History of Architecture Flashcards
“Identify and briefly describe three features of this building that help create a sense of place specific to the culture that it is part of.”
“Describe two ways that this building’s form helps reinforce the religious beliefs and practices of the people it was constructed for”
Unknown/fragmented architecture
Suggestive work of what we call art that shouldn’t be termed with the word art due to social construction
Theories of human settlement – people of this time are not the same as people today – vacuous void that we pour into our own stories
It is an empty void
We do know humans before settling, they wondered and went to the resources, usually following the source of food
Megalithic Construction
• Great stone
• Ireland – megalithic remnants
• Erected to observe astronomical effects
• First human settlement - still due exist, they aren’t necessarily the first but they LASTED
Remember:
Demarcation
Orientation
Sequential movement
Surface Articulation
Newgrange(Basics of Meaning, Symbolims)
Newgrange (3100 BCE)
• Water and hill (survival)
• 1 acre – kidney shaped mound
• surrounded by 97 stones
• 19 meter long stone lintel path inner passage
• Passage way into (aerial view looks like a cross) Cruciform – associated with a church – yet pre Christ
• Number of lintels through passage way decorated, covered in stone and mound of dirt, led to a chamber with a corbelled roof – protruding elements
• Reason why it was built – Winter Solstice – to interact with chamber passage when the sun rises and enters into the chamber and lights up that space for about 15 minutes once a year
o Astronomical event
• Place of demarcation – significant spot – put somewhere for a reason
• Orientation – built to align with a particular kind of bodily movement (astronomical- built to face a particular way)
• Sequential movement – walk into it – door way which suggests walking through it
• Surface articulation – kind of décor – design element – every single lintel has a decoration on it
Unknown/fragmented architecture
Suggestive work of what we call art that shouldn’t be termed with the word art due to social construction
Theories of human settlement – people of this time are not the same as people today – vacuous void that we pour into our own stories
It is an empty void
We do know humans before settling, they wondered and went to the resources, usually following the source of food
Megalithic Construction
• Great stone
• Ireland – megalithic remnants
• Erected to observe astronomical effects
• First human settlement - still due exist, they aren’t necessarily the first but they LASTED
Remember:
Demarcation
Orientation
Sequential movement
Surface Articulation
Stonehenge(Basics of Meaning, Symbolims)
- 3 distinct phases:
- 1) 2 concentric circular ditches, inside perimeter 56 evenly spaved holes filled with chalk, northeasterly line of sight to the horizon from the center
- 2)82 coffin sized stones - double ring of 38 pairs - 6 stones defining the northeast approach axis
- 3) 35 lintels and 40 stones - 30 uprights and 5 trilithons (two uprights caped with a lintel) arranged in U shape to focus toward the heel stone
- interpreted as the work of giants, magicians, extra terrestrials
- stonehenge is an observatory for determining the solstices - establishing the annual calendar - predicting the lunar and solar eclipses
- circular layout may reflect the symbolic tie to the heavens - link between humans and celestial realms
- represents the culmination of construction skills and scientific observation
- Transportation of large stones from all over
Unknown/fragmented architecture
Suggestive work of what we call art that shouldn’t be termed with the word art due to social construction
Theories of human settlement – people of this time are not the same as people today – vacuous void that we pour into our own stories
It is an empty void
We do know humans before settling, they wondered and went to the resources, usually following the source of food
Megalithic Construction
• Great stone
• Ireland – megalithic remnants
• Erected to observe astronomical effects
• First human settlement - still due exist, they aren’t necessarily the first but they LASTED
Remember:
Demarcation
Orientation
Sequential movement
Surface Articulation
Ziggurat of Ur (Basics of Meaning, Symbolims)
- • Sun baked clay bricks
• Weather resistant fired brick construction
• Rectangular base
• Inward sloping walls creating a series of step platforms comminating in a high temple
• Artificial mountain
• Chamber inside
• Elevation to the gods
• Idea of what it was used for is still up for dispute – Abrahams home
• Sits in the center of Iraq
Study Parthenon in representation to humanism and representation*
Greece and the Representation of the Architectural Orders
Art is all about representation that actualization – example: war
Architecture – art
Architectural theory: buildings can represent something then a building
How early buildings are the proto types of western architecture
