HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE

ASSIGNMENT – I
SET – II

SUBMITTED TO – SUBMITTED BY –

AR. SHIKHA AGARWAL HIMALAYA

(1731680)
 HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE
ASSIGNMENT – I

SET – II

1. Write in detail about the buildings built during "Classicism".

Ans. Classicism –

- This is architecture that looks back to a Classical past.

- The roots of Classicism are in ancient Greek and Roman architecture - in the temple
architecture of ancient Greece and in the religious, military and civic architecture of the
Roman Empire.
- The style comprises a range of conventional forms, notably columns (known as orders)
each with fixed proportions and ornaments (especially Doric, Ionic and Corinthian).
- Proportion, symmetry and the relationship of individual parts to the whole also
characterize Classicism.

Neo Classicism –
- The term is associated with an academic revival of Classicism that began in France in the
mid 18th century when architects began to study classical buildings anew rather than later
derivatives or Renaissance examples.

Neoclassical buildings can be divided into three main types –

- Temple Style
- Palladian Style
- Classical Block Style

1. Temple Style Neoclassical Architecture

- Temple style buildings were uncommon during the Renaissance; architects of that period
focused mainly on applying classical elements to churches and modern buildings (e.g.
palazzos, villas).
-  Many temple style buildings feature a perish style (a continuous line of columns around
a building), which is rarely found in Renaissance architecture.

Pantheon - Its design exemplified the neoclassical return to a strictly logical use of

classical architectural elements.
- The Pantheon is a cruciform building with a high dome over the crossing and lower
saucer-shaped domes (covered by a sloping roof) over the four arms.
- The facade, like that of the Roman Pantheon, is formed by a porch of Corinthian columns
and triangular pediment attached to the ends of the eastern arm.

2. Palladian Style Neoclassical Architecture

- Palladian architecture is derived from the villas of Andrea Palladio, the greatest
architect of the Late Renaissance.
Characteristics –
- Plain exteriors based on rules of proportions.
- Interiors were richly decorated.
- Highly symmetrical.
- Symmetry and balance implemented by Greco-Roman
- Pediments over doors, windows, mirrors, fireplaces
- Palladian objects follow architectural elements

White House - The residence of the president of the United States is a large mansion
neoclassical Federal style, with details that echo classical Greek architecture are made.
 3. Classical Block Style Neoclassical Architecture –
- A classical block building features a vast rectangular (or square) plan, with a flat (or low-
lying) roof and an exterior rich in classical detail.
- The exterior is divided into multiple levels, each of which features a repeated classical
pattern, often a series of arches and/or columns.
- The overall impression of such a building is an enormous, classically-decorated
rectangular block.

Library of Sainte Genevieve – Influential example of a 19th century library is the

Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve in Paris.
- It was designed in the Neo-Greco style by Henri Labrouste.
- The library is 282 feet long and 95 feet wide.
- During this time, railways and iron-roofed rail station were becoming popular in Europe,
along with gaslights.
- The roof and floors of this library were framed in iron.
- The iron was not hidden by other material but instead was displayed.
- Sculpted plinths support the iron columns.
2. List architectural styles developed during modern architecture.
Ans. Modernism –
From a movement that eschewed ornamentation in favor of function, to a solution for
social issues, Modernist architecture has been influencing building design since before
the Second World War.

Characteristics Of Modernist Buildings –

- Form follows function

- The mixed use of cubic and cylindrical shapes
- Absence of ornamentation or moldings
- The use of metal, glass and exposed concrete
- Neutral colors like white, cream or grey
 Postmodernism –
- Postmodernism, a reaction to the formality of Modernism brought a shift from the flawed
beliefs that one-size solutions could fit all.
- The idea of progress – that we are gradually heading down a path towards a universal
goal – was replaced by ideas of plurality and diversity.
- Not a path, but a network of connections and reconnections. Whereas Modern thought
emphasized direction, order, coherence and stability, postmodern thought emphasizes
fragmentation, multiplicity and contingency.

Moving into the 21st century, Postmodernism split into several different architectural
styles including:

- High-tech architecture
- Neoclassicism
- Deconstructivism

Bibliography - https://www.lenmak.com/evolution-modernism-architecture/

3. Discuss influence of Indo-Saracenic styles on contemporary architecture?

Ans. It would be simplistic to imagine that a relaxed relationship between past and
present would lead automatically to an architecture that is a convincing fusion between
tradition and the demands of a society that is deeply conservative while at the same time
committed to industrial, materialistic progress.

- But this is only part of the problem facing an architect seeking to give his work a national
identity.
- The other major issue is to do with the nature of the country with its enormous regional,
climatic, geographical, cultural and religious differences; there are, in consequence,
fundamental differences in building materials used, as well as methods of construction
and design approaches.
- But, notwithstanding this structure against ‘regional identity’ it is obvious that any search
must end ultimately in a form of regionally-based design that is capable of expressing
local traditions of building and construction in a rational and logical manner (not
pastiche) while also being able to accommodate the demand for a wide spectrum of
building types.
- M. N. Ashish Ganju goes so far as to insist that ‘a contemporary architecture can only
emerge from the countryside’
- Laurie Baker explains the relevance of rural practice in more detail. ‘In Kerala nice
curled-up roofs, or Jaali [pierced windows/screens] patterns were a slow evolution, an
 empirical development to meet [local] needs with limited means to also suit the climate
and the cultural patterns, to cope with wild beasts or wild neighbours.

