The history of
architecture as a
tour
The Architect's dream 1840, T. Cole
Buildings and their representations
plans, sections, models, sketches
Malatesta Temple, Rimini, 15th
century. Leon
Battista Alberti
Model of the new Saint Peter church, Rome. 16th
century.
Antonio da Sangallo
Hagia Sophia, Constantinople-istanbul. 6th
century.
Isidoros, Anthemios
Sketches and plan of the National Assembly of Dakka, Banglades. 20h
century. Louis Kahn
The Colosseum, painting. 19th
century. J-B. Corot The Colosseum, engraving. 18th
century, G.B. Piranesi
Sources and their interpretation
written documents, reports, bills, descriptions
how to configure a disappeared building?
The description of the Tomb of Mausolos at Alikarnassos given by Pliny the
Elder furnishesimportant data:
It was 18 mt on the north and south sides, and shorter on the front. Its entire
circuit was 130 mt, and the height [of this part?] was 11 mt, around the pteron
(peristyle) were 36 columns. Four famous artists wrought the sculptures on the
several fronts. A pyramid equal to the lower part in height surmounted the
pteron, diminishing in 24 stepsto ameta(generally asteep coneor pyramid). On
the summit was a marble chariot the work of Pythis (Pythios, the architect), the
total height being 41,5 mt.
Different reconstruction drawings of the Tomb of Mausolos, 19th
century.
The (Total) Context of Architecture
Suleymaniye mosque, Istanbul, 16th
century. Mimar Sinan.
Moreover...
there is not an objective approach among
historians neither an universal or a historical
method
history is manufactured by historians,
hypothetically there are many histories as there
are historians
According to Spiro Kostof method
we will consider four basic aspects:
1 Material aspects (architectural techniques, technologies,
compositions, typologies etc..)
2 Physical context (natural sites versus cities)
3 All buildings are important (monuments versus buildings)
4 Cultural aspects and meanings (why a building was built in
that shape?)
1 The Unity of Architecture
Cathedral of Monreale, Palermo, 12th
century.
Structure vs Aesthetic
Tour Eiffel, Paris, 19th
century. Engineer Eiffel. Parthenon, Athens, 5th
century BC. Ictinos and Callicrates
Hagia Sophia, Constantinople-istanbul. 6th
century.
Isidoros, Anthemios
2 The Context of Architecture
Istanbul in the 18th
century.
Architecture is not static experience
How buildings are depicted inform us about their
perception through history
Parthenon in a engraving of the 18th
century.
Parthenon in a reconstruction of the 19th
century.
Buildings built in the 19th
century following the model of the
Parthenon. Bank of Philadelphia, left, Walalla, right.
Parthenon in Le Corbusier sketches at the beginning of the 20th
century.
3 The Community of Architecture
Architecture vs Buildings
Houses in Olynthos, Greece. 4th
century BC. Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek, Lebanon, 2nd
century.
Architecture vs Buildings
Venustas, Utilitas, Firmitas
The Vitruvius ten books of architecture, 1st
century.
Architecture without Architects
Salonica in the 19th
century, the Ottoman
settlement.
The medieval town of Anticoli
close to Rome, Italy.
Architecture and Values
an example:
Ornaments or Crimes?
Non-Western Architecture
Persepolis Gate of All Lands, Iran, 6th
century BC.
The giant vaulted hall of
Taq Kisra, a Parthian
palace on the Tigris, Iraq,
6th
century.
4 Meaning of Buildings
tradition vs traditions
rituals
The emperor Justinian is donating the building of Hagia Sophia Reconstruction of the Solomon temple of Jerusalem
Pyramids of Giza, 3rd
Millennium BC.

History Of Architecture I - Lesson 1: Intro

  • 1.
  • 2.
    The Architect's dream1840, T. Cole
  • 3.
