U3a-b. Past and Future: Architecture and History (I) and (II)

In this unit we will go back a “few” years to see how arquitecture was, as it has changed all over the years.

`ORIGENS`

To begin with we will talk about its ethymological significance. Arquitecture comes from the Greek “architekton”, which means “the chief who commands the masons”

About 5.000.000 years ago:

This beggins in the prehistory, as people needed to survive they took refuge in caves and decorated them with significant things for them. Fire was not known jet.

Some examples of prehistoric architecture are:

Easter Island in Chile

Stonehenge in the United Kingdom

Both are called megalithic constructions, that is large stone constructions.

1.600.000-200.000 a.C:

Homoherectus began to build their home around bonfires and started to build huts. They used natural elements such as caves to take refugi.

40000 a.C

During this stage we meet homo sapiens, these lived in dwellings.

What are dwellings?

The dwellings are circular cabins, which could reach diameters of up to 9 meters. Some of them were reinforced with animal skins and others with bones.

8.000 – 4.000 a.C

Human discovers agriculture and becomes sedimentary and starts to build more consistent buildings. The first Neolithic cities begin to appear. Walls were used to be built arround them, the livings were of only one groud with holes in the top for the entrance

Prehistorypre ( 4.000 – 3.000 )

During this stage the predominant materials for construction were adobe and bricks. Zigurats were built.

Zigurat: Stepped and pyramidal tower, characteristic of Assyrian and Chaldean religious architecture.

( definir zigurat – Búsqueda (bing.com))

Egyptians ( 3.500 a.C )

The temples were built by an entrance courtyard, a reception room, some private chambers and, of course, the sanctuary, a space of worship to the gods. They were characterized by the construction of funerary architecture, cult and learning.

Greek/classical ( 1200 – 146 a.C )

They were looking for a balance in their architecture, they were built in high areas and included a large amount of details.

Roman (1.1OO a.C)

The Romans used architecture as a language of conquest, destroying ruins and taking cultural elements from them and internalizing them.

The Roman cities were built orthogonally and in the center of these was the forum. It is an Architecture of interior spaces seeks to be stable, functional and magnificent.

When constructing religious buildings, they took and transformed some of the Greek origins.

Bibliography:

¿Cuál fue el origen de la arquitectura? – Blog Ofiprix
( definir zigurat – Búsqueda (bing.com))

traductor – Búsqueda (bing.com)

In this page we will see how architecture has evoluted

Byzantine

Byzantine architecture is the architectural style that was in force during the Byzantine Empire since the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century. Much more importance is given to the interior than to the exterior, so they have a discreet design.

Due to its extension in time, more than 1,000 years, Byzantine art and architecture has been divided into three parts or periods: primitive, intermediate and late.

Primitive:

Stone is replaced by brick and sculptures by the use of mosaics as decorative elements. Domes are built higher.

Intermediate period

Greek cross churches with drum domes predominate.

Late period

Its influence reaches Russia and is stablished in countries such as Bulgaria and Serbia. Churches with Greek cross plants and drum domes continue to predominate.

MATERIARLS

stones were replaced with bricks
Mosaic for exterior and interior coatings
Gold and ceramics for interiors

Pre-Roman

During this period the castles were developed and spread throughout Europe.

Some of the populations belonging to this period are the Longbards, the Visigoths, the Carolingians and the Saxons.

LONGBARDS

Romanized populations converted to Christianity since the s.V. Hardly architectural tradition due to its nomadic character.

They have a uniform style, based on the restoration of Roman buildings with greater symbolism and with better quality elements. They made great use of goldsmithing, with stained glass windows and colored stones.

VISIGOTHS

The Visigoths take up the model of traditional Roman basilica, consisting of a central plant with mass forms, influenced by the Aegean and Syrian area.

CAROLINGIANS

The Carolingians reaffirm classical art, recovering different artistic influences in order to legitimize and celebrate the Roman Empire.

Architecture continues to focus on religion with the construction of monasteries, and cathedrals, but it does so in a monumental way. In addition, they build palaces; such as the Palace of Aachen, which has a Palatine chapel with Roman models of Paleochristian, Byzantine and Longbard influences.

SAXONS

They dedicated themselves to the construction of religious buildings such as abbeys and cathedrals, inspired by Roman basilicas. As an innovation we find the use of galleries or tribunes and alternation of supports (pillars and columns).

ISLAMIC S. VIII-XV

They were characterized by the construction of towers, gardens, water, light and color.

Mosques