Thinking Architecturally

 Architecture has changed over the years. As time has run it's course architecture has gone from an intellectual practice to a art form and is presently a strict discipline. 

In the past architecture has been used for worship, practicality, monument and storytelling.

A large chunk of these examples can be found in ancient Greek culture, for example:

  • The pyramids of Thebes are a display.
  • The pyramids of Giza are monumental, they show power.
  • The Sphinx of Giza has a long story behind it giving it a narrative.
As time developed architecture became more infused with art and buildings became more ornate and decorative. This was used to display power, status and importance to an extent. Examples of some ornate buildings are the ones that are typically associated with eastern Asian cultures, these being building such as temples, pagodas and palaces. A more specific example is the Qin (Epang) palace in Xianyang, China.



-Qing dynasty painting of Epang Palace by Yuan Yao



The development from practical to ornamental can be seen in the five classical orders of architecture, those being:
  • Tuscan
  • Doric
  • Ionic
  • Corinthian
  • Composite


You can see the how the designs become more intricate and complex as we move through the orders. More details and intricate shapes are added to the designs as the orders progress, this could be due to the development of tools and techniques over the years and as civilisations grow and expand their lines of thinking and ideas become more complex with the use of past generations of knowledge, traditions of old are developed and expanded upon which gives birth to new ideas.

The Colosseum in Rome has Doric columns on the first level, Ionic columns on the second and Corinthian columns on the third. The Doric Columns were used as they were considered the strongest which meant that the thinner columns could be used for the higher levels. Furthermore, I believe that the Colosseum was designed this way as the more ornate and decorative columns of the orders at the time i.e. the Ionic and Corinthian were used for the upper levels as the carvings and décor made it appear as if they were decorating and beautifying the structure as it approached the heavens, towards the realm of the deities.

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