    Buildings and theirrepresentations plans, sections, models, sketches Malatesta Temple, Rimini, 15th century. Leon Battista Alberti
  • 4.
    Model of thenew Saint Peter church, Rome. 16th century. Antonio da Sangallo
  • 5.
    Hagia Sophia, Constantinople-istanbul.6th century. Isidoros, Anthemios
  • 6.
    Sketches and planof the National Assembly of Dakka, Banglades. 20h century. Louis Kahn
  • 7.
    The Colosseum, painting.19th century. J-B. Corot The Colosseum, engraving. 18th century, G.B. Piranesi
  • 8.
    Sources and theirinterpretation written documents, reports, bills, descriptions how to configure a disappeared building?
  • 9.
    The description ofthe Tomb of Mausolos at Alikarnassos given by Pliny the Elder furnishesimportant data: It was 18 mt on the north and south sides, and shorter on the front. Its entire circuit was 130 mt, and the height [of this part?] was 11 mt, around the pteron (peristyle) were 36 columns. Four famous artists wrought the sculptures on the several fronts. A pyramid equal to the lower part in height surmounted the pteron, diminishing in 24 stepsto ameta(generally asteep coneor pyramid). On the summit was a marble chariot the work of Pythis (Pythios, the architect), the total height being 41,5 mt.
  • 10.
    Different reconstruction drawingsof the Tomb of Mausolos, 19th century.
  • 12.
    The (Total) Contextof Architecture Suleymaniye mosque, Istanbul, 16th century. Mimar Sinan.
  • 13.
    Moreover... there is notan objective approach among historians neither an universal or a historical method history is manufactured by historians, hypothetically there are many histories as there are historians
  • 14.
    According to SpiroKostof method we will consider four basic aspects: 1 Material aspects (architectural techniques, technologies, compositions, typologies etc..) 2 Physical context (natural sites versus cities) 3 All buildings are important (monuments versus buildings) 4 Cultural aspects and meanings (why a building was built in that shape?)
  • 15.
    1 The Unityof Architecture Cathedral of Monreale, Palermo, 12th century.
  • 16.
    Structure vs Aesthetic TourEiffel, Paris, 19th century. Engineer Eiffel. Parthenon, Athens, 5th century BC. Ictinos and Callicrates
  • 17.
    Hagia Sophia, Constantinople-istanbul.6th century. Isidoros, Anthemios
  • 18.
    2 The Contextof Architecture Istanbul in the 18th century.
  • 19.
    Architecture is notstatic experience How buildings are depicted inform us about their perception through history
  • 20.
    Parthenon in aengraving of the 18th century.
  • 21.
    Parthenon in areconstruction of the 19th century.
  • 22.
    Buildings built inthe 19th century following the model of the Parthenon. Bank of Philadelphia, left, Walalla, right.
  • 23.
    Parthenon in LeCorbusier sketches at the beginning of the 20th century.
  • 24.
    3 The Communityof Architecture Architecture vs Buildings Houses in Olynthos, Greece. 4th century BC. Temple of Jupiter in Baalbek, Lebanon, 2nd century.
  • 25.
    Architecture vs Buildings Venustas,Utilitas, Firmitas The Vitruvius ten books of architecture, 1st century.
  • 26.
    Architecture without Architects Salonicain the 19th century, the Ottoman settlement.
  • 27.
    The medieval townof Anticoli close to Rome, Italy.
  • 28.
    Architecture and Values anexample: Ornaments or Crimes?
  • 29.
    Non-Western Architecture Persepolis Gateof All Lands, Iran, 6th century BC.
  • 30.
    The giant vaultedhall of Taq Kisra, a Parthian palace on the Tigris, Iraq, 6th century.
  • 31.
    4 Meaning ofBuildings tradition vs traditions rituals The emperor Justinian is donating the building of Hagia Sophia Reconstruction of the Solomon temple of Jerusalem
  • 32.
    Pyramids of Giza,3rd Millennium BC.