ARC231-Week 7

QUOTABLE QUOTE

• "Don't be the same. Be better."

Overview of Greek Architecture

• Greek architecture evolved from simple structures to monumental designs over time.

• Phases of Development:

  • Dark Age: Simple houses.

  • Classical Period: Development of temples and public buildings.

  • Hellenistic Period: Elaborately planned cities and sanctuaries.

• Influencing Factors:

  • Raw materials and technology shaped architectural styles.

  • Principal Building Materials:

    • Wood: Used for supports and roof beams.

    • Unbaked bricks: Primarily for walls of private houses.

    • Limestone and marble: Key for columns and public buildings.

    • Terracotta: Used for roof tiles and ornaments.

    • Metals (bronze): Utilized for decorative details.

Types of Greek Architecture

Religious Architecture

• Open-air altars: Focus for prayer and sacrifices.

• Temples: House for deity statues and focused on worship.

• Treasuries: Small temples for offerings from citizens.

Funerary Architecture

• Tombs:

  • Circular mounds or larger mausoleums.

Public Buildings

• Council House: Venue for governance meetings.

• Law courts: Judicial structures.

• Fountain House: Water sources for the community.

• Stoa: Colonnaded structures for gathering.

• Agora: Central assembly area or marketplace.

Private Houses

• Types:

  • Early dwellings: Single-room structures.

  • Multiple-room houses: Organized around courtyards.

  • Simple exteriors lacking grand designs.

Entertainment and Recreation Buildings

• Structures:

  • Open-air theatres, roofed concert halls, gymnasiums, stadiums, and public baths.

Greek Temples

• Characterized by colonnaded structures housing cult statues.

• Emphasis on simplicity with proportional detail.

• Orientation towards east-west, entering from the east side.

• Key components:

  • Naos: Chamber housing the cult statue.

  • Pronaos: Entry porch leading to the naos.

• Opisthodomos: Sometimes a rear treasury room.

• Cella: Core of the temple, surrounded by a peristyle.

• Pteroma: External aisles flanking the cella.

• Single gabled roof structure.

Greek Temple Layout

Components of a Typical Greek Temple:

• Pronaos: Front porch.

• Cella/Naos: Inner sanctuary.

• Opisthodomos: Possible treasury area at the rear.

Evolution of Greek Temples

• Early temples were not distinctly separate from houses.

• First monumental stone temples emerged in the 7th century BC inspired by Egyptian designs.

• Noteworthy temples include:

  • Temple of Zeus at Olympia,

  • Erechtheion,

  • Parthenon,

  • Temple of Athena Nike at Athens.

Temple Layout Variations

• Categories by Ground Plan:

  • Anta Temple: Columns at front, no peristyle.

  • Prostyle Temple: Front columns only.

  • Amphiprostyle Temple: Columns at both ends.

  • Peripteral Temple: Surrounding columns.

  • Dipteral Temple: Double row of columns.

  • Tholos Temple: Circular plans.

Architectural Orders

Introduction to Orders

• Architecture orders involve arrangements of columns that influence design and stability.

• Greek classical architecture developed mainly through Doric and Ionic systems, later followed by the Corinthian order.

Major Types of Greek Orders

1. Doric Order:

   • Oldest, simplest, no base.

   • Fluted shafts taper to undecorated capitals.

   • Examples include: Temple of Hera and Parthenon.

2. Ionic Order:

   • Introduced in the 6th century BC with slender, elegant details.

   • Volutes (spirals) characterize capitals.

   • Examples include Erechtheion and Temple of Artemis.

3. Corinthian Order:

   • Developed in the 4th century BC with elaborate capitals.

   • Features acanthus leaves and slender shafts.

   • Examples include the Pantheon and Temple of Zeus.

Modern Applications of Greek Orders

• Architectural features adapted in modern design:

  • Entablature, pilasters, crown moldings, etc.