ARCH 218 Final Multiple Choice

In French architectural history, the term "architecture parlante" refers to which of the following ideas?

Buildings designed to express their purpose through their form and decoration.

The concept of “architecture parlante” emerged in France during which historical context?

The Enlightenment period, when reason and symbolic clarity influenced architecture.

Which statement best describes Étienne-Louis Boullée’s approach to architecture?

He emphasized monumental geometric forms to express emotion and universal ideas.

Leo von Klenze’s Propylaea (Munich Gate) is an example of which architectural style and symbolic purpose in 19th-century Germany?

Greek Revival architecture celebrating Bavarian unity and German nationality

Which statement best describes Leo von Klenze's Glyptothek in Munich?

a museum combining a Greek temple facade with the spatial order of a Renaissance palazzo

In architectural history, the term “polychrome” refers to which of the following?

The use of multiple colors in architectural decoration.

Leo von Klenze’s Propylaea (Munich Gate) is an example of which architectural style and symbolic purpose in 19th-century Germany?

Greek Revival architecture celebrating Bavarian unity and German nationality

Which statement best describes Leo von Klenze's Glyptothek in Munich?

a museum combining a Greek temple facade with the spatial order of a Renaissance palazzo

Which of the following best describes the design significance of the Crystal Palace built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London?

It was one of the earliest large-scale buildings constructed with prefabricated iron and glass.

What was the main structural and functional purpose of the ridge and furrow roof design used in Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace (1851)?

To provide better drainage and allow maximum light penetration and block unnecessary light

Who invented the glazing wagon, a device that greatly improved the efficiency of installing glass panels in the Crystal Palace (1851)?

• Joseph Paxton

• Charles Fox

What role did the lily pad play in inspiring Joseph Paxton’s design of the Crystal Palace (1851)?

Its strong radiating rib structure inspired the ridge-and-furrow form of the glass roof.

In his 1959 book The Turning Point of Building, Wachsmann referred to the Crystal Palace as a key chapter in the evolution of architectural industrialisation. Which of the following best summarises his viewpoint?

He regarded it as a precursor to industrialised building systems that began to think in modules and production rather than mass, monumentality, and craft.

According to Bucher’s description of the Crystal Palace, what visual effect most strongly characterises his impression of the interior?

He describes a sense of infinite perspective and blending of material.

What earlier structure served as the prototype for Joseph Paxton’s design of the Crystal Palace (1851)?

The Great Conservatory (Great Stove) at Chatsworth House

What was the standard module size used in the construction of Joseph Paxton’s Crystal Palace (1851)?

24 feet × 24 feet

Which of the following best describes Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, designed by Henri Labrouste?

It features an iron-frame reading room with exposed structural elements, combining classical form with modern engineering.

Which of the following best describes the arcade building type that emerged in 19th-century Europe?

A covered passageway with a glass roof, combining circulation and retail functions.

Which of the following statements best describes the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City?

It is a suspension bridge designed by John A. Roebling and completed in 1883.

Which of the following is recognized as the first cast-iron bridge in the world?

Iron Bridge at Coalbrookdale, England

In his statement, “The effects of the Industrial Revolution prove that free competition may produce wealth without producing well-being,” Arnold Toynbee suggests that:

Free competition can lead to economic growth without improving people's quality of life.

In his book All That Is Solid Melts into Air, Marshall Berman uses this phrase to describe the experience of modernity. How does this idea relate to the social context of architecture?

It highlights how modern architecture reflects the instability and transformation of modern society.

Robert Owen founded New Harmony in Indiana in 1825 as a utopian community based on cooperation and equality. Which of the following best explains the main reason for its failure?

The settlers lacked shared and unified vision and force to sustain the cooperative system.

Designed by William Morris and Philip Webb in 1859, the Red House is often seen as a landmark in architectural history. What makes it significant in the social and artistic context of the 19th century?

It rejected industrial production and emphasized handcrafted workmanship inspired by medieval ideals.

In the design of the Red House by William Morris and Philip Webb, what was innovative about its floor plan?

It featured a varying functional layout that reflected the daily life and needs of its inhabitants.

first describe Pugin’s view of “Gothic” versus “modern” door hinges, and then explain the core principle he emphasized as essential to good architectural design.

Pugin argued that Gothic hinges were honest because their large, visible strap forms both decorated and structurally supported the door, while modern hinges were small and hidden, disguising how the door actually worked. He believed that good design must be truthful—every element should openly express its real function and construction.

What is the architectural and interior significance of Charles Barry and August Pugin's Palace of Westminster in London?

A Gothic Revival architecture that combines Barry's planning and Pugin's detailed ornamentation.

What are the "Seven Lamps of Architecture" by Ruskin?

• Sacrifice

• Truth

• Obedience

• Power

• Beauty

• Life

• Memory

What best describes the “Total Work of Art” design approach?

It emphasized harmony between architecture, interior, furniture, and everyday objects.

What social change in early 20th-century Glasgow was most clearly reflected in Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Willow Tearooms?

