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Egypt, Greece, and Rome Summary

Some thoughts about lessons learned from Egyptian, Greek, and Roman architecture and design...

Egypt

-Story telling through artifacts such as hieroglyphics on columns

-axial progression

-symmetry

-somethings stand out with surroundings while others blend in

Greece

-use of columns, but in a different way than Egypt

-brighter colors and symbolism with wall decor and furniture

-open spaces to let natural light in

Rome

-incorporated more gardens/courtyards

-buildings were very different from Egypt and Greece's signature use of columns

-experimented with different ways to design

-fresco paintings covered walls and artifacts

IAR 222: Reading Comp 2

1. Hersey talks about sacrifice in terms of columns and how they relate to humans and animals. I can see how people in that time could use this idea to influence columns. The column base is named after a foot. The molding on the base is named from rope, twisted or slung, which would have been used in the sacrifice. Most importantly is the way the head is related to the top of the column. I have never thought of how sacrifice could be influential and related to a column until reading Hersey's passage but I think it is a valid point.

2. Macaulay’s story does a good job of comically telling a story of something that really does happen to us these days. I have misunderstood information from the internet before because the source was not a good source. Anyone can truly put information on the internet that isn’t completely reliable or reliable at all. This is explained in a way in Macaulay’s article. The main character thinks the hotel room is a tomb and that everyday items such as a tv, shower cap, and remote are ritualistic items meant for preserving ones afterlife in their tomb. He misinterprets everything because he is just using his own thoughts to determine what things are. One way to avoid mis-reading evidence online is to only use sources that are legit and scholarly. Another way is to avoid using Wikipedia for information and websites that end in “.com”.

3. Queen Hatshepsut’s temple was designed to blend in with its surroundings, a valley. It is much smaller of a scale and stands out less than the pyramids, which are tombs for pharaohs. During that time, men were viewed as higher up than women. This is one reason why the design of Queen Hatshepsut’s temple was the way it was. Because she was a woman, it was less grand and noticeable than the pyramids.

4. The temple, Hypostyle Hall from Ancient Egypt and the residential palace, Palace of Knossos are similar yet different in several ways and show how Egyptian and Greek civilizations played off each other. Both these buildings used columns as a major support system. They each had some sort of decoration on either the columns or buildings. Hypostyle Hall had ornamental carvings that told stories about the pharaoh to show his power. Whereas the Palace used ornament through fresco wall paintings and furniture. Both had a control of natural light, using the breaks in the columns for lighting and effect. One main difference I notice is the structural system used to build each building. Hypostyle Hall used the post and lintel system with columns and a roof. The Palace of Knossos included the use of columns for support, walls and staircases. Another detail that makes them different is the progression and navigation of space. Hypostyle Hall had a strong axial progression and a direct, linear navigation of space. There was really only one way to walk once you entered and that was straight to the end where the statue Amun stood. The Palace of Knossos is asymmetric without a clear floor plan.

Hypostyle Hall

http://skyline-tours.com/mon.html

Palace of Knossos

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/142758/119046/Portion-of-the-reconstructed-Minoan-palace-Knossos-Crete-Greece

5. In Ancient Egypt, hierarchy played a big role in the culture of the people and their eternal life. The higher somebody was in society, the grander their place of living was, and if they were really important than they would have a tomb or temple. From Harwood pages 60-61, a variety of examples of Egyptian furniture are shown. Some of which are very simple and plain, while others are immensely decorated with gold and silver and other furnishings. All of the decorative chairs shown belonged to kings or queens. This relates back to hierarchy and the fact that people are likely to see these chairs after the king or queen dies. Whereas the more simple chairs most likely belonged to low or middle class people. This is why I believe most of the furniture was lightweight and minimal, they weren’t seen by anyone except the owners unless they belonged to a king or queen.

6. As previously talked about, the roles of men and women in ancient Egypt and Greece were that men were higher up than women. This is clearly shown in the pictures on these two urns. Women appear as if they are idolizing the men pictured or serving them. The women are either touching the man or handing him something and then man is sitting at his throne relaxing. This really shows how women were depicted then – much lower than men. This relates back to how different Queens’ temples were than Kings or Pharaohs’. Queens’ temples or tombs, such as Queen Hatshepsut, are smaller and less noticeable and grand than the pyramids.

Assignment 1 - Portfolio

Artist Studio Space Project - Environmental Design 2

Multi-media Drawings - Design Visualization 2

Ritual Project - Environmental Design 2

Luminaire - Environmental Design 1

WIndow Installment - Environmental Design 2

Keepsake - Environmental Design 1

Assignment 2 - Diagramming: Mining For Partis

Point: Theories

In our first unit this semester, Theories, we have talked about just that – a variety of different theories regarding architecture and design. There are reasons behind just about everything that has been designed, whether it relates back to a series of deep research or experiments, objects and buildings aren’t designed because they just look good.

On our first day, we talked about architecture and buildings using a comparison of a basic bicycle shed and the Lincoln Cathedral. While some may think the basic shed isn’t really architecture and that it is “just” a building, I think they are wrong. Everything is designed with a purpose. The shed was designed with considerations in mind and made to the needs of a bicyclist. This brings me to the next topic of that day, Considerations in design. There are several factors that can impact our designs: inside and outside relationships, the third dimension, the fourth dimension (time), light, color, materials, and furnishings. If all of these considerations are applied, I think that is one way to make good design.

Another important lesson from this unit was from the words of Sir Henry Wotton – “In architecture, as in all operative arts, the end must direct the operation, the end is to build well. Well building hath 3 conditions: commodity, firmness and delight.” This is great way to look at architecture and design by these three factors. Commodity in design is the ability to have function and a purpose. Firmness involves stability. Delight is simply beauty in the design and the ability to interest someone. I think there are many buildings that really can include all three of these words from Wotten. Although I think if the considerations from our first lesson can be applied with Wotten’s to make it stronger in design.

Aedicule is the way of looking at architecture and design. It is the simplest form of architecture, a roof and 4 posts basically. All buildings are made up of aedicules. This is like the foundation or building block of everything. It seems like everything that is done in the world has a similar system and building block. For example in science and experiments, there is the scientific method - a system of steps to help prepare and follow through with an experiment. With culinary, there are recipes and ways to start cooking so you can add stuff in later to change and manipulate the recipe. And in design, there is our building block and other different ways or rules to do things. Once you have the foundation, you can reflect back on the classical world, look at alternative inspiration, or explore new ideas.

The Design Cycle is another thing we learned about in this unit. This was adapted from anthropology and tries to explain why some styles last and some don’t. Many ideas can factor into why things go out of style: vernacular and high style differences, regional influences, and many others. The ability for something to stay in style must be because it is truly great design.

The nautilus shell best describes the unit, in my opinion. Roth discusses architecture being the unavoidable art and how we must design for the environment around us. Also, architecture is a physical record of human activity (Roth, 3). The mollusk builds its nautilus shell around itself to house them. It is a hard shell of calcium carbonate and the mollusk adds on as it becomes bigger, keeping the part of shell that was there before. This shell describes what Roth was talking about. The shell also is an example of Wotton’s, commodity, firmness, and delight. It shows commodity because it has a function of being the mollusks home and protection. It shows firmness because of the strong materials its made of that can protect the mollusk. It shows delight because the shell is interesting and nice to look at. The nautilus shell can be related to theories throughout this unit, which is why I think it is a great image to represent the unit.

http://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/SODA_chapter5.html