Unit Summary 1

Unit Summary 1

Objects, places, buildings and spaces have all emerged from the development of civilizations. In the book Understanding Architecture, Roth states, “Architecture is shelter, but it is also symbol and a form of communication( Roth, p 159). First human inhabitants, which started in the Middle East, used elements such as circles, stacks and groups as symbolic representation in their architecture. Circles were symbolic representation of the sun, the moon and even Gods associated with such elements. Architecture that was stacked was representative of the mountains. Finally, groves or groups were representative of groves of trees and even groups of people. Roth further states, ” what we build is shaped by the private need to provide a particular function. Roth hypothesis that the earliest architecture may have been built as a symbol of common belief ( Roth, p11)

The act of building for the purpose of memorializing an event or religious ideal was the major function of early architecture. In Greece, large temples were built to honor their polytheistic beliefs. Previous elements such as circles, stacks and groups continued to be echoed in Greek architecture. To further expand on such prototypical elements on a grander scale the Greeks invented the orders. The three major orders invented by the Greeks were Doric columns, ionic columns and Corinthian column. I believe that such grandness or idealization for perfection was a positive and constant driving force for the development of archetypical architecture still used today.

Around 25 BCE the ancient Roman Architect Marcus Vitruvius formed the basic definition of Architecture( Roth, p11). Vitruvius believed that be considered a well built design that architecture must posses three basic elements he referred to as commodity, firmness and delight(Roth, p11). Vitruvius's term for firmness describes structural foundations that are solid, as well as, use appropriate building materials. In fact, it was around this time that concrete was developed and was being applied to architecture. His defines delight as the being visually appealing and even evoking a sense of delight Vitruvius referred to commodity as serving a specific function. Much of the architecture seen up until this point was built solely to serve a function- mainly religious in nature.

Another archetypical element founded in Greek architecture was the basic building form referred to as the megaron. The basic building form in Greece was comprised of three basic parts: a porch, hearth and court. The porch, much like that today, was a place to greet the outside world. The Court was a great room to gather with the public- similar to a living or great room in present time. Lastly, the hearth was the heating element within the space. The hearth was usually a private internal room within the space.

Migration, as well as, free trade led to the expansion of the archetypical Greek Architecture throughout the world. In fact, if you look around you can see many of the same elements and principles in today's architecture. Today's architecture is made up of circles, stacks or/ or groups and contains a hearth, court and porch. Architecture today is still influenced heavily on the basic ideas of commodity, firmness and delight proposed over two thousand years ago!