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Contribution Of Greek To Architecture
Contribution Of Greek To Architecture
Contribution Of Greek To Architecture
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The very basis of American architecture, as displayed by the monuments on buildings in Washington DC, has its very roots in classical Greek architecture. Many of the most distinct and easily recognizable buildings in our capital have roots of Greek architecture. Although many Americans think that they do not know or have not seen Greek architecture, most have. Greek architecture does not only influence our capital, but also many of our major cities, as well as buildings in our local towns. The widespread use of Greek architecture is an acclaim to the magnificent style of the architecture.
Greek architecture is one of the most commonly used and recognizable styles in the world. Many major cities across the world, both ancient and modern, used this style of architecture. There are many styles of Greek architecture, and these styles were created at different times within the Greek culture. During the time period when Washington DC was beginning to expand into a major city, there was a revival of Greek architecture. DC used a variety of Greek styles, which can be seen displayed in many of the most famous buildings in the city.
One reason why Greek architecture flourished was because of the rules and regulations established in Washington DC, starting in the late nineteenth century. In 1910, the Height of Buildings Act was passed, which said that buildings could not exceed 130 feet in height, or be any wider than the street that they were on, plus twenty feet. These restrictions fostered the design of Greek architecture. This height restriction eliminated the building of skyscrapers, which was becoming popular at this time. Since Greek Architecture was tailored more towards shorter structures than large, tall buildings, it found a hom...
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...fluence of Greek architecture in our buildings today. This style of architecture would not be used if it were not for the beauty, practicality, and magnificence of the style.
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When studying an ancient culture, it is important for one to comprehend the many unique elements that make up that culture. The study of architecture enables historians to deepen their understanding of a culture and identify the modern influences of that society. Architecture is an essential aspect of ancient Greek culture and its long lasting influence is evident in most cities today. The Greek Revival style dominated American architecture during the nineteenth century. Many prosperous citizens believed that the ancient Greece architecture embodied the spirit of democracy. When analyzing the architecture of New York City, one will find many examples of Greek Revival architecture, the most notable examples being the Old Custom House on 28 Wall Street, the first National City Bank building on 55 Wall Street, and Saint Peter’s Church at 22 Barclay Street.
The Parthenon in Athens, for example, is a dedication to Athena; the goddess of wisdom and the patron of Athens (OI). As depicted in The Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece (Doc6), this architectural piece is shown to have Doric columns that have a cylindrical shape seeming to be plain but sturdy. In comparison to the Doric style, the Ionic style was more elegant as it was taller and more decorative; engraved with vertical lines and topped with a curved rectangular shape. The Corinthian design is similar to the Ionic design because of the elaborate designs at the end of the pillars; it features more detailed designs that seem to be based around nature such as the inclusion of leaves and flowers. There are many buildings today that include these types of columns in their architectural design mainly in monuments and government buildings. According to the depiction of the White House in Greek Architecture (Doc8), the columns of the White House most closely resemble the Ionic style. Greek architecture are one of the many important legacies that Western civilization had inherited, influencing many architectural elements and building types used in art and architecture
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Hemingway, Colette. "Architecture in Ancient Greece." Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
In the Community chapter, Upton studies how the architecture of societies has represented the Americans th...
Hunt, William Dudley Jr. “Beaux Arts, Ecole Des.” Hunt Encyclopedia of American Architecture, 1980 ed.
Grecian architecture formed its own conventions in the ancient world, buildings in Greece were built with meticulous mathematic design. Great buildings were believed to be symmetrical, and perfectly proportioned [Document 7]. Another prominent aspect of ancient Greek architecture is the extensive use of columns. There were three basic types used, Doric which were plain capitals, ionic in which the capitals were fashioned after ram’s horns, and Corinthian which were made to mirror acanthus leaves.
middle of paper ... ... Bolton, Arthur T. The architecture of Robert & James Adam. London, Country Life. 1922.
Throughout history, architecture has been employed in the service of politics, as symbols of the state. Architecture is therefore shaped by the national traditions in the pursuit of projects of identity, modernity, power, and prestige. A building is not merely a walled structure, but a metaphor for national ideology as it embodies the civic life of the citizens that it houses, as well as the ideals of the nation within which it resides. This paper will explore three varying architectural periods and examine the interaction between nationalism and the building styles that developed either as a means to express it.
James F. O'Gorman, Dennis E. McGrath. ABC of Architecture. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998. Document. October 2013.
It will discuss the different types of dwellings throughout recorded human history from the perspective of how art and culture influences building design. This will fulfill my own curiosity to understand the different influences on homebuilding and design over the years and how people have dealt with these changes.
Banham, Reyner. "The Plot Against Bernard Maybeck." Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians March 1984, p33-37
Temko, Allan. (1993). No Way to Build a Ballpark: and Other Irreverent Essays on Architecture. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
Tzonis, Alexander, and Phoebi Giannisi. Classical Greek Architecture: The Construction of the Modern. Paris: Flammarion, 2004.
...on. It is important to understand the history and mechanics of Greek architecture in order to fully appreciate it. The ancient Greeks were very well known for their beautiful temples. They were able to devise several different ways to create beautiful buildings and implement those designs. The ancient Greeks set the architectural foundations for the rest of the world with their three orders. The three styles, or orders, are the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The three distinctive styles are referred to as orders because they display proportionate, ordered, and coordinated parts. The Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders serve a functional purpose, as well as lend so much beauty to structures. “All the world’s culture culminated in Greece, and Greece in Athens, all Athens in its Acropolis, all the Acropolis in the Parthenon” (Nardo, 61).