Way

technology
has affected
architecture

Name : Ria Gurbani

Roll no:16031
Sr no:25
Subject :Architectural theory
 ARCHITECTURAL THEORY

Topic : Ways Technology has affected architecture

Aim : To understand what changes technology has brought in architecture

Hypothesis : Technology has change tremendously in architecture whether it is in construction

technique or in material, but one of the major evolution is in software field in December 1982 when
autocad was launched , so let us understand the changes in software technology.

Objective : To understand we have to study the change of technology in construction software and
there time line

Scope :1) Software technology has made visualization in architecture very easy and it also open the
door for deconstruction, contemporary style of architecture and fluid shape
2) Construction technology has been changing and achieved greater span and height. A lot
research and invention are still going on.

Limitation : 1) Understanding some of the construction technique and material

Draft :
All the services that life provide is either from nature or manmade. In manmade thing nothing is
more powerful then the study of science and the application of scientific knowledge for practical
purpose that is also know as technology. Technology is in every field that is medicine, computer,
transport and one of the major filed that technology have major impact is architecture. It is said
“architecture is a science arising out of many sciences and adorned with
much and varied learning” by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio. Architecture has been improving in
many aspect like construction technique , material, scale and also in digital architecture (Digital
architecture uses computer modelling, programming, simulation and imaging to create both virtual
forms and physical structures.
In design of a building one of the major factor is material of the building. Mostly the
designer choose the material considering factors like function, according to climate, to understand
limit and constraint of the material be and aesthetic of building. It’s importance to have knowledge
about material of the building so we can choose a best material for our design and can overcome
the limitation and constraint of our design.
The innovative value of a design can also be identified by chosen material
in fact it’s chemical physical properties as well as it forming, joining, and finishing technologies all
contributes in the success of a design. The material has major contribution in the architecture of
different era and it help to develop the architecture of that period. Let us try to understand
construction technique and material of some different period.
The history of architecture developed with development of
mankind and there civilization. That goes when man lived in cave and he tried to establish himself on
the surface of earth and try to make himself safe by constructing rudimentary shelters of whatever
material that was available. The material used according to the region for example in rocky region
they use stone and in forest they use wood and where neither available mud. The dwelling like
caves, huts, Moldova, mezhirich, lean to, pit house etc.

Reference : Dighe, R.S. and Subha Rao, Effect of Technology on Architecture, last reference , last
reference date – 18 September 2018
https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-168629
1
 ARCHITECTURAL THEORY

The ancient Egypt was the land where rectangular

architecture had it origin. Egyptian s used their structure for their effect, that the history of
architecture properly begins. The importance of material started from their, the fashion lumps of
clay into brick to build a wall, one of the example is great pyramid at Giza, has been described as the
greatest and most accurate structure ever built. Each of its four sides is almost a perfect equilateral
triangle, with its apex 481 feet above the base.
The architecture of ancient Greek is very specific and based on post and lintel
technique. . Greek building have simplicity, proportion, perspective, and harmony in their buildings.
The have three order of column doric, ionic,& Corinthian. An order is the combination of capital,
shaft and with base or without base. The Greek majorly use marble as material. Greek have many
different type of building other than house and marketplace like temple theater, temple, assembly
hall etc.
The ancient roman architecture continue to follow the classical order establish by Greek
during it’s initial time but roman also have their own innovates ideas like basilica, triumphal arch,
monumental aqueduct, amphitheater, granary building, and residential housing block. Marble was
use a lot in roman Besides marble, travertine white limestone was also made available from quarries
near Tivoli. The roman do not invent lime mortar but the find its maximum use. Concrete rubble
was used as a filler but roman found it out it can support more weight and open a whole new setup
for opportunities for building. The achievement of Romans consisted in covering large spans.
Inspired by the demands for huge spaces where crowds could assemble, they evolved the arch and
the vault
The next period was that of the Renaissance, which though not contributing to any new system of
construction, was a period of variation and improvement upon past performances
Today, we have structural systems, which can exercise complete control over space. We can span
huge voids, we can enclose vertical space to any height. New methods of analysis have shown the
way of designing structures as live structures, In recent years, many experiments have been made in
the direction of supplanting stone, brick, tiles, marbles and quartzite by other substitutes like metals,
steel. aluminium, copper, porcelain enamelled iron, pre-fabricated slabs, resin bounded plywoods,
asbestos etc. for external claddings
In architecture technology has many use it can be construction technique or use
of new material or software .Software technology has bring a major change in architecture field
and it started in 1982 when autocad was launched and after that very soon in march 1986 autocad
had become the most ubiquitous cad program world wide. It has change one of the major part of
architecture that is drafting all the drawing shifted from hard copy to soft copy and it decrease the
manual effort and most importantly save lot of time. After that software become a major part of
architecture.
After that evolution of technology started and architecture is rapidly transformed. Architecture
started pushing boundaries ,pursuing new avenue. Through tech advancement software and help us
to understand construction technique more. It has made the representation of drawing very easy,
faster, and save lot of time and give more time to architect to design. Other than autocad many
software came like 3dmax, revit, etc, which has made the visualization very easy. We can also create
structural model which help us in understanding loading and other joinery detail.
Technology can be very helpful in architecture. For example, Frank Gehry
knows how to use those advantages of technologies and lead us to a new style and a new way of

Reference : Dighe, R.S. and Subha Rao, Effect of Technology on Architecture, last reference , last
reference date – 18 September 2018
https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-168629
2
 ARCHITECTURAL THEORY

thinking. CATIA described digital models using parametric Bézier curves (or vectors) and 3D surface
algorithms. The model is defined by a set of control points and the mathematical functions, or
surfaces, that stretch between them.

Conclusion :
Technological progress has always influenced the architecture of any period.
For construction it is new materials of construction—either natural or artificial. The new methods or
processes or construction including finishing, etc.The new conceptions, theories, calculations and
design principles, as a result of the continuous research,
For software Technology has a revolutionary potential in architectural practice and it is
transforming its boundaries. This does not imply that all architectural practices are now doing their
work in a revolutionary way. Many architects and students need and must to recognize this
transformation and think different.
Even today architect should try to find new material and software to achieve there design.

Bibliography :
Mailik.ahmed.A(7 Nov, 2014) , Ancient greek architecture,
https://www.slideshare.net/Arsalanahmedmalik/ancient-greek-architecture-41280444?
next_slideshow=1
Mark cartwright (06 January 2013), Greek Architecture,
https://www.ancient.eu/Greek_Architecture/
Mark cartwright (14 March 2018), Roman Architecture,
https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Architecture/
Mafana(3 Oct, 2011), How does technology impact architecture?,
https://mafana.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/how-does-technology-impact-architecture/
Dighe, R.S. and Subha Rao, Effect of Technology on Architecture,
https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-168629

Reference : Dighe, R.S. and Subha Rao, Effect of Technology on Architecture, last reference , last
reference date – 18 September 2018
https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-168629
3