sculpture.


Pyramids and Sun
Alexander Calder, American (1898-1976)
~1975
Lithograph, signed in the plate
28″ x 20″ (71.12 cm x 50.8 cm)
Pyramid
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923-1997)
1969
color lithograph edition of 101
11½″ x 35″
The Great Pyramid
William Holman Hunt (1827-1910)
1854
Watercolor on paper
6½″ h x 9¾″ w  (17 cm h x 25 cm w)
Signed with monogram and dated lower right
Link: VictorianWeb.org
View of the Great Pyramid of Giza
Luigi Mayer (1755-1803)
Watercolor
Between c. 1760-1790
35 cm x 54 cm
Private collection
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pyramids Of Cheops And Chephren
David Roberts (Scottish, 1796-1864)
1839/1846-49
Tinted lithograph with hand-colouring
33.7 x 53.4 cm
Click for [Larger Image]
Pyramid
Ray Spencer (Nationality, Born-Died)
1930
wood engraving?
Letterpress image from a Saturn Press greeting card
The Press probably added "PEACE BE WITH YOU"
W x H
The Pyramids and the Sphynx of Gizeh
Salvador Dali (1904-1989)
Completed in 1954
Oil on canvas
Private Collection, Paris, France
The Mountain Niesen, Egyptian Night, Der Niesen
Paul Klee (1879-1940)
1915 (while in military during WWI)
Water Color on Paper, 17.1 x 26 cm
Three Pyramids
© 2004, JoHN MiLLeR (1949-Living)
12.5″ x 7.5″, 16 pieces, copper foil technique.
Made in one day from original design to finished project
for a longtime friend in Spokane.
Can be viewed upside down!
Untitled
Keith Haring (1958-1990)
July 29, 1982
Drawing, Sumi ink on paper
19½″ x 27½″ (49.53 cm x 69.85 cm)
website
Pyramid
Keith Haring (1958-1990)
It was executed in 1989 as number 10 of a series of 15.
anodized aluminum
30½″ x 57″ by 57″
It sold for $161,000 via Sotheby's New York.
Asia Alpha (Album cover)
Roger Dean (1944-living)
1983
Watercolor?
Roger Dean website
Roger Dean on Wikipedia.
Inside The Great Pyramid
Paul Horn (1930-2014)

Awesome recordings done from the King's Chamber and other spaces.
Opens with sound of Sarcophagus being pounded by hand (I think).
Extensive liner notes/story came with original 1977 vinyl album.

[LISTEN] on YouTube.
Paul Horn website
Paul Horn on Wikipedia.
PINK FLOYD
The Dark Side of the Moon
(1973)

DSoM came with a poster of the pyramids at Giza,
and a number of stickers like the one shown here.
The significance of the stickers was never revealed.
(Artist??)
David Hockney (1937- )
Great Pyramid at Giza with Broken Head from Thebes
(1963)

The 72″ x 72″ canvas sold for $7.9m in 2009.
PYRAMID (1978)
Alan Parsons (1948-Living)

Pyramania
There are pyramids in my head
There's one underneath my bed
...
And the Mayan panoramas
On my pyramid pajamas
Haven't helped my little problem

[LISTEN] on YouTube.
Alan Parsons website
Alan Parsons on Wikipedia.
Bead Bowl
Gus Miller
(2007?)
Made in Middle school as an art project

Pyramids in Product Design

The pyramid is used in graphic and product design. Many of the items here were gimmicks, no longer produced. To be moved to a product page. Many corporate logos are based on the pyramid.


The Food Guide Pyramid, which was released by the USDA in 1992, was replaced on April 19, 2005, by MyPyramid. Wikipedia article on Food pyramid (nutrition) shows the history.
Kephren Pyramid Fireplaces (Awesome)
Firelight Glass® Pyramid — website
Corrigan Hall, Denver. Demolished, 2002. The Hall had at least 24 sets of light fixtures .. perhaps 6 rows by 4 rows. Each fixture had four pyramids. Each pyramid had a 300w incandescent bulb on a dimmer. Fixtures could be raised or lowered independently. Steel frame, fiberglass, painted white.

