THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2

Origin of Architecture
Ancient Architecture
Prehistoric architecture (11500BC – 3500BC)
• Dates back to the Neolithic era.
• People started creating architectural products for their settled communities
• The first buildings were mainly for protection and food storage as well as
monuments for tombs and ceremonial structures,typically made of
stones(megaliths and menhirs)
Characteristics
• Made of natural building materials ie wood,clay and mud
• Monoliths stone slabs were used to show tombs and important places
Ancient Egyptian Architecture (3050 BC – 900BC)
• Considered the first great civilisation (had its own written
languange, religion and dynastic ruling class)
• Buildings were constructed using sun dried mud bricks and wood.
• They constructed mastabas as burial sites for their first pharoahs.
• The practice of burying pharoah’s in mastabas changed with the
construction of the Step pyramid built for pharoah Zoser. This was
the first time stone was used in pyramid construction.
• In 1530-300BC, Egyptians ventured into construction of temples
and palaces. These structures were adorned with variety of
artwork (murals, sculptures,hieroglyhic inscriptions) to depict
gods,rulers and symbolic animals
Characteristics.
• Earlier constructions in mudbrick and wood and later replaced by
stone
• Adorning with artwork depicting gods etc
Mesopotamian Architecture 3200BC – 330BC
• Civilisation that developed along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Their cities consisted mainly of mudbrick (Adobe) structures
• Earlier on, wet clay was shaped in wooden molds and left to dry in the
sun but later, they started to bake the bricks in kilns hence the
emergence of harder and more durable building materials.
• Pigmented glazes were added to the bricks to achieve bright colours
• Cities were marked by stepped pyramids called ziggurats
• Unlike in Egypt, ziggurats were made as man made mountains to bring
sumerian rulers closer to their God.
• The religious beliefs and architectural styles ofthe sumerians were
adopted by other people in the region for example the Assyrians.( the
city of Babylon)
Characteristics
• Construction using mud bricks
• Invention of coloured bricks
• Cities were marked by ziggurats
Western Architecture
Ancient Greek Architecture (600BC – 146BC)
• The archictural history periods in ancient Greece were
divided into 3
1. Archaic Period 600 – 500BC
• This period held some of the most significant architectural
contributions.
• Locals were seeking additional farmland and natural
resources, so they expanded their territories and laid out
rectangular-blocked settlements around temples and
markets in the city center.
• In addition to grid-plan towns and structures, covered
porticoes, sloped roofs, and stone column shafts were
introduced.
• The most distinguished architectural elements of the this
period were the columns, or orders of architecture(Doric,
Ionic and Corintian) .
2. Classical period 500- 323BC
• The buildings erected during the classical
period (around 480 - 320 BC) highlight the
maturity and acuity that Greece had reached
at that time in terms of architecture.
• The most famous building in the ancient
complex is the Parthenon, which is also the
largest temple to have been built during the
Classical era.