The rise of alcohol-free public spaces that allowed women to socialize independently.

Which feature best characterizes Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s approach to furniture design?

Simple geometric forms with symbolic decoration.

Which feature of Victor Horta’s Tassel House best demonstrates the principles of Art Nouveau architecture?

The open floor plan with a central staircase framed by curving iron and floral motifs.

Which idea best represents Eugène Viollet-le-Duc’s theory of architecture?

Buildings should truthfully express their structure and materials.

Which materials did Hector Guimard primarily use to create the organic Art Nouveau style of the Paris Métro entrances?

Wrought iron and glass with enamel signage.

Which project demonstrates Hector Guimard’s contribution to prefabricated construction in the early 20th century?

His Standard‑Construction modular housing system.

What was the main purpose of Antoni Gaudí’s hanging chain model for the Sagrada Família?

To visualize and test complex structural forms using gravity and catenary curves.

When is Antoni Gaudí’s Sagrada Família expected to be completed?

Around 2026, marking the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death.

What is a defining characteristic of the “whiplash” motif in Art Nouveau design?

Sinuous, flowing lines inspired by natural forms like plants and tendrils.

TRUE OR FALSE - Art Nouveau was an international style that appeared in many countries around the world.

True

Why was the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition commonly referred to as the “White City”?

Because the exposition buildings were coated in white plaster and illuminated by electric lights, creating a bright, unified appearance.

Why did architect Louis Sullivan criticize the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition (“White City”)?

Because it promoted classical imitation instead of developing a modern, functional American architecture.

What is architecturally significant about James Bogardus’s Edgar Laing Stores in New York City?

It featured prefabricated, self-supporting cast-iron façades, making it an early example of multi-story cast-iron architecture.

Which of the following best describes the structural system of the Rookery Building in Chicago?

Early steel framing with load-bearing masonry walls

Which criterion is used to determine whether the Home Insurance Building in Chicago qualifies as the first skyscraper?

The building uses a self-supporting structural system.

How did Elsie de Wolfe’s design philosophy influence the transition from the heavy, dark interiors of the Victorian era to the lighter and more modern aesthetic of early 20th-century interior design?

She emphasized the use of light colors and simple furnishings to create airy and elegant spaces.

Who was the architect of the Woman’s Building at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, and what made her achievement historically significant?

Sophia Hayden, the first woman to earn an architecture degree from MIT

What was one of the major structural innovations used in the Montauk Building (1882–1883) that allowed it to be built on Chicago’s soft soil?

The use of a raft foundation

What is distinctive about the cornice design of the Monadnock Building in Chicago?

It features a curved cornice referencing ancient Egyptian column capital.

Which statement best describes the difference between early Chicago and New York skyscrapers?

Chicago skyscrapers emphasized function, steel-frame construction, and large windows, while New York skyscrapers emphasized ornament, narrow-lot adaptation, and setbacks.

What is the structural system of the Monadnock Building in Chicago?

Load-bearing masonry walls

Is Monadnock Building considered "skycraper" according to the five points established by Andrew Nicholas Rebori and his committee? And why?

No it is no a skyscraper. It is not a skyscraper because it lacks steel construction, It is made out of two types of masonry construction, but to be considered a skyscraper according to Rebori's rules, it would need to be steel-frame construction.

Early Chicago skyscrapers were built on soft, compressible soil. Which foundation solution was commonly used to support these tall buildings?

Raft (mat) foundations that spread the load over a large area

What did Frank Lloyd Wright place at the center of many of his early house designs?

A central hearth

Which color scheme did Frank Lloyd Wright commonly use in his early residential designs?

Earth-tone, autumn-inspired inspired drawn from nature

Frank Lloyd Wright’s early house projects were influenced by which American vernacular architectural style known for its wood cladding and unified exterior surfaces?

Shingle Style

How did Frank Lloyd Wright's approach to decoration reflect Louis Sullivan’s influence?

Wright's use abstract nature-inspired motifs

What spatial innovation is characteristic of Frank Lloyd Wright’s early house projects?

Open, flowing spaces that connect living and dining areas

In Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity Temple, what was the primary functional purpose of the cloister connecting the entrance to the main sanctuary?

It acted as a transitional passage for visitors to imperceptibly enter the main sanctuary.

Which primary material did Frank Lloyd Wright use for the construction of Unity Temple, giving the building its solid, monolithic appearance?

Reinforced concrete

What was one of the most innovative features of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Larkin Administration Building?

An open-plan office

Which of the following characteristics best defines Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie Style in his early residential designs?

• horizontal lines

• low-pitched roofs

• broad overhang eaves

• open floor layout of rooms that flow into each other

What was the primary inspiration behind Frank Lloyd Wright’s design of Taliesin I?

A desire to create a home and studio integrated into the natural Wisconsin landscape

Why is the Wasmuth Portfolio (1910) considered a significant milestone in Frank Lloyd Wright’s career?

It introduced his work to European architects and influenced early modernism