Architectural Marvels

Architecture: Planning, Designing, and Constructing Buildings and Other Structures

• Architecture is both the process and product of designing and constructing buildings or other structures.

• Architectural works are often considered cultural symbols and works of art.

• Architecture began as rural, oral vernacular architecture that developed from trial and error to successful replication.

• The field of architectural construction has branched out to include everything from ship design to interior decorating.

• The philosophy of architecture deals with the aesthetic value of architecture and its relation to culture.

• The earliest surviving written work on architecture is De architectura by the Roman architect Vitruvius.

• The Classical civilizations of Greece and Rome developed architecture from civic ideals.

• Asian architecture, including Buddhist, Hindu, and Sikh architecture, had different characteristics and showed great regional diversity.

• Islamic architecture began in the 7th century CE, incorporating architectural forms from the ancient Middle East and Byzantium.

• During the European Middle Ages, Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals and abbeys emerged.

• Renaissance Europe saw a revival of Classical learning and the development of Renaissance humanism.

• The industrial age led to the separation of architecture and engineering, and the rise of the "gentleman architect" focused on aesthetics.A Brief History of Architecture

• Architecture in the 19th century prioritized beautiful drawings over context and feasibility.

• The Industrial Revolution made ornamentation and aesthetics more accessible to the middle class.

• The Bauhaus school redefined architecture as the ultimate synthesis of art, craft, and technology.

• Modernist architects rejected historical styles in favor of functional details and exposed structural elements.

• Postmodernism reacted against the austere aesthetic of modernism and expanded the use of historical building styles.

• Architects today must consider the complexity of buildings and work with multi-disciplinary teams.

• Environmental sustainability has become a mainstream issue in architecture.

• Other types of architecture include landscape architecture, interior architecture, naval architecture, and urban design.

• Urban design is an interdisciplinary field that works to make urban areas functional, attractive, and sustainable.

• Architecture is also used as a metaphor for structuring abstractions in fields such as seismic architecture.

• Many developers now encourage environmentally sustainable design.

• There has been a movement towards sustainable practices inspired by vernacular architecture.