Renaissance Architecture

Renaissance architecture spanned from 1350 to 1500 A.D. around different parts of Europe. In this period geometry was commonly used in the construction of buildings. Symmetry and proportion were both commonly used to produce a more regular look, then some past styles. This geometry can be seen with the arches, columns, domes, pilasters, and lintels. A very proportional and symmetric building is the Santa Maria Novella, found in Italy, seen below.

Some basic characteristics of this architecture are windows paired with semi-circular arches, doors with square lintels, and opening without doors would be arched(seen below in the Spedale degli Innocenti), roofs fitted with flat ceilings, moldings and decorations common on the exterior of buildings, and the common use of arches, columns, domes, pilasters, and lintels throughout the structures. The Roman orders of columns was used in Renaissance architecture, this can be seen below:

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Gothic Architecture

Romanesque: (900-1150 A.D.)-A major feature of this type of architecture includes semi-circular arches. Romanesque architecture is known by its huge quality, its thick walls, round arches, sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcading. These types of buildings are very symmetrical. An example of this type can seen below in the Tournai Cathedrial, in Belgium.

Gothic: (1120-1500 A.D.)- Gothic architecture evolved from Romanesque styles. Its main characteristics include ribbed vaults, pointed arches (amongst other arches), and the flying buttress. Many examples can be found in cathedrals, abbeys, castkes, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities, and churches throughout Europe. Materials used included different types of stone, like limestone, sandstone, and marble, along with material such as brick. A very popular example from this period is the Reims Cathedrial, in France, seen below:

Classical Architecture

Greek (1200 – 30B.C.): This architecture used materials ranging from wood to mud-brick or clay, metal such as bronze, and rocks including limestone and marble. Architects in this time period would use these materials to make five main types of buildings: religious, civic, domestic, recreational, or funerary. Some features of buildings in this time period include columns and the upper parts of public buildings, which would be made of rock. Another feature is beams and supports inside of the buildings that would help make the building stronger, these beams would be made of wood. For roofing metal would often be used for roof tiles. Since these buildings were made from this type of materials there are very few remaining structures left standing. A building that was restored from this time period is the Stoa in Athens (seen below).

Roman (200B.C. – 500 A.D.): This type of architecture adopted many aspects from Greek architecture. In this type often used were the arch and the dome, which became very popular and are still used today. The dome was very useful for allowing vaulted ceilings and by allowing there to be large public space that was covered. The Segovia Aqueduct shows a good use of Roman arches (seen below). An example of a domed building is the Pantheon, which has a dome made of concrete. Concrete is considered the most useful contribution of architecture from this time period.

Augustus is a famous architect from this period and is known for building a lot of brick and marble buildings. His stepson Tiberius also rebuild The Temple of Castor and Pollux in Roman forum.

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Egyptian Architecture

This period of architecture stretched out from the years 3000-30B.C. This is the time period where the first architect was thought to have lived, Imhotep, who also served as an engineer, and physician. He served under the third dynasty king, and is known as being the first person to use columns in architecture. Due to the fact that this type of architecture was made in mainly dessert settings there was a shortage of lumber. This caused the builders to use other materials such as sun-baked mud bricks and stones (limestone, granite, and sandstone). The near by Nile was a very useful tool for the architects. Houses would be created from the mud of the Nile River that was set in molds and left to dry.

Religion played a large role in the construction of large structures and monuments. These impressively built structures are "characterized by thick, sloping walls with few openings, possibly echoing a method of construction used to obtain stability in mud walls. In a similar manner, the incised and flatly modeled surface adornment of the stone buildings may have derived from mud wall ornamentation. Although the use of the arch was developed during the fourth dynasty, all monumental buildings are post and lintel constructions, with flat roofs constructed of huge stone blocks supported by the external walls and the closely spaced columns." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_architecture)

Another common feature was the hieroglyphics that were painted in a variety of colors. These were used in structures as not only decoration, but as a written record as well.

There are many famous monuments and structures made during this period; perhaps the most famous are the Pyramids of Gaza, which still stands today.

Another famous structure was also created in Giza, the Great Sphinx of Giza. Many facts such as who created this, when it was created, and who the face was supposed to portray are not completely known, and are still being debated.

