Gate 2023

Architecture and
Planning Classes
  Sumer- Southern part  Aegean/Minoan
 Akkad - Northern part Architecture
 Babylonia - These two  Mycenaean  Renaissance
regions were unified Architecture  Baroque
 Assyria - Assyrian Empire  Classical Greek  Rococo
 Persian Architecture  Neo – classical
Early Semitic
West Asiatic Architecture Ancient Greek and Christian Pre modern Ancient Indian
(Mesopotamia) Architecture architecture Architecture Architecture

2
Topics to cover in History of Architecture
4 6 8 10
1 3 5 7 9 11
Pre Historic Egyptian Ancient Roman Medieval Modern Architecture Islamic
Architecture Architecture Architecture Architecture and Post modern Architecture
Architecture
 Paleolithic  Byzantine
 Neolithic  Romanesque
 Gothic

History is not a list of facts… it is a story that can be retold over and over
Six Influences of Architecture
Four Great Constructive Principles
1. Geographical
2. Geological
1. Post & Lintel Construction
3. Climatic
2. Arch & Vault Construction
4. Religious
3. Corbel or Cantilever Construction
5. Social
4. Trussed Construction
6. Historical
Pre – Historic Period
Direct human ancestors evolved in Africa from 2.3 million years ago - Homo habilis, Homo erectus, homo sapiens, homo
sapiens.

Stonehenge - a prehistoric
monument in Wiltshire, England
3100 – 1500 BCE.
Pre – Historic Period
MENHIR DOLMEN CROMLECH
 BC AD

3000 Mesopotamia 330

2670 Egyptian 336

500 Greek 300

680 Etruscan 520

480 Roman 608

300 Early Christian 600

330 Byzantine 994

1066 Romanesque and Gothic 1513

Renaissance , Baroque, 1600

1400
Rococo

1640 Neo - Classical 1850

 History of Architecture

WEST ASIATIC ARCHITECTURE

Mesopotamia
 Hot and dry climate
 Catastrophic flooding of the rivers in spring
 No stone or timber resources
Sumerian Period

 The City of UR
Babylonian Period
Assyrian Period
 THE CITY OF KHORSABAD
 Persian Period

 The top brackets of the columns were in the form of twin bulls, or
dragons the Symbol of power.
 History of Architecture

Egyptian Architecture
The architecture of the Ancient Egyptians is traditionally considered only in relation
to their elaborate burial rituals.
Egyptian Architecture
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE

Egypt known as “ The Land of Pharaoh “,

& “desert Land “. The “Nile River” is their
means of communication , highway , &
lifeline . Egypt’s greatest wealth was its
fertile “soil”.

The Climate was good for agriculture ,

but with little or no rainfall, farmers had
to depend on the rivers for irrigation by
constructing canals to carry water out
into the valley.
GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

STONE – abundant building material except on temples & pyramids

Soft stone – limestone , sandstone , alabaster
Hard stone – granite , quartzite , basalt , Porphyry
SAND DRIED BRICKS – made up of clay & chopped stone for pyramids & temples.
DATE PALM – for roofing’s & PALM LEAVES – for roofing materials .
ACACIA – for their boat
SYCAMORE – mummy cases

CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

Structure have no downspout , drainage , gutters

due to absence of rain . No windows to cut heat
penetration and sandstorm.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
Systems Of Construction:

• POST & LINTEL; COLUMNAR OR TRABEATED.

Features Of Egyptian Architecture

• BATTERWALL- inclination from base to top of the

façade.
• HIEROGLYPHICS- use as ornaments, pictures &
writings from the walls
Egyptian tomb architecture Structure based on cardinal directions

• Mummification
• Mummies were placed in a sarcophagus which was highly
decorated.
• This fabulous wealth in gold, silver and jewels belonging to the
kings, queens and nobility, attracted the attentions of robber – the
tomb raiders.

MASTABA- flat top or tapered solid temple

3 IMPORTANT PARTS

OUTER CHAMBER- where offerings were placed

SERDAB – inner chamber containing the statues of the deceased

member of the family

SARCOPHAGUS – chamber containing the “ coffin” reached by an

under ground shaft.
PYRAMIDS
evolved from MASTABA ; w/ four sides facing the Cardinal points , they were made by 100,000 men for
100 years.

1. STEP PYRAMID – evolved from Mastaba

2. BENT OR BLUNT PYRAMID – 2 degrees of inclination of slope

3. SLOPE PYRAMID – parts ( king’s chamber , Queen’s chamber , sub terranean chamber, grand gallery, airshafts.
 Queens Pyramid

Mortuary Temple

Entrance chapel

Causeway

Valley Temple
 Giza Complex
( 143.0 mts. high ) & (705 sq. ft. ) in plan.

