HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE I MODULE

ND
NO. 1
A.Y. 2014-2015 2 Semester

INTRODUCTION TO
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE is an art which guides us to harmonize in a building both the beauty and utility
requirements. It is concerned with not only to provide a shelter to man but also to take care of his
basic requirements e.g. place for worship, tombs, business, memorials and other structures which
are needed in complex civilization. It also depicts about the civilization of an age or race.

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY
Focuses on the evolution of buildings, monuments, pediments
and settlements in relation to art, history and philosophy.

Is the discipline that records, studies and interprets architecture.

It studies its forms, purposes, and most importantly its evolution.

Is an appreciation for understanding and conserving the cultural

heritage that comes along with architecture.

Allows the development of a broad framework in economics,

design, philosophy, urban development and art.

Is a record of man’s efforts to build beautifully

Why study History of Architecture?

 Studying architectural history enables us to understand the society and culture that every
period of development represents and orders us to have knowledge on how and why each
era since the beginning of time formed its own unique style.
 Explain the principles of the styles, their characteristic forms and decorations, and to
describe the great masterpieces of each style and period.
 To understand the effects of geography, geology, religion, culture and society, and methods
of construction on the evolution and development of architectural styles reflected on the
building design.

I. The Beginning of Architecture. Understanding the three major elements that became the
prime factors and considerations in the development of architecture.

From the beginning of its history, architecture has had a threefold problem or aim:
to build structures at once commodious, strong, and satisfying to the artistic sense.

1. UTILITY AND FUNCTION

- The primary need which brought and still brings the need of enclosed space sheltered
from weather.
 Doors windows and other openings – for circulation and controlled access
 Interior partitions – zoning of spaces and division of rooms intended for various
uses
 Incorporation of interior courts – for light and ventilation
 Use of corridors, passageways, stairways, elevators – provide means of
circulation and communication between areas
 Irregularity of shape for rooms and courts
 Development of major and minor axis of symmetry

2. STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Essential even a mere provision of enclosed space, as well as to resistance against the
various forces disintegration is a sufficient measure of strength.
 Forces acting on walls – thickness of walls
 Foundations – consistency on the pressure in reference to the soils compressive
strength

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HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE I MODULE
ND
NO. 1
A.Y. 2014-2015 2 Semester

 Openings – understanding the effects of stresses and materials to the structure

and adapting the design to eliminate instances of structural failure
 Roofs – influenced mainly by climate and available materials

3. AESTHETICS
- Along with a desire for strength and practical usefulness goes often a conscious striving
for artistic sense that are partly of conscious preference, partly traditional usage, partly
natural conditions and practical necessity, which constitutes to the artistic character of a
structure.
 Preference on materials
 Use and purpose of the structure or building
 Method and application of different design elements in producing aesthetically
reasonable results
 Presentation of ideas of pure form – expressed in size, shape, contours, color,
finish, light and shade

II. Scope
A. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
1. GEOLOGICAL
- The civilization of every country has been determined by its geographical conditions,
for the characteristic features of the land in which any race dwells shape their mode
of life and thus influence their intellectual culture.
- This considers the location which affects the development of commerce, industry,
immigration and development.
2. GEOLOGICAL
- Development of architecture that is influenced by the availability of natural materials
such as wood, bricks or stone and other natural building products that oftentimes
establishes the style and design of art and architecture.
3. CLIMATIC
- How climate determines the physical characteristics of buildings such as the
thickness of walls, types of roof, size of windows and develops site planning that
includes orientation and arrangement of buildings in reference to sunlight, rain and
wind.
4. RELIGIOUS
- The result of the emotional and spiritual concept and devotion of people.
5. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
- Form of government and standard of living that dictate the design of architecture,
based on the acceptable standards of the society and laws that were being
implemented
6. HISTORICAL
- How the styles are affected by wars, historical upheavals, invasion and
conquest.

B. HISTORIC STYLES
- It is the particular phase, the characteristic manner of design, which prevails at a given
time and place. It is not the result of mere accident or caprice, but of intellectual, moral,
social, religious, and even political conditions.
- Each style is based upon some fundamental principle springing from its surrounding
civilization, which undergoes successive developments until it either reaches perfection
or its possibilities are exhausted, after which a period of decline usually sets in.
- Technically, architectural styles are identified by the means they employ to cover
enclosed spaces, by the characteristic forms of the supports and other members
(piers, columns, arches, mouldings, traceries, etc.), and by their decoration

C. STRUCTURAL PRINCIPLES
1. POST AND LINTEL
- Where a horizontal member (the lintel—or header) is supported by two vertical posts
at either end. This form is commonly used to support the weight of the structure
located above the openings in a bearing wall created by windows and doors.

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HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE I MODULE
ND
NO. 1
A.Y. 2014-2015 2 Semester

2. ARCH AND VAULT

- A fundamental construction system in architecture used to span the space between
walls, piers, or other supports and to create a roof or a ceiling.
- Makes use of several pieces to span opening between two supports. The weight of
the blocks and anyway alone causes only a downward truss but also upward truss.
3. CORBEL ARCH
- A block projecting from a wall supporting a weight. The cantilever is based upon the
same principle
4. COHESIVE CONSTRUCTION
- Employs materials that are shaped
5. TRUSS FRAMEWORK
- Composed of several pieces of wood or metal that each shall esxist a particular
strain, whether tension or compression.

REFERENCES:
A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
Fiske M. Kimball and George Harold Edgell

A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
ON THE COMPARATIVE METHOD
Sir Banister Fletcher

A TEXTBOOK OF THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

Seventh Edition
Alfred Hamlin

THE STUDY OF ARCHITECTURE HISTORY

http://www.architecturecourses.org/introduction-history-architecture

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