Overview
This lecture introduces the fundamentals of architecture, its practical, symbolic, and aesthetic purposes, and explores the main structural methods and considerations in building design.
The Nature and Importance of Architecture
- Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing spaces for practical, symbolic, and aesthetic uses.
- Everyday architecture shapes spaces for living, working, storing, cooking, and gathering.
Factors Influencing Architecture
- Building materials are influenced by local resources (e.g., wood in Scandinavia, mudbrick in Egypt).
- Prestigious materials like stone were used for elite structures (e.g., pyramids), while common structures used less durable materials.
- The sponsor of a building affects its features (e.g., castles for kings, eco-friendly homes).
- Surrounding buildings indicate the building’s function (e.g., houses in neighborhoods, offices in business districts).
- The structure's purpose (e.g., home, monument, workshop) directly impacts design choices like lighting and window size.
Forces and Construction Methods
- Buildings must withstand compression (pushing), tension (stretching), bending, and combinations of these forces.
- Three main construction methods:
- Loadbearing: stacking blocks or planks.
- Skeletal: framework wrapped in an outer material (common for modern homes).
- Molding: pouring liquid material (e.g., concrete) into molds to harden.
Key Architectural Techniques
- Dry masonry: structures held together by the weight of stones without mortar (e.g., Newgrange, Ireland).
- Corbelling: stacking stones so they move inward at the top to form an early dome shape.
- Post and lintel: vertical posts support a horizontal beam (e.g., Stonehenge); weak under heavy loads above the lintel.
- Arch: a curved structure that distributes weight evenly into columns, preventing collapse (e.g., Hagia Sophia).
- Vault: a series of arches forming a curving ceiling or roof; groin vaults are intersecting arches.
- Dome: an arch rotated 360 degrees, with weight transferred to supporting piers via pendentives (e.g., Hagia Sophia).
- Truss: triangular frameworks supporting roofs, allowing steep angles for snow and rain runoff (e.g., Borgund Stave Church, Scandinavia).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Loadbearing — Construction method stacking blocks or planks for support.
- Skeletal Method — Framework structure covered with exterior materials.
- Molding Method — Pouring liquid material into a mold to form solid structures.
- Dry Masonry — Building technique using only the weight of stones, no mortar.
- Corbelling — Stone layers stacked to gradually project inward, forming a dome.
- Post and Lintel — Horizontal beam supported by vertical posts.
- Arch — Curved structure spanning an opening, distributing weight.
- Vault — Series of arches forming a curved roof or ceiling.
- Dome — Rotated arch forming a spherical ceiling; weight carried by piers.
- Truss — Triangular framework for roof support.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review examples of each construction method discussed.
- Consider visiting local buildings to identify structural techniques covered in the lecture.