Pyramid of Khafre/chepren Pyramid of Khufu/cheops

Pyramid of Menkaure
TEMPLES (2 TYPES)

Mortuary – built in honor of the Pharaohs

Cult – built for the worship of the gods, only high priest can enter in both types of
temple.

Parts of an Egyptian Temple

1. Avenue of Sphinx – where mystical monster

were placed.
2. Entrance Pylon – massive sloping towers
fronted by an obelisks known as gateways in
Egypt .
3. Hypaethral Court – large outer court open
to the sky
4. Hypostyle Hall - a pillared hall in which the
roofs rest on column.
5. Sanctuary – usually surrounded by passages
& chambers used in connection w/ the
temple service. Temple of khonos
Temple of Ramessesses II, Abu simble
OBELISKS – are monumental pillars usually in pairs at the temple entrances
considered the symbol of the sun god. They are square in plan & stands at the
ht. of 9 to 10 times the diameter of the base. The four sides tapers to the top
on the form of a small pyramid.
SPHINX– a mystical monster with a body of a
lion and head of a man or “androsphinx”, body
of a lion & head of a hawk or “hieracosphinx”,
& body lion & head of a ram or “criosphinx”.
Androsphinx Hieracosphinx Criosphinx
MOULDINGS – “Gorge and Hollow Moulding “ The torus mold in Egyptian temples
were used to cover the angles .

Gorge and
hollow molding

ORNAMENTS

• Lotus Papyrus & Palm – for “fertility”

• Solar Discs & Vultures wings – for “protection”

• Spiral & feather ornament – for “eternity”

• Scarab or sacred beetle – for “resurrection”

 History of Architecture

Greek Architecture
Geographical -
surrounded on three sides by the sea. Mountainous terrain.
Use of Natural Terrain.
Geological -
Marble in abundance. Locally available Marble - Stucco
also rich in silver, copper, and iron
Climate -
Moderate --- outdoor space, Hot sun and heavy rain in
seasons porticos

Religion -
Nature worship. Natural phenomena was personified by
Gods. Variety of Deities Many Temples. Didn’t believed in
Life after Death
Periods in Greek Architecture

1. Helladic Period

Early Period(3000-2000)B.C.
Middle Period(2000-1600)B.C.
Late or Mycenaean Period (1600-1050) B.C

2. Hellenic Period (650 323 B.C.)

Minoan Architecture (Architecture of Crete Island)
Palace of king Minos , Knossos
• Houses were built of mud, bricks, rubble, flat roofs were covered with terracotta tiles. Gypsum was used for flooring.
• Columns were simple, with limited ornamentation. The circular columns stood on disc shaped base, circular shaft
with downward taper and a projecting capital at top, which had a square shaped abacus and circular echinus
followed by small molding.
Throne Room
Mycenaean Architecture
Mycenaean Architecture

Simple Houses

Fine Pottery
Trade & Agriculture: MAJOR PHENOMENON
Mycenaean Architecture

Lion’s Gate Burial Tholos Megaron

Lion’s Gate –
Cyclopean construction is a form
of megalithic architecture, or
building with very large stones.

a post and lintel system, where a

single stone crosses over the
doorway supported by stones on
either side. Above the lintel is an
area called the “relieving triangle”
Burial Tholos-
“Treasury of Atreus”
Bee Hive Tomb
A rounded cut was made into a
hillside, within which huge ashlar
masonry would be employed to
create a conical structure, with a
wide entryway leading to it, known
as a dromos. The chamber itself was
built by placing each successive
course of stonework out over the
previous one, tapering the diameter
of the room gradually up to the top.
The cut was then refilled on top of
the structure, creating a large
underground chamber. The dead we
laid on the floor of the main room,
or in rare cases, in smaller separate
rooms built adjacent to it.
Megaron -
It is the central hall of both
temple structures and private
dwellings.
Hellenic Period (650 323 B.C.)
• It is the peak of this Art. Every art manifestation reached its zenith
• Period of political, economic and cultural expansion of the polis, mainly Athens
• Democratic governance.

