Lecture 02: History and Theories of Contemporary Architecture PDF

Department of Architectural Engineering HISTORY AND THEORIES OF CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE Lecture 02 | Department of Architectural Engineering | ARCH 366 History and Theories...

Department of Architectural Engineering HISTORY AND THEORIES OF CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE Lecture 02 | Department of Architectural Engineering | ARCH 366 History and Theories of Contemporary Architecture | 3 Cr H WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE? Architecture is the art and science of the built environment. Architectural works such as buildings, structures and spaces are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historic and contemporary civilizations are often identified with their architectural achievements, such as ancient Egypt and modern New York. Architecture as an art form is the shaping of space by architects through the use of materials, technology, light and shadow. WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE? Some interesting quotes about architecture… “Architecture begins with an idea.” Louis Kahn “Architecture is frozen music.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “Architecture is to make us know and remember who we are.” Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe “The architect’s role is to fight for a better world, where he/she can produce an architecture that serves everyone and not just a group of privileged people.” Oscar Niemeyer, “Architecture is inhabited sculpture.” Constantin Brancusi WHAT IS ARCHITECTURE? Physical surroundings play a huge part in influencing our mental and physical health. No piece of architecture has been designed in abstraction, since the Prehistoric period. Politics, art, poetry, and social sciences of the time influence the structures. Human nature also draws connections to the built environment. LET’S HAVE A BRIEF INTRO TO ARCHITECTURE…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQT7FXKvd28 ARCHITECTURAL MOVEMENTS Architecture can be classified within an assortment of “movements,”. Bristol Byzantine or Egyptian Revival as general examples. ARCHITECTURAL MOVEMENT TIMELINE CLASSICISM Greek (1200 BC - 0) Logic and order lay at the core of the Ancient Greeks’ philosophy, yet never at the expense of ornament or aesthetic value. Advanced mathematics, geometries and optical illusions perfectly harmonious to the human eye. Pillars of work - Simplicity, proportion, perspective and harmony Periclean Parthenon of Athens CLASSICISM Greek (1200 BC - 0) Public buildings - temples, amphitheaters and stadiums, The invention of the classical orders: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Identifiable by the type of column used. Divided architectural design into three distinct styles according to proportion and decoration. Greek Architectural Orders CLASSICISM Roman (0 - 500 C) Greek architecture provided the design foundation for generations of artists, architects and designers to come. Roman Architecture founded new engineering techniques that influence building construction. The Romans built: The first ever arches, vaults and domes Developed concrete Defined huge swathes of history The Pantheon, Rome CLASSICISM Roman (0 - 500 C) The strength, low cost and flexibility of concrete created a new mode of ‘space-making’. Allowed buildings to span much greater distances and larger public spaces to be constructed. The sheer quality of construction - Ancient Roman buildings continue to stand after thousands of years. Colosseum GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE (C1200 TO C1500) Gothic Took structural design beyond pure function by emphasizing verticality and light. Greatest expression in the great cathedrals of Europe, some of which took more than one century to build. Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE (C1200 TO C1500) Gothic New building techniques to solve the problem of their often dark, cold and claustrophobic designs. Flying buttresses, pointed arches and vaulted ceilings, each of which required an unprecedented level of delicacy in its design. Flying buttresses, pointed arches, vaults GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE (C1200 TO C1500) Gothic Lasted almost 400 years Flying buttresses allowed architects to spread the weight of taller walls and grander-looking towers. Vaulted, ribbed ceilings allowed more space for openings such as doorways and windows. Buildings rose to new heights Flying buttresses and vaults THE RENAISSANCE (EARLY 15TH CENTURY) Renaissance Conscious ‘rebirth’ of classical elements occurred, based on ancient Greek and Roman design tropes. This era is widely termed “The Renaissance.” A very clear, simple mathematical approach compared to Gothic Architecture No set rules of proportion applied. Pazzi Chapel THE RENAISSANCE (EARLY 15TH CENTURY) Renaissance Re-establish the ideal proportions of a building based on the human form. Universe was perfect based on certain mathematical ratios, musical harmonies and astrological angles. Ratios incorporated into columns, pilasters, pediments, entablatures, arches and domes — each a central characteristic of Renaissance architecture. Pilasters and Pediments THE RENAISSANCE (EARLY 15TH CENTURY) Renaissance Developed a newfound interest in subjects like art, classical literature and musicology. Advanced social status from “skilled laborer” to “artisanal genius.” Set architecture as a whole on the path toward “Starchitect” status: a term coined in the late 20th century. