2.1 An Introduction to Design History

Roof Forms

Simple houses are surmounted by a roof for shade and protection from the elements. Walls at the edges support them but would also need additional supports to hold up its span. The three most common roof forms are:
Post and Lintel
Arches
Trusses

Post and Lintel

The most basic form of construction involves a long, spanning member (the beam) made of either wood, stone, metal, or any other material held up by two supports (the post).

Arches

These are structural supports whose span is supported by a curve. Each side of the arch rises from the top of a wall and meets the curve from the other wall at the center. The curve can be semicircular, a portion of the curve (segmental), or of other configurations.

Trusses

These are an assemblage of beams forming triangles, used to span greater distances when traditional lintel systems are no longer sufficient. Two beams are placed on a slat and meet in the middle. They are tied together at their lower ends by a tie beam. 

Pediment Forms

Pediments refer to the styles of the space that forms the gable of a low-pitched roof and that is usually filled with relief sculpture in classical architecture. Triangular, segmental, broken, and scrolled are some of the most common types.

Triangular Pediment

Segmental Pediment

Broken Pediment

Scroll Pediment

Column

Posts are isolated supports that hold up the beams/ lintels. When the design of these posts was later formalized by ancient civilizations (in stone as opposed to wood)

capital

top molding of the column, often ornamented, 

base

block placed at the bottom of the column

shaft

Types of Curves

Mechanical, Mathematical, Free

Mechanical curves

These curves are formed using a compass and consist of any part or all of a circle. The point where the curve starts is called the “spring point,” while the line that connects the two points where an arch commences is called the “spring line.”

spring point

The point where the curve starts

spring line

line that connects the two points where an arch commences

Mathematical curves

These are curves taken from conic sections, namely the ellipse, a parabola, and a hyperbola, as well as spirals and helixes.

Free curves 

These curves are freehand sweeps and cannot be classified as either mechanical or mathematical.

The Influence of Period Styles

These refer to the generally recognizable trends or characteristics of fine or utilitarian art produced by one group during a specific time. They are often influenced by several external factors, such as:

• Availability of materials

• Climate

• Geography

• Socioeconomic condition of the population

• Religion

• Trade and commercial opportunities

• Historical or political events

• Scientific innovations or discoveries

The Gregorian Calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most of the world
named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it in October 1582

Prehistory

refers to history before the invention of writing. This period chronicles the events and the culture of human civilization during the Stone Age until the advent of permanent settlement at the end of the Ice Age.

Ancient/ Antiquity

refers to the period documenting the rising empires of the Mesopotamian plains, all the way to the histories of ancient Greece and Rome. The latter two civilizations and their contributions to European, albeit world culture, are also collectively referred to as the Classical period or Classical Antiquity.

The Middle Ages 

roughly spanning about 1,000 years, this period in history deals with the upheavals in Europe right after the collapse of the western Roman empire, including the spread of Christianity and Islam, the plague, and the string of events that would eventually give rise to positive changes and development in European society, giving rise to the Renaissance.

Renaissance

was a rebirth of interest in ancient Greek and Roman culture. It was also a period of economic prosperity in Europe, particularly in Italy and in Northern Europe. Religion and royalty were the preeminent powers of the times, although freethinkers eventually challenged their influence. During this period, the Scientific Revolution began, and observation replaced religious doctrine as the source of our understanding of the universe and our place in it.

Early Modern

deals with the expanding empires of Europe and their exploration of regions beyond their shores. It includes the Age of Exploration and subsequent colonization. Wealth and influence changed hands and sides, wherein the rising power of the middle class came to the fore.

Modern

the drive of commerce, aided by the age of industrialization, brought in the change in the times