History of Architecture 3 Finals: Cambodia PDF

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 FINALS LESSON #2 ARCHITECTURE IN CAMBODIA (KAMPUCHEA) Sokh Khmer - Khmer is the name of the early period Cambodian ci zen - Khmer is the golden era of ARCHITECTURAL CHA...

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 FINALS LESSON #2 ARCHITECTURE IN CAMBODIA (KAMPUCHEA) Sokh Khmer - Khmer is the name of the early period Cambodian ci zen - Khmer is the golden era of ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Cambodia - the earliest recorded capital was Vyadhapura - “Home of Khmers” on the lower reaches of the Mekong River - Western people call Kampuchea, Cambodia PERIODS 1. PRE ANGKOREAN Geographical - Angkor is a name of a city - the setlements started in river - This period is where Angkor became - Mekong River a capital - wood is the first building material of Khmers Geological Sambor Prei Kuk Style - Timber is the principal building material in the - Where the capital of Chenla delta area, together with Laterite, Sandstone Kingdom. Temples of Sambor Pre and Terracota bricks Kuk were built in round shape, plain - Laterites are so when raw and hard when colonetes w/ capitals that include a heated bulb - Sandstones are layers of sediments, they are - Buddhism and Hinduism also used in statues and ornaments - Colonetes/small columns/columnia on Climate - Rectangular colonnetes - Tropical Climate - Capitals are made from sandstone - the cooling rain and wind of the south-west or brick stone layered w/ stucco Monsoon provided the only break in the tropical humid heat Prei Khemg Style (Prei Khmeng Style) - Structures reveal masterpieces of sculpture but architecture scare. Colonetes are larger than previous style. Buildings were more heavily decorated but they had general decline of standards Kompong Preah Style - Temples with more decora ve rings on colonetes which remain cylindrical. Brick construc on were being con nued HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 FINALS - They have circular columns Enclosure - A concentric series of walls 2. KHMER PERIOD surrounded Khmer temples - Angkor was the capital city of Khmer represent the mountain ranges Empire (Yasodharapura) surrounding Mount Meru. These - Megacity atleast 0.1% of the global walls are divided by enclosures, popula on (1010-1220) which are numbered from the center - Sanskit “City” (Sanskrit) outwards - Barai- a human made lake for irriga on and supply Gallery - A passageway lining along the walls Khmer Period Structures defining the Khmer Temple’ Temple Mountain enclosures or temple’s axis. This - Mount Meru- home of the devas in form evolved during the 10th century Hindu mythology when the long hallways were used to - The temple was constructed in the surround the temple’s central shape of steeped pyramid, with the sanctuary highest elevated sanctuary put at - Passageway/gateway the center as the home to the - Facing east however, the Angkor wat temple’s primary deity temple is facing west o Bakong o Baphuon Gopura o Pre Rup - An entrance building or entrance o Ta Keo pavilion to access a temple. Gopura o Koh Ker was constructed with enclosures o Phimeanakas surrounding a temple and placed at o Phrom Bakeng each of the four cardinal points (North, South, East, West) Central sanctuary - Displays a monumental head of the - Bakan, the central sanctuary held deity the main shrine of the temple’s primary deity Library - The highest tower - Even being the common feature of - ‘Bakan’, House of the Deity Khmer temple architecture, the true purpose of library remains unknown. Prang They are free standing buildings - It is a richly carved tower-like spire. which were normally placed in pairs This structure has receding size as it on either side of an enclosure’s ascends, which reminds of Indic entrance and open to the west shikhara of Hindu temple - It serves as an archive room - Vimanas in India HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 FINALS Naga Bridge Linga - There is a nine headed serpent in the - Cylinder symbolic of the Hindu God shape of a fan is adorned on each Shiva and crea ve power. It was side of the bridge leading to the placed in the central sanctuary to entrance gate of temples in Angkor. represent king himself and express This representa on may symbolize his consubstan ally with Shiva the transi on from the world of men to the world of the gods, and Quincunx reinforced by Indra’s presence - A spa al arrangement of five elements to convey the five peaks of Mount Meru Khmer Period Elements Bas-reliefs 3. COLONIAL PERIOD - Figures or en re scenes sculpted into stone walls. They are narra ve bas-beliefs depic ng stories from mythology and history Stairs - Angkor temples are notoriously steep with an angle ascent between 45 and 70 degrees. This steep stairway represents the “stairway to heaven”, “the realm of the gods” from the religious perspec ve Khmer Period Mo fs Apsara - Celes al dancing girls Devata - Minor female dei es Dvarapala - Demonic temple guardians with clubs and lances Gajasimha - Mythical animal with lion’s body and elephant head temple guardian Reachisey - Mythical animal with lion’s head, dragon’s bod and a short elephant trunk Garuda - Half man- Half bird, Lord of Birds