CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• A style of architecture begun in Greece after the Persian Wars (400’s BC)

• This style of architecture spread through the known world by the work of Alexander the Great in what became known as the “Hellenistic World”.

• The Romans were next to pick up this Greek style and added their own touches to Classical Architecture.

• It was revived during the Renaissance. It still is the most influential style used today.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Classical Architecture can be divided into three phases: Greek, Hellenistic, Roman.

• The Classical orders are ancient styles of classical building design distinguished by the type of column and entablature (architrave, frieze and cornise) used.

• There are five recognized orders: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian are Greek; Tuscan and Composite are Roman.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Parts of a column:– 3 parts: base, shaft, capital.

• Parts of a classical building– Upper horizontal part: entablature (part

supported by the column).– Entablature is divided into: architrave, frieze,

cornice.– The capital is used to distinguish between the

orders.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Parts of a column:– Capital: function

is to concentrate weight of entablature onto the shaft

– Entablature: 3 layers:

• Architrave: bottom

• Frieze: middle

• Cornice: top

capital

Shaft

Base

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Measurement: columns are measured as a ratio. It is the diameter of the shaft at its base compared to the height of the column

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Greek Orders:– Doric:

• originated on Greek mainland.• Simplest of the orders.• Short, heavy columns with plain,

round capitals.• 4-8 diameters in height.• Shaft: channeled with 20 flutes

– Frieze of Doric order is divided into triglyphs and metopes:

• Triglyph: 3 vertical bands separated by grooves

• Metopes: plain or carved reliefs.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Ionic: Originated in Ionia.– Slender, fluted shaft.– Large base– Capital: Two volutes (scrolls).– 24 flutes in shaft– Doric triglyph and metope.– Frieze: continuous ornament: carved figures.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Corinthian order:– Most ornate of the

orders.– Slender, fluted

column, 24 flutes– Ornate capital

decorated with acanthus leaves.

• Carved with two rows of leaves and four scrolls.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Roman Orders:– Tuscan Order:

• very plain design, with a plain shaft, and a simple capital, base, and frieze.

• Unfluted shaft.• In proportions it is similar to the Doric order.

– Composite Order:• Mixed order. Combines the volutes (scrolls) of the

Ionic with the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian order.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Entablature: Upper section of wall that is supported by columns. Consists of architrave, frieze, cornice.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Architrave: lowest section of classic entablature. Rests directly on the capital of the column.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Frieze: Part of entablature between the architrave and cornice. Largely decorative and is the most important part of the entablature.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Cornice: Upper most section of entablature.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Elements of Classical Architecture:

• Triglyph: rectangular block with 3 flat vertical band, often decorates a frieze but can decorate other places as well.

• Metope:

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Metope: part of the frieze, plain or carved.

metope

triglyph

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

• Pediment: Triangular space formed at the roof on a classical temple.

Doric Ionic

Corinthian