ARCHITECTURE

-It is the art and science of designing and erecting buildings. The term also connotes the style and method of design and
construction that reflect the cultural and religious temper of the era.
-Styles and construction designs of buildings depend on the prevailing climate. If the climate is cool, the design of the
building should be on how to keep it warm. If the climate is warm, the emphasis of the design is to keep it cool. If the
place is frequently visited by typhoons, the houses in such places are low and sturdy. If the place is in the earthquake
belt, the construction and style are likewise made to consider the condition.
-The design includes heating provisions like fireplace which is not present in homes in warm countries. In warm
countries like Egypt, Greece and in the Philippines, a flat roof or a veranda can be used as an extra sitting room or a
bedroom during warm, sultry nights. However, in countries where there is much rain, sloping roofs are preferred. For
countries with heavy snow, the roofs are steeply pitched to allow snow to slide off easily.
ANCIENT SCULPTURE
-Ancient relics and old castles and temples show richness and beauty of ancient civilization and culture.
The historical past depicts the religious as well as traditions which are vividly in the architectural artistry and design
inherent to the country or era of origin.
-EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE is characterized by enormous pyramidal
structures. This is evident in many temples. A huge gateway covers the
entire front of the building called pylon and rows of columns support the
huge structure.
-Egyptian columns are of two types: (1) the flower columns with wide,
bell-shaped capital and the (2) bred columns of which the uppermost part of the capital is
smaller than the lower like a bud of a flower.
MESOPOTAMIAN ARCHITECTURE is characterized by a brisk tower called ziggurat built
successive level having the form of a pyramid of successively receding stories. The Assyrians
developed the arch and its multiple, the canopy-shaped vaultthe most important and
influential architectural design.
GREEK ARCHITECTURE uses the post and lintel construction as in the Egyptian temples but at lower height and of
smaller proportion.
-There are three styles of orders of Greek architecture:
(1) Doric is characterized by a slightly tapered column that is the most squat of all the orders, measuring
in height (including the capital) only about four to eight lower diameters. (ex. Temple of Apollo)
(2) The Ionic order differs from the Doric in having more flutes on its shaft and in the scrolls, or volutes,
that droop over the front and rear portions of the echinus in the capital. (ex. Altena Nike)
(3) The Corinthian order is the most elegant of the five orders. Its distinguishing characteristic is the
striking capital, which is carved with two staggered rows of stylized acanthus leaves and four scrolls. (ex. The Temple of
Zeus at Athens)

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
-is similar to that of the Greeks with some innovations.
-They built not only temples but also buildings, baths, law courts, amphitheatres, aqueducts, bridges.
-They utilized the arch and the first round dome as illustrated in the Patheon.
-Roman temples employed , engaged columns, columns partly embedded in the wall.
ARCH
DOME
ENGAGED COLUMNS

EASTERN BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE is characterized by a great central dome supported by curved

triangles (pendentives) and fitted to a square area. This type of Architecture is used in Russian
churches, Mohammedan Mosque, Jewish synagogues, and Istanbul structures.
-The Emperor Justinians personality dominated the architecture of the early years of Eastern
empire.
- Examples: San Vitale in Ravenna, Hagia Sophia (Istanbul Turkey), Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem)
In the EARLY CHRISTIAN church, the highest story of the nave and choir is heavy and the windows are small. The
columns have round arches between the round interiors and are decorated with mosaics. The roof is flat and simple.

ROMANESQUE SCULPTURE is characterized with heavy walls with small window opening stone arch or inverted roof
window. They have wide nave and narrow and lower side aids with tranusepts. This resembles the Russian style.
-The arches that define the naves of these churches are well modulated and geometrically
logicalwith one look you can see the repeating shapes, and proportions that make sense
for an immense and weighty structure. There is a large arcade on the ground level made
up of bulky piers or columns. The piers may have been filled with rubble rather than being
solid, carved stone. Above this arcade is a second level of smaller arches, often in pairs
with a column between the two.
The decoration is often quite simple, using geometric shapes
rather than floral or curvilinear patterns. Common shapes
used include diaperssquares or lozengesand chevrons, which were zigzag patterns and
shapes. Plain circles were also used, which echoed the half-circle shape of the ubiquitous
arches.
France, Germany, Spain and all of Europe adopted the Romanesque style. Italy, however, adopted the Early Christian
stylelight basilica style style typical of which is its Catherdral.
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE is characterized with pointed arch, making the building larger and taller, and buttresses to
support the building. Decorations are more elaborate. Sculptures form the decorations on the three postals which are
heavy with religious depictions and relics. Gothic cathedrals usually have two towers.
-Fundamentally, gothic architecture transformed castles, churches, cathedrals
COMMON FEATURES:
(1) Grand, Tall Designs, Which Swept Upwards With Height and

