Vertikales

Vertikales is a term used in design discourse to describe an approach that foregrounds verticality—height, upright form, and upward movement—across multiple disciplines such as architecture, graphic design, and sculpture. The term appears in German-language criticism as well as international discussions of architectural and visual language, though it is not tied to a single school or movement.

In architecture, vertikales denotes the articulation of spaces and facades through repeated vertical elements such as columns, pilasters, fins, or vertical grids that emphasize height and vertical rhythm. In graphic design and typography, vertikales refers to layouts that organize information in vertical stacks, columns, or alignments, guiding the viewer’s gaze along a vertical axis and supporting hierarchical reading. In sculpture and installation art, vertikales describes works that heighten the perception of vertical scale or engage with vertical urban or landscape features.

Reception of the concept varies. Proponents argue that vertical emphasis can structure complexity, improve legibility, and harmonize with urban skylines, while critics warn that it can produce a sense of monumentality or constraint if overapplied. The idea of vertikales is often discussed in relation to other layout and spatial principles, including horizontality, modular grids, and rhythm, highlighting how vertical organization interacts with context, function, and human perception. See also verticality, vertical grid, and columnar design.