PA4
4 THE TIME OF ARCHITECTURE
11,600 BC TO 3,500 BC PREHISTORIC TIMES
Archaeologists «dig» prehistory. Göbekli Tepe in present day Turkey is a good example of archaeological architecture. Before recorded history, humans constructed earthen mounds, stone circles, megaliths, and structures that often puzzle modern-day archaeologists. Prehistoric architecture includes monumental structures such as Stonehenge, cliff dwellings in the Americas, and thatch and mud structures lost to time.
3100 – 2180 BCE The Old Kingdom
The Old Kingdom is characterised most famously by its birth of Giza’s Pyramids. Society of the time fiercely worshipped their Sun god Re which led to Pharaohs gaining immense power. Funeral structures like the pyramids were built to honour them accordingly. Egyptian architecture focused almost entirely upon post and lintel construction methods. This era is often called, ‘The Age of Pyramids’. Predominantly it was sandstone used in the construction of pyramids from this civilisation.Share
2560 – 2580 BCE (construction) Located on the Giza plateau, the Pyramid of Khufu is the largest ever built. Example of Pyramid built during the Old kingdom.Share
3100 BC – Construction of StonehengeShare
Sumerian Architectural Period:
The Sumerian Architectural era spanned an enormous period of time. They, like the Egyptians, employed a post and lintel construction method to their work. However in later years they began to employ the use of corbels almost exclusively. Sumerians too, had their own pyramid equivalent, the Ziggurat. Unlike the Pyramids of Egypt, the Ziggurats were built as temples to deities rather than tombs. The Sumerians did not have the same ease of access to stone that the Egyptians did, and so their Ziggurarts were created from fired mud-brick. It is this difference in material that leads to the much heavier wearing caused through time on Ziggurats sd opposed to the pyramids of the Old Kingdom.Share
Corbelling became popular during the later stages of the Sumerian era.Share
21st Century BCE – Summerian Ziggurat of Ur (reconstructed)Share
1800 – 1200 BCE Minoan Architectural period
Most Minoan architecture was destroyed in a large earthquake in 1200 BCE. Minoans used a mix of both mud and stone in all their construction, unlike their two major predecessors (Old Kingdom and Sumerians). They also utilised plaster to create some of the first elaborate structures that hinted towards the eventual evolution of Baroque.Share
1700 BCE – Minoan palace of Knossos, as it existed prior to earthquakeShare
Minoan Palace of Knossos, as it exists todayShare
600 – 27 BCE The arrival of the Classical orders; Greek Architecture
From the Minoan ruins the Greeks rose to greet the world with a new age of Classicism. Inspired by ancient Egyptian architecture, the Greeks employed the same post and lintel construction technique to fit an exceedingly more refined style. Three classical orders were formed, that defined the basis for Greek architecture. Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. The order a building defined its style throughout. Marble was considered extremely desirable during this time period. This style of architecture is perhaps the most referenced of all. Its aesthetic appeal combined with simple functional principles laid the foundations to inspire many architectural periods that followed.Share
The Three Classical OrdersShare
447 BCE – The Parthenon. A Greek temple constructed for Athena. This is one of the most recognisable buildings to have ever been built. It was labelled perfect (it followed the golden ratio) at the time of its completion and was adorned with many friezes that have now been removed. Of the Doric order.Share
323 BCE -Sumerian Architectural Era endsShare
Roman architecture:
Roman architecture borrowed all the principles of Greek architecture, and then, with true Roman practicality, stripped back the ‘unnecessaries’ and replaced them with more functional items. Romans took an engineers view to Greek design. Function over form as it were. They solved issues of drainage with aqueducts, roof height limitations and famously solved the issue of small walkways that occurred in both Lintel and Corbel construction by using arches. This arch breakthrough also revolutionised the way bridges could be built. It was not only through these that the Romans changed the face of architecture, but through the invention of a material that has become commonplace in modern times, concrete. Religion, like with the Greeks, had a strong impact upon Roman architecture.Share
70 AD – Colosseum, Roman architecture
Exhibits roman use of arches and contains (from first floor) Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columnsShare
330- 540 CE Byzantine Architectural era:
Byzantine Architecture started much the same as its predecessor (Roman), however this time it was following Roman conventions rather than the Greeks. Rather than inventing any great new structural features to the original style, Byzantine grew from the christian sect of Roman architecture before taking some inspiration from Eastern countries. From the Eastern influence Byzantine architecture became a more geometrically inclined form of Roman style architecture. It also took the Eastern idea of external plaster decor, often having angled patterned on the sides of structures. The rigid Classical orders of Greek and Roman Architecture became a loose template for Byzantine Architecture as more queues were taken from the East. They continued to use arches in their construction. Byzantine architecture would go on to heavily influence future Islamic structures.Share
532 CE – Hagia Sophia, example of late Byzantine architecture. Still retains arches and domes but has obvious Eastern influences.Share
Romanesque Architecture:
Romanesque architecture is characterised by its unprecedented massive scale. The largeness of the buildings correlated with a time of economic prosperity, much like with the construction of the pyramids of Giza. The driving force behind this style of architecture was Christianity. While it drew queues from both Greek and Roman architecture, the knowledge needed to conceive such architecture had been lost throughout time. Romanesque architecture, consequentially, is characterised by rounded arches, thick walls, narrow windows, stained glass and towers. Romanesque architecture reinvigorated the demand for sculpture, which after the fall of Roman Empire had been lacking.Share
910 – Benedictine monastery at Cluny, dedicated to St Peter. An Example of Romanesque architectureShare
1150- 1450 Gothic Architecture:
Gothic Architecture was originally coined as such in a derogatory way. Classicists despised the flighty structures that played with the ‘respectable’ Romanesque style. Gothic architecture, very heavily influenced by Romanesque, was characterised by its pointed arch. It was this pointed arch that allowed for the high vaulted ceilings that Gothic would become known for. Thin walls replaced those thick ones of the Romanesque era. These walls were often supported by flying buttresses to retain stability. Huge stained glass windows were often used which added to the fairy-tale-like quality of the building. Elaborate gables and tracery often adorned roofs and other features. Towers were also almost always found in this form of architecture.Share
(Notre Dame, 1163) Flying Buttress used for support in Gothic style architectureShare
1163 Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, example of Gothic-style architecture. Contains pointed arches, stain-glassed windows and flying buttresses.Share
1400 – Renaissance Architecture:
Renaissance architecture was the rediscovery of Greek and Roman ideals. It combined this with the outstanding features of more recent architectural styles such as domes from the Byzantine era and towers from the Romanesque era. The vaulted ceilings and large stained glass windows inherent of the Gothic style were also adopted. This combination created a majestic style that can now be found in churches and cathedrals throughout Europe. An addition created for this style of architecture was the extended use of mosaic for decor.Share
1506 – St Peters Basilica, Vatican City. A triumph of Renaissance architecture.Share
1550 -1970 Baroque:
Baroque Architecture took a more ostentatious approach to Renaissance architecture. Baroque was a style used to inspire and as an exhibition of power. The theatrical nature of the highly decorated buildings was designed to leave a lasting effect on the viewer. Often times this style was used to create buildings like cathedrals, as they had the power to encourage the belief in a deity in the face of such opulence. The true nature of a Baroque building was often not fully impacted until a viewer managed to see the interior of the building, which often was more fantastical than the exterior.Share
1682 – French Baroque, The Palace of Versaille, ExteriorShare
1682 – French Baroque, The Palace of Versaille, InteriorShareSearch for: