BRIEF HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

Architecture Historical Timeline: Influences on

Building Design

TT 122: AKMurillo-Laman
introduction
History of Architecture
 It is a record of man’s effort to build beautifully. It traces the origin, growth and decline of
architectural styles which have prevailed lands and ages.

Historic Style of Architecture

 The particular method, characteristics, manner of design which prevailed at a certain
place and time.
introduction
Factors Affecting the Styles of Architecture
 History
 Society
 Religion
 Geography
 Geology
 Climate
prehistoric architecture
PRIMITIVE DWELLING
Architectural Character

 Construction System- Megalithic structures (large stones)

 Materials- Animal skins, wooden frames and bones
 Orientation- Faces toward cardinal points

Examples

MENHIR DOLMENS CROMLECH

 egyptian architecture
Architectural Character- Monumental, immortal, permanent;
Classify them as:
 Tomb architecture
 Temple architecture
 Obelisks
 Dwellings

onstruction System- Columnar and trabeated

oof & Ceilings- Flat roofs sufficed to cover and exclude heat
Wall- Massive walls to protect from fierce heat of the sun and space for Hieroglyphics
Batter wall – diminishing in width towards the top
pening- No windows, skylights; roof slits; clerestories
ecoration- “Gorge” or “hollow and roll” mouldings
Hieroglyphics, Sphinxes, Solar disc and vulture with spread
wings, Grapes symbolizes eternity
rientation- towards the cardinal points.
egyptian architecture
Examples:

MASTAB
A
PYRAMID TEMPLE

PYLONS OBELISK
near east architecture
Mesopotamian Architecture
Architectural Character:
Construction System- Arcuated
Materials: No stone, only clay and soil
Orientation- Four corners towards cardinal points

Example:
ZIGGURATS
Rough pyramidal structures consisting of stages,
each succeeding stage stepped back from the one
beneath. It supports an altar or temple. “artificial
mountains” of tiered rectangular stages with
temple at summit.
near east architecture
Assyrian Architecture
Architectural Character:
Materials-some stone and timber are available
Decoration-Winged-bulls guarding chief portals
glazed bricks in blue, white, yellow and green Low
relief sculpture in stone Murals
near east architecture
Persian & Median Architecture
Architectural Character
Materials: Due To Scarcity, Stone Was Used Mostly For Fire-temples And Palace Platforms
Columniation, Capitals: Persians Introduced The Use Of Columns
greek architecture
Architectural Character
Description- Rough and massive structures
Columniation, Capitals-Two-part capital: square
abacus above and circular bulbous echinus below
Wall- Cyclopean wall – large stones, no mortar,
clay bedding
Polygonal wall – advanced technique,
Hellenic period, no pith or tar
Rectangular – no dowels
greek architecture
Example:
Megaron – single-storeyed house of deep
plan, columned entrance porch, anteroom
with central doorway, living apartment or
megaron proper, central hearth, columns
supporting roof , thalamus, or sleeping room
behind
 ancient greek
architecture
Architectural Character
Description- mostly religious architecture

Skylight – made of thin translucent marble

Temple door – on the east

Decoration-Mouldings - In architecture, a
continuous narrow surface either projecting or
recessed, plain or ornamented, whose purpose is
to break up a surface, to accent, or to decorate by
means of the light and shade it produces

Orientation: entire groups of buildings laid out

symmetrically and orderly Doors oriented towards
east
 ancient greek
architecture
Example:
ancient greek
architecture
etruscan architecture
Architectural Character
Description-great builders and large scale undertakings

Construction System-earliest use of true and radiating arch

Materials-stone; tufa, peperino, travertine, lava stone, sand and gravel Earth for making
terra cotta and bricks; first use of concrete (300-400 A.D.) – stone or brick rubble and mortar
or pozzolana – a thick volcanic earth material

Columniation, Capitals-New Tuscan Order

City Planning: two main streets—the cardo (north-south) and the decumanus (east-west)
—a grid of smaller streets dividing the town into blocks, and a wall circuit with gates.
roman architecture
Architectural Character

Description: Utilitarian, practical, economic use of materials

Construction System: Greek orders of architecture used as decorative features which could
be omitted Adopted columnar and trabeated style of Greeks
Developed arch and vault system started by Etruscans Combined use
of columns, beam and arch

Materials: Marble, mostly white Concrete – to build vaults of a magnitude equaled until 19th
century steel construction

Columniation, Capitals: 4th & 5th Orders: Tuscan and Composite

 early christian
architecture
Architectural Character
Description-Construction was highly influenced by
Roman art and architecture; purpose of the Christian
church was to serve worshippers

Materials-made use as much as possible the materials

from old Roman temples which had become useless

Roof And Ceiling-simple timber roof of king and

queen post trusses; vaulted or domed

Decoration-did not use bulky Roman construction

methods; an architectural abstraction of the ideal
Christian, simple and plain on the outside, but with a
soul glowing and beautiful within. (richly decorated
interior space and neglecting the exterior)
roman architecture
 Many of the buildings that the Romans were
responsible for were highly ornamented and
their use of concrete was the beginning of a
new era in construction.

 It was this that enabled the Romans to be so

ambitious in terms of their architectural
plans, incorporating design features, such as
arches and domes.

