From my History of Architecture Notes - Romanesque Architecture

This post contains notes from Romanesque Architecture in Europe. The notes cover the climatic, social and religious influences on the Architectural Style in that era and covers up the development of Romanesque Architecture and its character in Italy (North, South and Central parts), France and Central Europe.

Page 01 Romanesque Architecture -
Climatic, Social and Religious Influences

Page 02 Romanesque Architecture -
Architectural Character

Page 03 Romanesque Architecture -
Architectural Character in Central, North, South Italy & Sicily

Page 04 Romanesque Architecture -
Architectural Character in Central Italy

Page 05 Romanesque Architecture in France

Page 06 Romanesque Architecture - Central Europe

I also found some additional notes on Romanesque Architecture and have added it here below. It highlights the architectural character of buildings that developed during this era.

Additional notes - Romanesque Architecture

Hope you find the notes useful.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Byzantine Architecture

Byzantine Architecture originated chiefly in Constantinople, the ancient Greek town of Byzantium. Byzantine Architecture rose in response to needs of the Eastern, or Orthodox Church. They preferred a more contemplative form of popular worship focused on the veneration of icons. These were portraits of sacred personages - frontal view in a highly conceptual and stylized manner. Pictorial representation in form of wall painting or mosaics served as icon, it generally took the form of a small painted panel. The style developed through three distinct periods; Early, Middle (Macedonian Renaissance) and Comnenian period.

This post contains in brief the architectural order that evolved during the Byzantine Architectural Period. It has notes on the development of the churches, their plans, the decorative character, use of mosaics as materials, the construction technology and so on.

Page 01 Byzantine Architecture

Page 02 Byzantine Architecture (contd.)

Below is an additional note on Byzantine Architecture that I found from my files. Have added it for further reference.

Byzantine Architecture 

Hope you find the notes useful.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Early Christian Architecture

This post contains notes on Early Christian Architecture, the influences on the architectural styles, how the churches, and the burial tombs evolved in that era.

Early Christian Architecture

Early Christian Architecture developments can be said between the periods of the 3rd and 7th Centuries. The period overlaps with the Late Roman Architecture and first three centuries of the Byzantine period. Early Christian Architecture flourished throughout the empire on a monumental scale. Buildings were of two types - the longitudinal hall - Basilica and the centralized building - Baptistry or Mausoleum. 

Central and longitudinal spaces were characteristics of the Roman architecture. The basilica was symbolic of the directed character of human action. These forms were taken over by the Early Christian Architecture and the plan of early churches synthesizes the longitudinal and centralized character. 

Page 01 Early Christian Architecture -
Architectural Character

Page 02 Early Christian Architecture -
Influences on Church Architecture

Page 03 Early Christian Architecture -
Church and tombs

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Egyptian Architecture in Brief

The buildings of ancient Egypt are probably still considered as the most impressive constructions in the history of architecture. Megalithic masses and precision of form gave them a singular strength and power. Simple shapes and strict geometric organisation prevailed in their buildings . The pyramids are the manifestation of typical Egyptian architecture - balanced form, synthesis of vertical and horizontal forces, massive and solid construction. A closer look at the Egyptian monuments reveal that 'Axiality' was a distinguishing phenomenon.

Buildings

The Egyptians wished to present an eternal order in symbolic form that implied demonstration of continuity of life after death. Hence, tombs were considered as houses of eternity and the primary building tasks of ancient Egypt. Their temples also represented the cosmos but on a smaller scale. Basically the Egyptian temples consisted of three parts - a colonnaded courtyard, a hypostyle hall and a sanctuary - arranged along an axis. The temples were generally oriented towards the east.

In general, Egyptian buildings represent amalgamation of four fundamental intent - the enclosed 'oasis', the durable megalithic mass, the orthogonal order and the path or axis. All these are symbolically present in Egyptian architecture and represent the Egyptian idea of 'cosmos'.

This post contains notes on Egyptian Architecture in a very condensed form. Just two pages is all I found in my notes. Probably, there was more elsewhere, but this is all I could find in here.

Page 01 Egyptian Architecture - A Brief

Page 02
Differences between Egyptian and Greek Architecture

I am not happy with this particular post, since there is not much information about the Egyptian Architecture in here. Hope I can find something more in future from my notes and will update this one for sure.

Thank you for stopping by...Have a good day.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Greek Architecture - Extra notes

This post contains added notes on Greek Community Architecture. It has notes about the planning of Greek cities, and the typical Greek houses. This post also outlines the differences between the Greek and Roman Architecture styles.

Greek Architecture 

The previous post on Greek Architecture missed a lot of information regarding the three orders. This post adds the details that were missed in the previous post. In case you have missed my previous notes on Greek Architecture click on this link to find more information on Greek Architecture.

Page 01 Emergence of Greek Cities

Page 02 Evolution of Greek temple

Page 03 Planning of Greek Cities

Page 04 Differences in Architectural styles
- Greek & Roman Architecture

 

Here are the detailed notes on Greek Architecture that you will certainly find useful.

Page 01 Evolution of Greek Architecture

Page 02 Evolution of Greek Architecture (contd.)