Represent a particular set of values in the western cultural dynamic
Egyptian architecture to Greek architecture
Egyptian:
Three distinct periods (30 dynasties)
Old / Middle/ New Kingdom
Early/ Middle/ New
One that is progressing and evolving into something improved and better, more sophisticated and complex
Believed in an after life – Ka (life force) reunicted with the Ba (the physical form) – to be become akh (the spirit)
Producing tombs – preserve a body forever (presumed) – represented in the built for buildings that will last forever
Durable material (turn too) with the exception of stone – objects based on a structural system saying have to protect body in after life
Mastabas (Representation)
Mastabs: early forms of pyramid structures – eternal houses for the departed
Constructed out of brick for durablity then later stone
• Fundamental shape for a tomb that has a chamber inside – above group where offerings are made where the statue was
• Tomb – below ground – trapping of body and keeping air away – fill tunnel with rocks(earlier it was above ground but due to robers, adjusted plans
• Tombs had to last – durability
• Based on a human dwelling
• Everything that was there in life would be with them in the after life – food, wine, animals, toys – what they want to go with them
• Modeled the tomb after an actual home
• Representation of a dwelling space
• Materials – idea of durability and endurance of materials for the western culture – notion of durability came from the Egyptians – permanence and timelessness
Study Parthenon in representation to humanism and representation*
Greece and the Representation of the Architectural Orders
Art is all about representation that actualization – example: war
Architecture – art
Architectural theory: buildings can represent something then a building
How early buildings are the proto types of western architecture
Represent a particular set of values in the western cultural dynamic
Egyptian architecture to Greek architecture
Egyptian:
Three distinct periods (30 dynasties)
Old / Middle/ New Kingdom
Early/ Middle/ New
One that is progressing and evolving into something improved and better, more sophisticated and complex
Believed in an after life – Ka (life force) reunicted with the Ba (the physical form) – to be become akh (the spirit)
Producing tombs – preserve a body forever (presumed) – represented in the built for buildings that will last forever
Durable material (turn too) with the exception of stone – objects based on a structural system saying have to protect body in after life
Djoser Funerary Complex (Representation)
Pyramid form:
Enhance from mastaba structure, made for the pharaohs.
Architecture of the richest one percent of Egyptian architecture – small subsection of culture
Buildings that remain and survive – more durable and maintaining a history
Human idea of having a say in history
Shape represents a rebirth of nature
When floods came, top of the hills would see life
Hill top apex is where life would begin first
First architectes are actually named – recognition
Study Parthenon in representation to humanism and representation*
Greece and the Representation of the Architectural Orders
Art is all about representation that actualization – example: war
Architecture – art
Architectural theory: buildings can represent something then a building
How early buildings are the proto types of western architecture
Represent a particular set of values in the western cultural dynamic
Egyptian architecture to Greek architecture
Egyptian:
Three distinct periods (30 dynasties)
Old / Middle/ New Kingdom
Early/ Middle/ New
One that is progressing and evolving into something improved and better, more sophisticated and complex
Believed in an after life – Ka (life force) reunicted with the Ba (the physical form) – to be become akh (the spirit)
Producing tombs – preserve a body forever (presumed) – represented in the built for buildings that will last forever
Durable material (turn too) with the exception of stone – objects based on a structural system saying have to protect body in after life
Pyramid form:
Enhance from mastaba structure, made for the pharaohs.
Architecture of the richest one percent of Egyptian architecture – small subsection of culture
Buildings that remain and survive – more durable and maintaining a history
Human idea of having a say in history
Shape represents a rebirth of nature
When floods came, top of the hills would see life
Hill top apex is where life would begin first
First architectes are actually named – recognition
Pyramids of Giza (4th dynasty pharaohs)
• Old Kingdom
• Represent 4th dynasty pharaohs
• Father son grandson – men building in the image of ancestors
Khufu: 1st
• Largest of the three
• Chamber made of granite, 755x 755 ft base covers 13 acres, apex 481ft, limestone, chamber made of granite
3 burial chambers, lowest represents the underworld, midle is the queens chamber and the top chamber is Khufu’s - buried.