Bibliography - https://www.architectural-review.com/places/asia-pacific/india/variations-and-
traditions-the-search-for-a-modern-indian-architecture/10005898.article

4. Discuss planning of Jaipur city.

Ans. - It is a model of town planning- the first planned city in India. It is based on Hindu
systems of town planning and followed the principles prescribed in the Shilpa-shastra, an
ancient Indian treatise on architecture .according to this shastra the site should be divided
into grids or mandalas rangung from 2x 2 to 10 x 10.

- Planned according to the Prastara type of layout, which gives prominence to the cardinal
directions.
- Thus plan of jaipur is a grid of 3×3 with gridlines being the city’s main streets.

- The central axis of the town was laid from East to West between the gates of the
Sun(Suraj pol) and the moon(Chandpol)
- This was crossed by two roads at right angles dividing the town into nine almost square,
almost equally sized blocks, which were further sub divided by lanes and alleys all at
right angles.

- But by building the western boundary of the city right up to  the hill’s southern apex, it
provided a continuous line of defense.

- The mandala could not be complete in the NW due to the presence of the hills.

- On the other hand in the SE an extra square has been added that plugged the gap between
the city and the eastern hills.

-  South of the main road were four almost equal rectangles. The rectangle opposite the
palace has been broken up into two equal and smaller rectangles by the Chaura
Rasta.Thus altogether there are now five rectangles on the south of the main road called
Chowkris.

- On the North of the main road from West to East are the Purani Basti, the Palace and
Ramchandraji.

- The principal bazaar leads from the western gate in the city wall, The Chandpole, passing
in front of the Tripolia Gate, to the eastern city gate, the Surajpole.
-
- The palace building covered two blocks, the town six and the remaining ninth block was
not usable on account of steep hills. So this North-West ward was transferred to the
South-East corner of the city, making the shape of the plan as a whole asymmetrical
rather than square.
- The city’s division into nine wards was also in conformity with the Hindu caste system,
which necessitated the segregation of people belonging to different communities and
ranks.
- Even the lanes were named after the occupations of inhabitants such as Maniharon ka
Rasta, Thatheron ka Rasta & many others.
- Following the directions of the Hindu Shilpa shastra, width of the main streets & other
lanes were fixed. Thus the main streets of the city were 111ft. wide, secondary streets 55
ft. wide & the smaller ones 27ft. wide.

Bibliography - https://www.archinomy.com/?s=jaipur

5. Discuss the institutional buildings that exemplify Sikh Architecture.

Ans. Khalsa College, Amritsar is considered a gem of the Indo-Sarcenic style, which is
strongly influenced by traditional Indian and Mughal schools of architecture.
 Indo-Saracenic designs were introduced by British imperialist colonizers, promoting their
own sense of “rightful self-glorification”. Public and Government buildings were often
rendered on an intentionally grand scale, reflecting and promoting a notion of an
unassailable and invincible British Empire.
• Onion (bulbous) domes
• Overhanging eaves
• Pointed arches, cusped arches, or scalloped arches
• Vaulted roofs
• Domed kiosks
• Many miniature domes
• Domed chhatris
• Pinnacles
• Towers or minarets
• Harem windows
• Open pavilions or pavilions with Bangala roofs
• Pierced open arcading

6. Discuss the architectural features developed during Neo-classical period. Support

your answer with sketches.

Ans. Neoclassical architecture began in 1800s as a reaction to Rococo and Baroque architectural
styles.

Rococo and Baroque architecture focused on elaborate ornaments, detail and decoration.

Neoclassical architecture response was to go back to simple, massive, classical form of the Greek
and Roman architecture era.
Neoclassical Architectural Features, 1: Portico (porch), 2: Pediment, 3: Pilasters (columns), 4:
Capitals, 5: Tall, Light Colored Columns.

Neoclassical Architecture Characteristics

 Massive scale
 Symmetrical floor plans
 Simplicity of form
 Built to achieve classical perfection (from Greeks and Romans)
 Uncluttered appearance (minimum decorations)
 Roofs are flat and often domed
 Supported with tall columns (Doric or Ionic)
 Gardens around buildings follow geometric patterns
 Built in 1800s

7. Which planning techniques and architectural features are used in Rajasthan palaces
for the thermal comfort of users?

Ans. Temperature control can be done from the following techniques:

1. Orientation
2. Built form
3. Building envelope
4. Openings and shading devices
5. Open spaces- Courtyards and Outdoor space

Orientation –
The building is placed on the x-axis and y-axis; where the building shorter faces should
be on y-axis, reducing the heat gain inside building.

Roofs are in maximum contact with sun, thus affect the ambient temperature to a great
extent. The solar radiation heats the roof which in turn reradiates the heat onto the ceiling

and finally on to the room occupants.

Bibliography - https://issuu.com/ankitaarora7/docs/ankita_arora_architecture_research