Point: Foundations

As architecture begins to envelop a society as a whole, the characteristics of neighboring structures begin to take shape, following either an intentional or unintentional concept of order. This subconscience method of planning has been engrained within the various cultures found throughout the history of organized civilization. Why do these plans emerge? Simply, what is perceived as appropriate architecture is often translated and applied to its surrounding environment.

Expanding on this concept of order and its subjective form of appropriateness, we'll examine the two cultures discussed heavily in class. Concerning architectural layouts, the Greeks associated harmony with asymmetric forms- beauty derived from imperfection was considered plausible. For example, the buildings located throughout the Athenian Acropolis (the Parthenon, Erechtheum, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike, Eleusinion, etc.) were asymmetrically oriented in context to each other, partially because the Greeks preferred to build with the landscape. However, there was a practical reasoning to this style of planning: the Parthenon, being the focus site, had to be shown in a 3/4ths perspective relative to the entrance of Acropolis to garner the proper emotions from its visitors. This idea of asymmetrical beauty was further explored in the overall design of the Parthenon. Because of the building's 3/4ths perspective, the columns, which commanded visual attention to its form, were spaced out unevenly in the far corners to surpress the illusion of compression stemmed from an evenly spaced out design.

The Romans, unlike their Greek predecessors, preferred a symmetrical style of planning that focused on horizontal expansion and dominance over nature. Starting with a series of perpendicular roads, or cross roads, as a foundation, Romans set out to build cities in an organized manner. Instead of building with the intent of complementing nature, Romans shaped their surrounding landscape to accomodate their architectural endeavors. This is reflected in the similarities found throughout the many Roman cities located in the former empire. Reinforcing upon the notion of order, unlike the Greeks, who designed open temples, Romans constructed temples with a defined entrance, ensuring that people entered these buildings in a predictable, planned manner.

Another topic that was touched upon concerned the Roman use of arches. The concept of the arch, which hadn't been introduced before, was a technological achievement that altered the way buildings were designed and made. Capable of spreading out heavy loads and relieving the stress felt by topping elements, arches allowed for highly expanded, open buildings. Structures ranging from bathhouses to aqueducts became an inherent possibility, their presence widely felt throughout the Roman Empire. The arch, which later became the foundation for ribbed vaults, overlapping arches, and domes, was a technological discovery that had profound effects on the architectural styles and preferences of the Roman people.

Reaching into the Gothic era of architecture, we covered various cathedrals and explored the meanings and origins behind their designs. Many cathedrals, like the Cologne cathedral in Germany, were designed with flying buttresses and ribbed vaults, an element found lacking in earlier buildings. Because of their applied use, cathedrals were capable of constructing tall buildings that rarely relied on the presence of thick, stone walls for support. Instead, thin, skeletal-like walls were used, reserving an ample amount of space for large, tinted windows. This allowed light to play a heavily influencing factor in the designs of cathedrals, ultimately affecting the way people recognized religion and their respective faiths.

The information found throughout the unit is elusively applied in modern times. Although some aspects of the unit are universal and inherent in all societies (i.e., concept of order), the technological advancements discussed are still widely used throughout the world. It is without reason to assume the complete independency of modern architecture- without these historical cultures, many methods of architecture would be nonexistent. As with all interacting cultures, the persistence of time will inevitably draw aspects from various cultures to create out of them a foundation for the future.