Artistry in marble were spectacular. Henceforth

Greek Architecture was also termed as

‘Carpentry in Marble’
Greek Architecture made its humble beginning.
Proportion – Golden Ratio
Antae
Refinement in Architecture took place ---Optical Correction
Refinement in Architecture took place ---Entasis
The Greek Orders
Erechtheion
Temple of Parthenon at Athens
Temples were the most important constructions.
Temple of Artemis Olympieon

Erechtheon

Temple of Poseidon
Tower of Winds, Athens
Theatre of Dionysus
Theatre of Dionysus
Theatre of Dionysus
It is built on the south slope of the Acropolis
hill, originally part of the sanctuary of Dionysus
Eleuthereus
Gate 2021 - 2 marks
G20131
Beam or lowest division of the entablature which extends from
column to column, is known as
(A) Arabesque (B) Arcade (C) Architrave (D) Arbour

G20131
The width to height ratio of the front facade of Parthenon
(without the pediment) is
(A) 9:4 (B) 4:9 (C) 1:1.618 (D) 1.618:1

G20141
The Grand Gallery in Egyptian Architecture is provided only at
(A) Great Pyramid (B) Temple (C) Mastaba (D) Bent Pyramid

G20081
Entasis' is a visual correction for end columns by providing
(A) a slight convexity to the columns.
(B) a slight concavity to the columns.
(C) a major convexity to the columns.
(O) a major concavity to the columns.
G20212
G20121
‘Agora’ was provided in Greek towns as a place of
(A) Worship (B) Drama
(C) Sports (D) Meeting

G20111
Entablature consists of
(A) Architrave, Tenia, Cornice (B) Architrave, Frieze,
Cornice
(C) Frieze, Cornice, Triglyphs (D) Cornice, Guttae,
Tympanum
Gate 2009 2 marks

Identify the 'pre-historic' structures in the following:

P. Mastaba
Q. Dolmen
R. Menhir
S. Pylon
T. Stonehenge
U. Thermae

(A) P, Q, R
(B) R, T, U
(C) Q. S, T
(D) Q, R. T
 History of Architecture

Etruscan Architecture

Etruscan architecture reveals a blending of Ancient Greek and Ancient Near Eastern styles and anticipates Roman design.
Etruscan Architecture
• Etruscan civilizations are dominated by elaborate “NECROPOLI” - filled with tombs that resemble large rooms in a home.
• Etruscan sculptures and temples are heavily influenced by Archaic Greek works
• Etruscans were experts at sculpting with bronze and terra-cotta clay
Tombs of Etruscan
Architecture

• Interior chamber is brightly

painted to reflect interior of a
house

Burial chambers designed to mimic domestic interiors also show Etruscan architectural aesthetics.
TUMULUS: Artificial mound of earth and stones placed over grave
Tombs = homes for the dead

• Cemetery of La Banditaccia at
Cerveteri - laid out like a town with
streets running between grave
mounds.

• Covered with dirt and stones

Painting Gallery (1965) by Philip Johnson
Water Temple by Tadao Ando
National Assembly Building of Bangladesh by Louis Kahn
Burial Chamber, Tomb of the Reliefs
Tomb of the Seats and Shields
Temples of Etruscan Architecture

• Single flight of stairs leading to main

entrance (not steps surrounding whole
building).

• Sculptures put on rooftops to announce

presence of deity within.
• Design is similar to Greek temples- tall
base (podium), deep porch, cella was
subdivided into 3 parts - religion based
on a triad of gods
• Columns are un-fluted TUSCAN ORDER.
Tuscan Order
NECROPOLIS: “city of the dead”- large burial area

STUCCO: a fine plaster used for wall decorations and moldings

TERRA-COTTA: hard ceramic clay used for buildings, pottery, sculpture, etc.

TUMULUS: an artificial mound of earth and stones placed over a grave

Tuscan Order
 History of Architecture

Roman Architecture
Roman were the master builder in
designing and erecting the
building.

Roman’s engineering and building

skills includes invention of water
proof concrete, which enabled
them to develop a different
techniques and style of
architecture including forts, villas,
temples, town, baths, great wall,
roads.
• Roman borrowed heavily from two cultures
that they conquered – the Etruscan and the
Greeks.

• Elements of Roman Architecture show very

significant Greek influence.

• However, Roman functional needs sometimes

differed, resulting in interesting innovations.

• The Romans were less attached to “ideal”

forms and extended Greek ideas to make
them more functional.

• Romans needed interior space for worship,

whereas the Greeks worshipped outside.

• Their solution was to extend the walls

outward, creating engaged columns, while
maintaining the same basic shape.
Location
General characteristics
of Roman Art
• Interest in public works and
engineering
• Monumentality
• Great technical advances
• Colossal to show Roman
power
• Special importance for the
internal space
• Integral view of the art
combining:
• Beauty with Utility and
practical sense
• Buildings are integrated in the
urban space
Building systems:
Linteled
• Copied from the Greeks
• Spaces are closed by straight lines
Vaulted
• Taken from the Etruscan
• Use of arches
• Barrel vaults
o Use of domes
o Strong walls so that they do not use
external supports
o Building materials marble, terracotta,
stone & bricks.
o Pozzolana has extraordinary properties
of hardness, strength and durability,
when mixed into concrete with lime.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURAL
CHARACTERISTICS

• Material - Pumice, Marble, Brick, Pozzolanic concrete,

Granite, Sandstone, Lime, Tufa, Travertine, Sand etc.