3. Hellenistic Period 323 – 27BC

• Corinthian columns dominated the Hellenistic period, as

architecture shifted away from the dominant refined geometry
of the Classical period.
• In addition, architects began focusing on exterior spaces and
theaters to encourage civic interactions, which led to the
construction of Stoas and theatres. Stoas, which are colonnaded
walkways, were considered as transitional spaces of being in an
open space yet sheltered simultaneously.
Characteristics
• Construction of large stone structures
• Emergence of the 3 orders of Architecture
• Use of tiles,terracotta and metals such as bronze for
decoration
Ancient Roman Architecture (600BC– 476AD)
• Unlike the creative greeks, Romans were skilled in enginnering
and constructions.
• The Romans drew inspiration from Etruscans in construction
in hydraulics and arch construction and greeks in visual arts.
• They invented the use of concrete in construction which
replaced marble thus creating more liberty in architectural
forms.
• They also adorned their public buildings with artworks.
Characteristics
• Embraced the greek culture in their works
• Use of artwork like the greeks and Egyptians
• Use of concrete in their construction
• Creation of new architectural forms such as vaults,domes and
arches
Byzantine Architecture (330 – 554)
• When the Roman Empire became Christian and Constantine
transferred the capital to Constantinople currently Instabul, its
architecture became more sensuous and ambitious.
Characteristics
• Use of marble, bricks and stone
• Larger and more magnificient domes
• Use of richer mosaics (brightly coloured or gold leaf coated
glass
Romanesque Architecture 790- 1140
• Also referred to as Norman architecture in England
• It was a blend of Western Roman architecture and Byzantine
architecture
• This is considered the first architectural style to spread
allover Europe and was applied to monasteries,churches and
castles in Europe
• As religion was spreading allover europe in the 10th
century,larger churches were built to accomodate pilgrims
hence large vaults and stone were used instead of wood in
roof architecture and walls of enormous strenth were built.
Characteristics
• Thick and high walls to support the roof
• Large bell towers were built instead of byzantine domes
• Small and narrow windows used
Gothic Architecture 1140 – 1520
• Replaced Romanesque architecture
• Architects were trying to achieve taller structures
while preserving as much natural light as possible
• Italian Renaissance artists described it as
barbaric.
Characterictics
• Use of stained glass
• Light was used as an element of design
• Skeletal structures replaced load bearing walls
through use of new architectural elements such
as flying buttress.
• More vertical structures
Renaissance Architecture 1420 – 1620
• Emerged in cities of Florence, Venice and Rome
• This period demonstrated a conscious revival and development
of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman
• Developed first in Florence, with Filippo Brunelleschi as one of
its innovators, the Renaissance style quickly spread to other
Italian cities.
• The first depictions emerged in Rome when a copy of “Ten
Books of Architecture”by Vitruvius, a 1st century Roman
architect, was found
Charcterictics
• Emphasis on geometry, symmetry and proportion as in the
ancient greek and roman architecture.
• Employed architectural features from greek and roman
architecture
• Contrary to cathedral dominated structures of Gothic and
Romanseque, Renaissance architecture also encompassed
different buildings such palaces,mansions and social buildings
Baroque Architecture (1550 – 1790
• In 1517, Martin Luther ignited the Protestant Reformation which cast
doubt across Europe over the intergrity and theology of the Roman
Church which caused wars involving France, Italy, Spain and England
• Rome therefore ignited a counter- Reformation movement to turn
masses away from Protestantism.
• Visual Arts and Architecture were a key tool in this propaganda
campaign hence the emergence of the highly decorative and theatrical
style known as Baroque derived from a Portuguese word « Barocco »
meaning « irregular pearl ».
• This new architecture inspired surprise and awe.
• Baroque architects took the basic elements of Renaissance
architecture, including domes and colonnades, and made them higher,
grander, more decorated, and more dramatic.
Characteristics
• Baroque architecture often used visual and theatrical effects, designed
to surprise and awe the viewer
• Large ceiling frescoes
• Detailled interiors,concave and convex surfaces
• Dramatic use of light and shadow effect
Rococco Architecture 1715- 1789
• This is often described the final expression of the Baroque
movement and is therefore less commonly referrred to as
the Late Baroque.
• As a revolt against the heavy and gloomy atmosphere of
Baroque architecture, Noble palace members in France
opted for a more decorative and entertaining architectural
style known as « Rococco ».
• Rococco ,which reflects fluid curved forms, was derived from
a combination of 2 french word; « Rocaille »meaning rock
and « coquillage » meaning sea shell.
• Unlike the major architectural movements, Rococco was
mainly interested in interior design.
Characteristics
• Fluid forms inspired by curves in flowers, grass etc
• Use of seashell,leaf bird and plant motifs
• Use of plaster,wall paintings, carpet, funiture, mirrors, silk
and porcelain for interior decoration
• Simple exterior design and detailled interior design
Neoclassical Architecture 1640- 1850
• Defined as the return to Classicism
• Neoclassical Architecture emerged in Paris
largely due to French designers trained at the
French Academy in Rome.
• Neoclassical architecture is characterized by
grandeur of scale, simplicity of geometric forms,
Greek—especially Doric or Roman detail,
dramatic use of columns, and a preference for
blank walls. The new taste for antique simplicity
represented a general reaction to the excesses
of the Rococo style
Characteristics
• Dimensions of regularly and symmetrically built
structures
• The greek orders were used in buildings again
• Rows of columns ,rotundas and porticos were
used on facades
Modern Architecture 1900- present
• In the 19th century, styles that revived old styles were born
such as Neo-Gothic, Neo- Romanesque, Art Nouveau and
Beaux-Arts etc.
• With new technology,engineering and building materials, the
desire to break away from old architectural styles and invent
something thats was purely functional and new arose.
• Based on developments caused by the industrial revolution.
• This is a style that seeks solutions suitable for needs of its age.
It is based on the use of new construction technologies.
• The pioneers ands most important architects were Frank
Lloyd Wright, Staatliches Bauhaus,Mies ver der Rohe,Walter
Gropius and Le Courbusier
Characterictics
• Use of Modern materials
• Simple and geometric forms
• Use of open floor plans
Postmodern Architecture 1964- present
• Staring with the great depression, a chain of
criticism on modern architecture begins and hence
the emergence of post modernism.
• Post modern archictecture is an international style
that emerged in the 1960s as a reaction to the
monotony of modern architecture.