Page 03 The Greek Orders

Page 04 The Greek Orders (contd.)

Page 05 The Greek Orders (contd.)

Page 06 Greek Architecture
Important Architectural terms

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Chronology of Western Architecture

Here's what I found from my notes for the Chronology of Western Architecture. Beginning with the Prehistoric era - Ancient (Egypt, Greece, Rome) - Early Christian and Medieval - Romanesque - Gothic - Renaissance - American Colonial - Baroque - Rococo - Georgian - Neoclassical - Greek Revival - Victorian - Arts & Crafts Movement - Art Nouveau - Art Deco - Modern 'ISMS'.

Have a look at the picture below from my notes that highlights each period in the correct chronolocial order.

Page 01 Chronology of Western Architecture

Page 02 Chronology of Western Architecture

Hope you find the above information related with the chronology of Western Architecture useful.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Roman Architecture

This post contains information on the influences of Roman Architecture viz. Social, Climatic, Geological, Religious etc. The Greek Architecture influenced the Etruscans and the Etruscans in turn influenced the Republican Roman Architecture. It further goes on to elaborate about the use of building materials by the Romans and the introduction of concrete.

It also contains notes on the characteristics of the Roman Public Buildings as the Forums, Temples, amphitheatres, Thermae, Tombs, etc. 

Page 01 Roman Architecture - Geological,
Climatic, Historical and Social Influences

Page 02 Roman Architecture -
Historical and Social Influences (contd.)

Page 03 Roman Architecture - Religion

Page 04 Architectural Characteristics of Etruscans

Page 05 Roman Architecture
Building Materials & Technology

Page 06 Roman Architecture
Construction Technology

Page 07 Roman Architecture
Forum, Rectangular temples 

Page 08 Roman Architecture 
Pantheon, Thermae

Page 09 Roman Architecture 
Thermae (contd.)

Page 10 Roman Architecture Theatres

Page 11 Roman Architecture Theatres (contd.)

Page 12 Roman Architecture 
Triumphal Arches, Roman Houses, Tombs

I also found some notes later elaborating on Greek and Early Roman Architecture, which I plan to post next. Keep visiting this blog for more such information on History of Architecture.

Hope you find the notes useful.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Greek Architecture

As mentioned in my earlier posts, these notes are references made from Sir Bannister Fletcher's History of Architecture. This post covers the period from Hellenic period to the Hellenistic period. 

Greek Architecture

The ancient Greeks, unlike their Minoan and Mycenaean ancestors, did not have the royalty and therefore had no need for palaces. Hence you will find their architecture dedicated to public buildings such as temples, central market place (agora) covered wit colonnade (stoa), monumental gateways (Propylon), the council building (bouleuterion), open air theatre, gymnasium(palaestra), and so on. Amongst these buildings it is the temples that captured the essence of Greek Architecture.

Effort was made to build temples in prominent positions using geometry and optical tricks such as thickening the lower parts of the columns, thickening the corner columns, etc. Such refinements indicate that the Greek temples were not just functional structures but also were symbolic and an important element in the civic landscape.

The notes consists of brief architectural characteristics of temples, geometry and optical tricks employed, sketches showing Greek Mouldings. Important buildings such as Propylaea Athens, the  Acropolis, temple of Parthenon, temple of Artemis, theatres, public buildings and domestic buildings are also mentioned.

Page 01 Hellenic Period

Page 02 Hellenistic Period

Page 03 Acropolis Athens, Temples of Parthenon, Artemis

Page 04 Temples

Page 05 Greek Mouldings

Page 06 Theatre, Public Buildings

Page 07 Domestic Buildings

For more details on the Greek orders of Architecture (Doric, Ionic and Corinthian), please refer to the extra notes that will posted later.

Hope you find the above notes useful.

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From my History of Architecture Notes - Aegean Architecture

 

Everybody knows about Greek and the Romans and their influences on Art and Architecture. But before the dawn of Ancient Greece there was a vibrant Neolithic and then the Bronze age society that flourished in several different cultures found along the Aegean sea. It was established around 6000 BC, centered on several Cycladic Island off the southeast coast of Greece. They were home to farmers and seafaring traders and their inhabitants began to use local stone to create the famous Cycladic figures of musicians, fortified towns and burial mounds. Several of these islands had quarries of white marble that later began to be used in Ancient Greece buildings.

From around 3000 BC, another Bronze age culture thrived on much larger island of Crete which developed into Minoan Civilization. The Minoan people are name after their ruler – King Minos, who is described in Homer’s epic tales as ruling from his palace in the ancient city of Knossos. This palace dated from @1900 BC - 1100 BC was discovered by the archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann who located the site and then Arthur Evans who subsequently discovered and excavated the site. 

Here's what I found from my notes:

From my notes - Page 01

From my notes - Page 02

From my notes - Page 03

Hope you can understand my handwriting. Some of it may be illegible as it was probably taken down hurriedly in the library in between two classes. Forgive me for that!

However, I hope it was an interesting read and you find the information useful in some way.

I plan to post more about the History of Greek and Roman Architecture in the coming days. Keep visiting this blog.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day ahead!