 The Romans also broadened out the range of

materials used in construction, from marble
and volcanic rock to unburned bricks faced
with stucco, which were particularly
characteristic of earlier Roman architecture.

 It was this civilisation that also pioneered the

byzantine architecture
Architectural Character

Description-mostly church construction; discarded early

Christian style for new domical Byzantine
style

Construction System-domical construction with classical

columnar style

Columniation, Capitals-used Roman Ionic, Corinthian,

Composite style

Roof And Ceiling-3 types of domes Simple, Compound and

special designs

Decoration-stone bands instead of mouldings; decorative

arches, internal marble, mosaic and fresco
decorations
romanesque architecture
Architectural Character
Description:
 architecture governed by classical traditions;
concentrated on beauty and delicacy of
ornamental detail; sober and dignified
 Transition from flat wooden ceiling of the nave to
masonry vault construction
 Application of cross-groin vault, consisting of
four curved surfaces (quadripartite vault
 Use of bay system Semicircular arches for
openings in wall
 Massive enclosing walls and incorporation of
towers into the church building proper
gothic architecture

Architectural Character
Description:
 The Cathedral – a rare synthesis of
architecture, sculpture and painting
 The pointed arch, flying buttress and rib
vault
 Colored glass and tracery, rhythm
columns and bundled piers Towers and
spires-transcendental character
renaissance architecture
Architectural Character
 the Renaissance movement crated a break in
the evolution of European architecture;
characteristic of departure from Gothic – classic
Roman “Orders of Architecture” used after a
thousand years
 adoption of Byzantine structural and decorative
practices interwoven with Roman and
Romanesque succession

Columniation, Capitals- Orders were

standardized by Palladio, Vignola, Scamozzi, used
constructively and decoratively

Roof And Ceiling- high drums raised above

pendentives to accommodate windows, decoration
with classical columns crowned with lantern
revival architecture
Architectural Character
 Eclecticism, taste for exotic forms
 combining native and foreign styles
 Periods: Early Victorian
 High Victorian
 Late Victorian
 Late Victorian
 Edwardian Aftermath
modern architecture
Architectural Character
Famous Names
 Walter Gropius – created proto-type of modern architecture: free standing glass sheath
suspended on a structural framework, curtain wall – Hallidie Building, San Francisco in 1918 A.D.
founded the “Bauhaus”
(famous German school of Design)
 Tony Garnier, France – steel span of 80 m. at Lyons
 Ludwg Mies Van der Rohe – (German/American architect; 1919 competition – glass sheathed
20 storey skyscraper; Famous for his dictum “Less is more” and “God is in the details”
 Le Corbusier – (Original name is Charles Edouard Jeanneret) • “a house is a machine for living” -
houses should be designed as machines serving specific purposes;
• Le Corbusier – 5 points for contemporary architecture
• The Pillar
• Functional independence of skeleton and wall
• The open plan
• The free facade
• The roof garden
modern architecture
islamic architecture
 Description Islamic architecture is a product of the rapid
conquest of diverse territories by a people with no
architectural tradition
 Synthesis of styles under one philosophy but in many
different circumstances
 The Islamic way of life had a profound impact on its
architecture:
 No essential difference in techniques between religious
and nonreligious buildings
 Important architectural endeavor is normally expended
on buildings having a direct social or community purpose
 Decorations tend toward the abstract, using geometric,
calligraphic and plant motifs, with a preference for a
uniform field of decoration rather than a focal element
 Basic conservatism discourages innovations and favors
established forms
 Symmetry and balance in the concept of perfect
creation; centered upon God
islamic architecture
Decorations
 Variety of mouldings, friezes, crestlings,
abstract and geometric motifs, in lieu of human
and animal forms
 Motifs from calligraphy, floral abstraction and
geometric interlacement
 Carvings in bas relief Stone inlay and mosaic
 Patterned brickwork
 Carved stucco
 Ceramic facing
 Glass mosaic
 Painting Timber inlay Pietra dura Arabesques
Screen or pierced grilles in marble

Orientation- Related to a principal axis, the Kibla

Axis extended into a formal landscape as an
integral part of the design
chinese architecture
Construction System – Mesopotamian influence
in use of arch and vault

Materials timber and brick, sometimes combined

– timber structures raised on stone or brick
platform; stone for important edifices

Roof and ceiling – chief feature, supported on

timber uprights, independent of walls; a sign of
dignity to place roofs one over the other, up-tilted
angles, with dragons and grotesque ornaments

Openings – square headed windows and doors,

lined with oyster shells or rice paper for effective
subdued lighting

Decoration – colors are integral part of

architecture, dragons, fish and grotesque
japanese architecture
Architectural Character
 largely derived from China, but always
maintained its own special characteristics of
lightness and delicacy refined

Columniation, capitals – columns of Chinese

form

Roof and Ceiling – dominant feature, exquisite

curvature
 indian architecture/ buddhist
architecture
Architectural Character
 shrines designed for congregational use, large groups
of worshippers
 mouldings of bulbous character, often heavily under-
cut – strong shadow lines
 Ornament is restrained in character and extent;
painted wall decorations and bas-relief as social
records.
filipino architecture