arch 250 - exam 2 - klein

name/location

Forbidden City, Hall of Supreme Harmony
Beijing, China, 15th cen

date + culture

15th century, Ming Dynasty

Forbidden City, Hall of Supreme Harmony
Beijing, China

architect, patron

craftsmen from hereditary artisan family-guilds

building function + style

Confucian style (respect authority = imp of emperor)

• axial planning

• symmetrical & orthogonal planning = Chinese cosmos

• sequencing from S→N (least to most imp)

ceremonial, ritual, living space

techniques/materials

Yingzao-fashi techniques

defensive characteristics: wall w one gate on each side, towers @ corners, moat

What is the Yingzao-fashi and how does it contribute to our knowledge about traditional Chinese

architecture?

book of Chinese building principles (to est. state control over construction in China)

1. foundation platform of brick/stone

2. timber frame (post-lintel) w columns & brackets

3. wooden purlins (roof beams)

4. decorative roof (terracotta tiles)

What are some of the philosophical and geomantic principles that have influenced traditional Chinese

architecture?

Philosophical

• indigenous (life after death, ancestor worship, animism)

• daoism (harmony of human action & world through nature)

• confucianism (respect for authority as est. by state, axiality & HIERARCHY)

Geomantic: divination by signs derived from earth

• good (south) & evil (north) influences operate on places & ppl within them

• Feng Shui: spirit influences in landscapes

What kind of complex is the Forbidden City? Why is it called this?

Imperial Palace complex

“Forbidden City” bc access restricted to emperor + state officials

How does its design reflect axial planning and spatial sequencing?

Confucian principles (respect for authority)

sequence of courtyards + halls = emphasizes privacy

S→N axis = most imp hall @ N end (Hall of Supreme Harmony)

What are some of the buildings found inside the Forbidden City and what purposes do they serve?

Administrative

• Hall of Supreme Harmony (throne room w “dragon throne”, state receptions)

• Middle Harmony

• Preserving Harmony (state banqueting room)

Residential

• hall of heavenly purity

• earthly tranquility (N end of axis)

What was the Hall of Supreme Harmony used for and how does its architectural design reflect its function and importance?

for state receptions

“dragon throne” of emperor in center on elevated golden platform

higher, taller, bigger, best decoration = most important room

name/location

Traditional Courtyard House, Beijing, China, 15th cen

date + Culture

15th cen, Confucian principles (respect authority)

Traditional Courtyard House, Beijing, China

architect + patron

-

techniques/materials/style

confucian

[beijing courtyard house] What is significant about the orientation of the building? What is the basic module used in its design.

most important building @ N end of axis (S(least imp)→N (most imp))

basic module: jian (rectangular room for expansion/repetition)

[ beijing courtyard house] How does the house design reflect family structure in 15th century Beijing? Who would have lived here?

wealthy Chinese fam

oldest member lives in principal room/parent’s suite (respect ancestors)

[beijing courtyard hosue] What does the design have in common with the sequence of halls and open spaces in the Forbidden City?

emphasize privacy

Confucian principles (respect authority)

S→N (least imp→ most imp)

name/location

Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China, 1420 (restored 1530 & 1757)

date + culture

1420 (restored 1530 & 1757)

Chinese religious architecture

(Temple of Heaven, Beijing, China)

architect/patron

-

technique/materials

imperial altars built outside Imperial City

Altar of Heaven (SE)

Altar of Agriculture (W)

Altars of Earth, Sun, Moon & Silkworms (N, NE, NW)

What is the purpose of the Temple of Heaven? What activities would take place here and who would participate?

emperor carried out rituals for benefit of the country

• winter solstice (burn incense, pray, offerings of jade & silk)

• spring: prayers of wellbeing/prosperity of country

[temple of heaven] How does its design reflect axial planning and spatial sequencing?

S→N axis (mound → vault of heaven → hall for prosperous yr)

Danbi Bridge (on axis) = elevated ritual procession path

[temple of heaven] What are the three main buildings found in the complex? What are the architectural, decorative, and

spatial characteristics that reveal their importance?

1. Circular Mound at south

• white marble balustrades & stairs; 3×3=9 symbolizes heaven

2. Imperial Vault of Heaven

3. Hall for Prayer of a Prosperous Year

• circular building=heaven, square wall=earth

• conical roof eaves w dark blue tiles

• dragon imagery = emperor

Name/location

Yoshimura house, Osaka, Japan, 1620

date/culture

1620, Japanese

Yoshimura house, Osaka, japan

architect/patron

architect: -

patron: Yoshimura family (general supervisors, hosted gov officials)

technique/materials

built of wood w steep thatched roofs (sustainable)

plan has 2 parts

1. area w earth floor (doma) & hearth (irori)

2. living quarters w raised wood floors (toko), timber framing & sliding walls of paper/plaster

design based on tatami module (rice straw mat)

sliding doors for flexible interior spaces

exterior: opaque paper instead of glass, tatami on floor

[yoshimura] minka, What are some of the materials and techniques used to build a minka?

