Architectural Styles: A Visual Guide PDF
Preview Architectural Styles: A Visual Guide
architectural styles a visual guide architectural styles a visual guide Margaret Fletcher Illustrations by Robbie Polley Princeton University Press Princeton and Oxford CONTENTS Introduction 6 2 Medieval and Renaissance Early Christian and Byzantine 68 1 Ancient and Classical Islamic 74 Ancient Middle East 16 Romanesque 80 Ancient Egypt 20 Gothic 86 Pre-Columbian 26 Medieval Fortifications 94 Pre-Classical 32 Renaissance 100 Ancient Greek 36 Mannerism 106 Ancient Roman 40 Early and Classical China 48 3 Baroque to Art Nouveau Early and Classical Japan 54 Baroque and Rococo 112 Early and Classical India 60 Palladianism 120 Georgian 126 Classical Revival 132 Gothic Revival 138 Exotic Revival 144 Beaux Arts 152 Arts and Crafts 158 Art Nouveau 162 Church of St. Leopold, Vienna, Austria 4 Modern and Contemporary 5 Elements Art Deco 170 Domes 216 Expressionism 176 Columns 222 Modernism 178 Towers 232 Constructivism 186 Arches and Arcades 238 Brutalism 190 Doorways and Entrances 244 Metabolism 194 Windows 248 High-Tech 196 Pediments and Gables 258 Postmodernism 200 Roofs 264 Deconstructivism 204 Vaulting 270 Eco-Architecture 208 Stairways 274 Biomorphism 210 Parametric 212 Glossary 278 Index 282 Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Deir el-Bahari, Egypt INTRODUCTION Architecture tells stories. Extant historic architecture allows us to reflect on and revel in the built environment of our ancestors, and to glimpse into their world. It connects us directly to our personal and collective past. Learning about architectural history allows us to travel back in time and understand more about previous cultures and civilizations, and discover what was important to their people. Was it religion? Self-expression? Cultural institutions? Urban or rural living? Wealth or family? One can stand in the footprints of Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, Shakespeare, or any unknown individual, and begin to envision how life used to be. Looking at architecture through all periods of time is important, not only because it formulates our basic understanding of the past, but also because it enriches our understanding of how each period influenced the next. Was it a progression, a rebellion, or an outright rejection of what came before? It allows us to trace the evolution of the built environment, how architecture has changed over time, and how cross-cultural interactions have traveled across continents to spread knowledge. The relationship between 6 INTRODUCTION Santa Costanza, Rome, Italy architecture and culture is symbiotic: architecture impacts culture and society, and in turn culture and society impact architecture. The man-made heritage of architecture has shaped human experience, and continues to do so today. This book organizes architecture by multiple means—time period, location, aesthetics, cultural and societal impact— all cataloged within a style. Defining architectural styles and the history of architecture has the luxury of reflection, although it should be noted that the idea of an architectural style is a relatively new concept. There is an abundance of stylistic and developmental overlap that occurs when looking at architecture over several thousand years. The very fact that we can categorize our built environment in this way reveals interesting inclinations that have developed over time. It is important to remember that style categories develop reflectively, so it is particularly challenging to discuss the development of architecture in contemporary times; this categorization has more to do with descriptive qualities than with an actual defined style because, for the moment, we lack time for reflection. INTRODUCTION 7 Gamble House, Pasadena, California, US Contemporary architecture is moving at a rapid pace and its architects are often not keen to be labeled. They work within a set of objectives that are important both to the academy of architecture and to their individual clients; their work tends to fall into multiple categories and can be cataloged in a variety of ways. This book attempts to define the most compelling features of each piece of contemporary architecture, to encourage understanding of current practice. But remember, as style is a reflective process, and not the goal of a designer, these should be considered as rather fluid characterizations. At any given time in history, the people, the culture, and the architects respond to the current situation. They act in the now, the present of that time. This book, by design, is a visual narrative that will take you on a drawn journey through history. The illustrator, Robbie Polley, has created a masterful collection of architectural drawings that transcend photography and bring a warmth and human touch to the representation of the architectural examples. Each one is constructed with a careful hand and an eye for stylistic clarity. Humans are visual creatures; we understand 8 INTRODUCTION
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