DR ABDURRAHMAN MOHAMEDDR ABDURRAHMAN MOHAMED

A WORLD HISTORY OF ARCHITECTUREA WORLD HISTORY OF ARCHITECTUREMarian MoffettMarian MoffettMichael Fazio Michael Fazio Lawrence WodehouseLawrence Wodehouse

6. Byzantine Architecture6. Byzantine Architecture

UNIVERSITY OF BAHRAINCOLLEGE OF ENGINEERINGDEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING & ARCHITECTUREBSc. in ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMSUMMER 2012ARCG 211– HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE I

Byzantium is said to have been founded in the seventh Byzantium is said to have been founded in the seventh century B.C., and was a Greek colony as early as the century B.C., and was a Greek colony as early as the fourth century B.C. fourth century B.C.

Byzantine architecture is that which was developed at Byzantine architecture is that which was developed at Byzantium on the removal of the capital from Rome to Byzantium on the removal of the capital from Rome to that city. It includes not only the buildings in Byzantium that city. It includes not only the buildings in Byzantium but also those which were erected under its influence, as but also those which were erected under its influence, as at Ravenna and Venice, also in Greece, Russia, and at Ravenna and Venice, also in Greece, Russia, and elsewhere.elsewhere.

The Byzantine style was carried on until Ottoman The Byzantine style was carried on until Ottoman conquest in A.D. 1453, when it became the capital of the conquest in A.D. 1453, when it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.Ottoman Empire.

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER.ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER.

One characteristic of much Byzantine architecture is a One characteristic of much Byzantine architecture is a clear preference for domes on both clear preference for domes on both basilicanbasilican and centrally and centrally planned churches as symbolic of the heavenly sphere, planned churches as symbolic of the heavenly sphere, complementary to the earthly realm of floor and walls complementary to the earthly realm of floor and walls below.below.

The general architectural character depends on the The general architectural character depends on the development of the dome, induced by the adoption of development of the dome, induced by the adoption of circular and polygonal plans for churches, tombs and circular and polygonal plans for churches, tombs and baptisteries. baptisteries.

This is in contrast with the Romanesque style, which This is in contrast with the Romanesque style, which developed the vault in Western and Northern Europedeveloped the vault in Western and Northern Europe

Although no line can be stated as separating distinctively Although no line can be stated as separating distinctively the Early Christian and Byzantine styles, yet as already the Early Christian and Byzantine styles, yet as already stated the stated the BasilicanBasilican type is characteristic of the former type is characteristic of the former and the domed church with pendentives of the latter.and the domed church with pendentives of the latter.

The core of the wall was generally of concrete, as in the The core of the wall was generally of concrete, as in the Roman period, but the manner in which the bricks of the Roman period, but the manner in which the bricks of the casing were arranged contributed greatly to the casing were arranged contributed greatly to the decoration of the exterior. decoration of the exterior.

They were not always laid horizontally, but sometimes They were not always laid horizontally, but sometimes obliquely, sometimes in the chevron or herringobliquely, sometimes in the chevron or herring--bone bone pattern, and in many other forms of similar design, giving pattern, and in many other forms of similar design, giving great richness and variety to the facades. great richness and variety to the facades.

Domes were then placed over square apartments, their Domes were then placed over square apartments, their bases being brought to a circle by means of "pendentivesbases being brought to a circle by means of "pendentives““

Early Byzantine churchesEarly Byzantine churches

The church of Saint The church of Saint ApollinareApollinare in in ClasseClasse at Ravenna, at Ravenna, constructed under Justinian's patronage from 532 to 549, constructed under Justinian's patronage from 532 to 549, is an example of a woodenis an example of a wooden--roofed basilica without roofed basilica without transepts (Fig. ). transepts (Fig. ).

