Lecture Notes on Architectural Styles

Ancient Architecture

Ancient Egyptian Architecture

• Characteristics: Monumental stone structures, mud brick, limestone, intricate hieroglyphs.
• Notable Examples: Pyramids of Giza, Temple of Karnak, Luxor Temple.
• Time Period: Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic period (3100 BCE - 30 BCE).
• Significance: Reflects religious beliefs and societal hierarchy. Harmonious blend of spirituality and architecture.

Ancient Greek Architecture

• Characteristics: Emphasis on symmetry, harmony, proportion; columnar forms (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian).
• Notable Examples: Parthenon, Temple of Hephaestus, Erechtheion.
• Time Period: Classical period (800 BCE - 323 BCE).
• Significance: Embodies democratic, philosophical, and athletic ideals.

Medieval Architecture

Byzantine Architecture

• Characteristics: Blend of Roman and Byzantine styles; arches, vaults, domes.
• Notable Examples: Hagia Sophia, Basilica of San Vitali.
• Time Period: 330 AD - 1453 AD.

Romanesque Architecture

• Characteristics: Massive structures, thick walls, rounded arches, sturdy pillars, decorative arcading.
• Notable Examples: Durham Cathedral, Spire Cathedral, Santiago de Compostela.
• Time Period: 10th - 12th centuries.
• Significance: Reflects influence of Roman Catholic Church.

Gothic Architecture

• Characteristics: Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, stained glass windows.
• Notable Examples: Notre Dame, Chartres Cathedral.
• Time Period: 12th century France.

Renaissance to Baroque

Renaissance Architecture

• Characteristics: Symmetry, proportion, geometric regularity, inspiration from classical antiquity.
• Notable Examples: St. Peter's Basilica, Florence Cathedral.
• Time Period: 14th - 16th centuries.

Tudor Architecture

• Characteristics: Timber framing, steeply pitched roofs, decorative half-timbering.
• Notable Examples: Hampton Court Palace, Anne Hathaway's Cottage.
• Time Period: Late 15th - early 17th centuries.

Baroque Architecture

• Characteristics: Dramatic, ornate features, grandeur, movement, emotion.
• Notable Examples: St. Peter’s Basilica, Palace of Versailles.
• Time Period: 17th century.

Rococo Architecture

• Characteristics: Exuberant, asymmetrical designs, intricate ornamentation.
• Notable Examples: Palace of Versailles, Schönbrunn Palace.
• Time Period: 18th century.

Neoclassicism to Modernism

Neoclassical Architecture

• Characteristics: Grandeur, symmetry, simplicity, inspired by Greek and Roman architecture.
• Notable Examples: Brandenburger Gate, Arc de Triomphe, United States Capitol.
• Time Period: Late 18th - early 19th centuries.

Victorian Architecture

• Characteristics: Elaborate ornamentation, various sub-styles (Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne).
• Notable Examples: Houses of Parliament, Biltmore Estate.
• Time Period: 1837 - 1901.

Art Nouveau

• Characteristics: Flowing lines, dynamic movement, organic shapes.
• Notable Examples: Paris Metro entrances, Antoni Gaudi's works.
• Time Period: Late 19th - early 20th centuries.

Arts and Crafts Architecture

• Characteristics: Craftsmanship, simplicity, natural materials.
• Notable Examples: Red House, Gamble House.
• Time Period: 1880 - 1910.

Art Deco

• Characteristics: Sleek lines, geometric shapes, rich materials.
• Notable Examples: Chrysler Building, Palais de Chaillot.
• Time Period: 1920s - early 1930s.

Modernism

• Characteristics: Functionality, minimalism, clean lines.
• Notable Examples: Bauhaus School, Villa Savoy.
• Time Period: Late 19th - early 20th centuries.

Brutalism

• Characteristics: Raw concrete surfaces, geometric forms, minimal ornamentation.
• Notable Examples: Barbican Estate, Boston City Hall.
• Time Period: 1950s - 1970s.

Postmodernism

• Characteristics: Experimentation, combination of styles, use of irony.
• Notable Examples: AT&T building, Piazza d'Italia.
• Time Period: Late 20th century.

Contemporary Architecture

• Characteristics: Innovation, sustainability, functionality.
• Notable Examples: Burj Khalifa, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
• Time Period: Late 20th century to present.