2 ventilation shafts orientation to pole star (northside) Orion (souh side)
Khafre: 2nd largest
- son of Khufu, 705 squre elevation of 471 ft
- optical illusion - seems tallest of the three but only because stand on higher ground
- recognised due to fragement of original smooth limestone casing surves at apex
- single tomb chamber at ground level
Menkaure: smalles, sone of Khafre
- left unfinished, Menkaure believed to have died before unfinished. 335x 343 ft 213 elevation
Pyramids were first and foremost tombs for pharaohs. Art and architecture practical - intended to assist one’s passage to next world and ensure comfort and pleasant living upon arrival
Ideas passed on to us: Longevity, marking our space to leave something for a long time; notion of ritual to create a space and honouring the dead; notion of monuments built to human achievement
Study Parthenon in representation to humanism and representation*
Greece and the Representation of the Architectural Orders
Art is all about representation that actualization – example: war
Architecture – art
Architectural theory: buildings can represent something then a building
How early buildings are the proto types of western architecture
Represent a particular set of values in the western cultural dynamic
Egyptian architecture to Greek architecture
Egyptian:
Three distinct periods (30 dynasties)
Old / Middle/ New Kingdom
Early/ Middle/ New
One that is progressing and evolving into something improved and better, more sophisticated and complex
Believed in an after life – Ka (life force) reunicted with the Ba (the physical form) – to be become akh (the spirit)
Producing tombs – preserve a body forever (presumed) – represented in the built for buildings that will last forever
Durable material (turn too) with the exception of stone – objects based on a structural system saying have to protect body in after life
Palace of Knossos (Representation)
- Minos/Minoans
- Plan is organized around an open rectangular coutyard
- was desroyed by a major earthquake - rebuilt in unified scheme on multiple levels
- Ritual, ceremonial rooms, storage areas, living accomodations connected b long coridors - stair case built around light wells and courtyard
- Again all of crete and Knossos destroyed only Knossos rebuilt - then again later destroyed by fire
- Was a Palace/Temple - sat on a hill over looking harbour
- Frescos represent an energetic civilization - woman also represented with high status
- Great deal still yet to be understood
Greece and the Representation of the Architectural Orders
Art is all about representation that actualization – example: war
Architecture – art
Architectural theory: buildings can represent something then a building
How early buildings are the proto types of western architecture
Represent a particular set of values in the western cultural dynamic
Egyptian architecture to Greek architecture
Durable material (turn too) with the exception of stone – objects based on a structural system saying have to protect body in after life
Greek Temple: originated as home for the gods
• More public notion that this is for one individual but in the polos it is a public building that celebrates the gods
• Rear room, inner chamber and front porch
• Most greek temples made of wood, what we see now is the exo skeleton of the structure
• What we see is not really what the building was but more so a representation
• First civilization to leave us with a language of architecture
• Based on the proportions of man/human being
• Doric(masculan the man), Ionic (female), Corinthian(young maiden, virgin)
o Human aspects to architecture
• System and ordering, rhythm of human life and Apparent regularity (illusion)
Greece and the Representation of the Architectural Orders
Art is all about representation that actualization – example: war
Architecture – art
Architectural theory: buildings can represent something then a building
How early buildings are the proto types of western architecture
Represent a particular set of values in the western cultural dynamic
Egyptian architecture to Greek architecture
Durable material (turn too) with the exception of stone – objects based on a structural system saying have to protect body in after life
Parthenon (Representation)
Parthenon:
• Completed in 438 BC
• Most important building structure of western history
• Built during classical greek period
• Importance of the building is that is housed the cities godess – Athene
• Means small chamber behind Athena
• Believed space behind Athena stored the wealth of the city
• Highest point of Athens
• Became a place the represented the best of Greek democracy – purely representational
- Designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates and built of finest marble
- Doric Temple - 8 columns wide and 17 deep - Ionic attributes, slender column proportions - continuous frieze around exterior - procession of Athenians
- Back room housed the Delian League Treasury
- Stylobyte (platform) convex upwards
- Columns incline away from viewer - not verticle
- Columns not the same diameter end ones larger and not spaced evenly - corners closer together
- Avid strict geometrical perfection and breathed life into the stone composition.
- Sculptured figues
- Contest between Posiedon and Athena to control Athens. Relief sculptures struggles between Greeks and Amazons, Greeks and Trojens, gods and giants, lapiths and centaurs - all commemorating the triumph of Greek Civilization over barbarism.