folk house

wood w steep thatched house, based on tatami rice mat module

[yoshimura] tatami

rice straw mat

BASIC MODULE IN DESIGN

[yoshimura] fusuma

sliding screens

[yoshimura] shoji

screens w paper panels

[yoshimura] tokonoma

alcove for displaying art

(@ north end) interior decoration reserved for upper classes

name/loc

Himeji Castle (Egret’s Castle), (hyogo prefecture) near Osaka, Japan, 1609

date/culture

1609 Japanese

Himeji Castle (Egret’s), Himeji, near Osaka, Japan

architect/patron

patron: local warlords during feudal period

1581: remodeled into castle by General Toyotomi Hideyashi for military base

1601-1609: remodeled by Ikeda Terumasa

building function + style

symbol of military power/pol authority

donjon/tenshu (main tower): residential

• outer ring: townsppl + foot soldiers; 2nd ring: samurai & court retainers; inner castle: admin, shogun & fam

1333 control land route btwn Kyoto & Honshu → 1581 military base → 1601-1609 remodeled

techniques/materials

Donjon/tenshu (main tower) of wood w plaster

• 7 stories

• mortise & tenon joins

• tile roof w gables

stone foundations

[himeji] Who built the great castles in Japan?

feudal warlords

[himeji castle] What are some of the defensive features see here? How does this compare to what is found in medieval European castles?

defensive design to protect vs new weapons (firearms)

Similar to Euro

• strategic location

• stone foundation

• fortification walls + moat

• walls w arrow slits, loopholes for shooting, protected gateways

Different from Euro

• upper part of Himeji made of wood w fire-resistant sand/plaster coating

• maze-like internal passages

• gardens to confuse intruders

name/location

Katsura Imperial Villa & tea Houses, kyoto, japan, 1616-1660

date/culture

1616-1660 Japanese aristocratic

architect/patron

patron: Prince Toshihito & Toshitada

building purpose/style

retreat for imperial family

Shoin style (rustic naturalness)

technique/materials

Japanese stroll garden (references immediate surroundings = building blends into landscape)

• main house is open timber frame

• 4 garden pavilions

• open air shelter

• buddhist chapel

• irregularly shaped pond

Moon Viewing Platform: prince & guests write poetry while watching moon’s reflection in pond (seen from within villa)

[katsura villa + tea house] shoin style

library/study style

• rustic w decorated interior

• wooden post-lintel, cypress shingled roof & overhanging eaves

• influence of Zen buddhism

[katsura villa + tea house] tea ceremony

combines spiritual + natural

symbolizes detached perfection in Zen Buddhist tradition

[katsura villa + tea house] Who built this complex and what is its purpose?

Prince Toshihito & Toshitada

private retreat for hosting tea ceremonies, enjoying art, moon viewing + writing poetry

[katsura] How does the design of the Katsura villa exemplify the Shoin style of interior (image at bottom center)?

What are three important characteristics?

elegant simplicity, rustic naturalness

• sliding screens painted by leading artists

• tatami mats on floor

• tokonoma for art display

[katsura] What are the most important design characteristics of a Japanese tea house (image at left)? How does its design reflect the interest in nature, principles of Zen Buddhism, and the arts?

building + garden

• isolated

• approached by winding path

• rustic materials (farmer’s cottage look)

• law “crawl door”

• alcove for tea prep

• tokonoma art display

• carefully planned views

• “Bridge of Heaven” replicated Kyoto coastline

purpose of a mosque + architectural design requirements

place to gather for worship

characteristics:

• house of congregational prayer

• oriented towards mecca (qibla wall points to mecca)

• place to wash before prayer

• covered hall for prayer

minaret

tower for muezzin to call faithful to prayer 5 times a day

mihrab

niche indicating direction of Mecca

Qibla wall

facing mecca

minbar

pulpit for preacher

what is this

dome on pendentives (transfers weight of dome onto 4 supports)

kulliye

complex around a mosque for education, charitable activities, lodging (students + travelers), commercial, cemetery

caravanserai

hostel for travelers, their animals + goods

mausoleum

monumental tomb

name/loc/date

Mosque and kulliye of Sultan Suleyman, Istanbul, Turkey 1550-1557

design/techniques

central done, half dome, domes above each bay of courtyard

Who was the patron, and who was the architect of the mosque and külliye of Suleyman?

Architect: Koca Sinan (janissary, royal architect)
Patron: Sultan Suleyman I (patron of Muslim faith)

What kind of mosque is this, and what older building in the same city inspired the architect?

central plan mosque

inspired by Hagia Sophia (dome on pendentives)

Koca Sinan “I will make Mosque of Suleyman more perfect than Hagia Sophia”

What is the building seen at bottom left? What older Islamic building does its design reference and why is this significant?

Mausoleum of Suleyman

inspired by Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

(octagonal plan w dome on drums)

What are some of the buildings found in an Ottoman külliye? What does this tell us about its function and

contribution to Ottoman society?