Colorado Preservation website.

Pyramid Award given to Sharper Impressions
Glass Pyramids on Amazon.
Pyromid® Outdoor Cooking System (defunct?)
Philips Aromatherapy System, with light (defunct)
Newscatcher® (defunct)
Radio Shack Acoustics AM FM CD Player (defunct?)
Moonstruck italia espresso truffle
Pavoni Pavoflex Flexible Non-Stick Mold, 35 pyramid cavities!
Warning! If you click on their site, you'll see ads appear forever!
Pyramid Pethouse (defunct?!)
Eagle Claw Star Crab Trap
on Dick's Sporting Goods
Pyramid Golf Putter (in name only!)

Pyramid Form

About...


Pyramid Bracket Model - Apex.
Pyramid Bracket Model - Corner.
Pyramid Bracket Model - Apothem. Connects base side to a 2nd floor bracket.
Square Pyramid Calculator
Pyramids on Mathematica
Polygon Flux
Pyramid Scheme on Wikipedia. This chart shows how pyramid schemes can become impossible to sustain. In this case each member supposedly has 6 participants below them.
Pyramid Geometry
Pyramid Dynamics
Image Pyramids
Pyramid Data Type
Crystal Structures with octahedral forms: Gems, Gold, iron, chromite.

Pyramid Power and Mysticism

Pyr-a-mid means fire in the middle. Where did this notion arise?


Alexander Golod — interesting guy...
For an interesting story about the All-Seeing Eye, see 'Benson Lossing reverse', in the Coins section of the Wikipedia page on Great Seal of the United States .
Pyramids Everywhere
Pyramid Greenhouse Shelves
Pyramid of Light is a contemporary demonstration for peace, which can be realized in every city... We want to contribute to oneness and peace in the world by creating Pyramids of Light around the world.

A Pyramid of Light has been done in Amsterdam, with hope for more. Project status unknown.

Head Gear Pyramids. Claim: Head Gear Pyramids are 9″ precious metal plated frames, titanium or steel based. Everyone who has seriously endevoured to wear the pyramid headgear for any length of time has had remarkable results in the reduction of fatigue and stress.
Small Pyramid Greenhouse

The Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid

Giza Plateau Computer Model. Various 3D maps of the Giza complex, some showing (I think) chambers inside the Great Pyramid.

Recent Discovery at the Great Pyramid. This is a 1995 news article from a London newspaper about the exploration of a shaft in the Great Pyramid via robot which lead to an unexpected suprise.

The project to take a look beyond the end of the shaft leading out of the Queen's Chanmber via optic fiber was to happen in May 1996, but the antiquities director refuses to work with the original engineer.

See The Upuaut Project Home Page, by Rudolf Gatenbrink.


Understanding: Pyramids TV Program

The Learning Channel aired Understanding: Pyramids, in January, 2001. It was a bit of a dissapointment. They had some good material but the editing was poor, and they didn't have good judgement about what to include or emphasize, in my opinion. Too much like a bad Dorderling-Kinderly book. Ron Hexum was likewise chagrined.

Featured in the program were two pyramid homes in Idaho designed and built by Architect Ron Hexum. But not a virtual walk through of one of his latest design.


Pyramids vs Permissions


Image Credits: Needed!

Some photos appear here without permission, others are covered by non-commercial use licenses. Do not assume you can use images (or text) from my site. Thanks!

I have obtained background info via bibliographic searching, Alta-Vista, Google, e-mail (site feedback), US mail, travel, and phone calls. I have many more pyramids to include. I also have a collection of pyramid corporate logos. Much work to do!

I'll see you on the Dark Side of the Moon.


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©2016, JoHN MiLLeR