Definition:The word architecture can have many meanings. Depending
on the context, architecture can refer to: 1. any man-made building or structure 2. a man-made building or structure that is important, large, or highly creative 3. a carefully designed object, such as a chair, a spoon, or a tea kettle 4. a design for a city, town, park, or landscape 5. the art or science of designing and building buildings, structures, objects, and outdoor spaces 6. a building style or method 7. a plan for organizing space 8. the flow of information on a Web page 9. the planned design of any kind of system 10. a systematic arrangement of information or ideas
Ancient Egyptian Architecture (from 3000 BC to 700 BC) Egyptian architecture is easily recognizable, thanks to its most famous buildings pyramids. The construction of these impressive burial places for pharaohs and their families required between 20,000 and 30,000 workers. Construction materials were limestone and sun-baked bricks. Workers had to transport materials by sled and than they had to lift the blocks using the system of ramps and pulleys. Other Egyptian structures were temples and tombs, which were often decorated with hieroglyphics and carvings. Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death, that is why preserving the body of the dead was important to keep their soul alive, enabling them to transcend into the heavens. They make tombs to protect these preserved bodies. Pyramids for Pharaohs represent a gigantic stairway for the Pharaoh to climb to join the sun god in the sky Historical Background Social Characteristics & Beliefs Architectural Ideas Tombs also have charms to protect dead person & her/his property Dead buried in cities of the dead, called Necropolis located in desert Pyramids at Giza Great Pyramid of Giza (also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops) Pyramid of Khafre (also Pyramid of Chephren) Pyramid of Menkaure (also Pyramid of Mycerinus) Karnak (also Great Temple of Amun) The most distinguishing characteristics of Babylons, Chaldeans, and Assyrians is the ziggurat. This tower is built at successive levels with one hump leading from platform to the next.
The word 'Mesopotamia' is in origin a Greek name (mesos `middle' and 'potamos' - 'river' so `land between the rivers'). 'Mesopotamia' translated from Old Persian Miyanrudan means "the fertile cresent". The Aramaic name is Beth-Nahrain meaning "House of Two Rivers" and is a region of Southwest Asia. Mesopotamian art and architecture were produced by the diverse peoples who occupied the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers from about 3500 to 539 BC. The earliest civilization of MESOPOTAMIA was created by Sumerian-speaking people, and although their Sumerian language was preserved, the original inhabitants eventually either died out or were absorbed into the population of SEMITES who moved into this area at various periods in history. Most of our knowledge around Greek architecture comes from temples. Temples were essentially storage places for the artifacts (statues, helmets, candles) and symbolic treasures that people associated with and dedicated to the patron god or goddess of the temple. Temples were either structured as a rectangle lined with two rows of columns, of which there were three kinds: Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. The ancient Greeks invented three types of columns. Doric architecture was traditionally austere and formal, Ionic was more relaxed and ornamental, and Corinthian was rare but by far the most decorative. We can learn the most by studying the iconic columns that characterize each order.
The Doric style is the most plain. The Ionic design is famous for its scrolls. The Corinthian style is quite fancy. (from 600 BC to 500 AD) After conquest of Greece by the Roman Empire, builders took many examples from Greek architecture but gave their structures more decorations. The invention of concrete helped the Romans build arches (oblouky) and domes (kupole). The Roman Coliseum is a famous example of Roman classical architecture. The Pantheon in Rome is one of the most famous buildings in the world. It was commissioned by Hadrian in 118 and completed in 128. At one time it had a colonnaded court leading to the portico. The dome of the rotunda behind the portico is 43.2 m (142 ft) in diameter. The oculus (a round opening) at the top is 8.5 m (28 ft) in diameter and provides the only source of light for the interior. The Parthenon The Coliseum PENDENTIVES It is a curved support shaped like an inverted triangle. It is used to hold a dome. Using pendentives, Byzantine architects could build a higher and wider dome. SQUINCH It is used to provide a transition from square to polygon.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "Romanesque", meaning "descended from Roman", was first used in English to designate what are now called Romance languages (first cited 1715). Architecturally, the term was first applied in French by the archaeologist Charles de Gerville or his associate Arcisse de Caumont, in 1818, to describe Western European architecture from the 5th to the 13th centuries (11 13 th century) This style was inspired by Roman architecture, continuing the tradition of rounded arches and columns. Romanesque buildings were monumental, supported by massive walls, and had very small windows. Wooden roofs were replaced by ceilings (stropy), which were constructed with barrel and cross vaulting (valen a kov klenba). The most representative buildings are the rotunda and basilica. Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi- circular arches. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style, characterised by pointed arches. Combining features of Western Roman and Byzantine buildings, Romanesque architecture is known by its massive quality, its thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcading. The French Monastery in Cluny (12 15 th century) Gothic architecture began mainly in France, where architects were inspired by Romanesque architecture and the pointed arches (lomen oblouky) of Spanish Moorish architecture. It's easy to recognise Gothic buildings because of their arches, ribbed vaulting (ebrov klenba), flying buttresses (oprn pile), elaborate sculptures (like gargoyles) and stained glass windows. Gothic architecture was originally known as French Style. During the period of Renaissance it fell out of fashion and it was not respected by many artists. They marked it as Gothic to suggest it was the crude work of German barbarians (Goths). St. Patrick's Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris (15 17 th century) A return to classical ideas brought an age of awakening to Italy, France and England. During the Renaissance, architects were inspired by the symmetrical and well-balanced buildings of Greece and Rome. The buildings lost the Gothic vertical dimension but gained range. Other typical features were columns, arches and domes as well as harmonious arrangements of doors and windows. Characteristic building was the palace. St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican and the Louvre in Paris are examples of Renaissance architecture. St. Peter's Basilica Louvre (17 19 th century) Elements of the Baroque architecture are complicated decorations, paintings and contrasts between light and shadow. The final effect of this style is tension and humility. Baroque looks different in different countries. In Italy, where it started, the style is reflected in dramatic churches with irregular shapes, huge domes and extravagant ornamentation. In France is highly decorated combined with classical features. Sacred buildings and chateaux were typical for this style. Some examples of Baroque architecture: Trevi Fountain in Rome, Palace of Versailles in Paris and St. Paul's Cathedral in London. 1. SKELETON CONSTRUCTION- steel and Renaissance concrete 2. CANTILEVER CONSTRUCTION- mostly seen in bridges 3. GEODESIC DOMES- conjoined hexagon; theaters, showrooms, markets, factories, offices 1. STRUCTURE- reaction of structure to calamities; quality of design 2. TEXTURE- roughness and smoothness of material is considered 3. ASPECT- colors and outside skin
Principles of Construction 1. POST-AND-LINTEL- post and beam 2. ARCH- wedge shaped blocks arranged in semi-circle 3. DOME- a roof hemispherical in form 4. TRUSS- strong framework that functions like a beam 5. CANTILEVER- beam extended horizontally 6. SKELETON CONSTRUCTION- strong foundation Philippine Architecture Philippine architecture is developed different colonial periods.
The architecture of the Philippines is a reflection of the history and heritage of the country. The most prominent historic constructions in the archipelago are from the Spanish, Japanese, Malay, Hindu, Chinese, and American cultures.