Unit 2: Point:Foundations

    The image above is the Parthenon, located in Athens, Greece. This building forms the foundation of all architecture to be proceed it. Throughout history, the buildings most recognized are the ones constructed around religion. For instance, the Parthenon was created as a temple to the goddess Athena. It was constructed with a statue placed in the middle and surrounded by large columns. The building is also very tall and dimly lit. Also, only select few of this time period were allowed to enter. The people permitted to enter and to view the interior were priests and few royalty. However, anyone could view the exterior. Most in fact waited around near the steps for the chance to view the interior when the doors opened. Through the manipulation of height and light, a mystical religious experience was fabricated.
    In building off the idea of Grecian architecture, the Romans created the arch. The arch led to an abundance of things like the dome and vaulted ceilings. The arch allowed for building to reach greater heights while using less materials.

 

The roman Pantheon as depicted in the image above is a direct play off of the Parthenon with the addition of the arch. It also consists of an oculus which further manipulated light. Both buildings have a direct way of interring through a colonnade and progression is axial.
A better example of the evolution of Grecian architecture is the Villa Capra show below. The colonnade porticos, the axial floor plan, and the triangular shape that is atop the entrance ways are very similar to the Parthenon, not to mention it is a manipulation of the Pantheon plan.

All three buildings are built in direct proportion to the exterior columns. The designers of the buildings also took in consideration their surroundings as part as there concept and statement. They also are made up of very simple geometry (squares, circles, and triangles). But most importantly,  each has had a direct feed to the other. Most like in my design work, the more I know the more I build on my projects while maintaining my previous knowledge. I feel that is true for every designer and person. Wether it is the simple task of learning how to use a t-square to the development of a monumental floor plan, an certain and basic accumulation of knowledge must be present.
Another time era that may not seem as a relation to the Grecian era is the Gothic period. It doesn’t pull the exterior architecture as much as the previous eras but it does however focus primarily on the illusion of height and transportation to the heavens. The interior focuses on proportions and axis along the with roman arch that created the barrel vaulted ceiling. This certain ceiling granted an architect the chance to design narrower hallways and taller ceilings which emphasized the pathway to the heavens.
The manipulation of the Grecian foundations is what architecture and design is all about. Design had to start somewhere, which was technically Egypt but the Greeks toppled over there ideas.