Architecture Notes

INTRODUCTION

  • Architecture defined as the output of planning, design, engineering, and construction.
  • Architecture reflects human transition from hunter-gatherers to settled civilizations.
  • Planning and building still central to society; aesthetics appreciated alongside functionality.
  • Example: Empire State Building (1931) stands as an iconic symbol of art.

THE STONE AGE

  • Earliest Settlements: Semi-permanent homes for hunting and gathering tribes.

  • Huts: Built from mammoth bones and covered with hides; could require up to 95 mammoths for one hut.

  • Jericho:

    • Emergence of urban civilizations around 8000 B.C.E. with mud brick houses.
    • Houses decorated, shrines for ancestors and vibrant wall paintings.

MEGALITHIC CONSTRUCTION

  • Types of Structures: Menhir, Dolmen, Cromlech.
  • Stonehenge:
    • A unique cromlech that served possibly for astronomical observations.
    • Comprised of concentric circles and U shapes, incorporated human remains in pits.

MESOPOTAMIA

  • Fertile Crescent: First literate civilizations emerged here.
  • City of Ur (c. 2100 B.C.E):
    • Development of ziggurats as links between heaven and earth.
    • Constructed from millions of mud bricks; served religious purposes.

ANCIENT EGYPT

  • Pyramids: Built as monumental tombs to honor pharaohs.
  • The Great Pyramid of Khufu:
    • Massive structure; showcases advanced mathematics in construction.
  • Temples: Served primarily for religious activities, typically with post-and-lintel construction.

CLASSICAL GREECE

  • Temple Design: Derived from houses; structured with columns and porticos.
  • Three Orders of Columns: Doric (sturdy), Ionic (slender), Corinthian (ornate).
  • The Parthenon:
    • An evolved Doric temple showcasing aesthetic proportions and symbolic representations.

THE HELLENISTIC AGE

  • Art and Architecture: Emphasized emotional expressions over the ideal forms.
  • Great Altar of Zeus at Pergamum: Features dramatic sculptures illustrating emotional narratives.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

  • Innovations: Development of aqueducts, arches, and public baths.
  • Pantheon: Cofunctional temple featuring a majestic dome and coffered ceiling.
  • Coliseum: The Flavian Amphitheater, showcased advanced engineering.

BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE

  • Hagia Sophia: A paradigm of multi-functional church architecture with a notable dome design.

ROMANESQUE AND GOTHIC

  • Romanesque: Thick walls, small windows, and strong structural elements.
  • Gothic Innovations: Use of pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses promoting verticality and light.

NEOCLASSICISM

  • Revival of Greek and Roman architecture seen in public buildings promoting civic virtue.
  • U.S. Capitol Building: Reflects Neoclassical principles in American democracy.

MODERN ARCHITECTURE

  • Bauhaus: Focused on functional design, combining crafts and fine arts post-WWI.
  • International Style: Characterized by minimalism and the use of modern materials like glass and steel.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE

  • Focus on reducing environmental impact, implementing green design principles and energy efficiency.
  • LEED Certification: Recognizes buildings for their sustainability performance.