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), Florence The Medici Palace (Michelozzo di Bartolommeo) BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE Baroque ‘Baroque’ translates to ‘misshapen pearl’ in Portuguese. Began in the late 16th Century in Italy, reaching its apex in France during the 17th Century. Architects were greatly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, who decided that ‘the arts’ should communicate religious themes at all times. The Vatican, Rome BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE Baroque Expanded use of curves. Rather than regular, repeating forms, various styles were mixed. More dramatic and irregular designs that accentuate light, shadow and form. S. Carlo alle Quattro Fontane BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE Baroque Interiors were considered an opulent shell for painting, sculpture and stucco. A stunning example of this being Louis 14th’s royal palace at Versailles: a huge U-shaped mass with two long wings at the center of which was the kings bedroom! Louis XIV’s royal palace at Versailles NEOCLASSICISM (18TH - 19TH CENTURIES) Neoclassicism Neoclassical buildings can be divided into three main types. The temple style building features a design based on an ancient temple The Palladian building is based on Palladio's style of villa construction The classical block building. The Parthenon is a resplendent marble temple built between 447 and 432 B.C. during the height of the ancient Greek Empire. NEOCLASSICISM (18TH - 19TH CENTURIES) Neoclassicism Temple-style architecture exploded during the Neoclassical age, thanks largely to wider familiarity with classical ruins. Many temple style buildings feature a peristyle (a continuous line of columns around a building), which is rarely found in Renaissance architecture. Panthéon The British Museum, London NEOCLASSICISM (18TH - 19TH CENTURIES) Neoclassicism Palladian architecture is derived from the villas of Andrea Palladio, the greatest architect of the Late Renaissance. Palladio's work was based on the symmetry, perspective and values of the formal classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greek and Romans. United States Capitol From the 17th century Palladio's interpretation of this classical architecture was adapted as the style known as Palladianism. It continued to develop until the end of the 18th century. The White House NEOCLASSICISM (18TH - 19TH CENTURIES) Neoclassicism Classical block building features a vast rectangular (or square) plan, with a flat (or low-lying) roof and an exterior rich in classical detail. The exterior is divided into multiple levels, each of which features a repeated classical pattern, often a series of arches and/or columns. The overall impression of such a building is an enormous, classically-decorated rectangular block. The classical block aesthetic is also known as "Beaux-Arts style", since it was developed principally by the French École des Beaux-Arts. Garnier (Paris Opéra) GOTHIC REVIVAL Gothic Revival Initiated in the late eighteenth century by wealthy British pursuing the Romantic dream of living in a castle. Earliest Gothic Revival buildings were simply country houses embellished with a veneer of Gothic elements. Architects thoroughly revived the Gothic aesthetic and building techniques, allowing them to design authentically Gothic structures. The style was especially popular for churches and public buildings. Many Neo-gothic buildings feature castellation: crenellated walls and towers in imitation of medieval castles. The foremost Gothic Revival monument of Britain is Westminster Palace (the House of Parliament), by Charles Barry. GOTHIC REVIVAL Gothic Revival Britain and America each developed a unique substyle of Neo-gothic. In Britain, it became popular to use multiple hues of brick, allowing for colourful patterns to be woven through a building's primary colour (typically red or brown). Dubbed polychrome brick Gothic, was adopted from medieval Italian Gothic architecture (in which the primary colour is typically white). Keble College, Oxford  REFERENCES Crawford, B. (2015, Oct 26). Complete Beginner’s Guide to Architectural Movements. Retrieved from https://www.highsnobiety.com/2015/10/26/guide-to-architectural-movements/A Becker, J. A. (n.a). Introduction to Greek Architecture. Retrieved from https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art- civilizations/greek-art/beginners-guide-greece/a/introduction-to-greek-architecture Wikipedia. (n.a). Ancient Roman Architecture. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Roman_architecture 2romanticism-neoclassical. (n.a). Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/2romanticismneoclassical/artchitecture Essential Humanities. (2008). Neoclassical and Romantic Architecture. Retrieved from http://www.essential- humanities.net/western-art/architecture/neoclassical-romantic/