• Foundation: Concrete and Rock

• Superimposed Columns, used as decorative elements

rather than structural.

• Use Of Lime Concrete, more column free and large

spaces.

• Multi Storied Buildings Marble Stucco For Interior Finish

• The Romans moved from trabeated construction ( post-

lintel) to more massive walls punched by arches, domes.
ORIGIN

• Roman needed more space to

worship as Greeks used to
worship outside.

• Their solution was to extend

the walls outward, creating
engaged columns, while
maintaining the same basic
shape
Roman Innovation
Columns
• To the original Greek orders, the Romans added
two.
• Tuscan Order: simplified Doric having unfluted
column and a plain base, capital and shaft having
no decoration other than moldings.
• Composite Order : it combined elements of
both the ionic and Corinthian orders. Corinthian
order is modified by superimposing four
diagonally set ionic vaults on a bell of Corinthian
acanthus leaves.
Roman Innovation
Concrete
• The discovery of slow-drying
concrete, made with
pozzolana sand created a
revolution in architectural
design.
• This allowed not only bases,
but also walls to be
constructed of mainly concrete
or concrete and rubble.
• Facings could be made of more
expensive stone or inexpensive Dome of the pantheon
brick.
• The result was strong
structures that could be
formed in any desirable shape Use of brick on outer facing and
filling of concrete rubble
Roman Innovation
Arches

• An arch is a very strong shape as

no single spot holds all the
weight and is still used in
architecture today.

• The Romans used arches to

support the things they built.

• They built victory arches,

buildings and aqueducts
BUILDING TYPOLOGY
Architecture has a rich typology that includes:
• Religious building
o Temple

• Civil buildings:
o Public: basilicas, baths
o Spectacles: theatre, Amphitheatre, circus
o Commemorative: Triumph arch, column
o Domestic: house, village, palace
o Funerary: tombs

• Engineering works:
o Bridges
o Aqueducts
 AMPHITHEATRES
Used for training warriors, to hold contests between men and animals for
entertainment.

The Colosseum was the

largest and most important
amphitheater in the world,
and the kinds of spectacles
staged there were costlier
and more impressive than
those held anywhere else.
SECTION

• Vaults: Vaults span between 80 radial walls to

support tiers of seating and for passageways
and stairs.

• 48m (160ft) high divided into four storey,

each one had 80 external arch openings.

• The column spaced at 6.8m center to center

were superimposed (columns above columns,
aches above arches).

• Mass concrete foundation 1 2m deep. Seats

set over a network of barrel Aa, vaults.

• Underground rooms under arena floors for

warriors, animals and props
Corinthian Order

Ionic Order

Doric Order
BUILDING MATERIAL

• Travertine limestone: Used in Columns, the ground

floor and the external wall.

• Tuff or Tufa (a porous stone used in the preparation

of cement) Used in small columns.

• Cement: Used for vaulted arches.

• Tiles: Used for the floors and the walls.

• Bricks: Used in walls.

• Marble: Used for the seating, statues and

ornaments, drinking fountains and as a covering to
the outside walls.

• Lead and terra-cotta pipes for the Water and Sewer

system.
THERMAE
Roman Public Baths
INTRODUCTION

• Used as public bathing, exercising , wrestling, swimming and

socializing.

• Includes pools, cold and hot rooms, fountains, libraries, under

floor heating system.

• It consist of three main parts:

a. A great central block: planned for baths. Tepidarium (warm
rooms), Caldarium (hot rooms, containing warm water
bath), Frigidarium (Unheated swimming bath. Other rooms
were symmetrically arranged were the dressing rooms,
massage rooms etc.

b. A large open space: This surrounded the central block and

was laid out as Stadium with raised sitting for spectators.

c. An outer ring of apartments: Rooms were meant for

philosophers, poets.
Hypocaust:
underground heating
system
THERMAE OF CARACALLA,
ROME ( 212AD- 216AD)
Square and symmetrical plan along
single axis.

The entire site including gardens,

raised on an artificial platform 20 feet
high.

North- East Entrance led to park like

enclosure, used for wrestling and
other games.

Central Hall (750ft by 380 ft), was

the main feature around which other
rooms were symmetrically arranged.
TEMPLES
• Combination of Etruscans and Greek styles.

