Architecture From way back then till now

Mesopotamia• Ancient art and architecture

– With the rise of civilization = increase developments in art and architecture

• Hanging Gardens of Babylon• Tower of Babel

PyramidsThe Reoccurrence of the Pyramid:– This shape recurs throughout

history and in diverse cultures, many of which have thought the shape itself had magic powers.

– Man-made landmarks like Mesopotamian Ziggurats or flat-sided Egyptian pyramids dominated their landscapes, creating a visual effect as stunning as the amount of effort required to build them.

Pyramids

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Pyramids

The Reoccurrence of the Pyramid:– The Mayan stepped pyramids in Mexico and I.M. Pei’s glass entrance to the

Louvre in Paris are two examples of the pyramid shape of different times in different cultures.

– Is it merely coincidence that the pyramids of Mesopotamia, the cradle of architecture, have served as a symbolic shape for 20th century architects?

Architect: I.M. PeiA Master of Modern Architecture:– Born in China (1917) before

heading to the US for further studies

– Started as a lowly architect, part of a major building company

– Eventually moved on to start an independent firm I. M. Pei & Associates

– Internationally acclaimed Architect with designs built across the globe

Architect: I.M. Pei

The John F Kennedy Library in Boston MA

Architect: I.M. Pei

Luce Memorial Chapel, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan

Greek ArchitectureArchitecture for the Ages:– Considered one of the most

beautiful and influential buildings of all time.

– Greeks set the standard for building architectural monuments based on the rules of symmetry and ideal portions.

– The Parthenon indirectly inspired the temple format of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Capital and many more iconic buildings of modern times.

Inspired Architecture

Virginia State Capitol, Richmond Virginia, USA

Roman ArchitectureRoman appropriation:– Romans were greatly inspired by the

Greeks and sought to mimic their styles

– However, over time, the Romans developed their own spin on things as their civilization grew to become the greatest empire the world has ever known.

– The Greeks shined at innovation and creating new and beautiful things. Their structures were idealized and ‘romantic’. Meanwhile, the Romans were practical people who brought forth advancement in engineering.

Inspired Architecture

United States Capitol, Washington D.C

Late Renaissance

St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome

Baroque

St. Paul’s Cathedral, England

The Industrial Age

The Crystal Palace, 1850-1935. London, England.

The Industrial Age

The Eiffel Tower, 1889. Paris, France.

Relationship btw Art and Society

Is Art a reflection of Society? Discuss.

The Birth of Modern Architecture

The Beginnings of ‘Form follows Function’:– New materials, technology and

needs were drastically changing the profession of architecture.

– Breaking free from ancient Greek and Roman prototypes

– The changing face of the a growing cityscape

– The rise of skyscrapers– America comes into focus as a

budding center of modern design– The Empire State Building (1931)

Modern ArchitectureGeometry to Live In:– Victorian homes were bulky and

complicated and Modernist architects changed all that.

– Gone were the historical ornament designs. The goal was now ‘high-tech’ and clean designs.

– Science and industry was the new ‘religion’. The house became a ‘machine’ for living.

– Rise of an International Style.– The common characteristics of the

International style include: • a radical simplification of form• a rejection of ornament• adoption of glass, steel and concrete

as preferred materials

Architect: Frank Lloyd WrightA Genius in his own Mind:– “Not only do I intend to be the

greatest architect who has yet lived, but the greatest architect of all time.”

– Instead on natural forms and materials. Respect for the environment.

– Started with designing “Prairie Houses” which blend with their natural setting.

– Moved on to a wide array of styles, designing based on inspiration and whim.

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

Falling Water (Kaufmann House), 1936, Pennsylvania.

De Stijl (the style)

Rietveld Schröder House (1924), Netherlands

Guggenheim Museum, NY

Guggenheim Museum (1959), New York

Architect: Frank GehryThe Magician:– “It was by accident that I got

into the fish image.”– While his contemporaries were

referring back to the Greeks for inspiration, Gehry went further back to pre-historic times and drew inspiration from fish.

– Gehry has built an architectural career spanning four decades and has produced public and private buildings in America, Europe and Asia.

– “The Bilbao effect."

Architect: Frank Gehry

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (1997), Spain

Architect: Frank Gehry

Architect: Frank Gehry

Walt Disney Concert Hall (2003), Los Angeles

Architect: Frank Gehry

Dancing House(2003), Prague

Architect: Frank Gehry

Dancing House(2003), Prague

Architect: Santiago CalatravaBridging Engineering and Art:– He observes and takes

inspiration from nature and the human body.

– With all the studies and knowledge, Santiago Calatrava reconciles two materials that do not always come together easily: art and engineering.

– With a knowledge of modern engineering and its technologies, he can make his paintings and his inspiration become great works of art in form of large-scale sculptures.

– http://abduzeedo.com/architect-day-santiago-calatrava

Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Lyon Airport Station, Lyon, France

Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Orient Station, Lisbon, Portugal

Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Campo Volantin Bridge, Bilbao, Spain

Architect: Santiago Calatrava

Assignment #01Design a structure using ______________as inspiration.

You will be required to build a scaled model of your design.