Representation of the illusion that it is but geometrically when it is not - before believe to be human measurments
“Sign”
Signifier (Name) over Signifed (Image)
Read buildings as a story visual vocabulary. Language is spoken heard written and read - linear
Architecture is spatial and static - contained and not moving
Connotation: the idea/feeling that is a vote by the sign - ideas/feelins evoked by a sign
Dennotation: literal and primary meaning of the word
Architects are concerned about the legibility of a building
ie. Budist Stupa, Hindu Temple, Chinese Pagoda, Japanese Shinto Shrine- all share architectural language - meaning against and with in people
India: Mesopotamia and Egypt - no palace or tombs - rather systems of building places around water systems wehre resources are shared.
Durable buildings that were built - temples - permenant - houses and palaces were not
3 Major Religions
- Jainism: worshiping a pantheon of gods representing natural elements
- Budism: founded by Budha- enabling people to over ocme worldly suffering - achieve inner piece or liberation of fear. Enlightenment through contemplation and meditation - doesn’t requir building
- Hinduism: no clear defined hierarchy - deeds measured achieving a higher state of enlightenment
All share one notion of the transmigration of the sole - passing of sole into another body - reincarnation - endless cycle of death and renewal
Buddhist Stupa: Great Stupa at Sanchi
- Stupa began as heap of ruble over the ground then elaborated into a semi circle shape maintaining original vocabulary
- rituals included walking around (circumambulating) the stupa while chanting verses from scripture
- processional lpath in a clock wise direction
- originally constructed as a mound but grew to become a dome
- at top stupa crowned by a chatra set inside a harmica
- base encicled by a two tiered ambulatory: upper level for priests and ground level for pilgram use
- fence maintiained sacred space - massive stone verdica around stupa - four gates at cardinal points on compas
- clock wise motion form of mediation
- square fence on top marked out on building where there is a tree tier structure representing the abode tree that Buddha sat under and got enlightened
- Shape - connotation - swastika - to be good - eternity in Buddism - also a symbol of good fortune
“Sign”
Signifier (Name) over Signifed (Image)
Read buildings as a story visual vocabulary. Language is spoken heard written and read - linear
Architecture is spatial and static - contained and not moving
Connotation: the idea/feeling that is a vote by the sign - ideas/feelins evoked by a sign
Dennotation: literal and primary meaning of the word
Architects are concerned about the legibility of a building
ie. Budist Stupa, Hindu Temple, Chinese Pagoda, Japanese Shinto Shrine- all share architectural language - meaning against and with in people
India: Mesopotamia and Egypt - no palace or tombs - rather systems of building places around water systems wehre resources are shared.
Durable buildings that were built - temples - permenant - houses and palaces were not
3 Major Religions
Jainism: worshiping a pantheon of gods representing natural elements
Budism: founded by Budha- enabling people to over ocme worldly suffering - achieve inner piece or liberation of fear. Enlightenment through contemplation and meditation - doesn’t requir building
Hinduism: no clear defined hierarchy - deeds measured achieving a higher state of enlightenment
All share one notion of the transmigration of the sole - passing of sole into another body - reincarnation - endless cycle of death and renewal
Hindu Temple: Angkorwat
Hindu Temples: dwelling place of the gods (house), place of worship, offerings made. Geometry derived from mound in Buddha = Mandala - square with four gates containing an inner circle where you will find an inner sanctuary
- 13 miles of galleries
- temple to Vishu - god
- Royal Shrine then converted to Buddist site of worship
- built entirely of stone only requiring corbeling
- built around central sanctuary
- larger metaphor for temple itself
- sculptures - related to ethics from hindu world view
- was/is adaptable space
- visual vocab adapt to own style
“Sign”
Signifier (Name) over Signifed (Image)
Read buildings as a story visual vocabulary. Language is spoken heard written and read - linear
Architecture is spatial and static - contained and not moving
Connotation: the idea/feeling that is a vote by the sign - ideas/feelins evoked by a sign
Dennotation: literal and primary meaning of the word
Architects are concerned about the legibility of a building
ie. Budist Stupa, Hindu Temple, Chinese Pagoda, Japanese Shinto Shrine- all share architectural language - meaning against and with in people
India: Mesopotamia and Egypt - no palace or tombs - rather systems of building places around water systems wehre resources are shared.