• Consisted of only one portico and main facade.

• Raised platform, 10 to 12 steps (3.5m)

• Stepped entrance, columned porch.

• Triangular pediments above with terracotta or

polygon.

• It has a main room “cella”, where deity was placed, to

whom temple was dedicated.

• Behind Celia was storage rooms for equipment's and

offerings.
 Missing pedimented
sculpture
(would have been like
Parthenon)

Tuscan order of columns

(with Corinthian capitals))
MATERIAL USED

• BRICKS

• TUFA

• TRAVERTINE: used at the lowest portion,

heaviest material.

• CONCRETE FOUNDATION: structure load is

transferred to concrete foundation 1 5’ thick
and 34’ wide.

• Used lighter materials towards the top of the

dome.

• FORM OF DOME achieved by building wooden

mold first on inside and outside of the
structure. Concrete mix was then poured.

• After concrete was dried temporary wooden

structures were removed.
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM IN
ROME
• First water sources- River Tiber
and local natural springs.

• Aqueducts developed, to bring

water from distant sources into
cities and towns, public baths,
fountains, private households.

• To resolve water storage problem

due to increased population of
Rome.
• Aqueduct ( first built in 312
BC) , was a concrete pipe or
channel built to carry
running water through
method of gravity.

• water was collected in

catch basin from where it
was distributed to storage
tanks from where it was
further distributed to
Roman People.

• A massive structure- use of

single, double or triple tiers
of Arches.
FACTS ENGINEERING IN ROME
• The Cloaca Maxima was the main sewerage • Ability inherited from Etruscans, helped to conquer and
system of Ancient Rome. govern the world.

• The Colosseum Amphitheatre was provided • Skills achieved as a result of error and trial through
with water via the Aqua Claudia aqueduct. ages.

• The final destruction Rome occurred in 537 • Great fire of Rome pushed advances in technology, wide
AD during a siege on Rome by the Goths. The spread use of concrete replaced timber construction.
aqueducts which supplied Rome with water
were destroyed. The people of Rome could • Use of arch, dome and vaults provided beauty as well as
not survive without water and the strength to roman buildings.
population of Rome fell by 90%.
Terms to remember

• Arch
• Triumphal arch
• Aqueduct - Aqua Claudia aqueduct
• Cloaca Maxima
• Forum
• Basilica
• Composite order , Tuscan
• Public baths
• Circus
• Amphitheatre
• Colosseum
• Pantheon
• Oculus
Gate 2014 2 marks
Match the features in Group I with their architectural periods in Group II
Group I Group II
P. Caryatids 1. Roman
Q. Hypocaust 2. Gothic
R. Pylons 3. Greek
S. Lofty Pinnacles 4. Egyptian
5. Romanesque

(A) P-1, Q-5, R-4, S-2

(B) P-5, Q-1, R-3, S-2
(C) P-3, Q-2, R-5, S-4
(D) P-3, Q-1, R-4, S-2

Gate 2017 1 marks Gate 2019 1marks

Tuscan and Composite orders are associated with The term ‘Necropolis’ refers to
(A) Greek Architecture (A) Organically growing settlement
(B) (B) Islamic Architecture (B) Origin of a settlement
(C) (C) Byzantine Architecture (C) A dead settlement
(D) (D) Roman Architecture (D) Merging of two settlements
Gate 2009 2marks Gate 2007 2marks
Match the items in Group I with Match the architectural styles in Group I with the construction
those in Group II: systems in Group 11.

Group I Group II Group I Group II

P. Hypostyle hall 1. Roman P. Greek 1. Semi-circular arch
architecture
Q. Ziggurat 2. Egyptian Q. Roman 2. Trabeation
architecture
R. Acropolis 3. Assyrian
architecture R. Indian 3. Corbelling

S. Triumphal arch 4. Greek

architecture S. Gothic 4. Pointed arch

(A) P-1, Q-3. R-4, S-2 (A) P-2, Q-4, R-3, S-1
(C) P-1, Q-4. R-2. S-3 (B) P-1, Q-2, R-4, S-3
(B) P-2, Q-3. R-1. S-4 (C) P-2, Q-1, R-3, S-4
(D) P-2. Q-3, R-4. S-1 (D) P-3, Q-1, R-2, S-4
Gate 2007 1 marks
A building in which the roof is perfectly hemispherical on the
inside and a shallow dome on the outside is
(A) Hagia Sophia
(B) Pantheon
(C) Parthenon
(D) Gol Gumbaz

Gate 2011 1 marks

The triangular space formed by two consecutive arches is

(A) Tympanum
(B) Spandrel
(C) Regula
(D) Extrados