Type Specimen

HE
HARACTERISTIC
ORM OF THE
OWER CASE
ORDS MAKES
HEM FAR EASIER
O PERCEIVE
HAN WORDS
ETTERED IN
APITALS
We learned that, if the architecture calls for it, capital
letters may be letter spaced more widely than
the rule demands. This is not true of lower case
letters. There should be no letter spacing of lower
case letters. They should be arranged only in their
normal fitting. This prohibition is based on the
fact that lower case letters have a mote irregular
outline than capital letters. In addition to characters
of the normal height of n, there are also letters
with ascenders (b, d, f, h, k, 1) and descenders (g, j,
p, q, y), and the t which has a short point on top.
This gives the word image of lower case letters a
characteristic form which the words of capitals
lack. Capitals always form a square, only rarely
enlivened by the tail of a Q or an accent. The
characteristic form of the lower case words makes
them far easier to perceive than words lettered in
capitals. Nevertheless, lower case words are rarely
suitable on buildings. What matters here is not the
speed of comprehension but the harmony of the
facade. This, by its very nature, calls for architectural
letters rather than those which derive from
calligraphy as the lower case letters do.
07 ARRANGING LOWER CASE LETTERS | ILENE STRIZVER