Durable buildings that were built - temples - permenant - houses and palaces were not
3 Major Religions
Jainism: worshiping a pantheon of gods representing natural elements
Budism: founded by Budha- enabling people to over ocme worldly suffering - achieve inner piece or liberation of fear. Enlightenment through contemplation and meditation - doesn’t requir building
Hinduism: no clear defined hierarchy - deeds measured achieving a higher state of enlightenment
All share one notion of the transmigration of the sole - passing of sole into another body - reincarnation - endless cycle of death and renewal
Chinese Pagoda: Pagoda at Fogong Monastery
- Buddhism most traveled religion in China
- Budha is always marked through some form of Shrine Pagoda
- Philosophy: Confucious: not religioin - way of living - ‘living a good life in a material world’
- oldest surviving pagoda
- tall structure with Buddha figure in the middle
- erected over relics symbolic of Buddha’s presence
- constructed entirely of wood - 220 ft tall
- octagonal building rises 5 levels in 10 structural tiers alternating upright posts with cantilevered roof and balconies
- pagoda moved to Japan - early influence from the west –> east
- space arrangment - element to Japan architecture
“Sign”
Signifier (Name) over Signifed (Image)
Read buildings as a story visual vocabulary. Language is spoken heard written and read - linear
Architecture is spatial and static - contained and not moving
Connotation: the idea/feeling that is a vote by the sign - ideas/feelins evoked by a sign
Dennotation: literal and primary meaning of the word
Architects are concerned about the legibility of a building
ie. Budist Stupa, Hindu Temple, Chinese Pagoda, Japanese Shinto Shrine- all share architectural language - meaning against and with in people
India: Mesopotamia and Egypt - no palace or tombs - rather systems of building places around water systems wehre resources are shared.
Durable buildings that were built - temples - permenant - houses and palaces were not
3 Major Religions
Jainism: worshiping a pantheon of gods representing natural elements
Budism: founded by Budha- enabling people to over ocme worldly suffering - achieve inner piece or liberation of fear. Enlightenment through contemplation and meditation - doesn’t requir building
Hinduism: no clear defined hierarchy - deeds measured achieving a higher state of enlightenment
All share one notion of the transmigration of the sole - passing of sole into another body - reincarnation - endless cycle of death and renewal
Japanese Shinto Shrine: Ise Grand Shinto Shrine
- native religion -shinto- way of the gods - relates natural forces to agriculture and movement of culture - nature is constantly shifting and changing
- destroyed and rebuilt every 20 years (interval) - believed that 20 years is a time/transmission of human knowledge of techniques of building
Ise Grand Shinto Shrine
- dedicated to a goddes of the sun and goddess of agriculture two intertwined to create harmony and balance
- consists of two shrines 4 miles apart: outter shine and inner shrine
- 4 sets of fences at each with gateway - buildings symetrical on a central axis. Center is the main sanctuary
- Creating serene gabled roof structures
- Ise represents continuity yet remains ever new
PLACE
- Architecture never exists in insolatoin
- Buildings are in relationship to other buildings
- Place: interconnection between buildings and spaces - place = respond to surroundings - buildings studied together to get a sense of place
- Role of City / Urban: established a common shared place for the community
- Cities are discussed in the order and planning of the buildings
- Orthogonial Grid = Right angles
- Different degrees of what plan means
- High: directly connected to cosmology and religion
- Middle: identity messages of the people who live there
- Low: environments built to respond to behavior of movement and people
is an appearance of order
Cities are places we move throgh
Roman architecture revolution - turning point of architecture
Foundation of Roman architecture is the orthogonal plan
Marzabotto near Bologna (city grid plan)
- earliest Etruscan plan
- first originator of orthogonal plan
- drained marsh lands - dug trenches to establish new areas
- done through system of measuring/ordering
- architectural practices established - slave holding people - people that had ton of resources, interest in building quickly swiftly and uniformly
- main streets running perpendicular to one another and intersectingin the center of town
- North to South Street: Cardo
- East to west street: decumanus
- River runs along the south edge
PLACE
Architecture never exists in insolatoin
Buildings are in relationship to other buildings
Place: interconnection between buildings and spaces - place = respond to surroundings - buildings studied together to get a sense of place
Role of City / Urban: established a common shared place for the community
Cities are discussed in the order and planning of the buildings
Orthogonial Grid = Right angles
