HISTORICAL STYLES BLOG: ANCIENT AND CLASSIC CIVILISATIONS
Greek architecture was large, bold and symmetrical. They are most noted for their use of columns and for being the first civilisation that constructed for art as well as functionality.
The Greek key is an ancient ornamental motif consisting of a continuous band arranged in rectilinear forms. Greek keys were common in Greek architecture and this building in Brunswick displays this design beautifully.
The Greek key design was the most important symbol in Ancient Greece as it represented infinity and unity. Most ancient Greek temples incorporate the sign of the Greek key.
The acanthus leaf Corbel can be found throughout architectural ornamentation in ancient Greece. The acanthus leaf Corbel is among the oldest of the traditional themes because the acanthus was a common plant in the Greek Isles. There was a Greek city named Acanthus. Acantha was a nymph in Greek mythology associated with the plant. There are many buildings in Melbourne that Corbels can be found, this office block in the city displays them brilliantly.
Frieze is the middle member of an entablature, between the architrave and cornice. The Frieze on this building has a long horizontal decorative panel.
There were three orders of architecture in Greece. The Doric and Ionic orders were the most common and the Corinthian order wasn’t as popular. This building in Brunswick uses the Ionic architectural style as it was elegant and thin with a curled top. The Ionic was used for smaller buildings and interiors. It can be easily recognised because of the two scrolls called volutes. The word volute comes from the Latin word meaning scroll.
The Romans built some incredible buildings. They were famous for their advancement in architecture.
The most famous item of Roman architecture is the temple.
All Roman temples have a porch, stylobate, column, capital, architrave, frieze and pediment.
The State Library of Victoria has all of these elements. The porch has a rectangular shape and is topped by a triangle-shaped roof gable called a pediment.
Romans used three types of columns. The State Library has the Corinthian style. This design was very ornate with a top that looked like leaves. Typically, Corinthian columns are slender and fluted.
This building also has monumental lettering. Few monumental buildings were without dignified inscriptions incised into their facades.
The Arch was one of the important elements of Roman architecture. Arches were used to create wider and taller structures. They also had the influence to astound and glorify. This building on Sydney Road, reveals how the arch can enhance a simple facade.
Cement was arguably the greatest Roman contribution to architecture. Cement was used to supplement arch construction which allowed the Romans to expand buildings.
Roman cement was called opus caementicium.
In Roman architecture the pilaster increasingly became more and more decorative rather than structural, as it served to break up an otherwise empty wall.
The Pilasters often appear on the sides of a door frame or window opening on the facade of a building. The Brunswick Town Hall demonstrates how pilasters can enhance a bare wall.
The Greeks added a third type of column to the old Doric and Ionic styles called the Corinthian column. The Greeks never actually used the Corinithian column a great deal, however it was very popular in Roman architecture. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Glancey, J., Architecture, A penguin Company, London, 2006.
Hernandez, A., Neoclassical on College Hill, http://proteus.brown.edu/greekpast/4523 (collected 11/3/2102)Ware, R., Illustrated Glossary of Classical Architecture, http://www.doric-column.com/glossary_classical_architecture.html (collected 12/3/2012)
Webb, M., Roman World, http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortrium/webbromans3.html (collected 12/3/2012)
No comments:
Post a Comment