Architecture of the Americas

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Architecture of the Architecture of the Americas Americas


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Architecture of the Americas Architecture of the Americas

Began in 569 ADBegan in 569 AD

A civilization carried A civilization carried

by the different tribes of by the different tribes of the North, Central, andthe North, Central, andSouth AmericasSouth Americas

Architecture is Architecture is

characterized bycharacterized bytemples sitting on top of temples sitting on top of step and steepstep and steeppyramidspyramids


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A. A. Geographical Geographical M

ountain ranges with tropical rainforestsM

ountain ranges with tropical rainforestsSituated in flat landsSituated in flat lands

B.B. Geological and MaterialsGeological and MaterialsW allsW alls stones, rubbles, limestone, adobe, bricksstones, rubbles, limestone, adobe, bricksRoofsRoofs wattles, poles, thatch, mortar roofingwattles, poles, thatch, mortar roofingM arkers, totems (freeM arkers, totems (free- -standing columns)standing columns) wood,wood,stonestone

INFLUENCES:INFLUENCES:


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TYP ICAL M AP OF E MP IRETYP ICAL M AP OF E MP IRE


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C.C. C limateC limate Almost tropical to tropical Almost tropical to tropicalDry and rainy seasonsDry and rainy seasons

D.D. R eligionR eligionP agan (Jaguar God)P agan (Jaguar God) ceremonial templesceremonial templesP reP re--ChristianChristian - - Sacrificial areasSacrificial areas



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E.E. S ocial S ocial T ribalT ribal -- villagesvillagesRuled by kingsRuled by kings palaces (mainpalaces (mainstructure) and substructure) and sub- - structuresstructuresBall games and outdoor activitiesBall games and outdoor activities

open courtsopen courts

F.F. H istorical H istorical Unique to themselvesUnique to themselvesP reP re--S panish eraS panish era



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A. A.N

orth AmericaN

orth America Anazasi and Pu

eblo Anazasi and Pu

eblo(USA)(USA)

P yramids grouped in ceremonial plazasP yramids grouped in ceremonial plazas

Rectangular and square plans (sometimesRectangular and square plans (sometimescircular and serpentcircular and serpent- -like or totemic figureslike or totemic figuresRitual areas were hiddenRitual areas were hidden

ARCHI T EC T URAL CHARAC T ERS: ARCHI T EC T URAL CHARAC T ERS:


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B.B. MesoMeso--America America Olmec, Maya,Olmec, Maya,Zapotec, Toltec, and Aztec Zapotec, Toltec, and Aztec

(M exico, Guatemala, Belize, etc.)(M exico, Guatemala, Belize, etc.)T emples:T emples:

Had upper zonesHad upper zonesT erraces, stairs, insets, outsets, and sculpturalT erraces, stairs, insets, outsets, and sculpturalpanelspanelsP ainted red masonry or burnished whiteP ainted red masonry or burnished whitealfardasalfardas stair stair--side rampsside rampsUse of tableroUse of tablero- -talude profiletalude profile



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Alfardas Alfardas


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TYPICAL ELEVATION OF A PYRAMIDTYPICAL ELEVATION OF A PYRAMID


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A FRIEZE A FRIEZE - -T

EMP

LE DECORAT

ION ELEM

ENTT

EMP

LE DECORAT

ION ELEM

ENT


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P alaces:P alaces:Built as group of buildings around a courtyardBuilt as group of buildings around a courtyardor quadranglesor quadrangles

Flat beams and mortar roofsFlat beams and mortar roofs



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C.C. S ou th AmericaS ou th America IncaInca(P eru)(P eru)

Covered stone and modelled stucco were usedCovered stone and modelled stucco were used

for decorationsfor decorationsFormal architecture in gridiron planFormal architecture in gridiron planBureaucratic and institutionalized architectureBureaucratic and institutionalized architecture



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1.1. CERE MON IAL P LATFO R M S CERE MON IAL P LATFO R M S -- A setting for public A setting for publicceremonies, in the upper part they had altars,ceremonies, in the upper part they had altars,incense burners, flags and sometimes aincense burners, flags and sometimes a tzompantli,tzompantli,a line of sticks with skulls at the top.a line of sticks with skulls at the top.

BUILDING TYP ES:BUILDING TYP ES:

Chichen Itza, M exico

Chichen Itza,M

exico

Uxmal, M exico


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2 .2 . T E M P LE T E M P LE Sat atop pyramids and had plenty of Sat atop pyramids and had plenty of external decorative designs. T hey had internalexternal decorative designs. T hey had internal

chambers and a sanctuary, which served as anchambers and a sanctuary, which served as analtar.altar.


Tankah, M exico

P alenque, M exico

T ulum, M exico

Chichen itza, M exico


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3 .3 . P ALACES P ALACES -- T hey were situatedT hey were situated alone or inalone or in

groupsgroups over platforms, inside of the ceremonialover platforms, inside of the ceremonialcenters. T hey had flat walls, which were decoratedcenters. T hey had flat walls, which were decoratedwith friezes. T heir many internal chambers servedwith friezes. T heir many internal chambers servedas habitats for the governing class.as habitats for the governing class.