Architectural Timeline and Neolithic Architecture

Ancient Era

9000-3000 B.C. - Neolithic

3000-30 B.C. -Egyptian

1200-30 B.C. -Greek

200 B.C. - 500 A.D. -Roman

Middle Ages

900-1150 A.D. -Romanesque

1120-1500 A.D. -Gothic

1350-1500 A.D. -Renaissance

1600-1750 A.D. -Baroque

1750-1850 A.D. -Romantism

1850-1900 A.D. -Neoclassical

Modern Era

1850-1940 A.D. -Art Nouveau

1870-1960 A.D. -Arts & Crafts

1910-Present -International Style

1925-1950 A.D. -Bauhaus

1925-1980 A.D. -Post Modern

1980-Present -Structural Expressionism

2000-Present -Interactive Architecture



The Neolithic Period

The Neolithic period includes architecture that dates back to 9000 B.C. This architecture was found initially in Southwest Asia and eventually spread eastward and westward as time proceeded to the end of this period around 3000 B.C. People in the Neolithic period were great builders. They used natural items, such as mud-bricks, large stones, and timbers, to construct structures and buildings, like everyday houses and villages. Another technology used primarily for constructing walls for buildings was wattle and daubing. This building material is made by weaving wooden strips (wattle) and daubing them with a sticky substance, such as a mixture of wet soil and clay. This building style is still used even to this day. Timbers were used as beams in buildings that used wattle and daub, which helped make the building more durable and structurally sound.

The most popular structure that was created during this time period was the Stonehenge (as seen below), located in the English county of Wiltshire.

Bedroom Floorplan

Architectural Design

In the field of architecture I am interested the most in architectural design and for a career would like to be a basic architect. I like the idea of planning and designing buildings that are structurally sound and that are energy efficient. I feel my creativity could help out in this career.

An architectural designer is an architect that is primarily involved in the design of buildings and/or urban landscapes. When creating a design, architectural designers must analyze the layout of the area and how the structure will fit into this design. Many architectural designers work in the design studios of architectural firms.

The first step in becoming an architect is taking a 5 year master's or bachelor's program at a college or university. An example of a university with an architecture program is Syracuse University, stand out the most for my interests. Other schools that I liked include the University of Maryland, Lehigh University, and Temple University. Although five years is not always required, it is recommended by most colleges and universities.

Just gaining a degree is not all though, the next step is completing a period of practical training or internship (usually for three years and a minimum of two). With an internship under your belt you then have to take the ARE (Architect Registration Examination) to gain a license. The ARE assesses candidates for their knowledge, skills, and ability to provide the various services required in the practice of architecture. After passing all divisions of the ARE the final step is applying to a firm where you will begin your career as an architect. So there is a total of around 8 years, if not more, of preparation before you can actually be an architect.

What is an Architect and How is Mathematics Used?

"Architects plan, design and review the construction of buildings and structures for the use of people by the creative organization of materials and components with consideration to mass, space, form, volume, texture, structure, light, shawdow, materials, programs, and pragmatic elements such as cost, construction limitations and technology, to achieve an end which is usually functional, economical, practical and often artistic. This distinguishes architecture from engineering design, which has as its primary object the creative manipulation of materials and forms using mathematical and scientifical principles. As documentation produced by architects, typically drawings, plans and technical specifications, architecture defines the structure and/or behavior of a building or any other kind of system that is to be or has been constructed." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture)

There are many different sub-catagories in the field of architecture. An architect can do anything along the line of city planning (an example in the city of Hong Kong, as seen in the picture down), community planning (improving the infrastructures and all aspects of the enviroments of communities), regional planning (finding the best use of the land) , interior architecture (designing structural interiors of buildings to fit specific needs) , landscape architecture (i.e. city parks), and environmental design. Others can take interest in architectual technology or architectual history and criticism.

Math plays a major role in the field of architecture. Greater knowledge in math help the architect to understand the structures and concepts, with calculations, at a more indepth level. Geometry contains a large portion of the mathematics used in everyday architecture. An example of this can be taken from Renaissance architecture, were the concept of symmetry plays a huge role. Symmetry can be seen easily in Egyptian Pyramids. An impressive example of a more modern architectual building that uses many complicated symmetries can be seen in the Sydney Opera House, located in Australia. One interesting building that can be seen is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which uses broken symmetry for a very dramatic effect. Geometry can also be seen in the planning of cities using a grid plan (cartesian coordinate system). In Greek architecture, the golden mean (a.k.a. golden ratio) served a huge role in the planning of buildings. It is the proportion 1:1:618, which in Western architect was found very pleasing. This has been used in many Greek buildings, such as the Parthenon, as well as many sculptures, paintings, and vases.

Links to some other interesting images of architecture that I have found in buildings:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/FallingwaterWright.jpg

http://www.trendir.com/ultra-modern/architecture-insitute-amsterdam-3.jpg

http://condo-user.pamjundy.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/42c10_revolve.gif

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25830962@N06/3198161084/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22784225@N07/2674003861/