Pre-Classical Architecture PDF

History of Architecture Pre-classical Architecture EGYPTIAN & WESTERN ARCHITECTURE GEOGRAPHICAL: Land of Pharaoh Desert Land Nile River as means of communication and lifeline GEOLOGICAL: softs stones and hard stones sand dried bricks palm leaves CLIMATIC: NO RAIN...

History of Architecture Pre-classical Architecture EGYPTIAN & WESTERN ARCHITECTURE GEOGRAPHICAL: Land of Pharaoh Desert Land Nile River as means of communication and lifeline GEOLOGICAL: softs stones and hard stones sand dried bricks palm leaves CLIMATIC: NO RAIN NO DRAINAGE NO GUTTERS NO DOWNSPOUT NO WINDOWS RELIGION: They believe in life after death, pyramids are built for preservation of dead body. HISTORY of EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE ANCIENT KINGDOM 1ST -10TH DYNASTIES: 3 types of Tomb 1.‘MASTABA’ Early Dynastic Period (3050-2686 BC) Flat-roofed rectangular Structure sloping at 75° Made out of Mud Brick then later on used Stone 2. PYRAMID (Pyramid of Giza) Built by Pharaoh Khufu Estimated 2.3 million stone blocks weigh an average of 2.5 to 15 tons Materials used were Limestones, Pink Granite, Basalt, and Mud Bricks The dimensions of the pyramid were 280 royal cubits (146.7 m; 481.4 ft) high, a base length of 440 cubits (230.6 m; 756.4 ft), It served as the tomb of pharaoh Khufu, who ruled during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Built c. 2600 BC, over a period of about 27 years, the pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only wonder that has remained largely intact. 3. ROCK HEWN or ROCK CUT TOMBS A rock.-cut tomb is a burial chamber that is cut into an existing, naturally occurring rock formation, so a type of rock-cut architecture. They are usually cut into a cliff or sloping rock face, but may go downward in fairly flat ground. 21 M (69 FT) HIGH WEIGHS 120 TONS OLDEST OBELISK IN THE WORLD The 25 m (82 ft) wide porticoes contain 22 columns each, arranged in two rows,and feature relief scenes on their walls. The middle terrace has porticoes on the west and partially the north sides and is 75 m (246 ft) deep by 90 m (300 ft) broad. Including the stone platforms on which they stand – themselves about 4 m (13 ft) – the colossi reach 18 m (60 ft) in height and weigh an estimated 720 tons each. The two figures are about 15 m (50 ft) apart. The Great Hypostyle Hall covers an area of 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft). The roof, now fallen, was supported by 134 giant sandstone columns in 16 rows; the two middle rows are higher than the others being 10 metres (33 ft) in circumference and 24 metres (79 ft) high. Abu Simbel is a temple built by Ramesses II (c. 1279-1213 B.C.E.) in ancient Nubia, where he wished to demonstrate his power and his divine nature. Four colossal (65 feet/20 meters high) statues of him sit in pairs flanking the entrance. The lighthouse stood on the island of Pharos in the harbour of Alexandria and is said to have been more than 350 feet (110 metres) high. A Post and Lintel/ Columnar or Trabeated -is an architectural system where a horizontal piece is supported by two vertical posts, or columns. This is a basic form of architecture that has been used since ancient times, but the Egyptians used it for monumental architecture, or buildings that are massive in size and scale. HISTORY of WEST ASIATIC ARCHITECTURE  West asiatic or mesopotamian architecture started on 4000 to 2100 B.C. present day Iraq and Iran. The fertile land between the tigris and euphrates river who is been named “Mesopotamia or the land between two rivers”. GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES CLIMATIC INFLUENCES CHALDEAN STRUCTURE- ZIGGURAT Ziggurat-most important structure Temple towers, observatories built of mud brick and faced with baked bricks and bitumen. called as holy mountains where sacred fire is kept burning. Orientation of the four corners are towards the four cardinal points. Ziggurat Development: 1. Archaic Ziggurat 2. Two or more stages type ziggurat- multi story 3. Assyrian type or seven stages ziggurat- no stairs but a continuous ramp. 7 stages symbolizes 7 heavenly planet. ASSYRIAN STRUCTURE: PALACE OF SARGON Chief structure – Palaces Temples were with or without a ziggurat. Introduction of polychrome, ornamental brickwork and high fleets or pedestals, made of great stone slab. Presence of decorative continuous stone found in their interiors.  NEOBABYLONIAN STRUCTURE: ISHTAR GATE The Ishtar Gate was more than 38 feet (12 metres) high and was decorated with glazed brick reliefs, in tiers, of dragons and young bulls.  PERSIAN STRUCTURE: PALACE OF PERSEPOLIS Persian palaces and tombs were derived from old civilizations. Palaces and tombs at Susa and Persepolis suggest that the Persians adopted certain features from the conquered Assyrians such as: Persian Lion and Bull Combat -raised platforms -sculptured monsters -slabs of bas-relief besides glazed and colored brickwork (polychrome bricks) Two-headed persian griffin which it is their glory to have brought to perfection. Archers frieze  ANALYSIS OF BUILDINGS 1. PLAN The floor-space of a great Assyrian or Medo-Persian building was laid out on a plan quite distinct from that of an Egyptian temple. The rooms are almost always grouped round quadrangles. The buildings are also placed on terraces, with attached flights of stairs. 2. Walls The magnificently worked granite and stones of Egypt give place to brick for the material of the walls. This allowed for quicker construction. But the remains of these structures have completely deteriorated over time, while Egyptian structures remain. 3. Roofs We can only judge of the roofs by inference, and a difference of opinion exists respecting them. It appears that a large proportion of the buildings must have been roofed by throwing timber beams from wall to wall and forming a thick platform of earth on them. 4. Openings The contours of doors, whether arch or lintel, remained in many cases to our time. In some instances, openings were arched. Great attention was paid to important doorways, and a large amount of magnificent sculpture was employed to enrich them. 5. Columns The columns most probably were of wood in Assyrian palaces. In some of the Persian ones, they were of marble, but of a proportion and treatment which point to an imitation of forms suitable for wood. 6. Ornaments Sculptured slabs, painted wall decorations, and terra-cotta ornamentation were used as enrichments of the walls. These slabs, are objects of the deepest interest. So are the carved bulls from gateways. THANK YOU!