Uaxactun, Guatemala Kabah,M exico Uxmal,

M exico


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4 .4 . TOW ERS TOW ERS -- Had astronomical functions, serving asHad astronomical functions, serving as

calendar markers that used the Sun and Venus.calendar markers that used the Sun and Venus.Some of them were also observatories.Some of them were also observatories.


Xlabpak, M exico

Nocuchich, M exico

P alenque, M exico

P uerto Rico, M exico

Chanchen, M exico


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5 .5 . PYR AMIDS PYR AMIDS -- T he pyramids were composed of stepT he pyramids were composed of step- -

like foundations (usually nine), and one centrallike foundations (usually nine), and one centralstaircase that communicates with a temple on thestaircase that communicates with a temple on thetopmost platform.topmost platform.


Coba, M exico El M irador, Guatemala Uxmal, M exico


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6 .6 . B ALL C OU R T S B ALL C OU R T S -- A game of cosmic significance. A game of cosmic significance.T he field is located at the entrance; at the sidesT he field is located at the entrance; at the sides

there are lateral slopes that end in walls, on whichthere are lateral slopes that end in walls, on whichthere are rings for the ball to pass through. Abovethere are rings for the ball to pass through. Abovethe walls were platforms for the public andthe walls were platforms for the public andceremonial temples.ceremonial temples.


Copan, Honduras

Zaculeu, Guatemala


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7 .7 . DOM ES TI C ARCH IT EC TU RE DOM ES TI C ARCH IT EC TU RE Houses were madeHouses were madeof perishable organic materials. T he house was oneof perishable organic materials. T he house was one

rectangular room with rounded corners, norectangular room with rounded corners, nowindows, and one central door built to face east.windows, and one central door built to face east.

8 .8 . TOT E M S TOT E M S FreeFree--standing columns used as markersstanding columns used as markersbut most of the times used to record past eventsbut most of the times used to record past events

9 .9 . OT HER T YPES OF C ONS T R U C TION OT HER T YPES OF C ONS T R U C TION -- T hey M ayaT hey M ayaoften builtoften built ch u lt u nes ( ch u lt u nes ( underground cisterns), steamunderground cisterns), steambaths, sewer systems,baths, sewer systems, sacbessacbes (white roads), and(white roads), andwalls that were used to delineate private lots.walls that were used to delineate private lots.



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EXAMP LES:EXAMP LES:

P latform of the Human SacrificeP latform of the Human Sacrifice


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Rituals at the Sacrificial P latformRituals at the Sacrificial P latform


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T EMP LEST EMP LES


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1 . North Acropolis2. Temple of the Grand Jaguar 3. Temple of the M asks4. Temple of the Inscriptions5. Southern Acropolis6. P laza of the Seven Temples7. T he Lost W orld8. Temple of the Grand P riest9. Temple of the Bicephalic Serpent

10 . T win P yramids A Temple Complex, T ikal, Guatemala A Temple Complex, T ikal, Guatemala


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A Temple, T ikal, Guatemala A Temple, T ikal, Guatemala


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T ikal Temple 1 , GuatemalaT ikal Temple 1 , Guatemala


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Templo de los Guerreros ( Temple of the W arriors) at Chichen Itza


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Temple of the Sun, P alenque, M exico


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BALL COUR T SBALL COUR T S


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T he Ballcourt at Copan, HodurasT he Ballcourt at Copan, Hoduras


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T he Ballcourt at Copan, HodurasT he Ballcourt at Copan, Hoduras


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T he Great Ballcourt at Chichen ItzaT he Great Ballcourt at Chichen Itza


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P yramidP yramid


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M onk's M ound, CahokiaIllinois, USA


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T he Avenue of the Dead, Teotihuacan, M exico


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P yramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, M exicoP yramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, M exico


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P yramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, M exicoP yramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, M exico


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T he P yramid of Altun Ha, Belize


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T he P yramid of Calacmul, Campache, M exico


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El Caracol, Belize


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P alenque, Chiapas, M exico


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P yramid of the M agician, Uxmal, M exico


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T he P yramid of the M agician at Uxmal.


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La Gran P yramide ( T he Great P yramid) at Uxmal


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Huallamarca P yramid, P eru


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A model of the pyramid structure


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Inside of the pyramid


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T he Governors P alaceT he Governors P alaceUxmal, M exicoUxmal, M exico


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Nunnery QuadrangleNunnery QuadrangleUxmal, M exicoUxmal, M exico


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Detail of "Nunnery Quadrangle"facade as drawn by Catherwood


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ObservatoryT

ower ObservatoryT

ower


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El Caracol Observatory TempleEl Caracol Observatory Temple


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T otem columnsT otem columns


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Totem poles at Cahokia


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Square Tower HouseM esa Verde, Colorado


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Taos P ueblo, Arizona, USA (circa 1 92 0 )


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M achu P icchu, P eruM achu P icchu, P eru(Old P eak)(Old P eak)


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Structural frameworkStructural frameworkof the M aya houseof the M aya house


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S ou rces:S ou rces:

History of Architecture,History of Architecture, S ir B anister Fletcher S ir B anister Fletcher T he Story of ArchitectureT he Story of Architecture , Jonathan Glancey , Jonathan Glancey Encarta EncyclopediaEncarta Encyclopedia

History books and Related M aterialsHistory books and Related M aterialsInternet sites and web pagesInternet sites and web pages

Architecture of the Americas

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Transcript of Architecture of the Americas