In the Century after its construction, the apse floor was In the Century after its construction, the apse floor was raised to permit access to the crypt tomb of raised to permit access to the crypt tomb of ApollinarisApollinaris..

http://www.google.com.bh/imgres?imgurl=http

S. Apollinaire in Classe, Ravenna, 532-49.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ravenna_BW_1.JPG

The innovative domes seen in Justinian's churches are The innovative domes seen in Justinian's churches are notable contributions to architectural history. notable contributions to architectural history.

HagiaHagia Sophia (332Sophia (332--37) is one of the great buildings of the 37) is one of the great buildings of the world and is without question the masterpiece of world and is without question the masterpiece of ByzamineByzamine archiltecturcarchiltecturc (Figs.). (Figs.).

Its Its ardlitectsardlitects are are AnthemiusAnthemius of of TrallesTralles and and IsidorusIsidorus. Of . Of MjletusMjletus. Both were mathematicians and scientists skilled . Both were mathematicians and scientists skilled in mechanics, geometry, and engineering. in mechanics, geometry, and engineering.

In plan it is a basilica with a dome above In plan it is a basilica with a dome above the the central central space, complemented by two space, complemented by two semidomessemidomes along the along the longitudinal axis. longitudinal axis.

Its 107Its 107--footfoot-- diameter central dome, supported on diameter central dome, supported on pendentives, rises 180 feet above the floor and is flanked pendentives, rises 180 feet above the floor and is flanked by two lower by two lower semidomessemidomes of the same diameter, a clear of the same diameter, a clear span of nearly 250 feet. span of nearly 250 feet.

Aisles with galleries above range on either side, while a Aisles with galleries above range on either side, while a colonnaded atrium (no longer extant) and groincolonnaded atrium (no longer extant) and groin--vaulted vaulted double narthex precede the church proper. double narthex precede the church proper.

The necessary supports of the dome do not intrude on the The necessary supports of the dome do not intrude on the internal space making it floating effortlessly above the internal space making it floating effortlessly above the billowing interior volumes. Nothing could be farther from billowing interior volumes. Nothing could be farther from the actual case. While the brick used does constitute a the actual case. While the brick used does constitute a relatively light construction material and the vaults are relatively light construction material and the vaults are amazingly thin to minimize both thrust and weight, the amazingly thin to minimize both thrust and weight, the size of the building means that the gravity forces are size of the building means that the gravity forces are large. large.

The forty windows at the base of the dome are set The forty windows at the base of the dome are set between buttresses that stabilize the junction of between buttresses that stabilize the junction of do me do me and and pendentives. pendentives.

CENTRALLY PLANNED BYZANTINE CHURCHES

Byzantine fondness for domeByzantine fondness for dome--building and building and contributed to the development of the most contributed to the development of the most characteristic characteristic ByzantiByzanti ne churches, which had ne churches, which had circular or Greekcircular or Greek--cross plans. cross plans.

Churches of S. Churches of S. SergiusSergius and Bacchus (527and Bacchus (527--36) in 36) in Constantinople and S. Vitale (538Constantinople and S. Vitale (538--48) in Ravenna 48) in Ravenna illustrate two variations on the theme of central illustrate two variations on the theme of central plans. plans.

S. S. SergiusSergius and Bacchus (Fig.) is essentially a and Bacchus (Fig.) is essentially a domed octagon surrounded by aisles and galleries domed octagon surrounded by aisles and galleries encased in a square, encased in a square,

S. Vitale's octagonal dome is echoed by octagonal S. Vitale's octagonal dome is echoed by octagonal galleries and aisles. galleries and aisles.

The strong centralizing tendencies of both The strong centralizing tendencies of both churches are countered somewhat by apsidal churches are countered somewhat by apsidal projections opposite the narthex side, where the projections opposite the narthex side, where the interior space is more fluid. interior space is more fluid.

In S. In S. SergiusSergius and Bacchus, the eight piers and Bacchus, the eight piers supporting the dome are interspersed with two supporting the dome are interspersed with two columns, set alternately in semicircular and columns, set alternately in semicircular and straight alignments, so that the domed area straight alignments, so that the domed area penetrates the surrounding spaces. penetrates the surrounding spaces.