Grandeur

(2) Flying Buttresses-the defining external characteristic of gothic architecture. These buttresses
effectively spread the weight of the new designs, taking the weight off the walls and transferring force directly to the
ground.
(3) Pointed Arch- effectively distributed the force of heavier ceilings and bulkier designs, and
could support much more weight than previous, simple pillars

(4) Vaulted Ceiling- Irregular, vaulted ceilings utilized the technology of the pointed arch to spread force
and weight from upper floors. The arch also provided the impression of height and magnificence, giving the
vaulted ceiling a feeling of grandeur and elegance.
(5) Light and Airy Interior- emphasized light, bright windows and airy interiors,
transforming castles and churches into more pleasant and majestic environments.
(6) The Gargoyles of Gothic Architecture- they are decorative, monstrous little creatures, perched at
along the roofs and battlements of gothic buildings and castles.
Gargoyles have a practical purpose: they're spouts, enabling rainwater to drain off the roof
and gush through their mouths, before plummeting to the ground. However, gargoyles had
another intended purpose: to strike fear into the hearts of ill-educated Medieval peasants,
scaring them into the church or cathedral.
(7) The Emphasis Upon the Decorative Style and the Ornate
RENNAISANCE ARCHITECTURE was influenced by Greek and Roman styles come to the
fore but with a difference.
-These are the over-hanging cornice, the string course, the pilaster, and the ornamental
pediment.
-The dome is made much steeper and is adopted in smaller buildings and symmetrical
structures of great simplicity and beauty apparent
in England and is known as the Georgian style and
in the US as the American colonial style.
-There was a revival of ancient Roman forms,
including the column and round arch, the
tunnel vault, and the dome.
-The basic design element was the order. Knowledge of Classical
architecture came from the ruins of ancient buildings and the writings
of Vitruvius.
-As in the Classical period, proportion was the most important factor of
beauty; Renaissance architects found a harmony between human proportions
and buildings.
BAROQUE ARCHITECTURE is characterized by elaborate sculptural ornamentations.
-It is characterized by elaborate sculptural ornamentations.
-Baroque architecture is distinguished primarily by richly sculpted surfaces.
-Columns and entablaturates were decorated with garlands of flowers and fruits, shells
and water.
-Churches are the most splendid form of Baroque architecture in Italy,
while chateaux (country mansions) are the outstanding Baroque works of France.
-The foremost pioneer of Baroque architecture was Carlo Maderno, whose masterpiece
is the facade of Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
-The two foremost names in Baroque architecture are Bernini and Borromini, both of
whom worked primarily in Rome.

Two masterpieces of Gian Lorenzo Bernini are found at St Peter's. One is the four-story baldachin that stands over the
high altar. (A baldachin is an indoor canopy over a respected object, such as an altar or throne.) The other is the curving
colonnades that frame St Peter's Square.
-Late Baroque marks the ascent of France as the heart of Western culture. Baroque art of France (and northern Europe
generally) tends to be restrained, such that it can be described as a classical-Baroque compromise. The most distinctive
element of French Baroque architecture is the double-sloped mansard roof (a French innovation).
ROCOCO STYLE
Rococo artists embraced the curves and elaborate ornament of Baroque,
but reigned in its weighty drama. The result was a gentle, playful
style typified by pastel colours and delicate, asymmetrical decoration.
Though most Rococo art was centred in France (the birthplace of the style),
Rococo architecture culminated in Austria and Southern Germany,
especially in the form of churches.

MODERN ARCHITECTURE
-This characterized the 20th century structure which developed two new materials: structural steel and reinforced steel
which gave rise to skeleton and cantilever construction of modern skyscrapers and buildings of any shape: semi-circular,
round, and square.
-The cantilever was used by Frank Lloyd Wright, an American architect to supplement columnars or pillars for verandas.