Different degrees of what plan means
High: directly connected to cosmology and religion
Middle: identity messages of the people who live there
Low: environments built to respond to behavior of movement and people
is an appearance of order
Cities are places we move throgh
Roman architecture revolution - turning point of architecture
Foundation of Roman architecture is the orthogonal plan
Pompeii City Plan (Place)
- Buried by Volcano eruption
- excavated in 18th century
- frozen in time city plan
- 20 thousand individuals
- 160 acres
- vacation area for that ime
- signs of Roman city plan, orthogonal streets, Roman forum, central area, arch, public buildings: baths, ampitheatre, swimming pools and markets
- Can see this city plan all around Rome
- Streets ran aprox parrallel an dperpendicular to the forum pattern being adjusted to varying topography
- forum of pompee was the public focus
PLACE
Architecture never exists in insolatoin
Buildings are in relationship to other buildings
Place: interconnection between buildings and spaces - place = respond to surroundings - buildings studied together to get a sense of place
Role of City / Urban: established a common shared place for the community
Cities are discussed in the order and planning of the buildings
Orthogonial Grid = Right angles
Different degrees of what plan means
High: directly connected to cosmology and religion
Middle: identity messages of the people who live there
Low: environments built to respond to behavior of movement and people
is an appearance of order
Cities are places we move throgh
Roman architecture revolution - turning point of architecture
Foundation of Roman architecture is the orthogonal plan
Timgad, Algerian City Plan (Place)
- Plan of a typical Roman Plan
- Built on a square shape
- Two main roads that intersect on orthoganol lines
- middle of two roads - public core/ center forum
- residential areas laid out in blocks out from center in square formation
- interspersed public areas: theatre, library, bats, senate house (roman republic)
- Streets sequentially numbered
- Same time as Roman Forum was built
- Because of theatre the road did not continue south
- extra growth of city did not conform to plan
PLACE
Architecture never exists in insolatoin
Buildings are in relationship to other buildings
Place: interconnection between buildings and spaces - place = respond to surroundings - buildings studied together to get a sense of place
Role of City / Urban: established a common shared place for the community
Cities are discussed in the order and planning of the buildings
Orthogonial Grid = Right angles
Different degrees of what plan means
High: directly connected to cosmology and religion
Middle: identity messages of the people who live there
Low: environments built to respond to behavior of movement and people
is an appearance of order
Cities are places we move throgh
Roman architecture revolution - turning point of architecture
Foundation of Roman architecture is the orthogonal plan
Roman Forum (Place)
Center of Rome - everyone goes to the center
- commerce, government, law and religion mingles with the growth of the city and space became increasingly congested
- cities established spaces of encounter
- model of all forumns
- markets of where people go
PLACE
Architecture never exists in insolatoin
Buildings are in relationship to other buildings
Place: interconnection between buildings and spaces - place = respond to surroundings - buildings studied together to get a sense of place
Role of City / Urban: established a common shared place for the community
Cities are discussed in the order and planning of the buildings
Orthogonial Grid = Right angles
Different degrees of what plan means
High: directly connected to cosmology and religion
Middle: identity messages of the people who live there
Low: environments built to respond to behavior of movement and people
is an appearance of order
Cities are places we move throgh
Roman architecture revolution - turning point of architecture
Foundation of Roman architecture is the orthogonal plan
Pantheon (Place)
- situated in middle of Rome - within urban area
- Entrance: Corinthian Columns - leads into sacred space
- Portico - covered with open air - 20 Corinthian columns holding up
- Rotunda- round (cella-inner area of temple) round shaped inner structure with dome on top
- Greatest circular plan and influential buildings of architecture
- 7 different deities
- Built by Hadrian
- Inner structure with dome on top
- Appears as if one area is holding dome - hidden arches are really holding weight of dome
- cement reinforces building
- coffered dome gives a sense of less strong - when extremelyheavy
- using concrete structural load distributed all the way around
- engineered to look perfect but not
- catholic palace of worship - stored animals, ammunition usted today as a church and tourism
Basic Basilica Plan (memory)
Old St. Peter’s Basilica (Memory)
San Costanza Mausolea (Memory)
San Vitale, Ravenna (Form)
Hagia Sophia (Form)
Dome of the Rock
Kaba in Mecca (Form)
