Roman Architecture and Design Principles

Roman Era Architecture

• Roman architecture was heavily influenced by Greek designs, particularly in temples and public buildings.
• Romans prioritized public buildings over religious structures, unlike the Greeks.
• Roman temples were often positioned to face a light source or public square, emphasizing location in design.
• Roman temples' entrances were important but not as emphasized as their positioning, unlike Greek temples.
• Romans used a variety of building materials including different types of stones, bricks, painted pottery, and tiles.
• Volcanic activity near Rome created travertine stone, contributing to the widespread use of concrete.
• Roman buildings were often constructed entirely of concrete, frequently covered with stones, bricks, or marble to improve aesthetic appeal.
• Roman structures featured extensive use of arches in diverse forms which led to innovative designs.
• Roman temples came in two main forms: rectangular or circular.

Roman Era Furniture

• Typical Roman furniture materials included wood, metal, and stone.
• Romans commonly used bronze, gold, and silver for their furniture.
• Roman furniture often incorporated inlaid decorations using materials like bronze, gold, silver, ivory, glass, tortoiseshell, and ebony.
• The Roman couch, or lectus, had a simple design with a horizontal reclining surface supported by four vertical legs.
• The head and foot areas of couches were often adorned with decorative finials called volcra.
• Roman couches were highly valued and sometimes buried with important people.
• Couches were a common feature in wealthy homes.
• Couches were used for dining instead of tables.
• Couches were shorter than those used today.

Roman Era House Components

• Roman houses, or palaces, had distinct architectural features.
• Roman houses typically had two large doors that led to a hall, shed, or vestibule.
• The vestibule led into a courtyard called the atrium.
• The atrium was the most important part of the house, usually a spacious and open square area.
• The atrium was usually open to the sky, though some had tiled roofs.
• The center of the atrium often contained a basin called the impluvium to collect rainwater.
• Essential parts of the Roman house were connected by corridors surrounding the basin.
• A kitchen (culina) and other rooms were commonly located adjacent to the atrium.
• A separate worship room, dedicated to the household god, was often located opposite the courtyard.
• This configuration could evolve over time to include private quarters and a back hall.
• These back halls housed family possessions (jewelry, ornaments, documents, statues) that were important cultural symbols.
• The back halls connected to gardens, and some structures opened onto public roads.
• Some houses had upper floors.

Roman Arches

• The semicircular arch was a hallmark of the Roman Empire.
• Roman architects used semicircular arches to build structures like doors, windows, ceilings, and porticoes (covered walkways).
• Romanesque style is characterized by massive proportions and was used for various structures showing the stability of that era and a resurgence of European culture.

Roman Frescoes

• Frescoes (wall paintings) were a common feature in Roman homes.
• Some frescoes from 40-50 BCE are available for study and analysis.

Roman Arched Structures

• Roman architects used barrel vaults (tunnel-shaped arches) to roof large buildings.
• Romanesque architects used groin vaults, where two barrel vaults intersected at right angles, creating a square-shaped space at their crossing.
• Ribbed vaults, emerged near the end of the Romanesque period, are the opposite of groin vaults. These concentrate weight in smaller, precise points, helping to create taller, wider, and more impressive church structures.