Egyptian Architecture

The egyptian architectural period was a time a creative and risky design. Egyptians used sun-dried mud brick or stone to construct massive monuments that were usually religious based such as the Great Pyramid of Giza. Actually, a reoccuring characteristic of egyptian architecture is the pyramid design. This design provided for a strong long-lasting structure that could also be built up to a massive size. Major points in egyptian architecture that stand out to people are the sphinxs, pyramids, and large temples dedicated to the pharaoh and other high ranking people. Other noteable designs are the tombs and monuments depicting their gods. Imhotep was considered to be the first architect in history. (www.wikipedia.org) As one of the officials of the Pharaoh, Djoser, he designed the Pyramid of Djoser (the Step Pyramid) at Saqqara in Egypt in 2630 – 2611 BCE.^[10] He may have been responsible for the first known use of columns in architecture. As an instigator of Egyptian culture, Imhotep's idealized image lasted well into the Ptolemaic period. The Egyptian historian Manetho credited him with inventing the method of a stone-dressed building during Djoser's reign, though he was not the first to actually build with stone. Stone walling, flooring, lintels, and jambs had appeared sporadically during the Archaic Period, though it is true that a building of the Step Pyramid's size and made entirely out of stone had never before been constructed. Before Djoser, pharaohs were buried in mastaba tombs.

Neolithic Architectural Time Period (continued)

The Neolithic time period was considered to be the end of the Stone Age or even the New Stone Age. It was a time of primitive developement and rustic technology. The Neolithic Age is not necessarily a specific time period, but more of a cultural characteristic of a people during the Stone Age. Because technology was still limited in this era, the tools and resources mainly consisted of elements of nature like rock or mud or clay. The type of design most commonly seen in this time period is the stacking of rock or dried clay. Somehow, the people of this era were able to perch large boulders upon one another to form cave-like dwellings that were suitable for their needs. Here are a couple examples...(http://www.wikipedia.com/)

Architectural Styles Throughout History

This is the floor plan of my bedroom including bed, desk, closet, dresser, carpet, and chairs.



Basic Timeline of Architecture.

Neolithic Architecture(10,0000-3,000 B.C.)- The Neolithic peoples in the Levant, Anatolia, Syria, northern Mesopotamia and Central Asia were great builders, utilising mud-brick to construct houses and villages. At Çatalhöyük, houses were plastered and painted with elaborate scenes of humans and animals. In Europe, long houses built from wattle and daub were constructed. Elaborate tombs for the dead were also built. These tombs are particularly numerous in Ireland, where there are many thousand still in existence. Neolithic people in the British Isles built long barrows and chamber tombs for their dead and causewayed camps, henges flint mines and cursus monuments.

Egyptian Architecture(3,000 B.C.-373 A.D.)- The Nile valley has been the site of one of the most influential civilizations which developed a vast array of diverse structures encompassing ancient Egyptian architecture. The architectural monuments, which include the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Great Sphinx of Giza, are among the largest and most famous.Due to the scarcity of wood,^[1] the two predominant building materials used in ancient Egypt were sun-baked mud brick and stone, mainly limestone, but also sandstone and granite in considerable quantities.^[2] From the Old Kingdom onward, stone was generally reserved for tombs and temples, while bricks were used even for royal palaces, fortresses, the walls of temple precincts and towns, and for subsidiary buildings in temple complexes.

Greek Architecture(776-265 A.D.)-Common materials of Greek architecture were wood, used for supports and roof beams; plaster, used for sinks and bathtubs; unbaked brick, used for walls, especially for private homes; limestone and marble, used for columns, walls, and upper portions of temples and public buildings; terracotta, used for roof tiles and ornaments; and metals, especially bronze, used for decorative details. Architects of the Archaic and Classical periods used these building materials to construct five simple types of buildings: religious, civic, domestic, funerary, or recreational themes.

Roman Architecture(753-663 A.D.)-The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external Greek architecture for their own purposes, creating a new architectural style. The Romans absorbed Greek and Phoenician influence, apparent in many aspects closely related to architecture; for example, this can be seen in the introduction and use of the Triclinium in Roman villas as a place and manner of dining. The Romans, similarly, were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics and in the construction of arches.The use of vaults and arches together with a sound knowledge of building materials, for example, enabled them to achieve unprecedented successes in the construction of imposing structures for public use. Examples include the aqueducts of Rome, the Baths of Diocletian and the Baths of Caracalla, the basilicas and Colosseum.

Romanesque [900 - 1150 A.D.] fortress like cathedral construction seeking to be fire and destruction proof which influenced the use of thick heavy stone work including the roof.

Gothic [1120 - 1500 A.D.] deviated from classic architecture of the Greeks and Romans by using pointed arches (not semi-circular or restricted to two arches per vault) and ribbing along the intersections of all arches. Analogous to a web or skeletal framework from which the building is encased. This style of architecture saught to increase the amount of light by opening up the interior space with many narrow pointed arches per vault and was mainly used for cathedrals. High gothic architecture saw the creation of the flying buttresses which were extensions of ribs from interior vaults to the outside, connecting downward to the floor level to complete the skeletal structure.

Renaissance [1350 - 1500 A.D.] Italian art and architecture characterized by embellished Roman art and architecture

Baroque [1600 - 1750 A.D.] the age of discovery brings a passion to design. Overly ornate classical motifs and excentric mathematic architecture accented with bright colors and gold trim.

Romanticism [1750 - 1850 A.D.] opposition and departure from elaborate Baroque architecture, moving toward simple design which leads to Gothic revival.

Neoclassical [1850 - 1900 A.D.] Greek and Roman revival.

Art Nouveau [1850 - 1940 A.D.] Flambouyant ornate motifs with strong organic curves. Architecture depicts cross lined designs, rouned corners and intersecting planes.

Bauhaus [1925 - 1950 A.D.] exploitation of the international style with segmentation of space into modular units showcased in glass, screens and moveable walls. The movement emphasized the study of all aspects of art including performance, music, design, painting, and architecture as a cohesive whole.

Post Modern [1925 - 1980 A.D.] departure from generalized style into individual expression through innovative use of new building technology and materials to differentiate the structure, space and experience from all previous styles. The Guggenheim Museum by Frank LLoyd Wright exemplifies the flambouyant deviation from all previous architectural movements.

International Style [1910 A.D. - present ] open expanses characterized by planes made possible through reinforced steel and concrete of the industrial age. Juxtaposition of form with elongated horizontals emphasized as seen in the work of Frank Lloyd Wright's work. Ornamental use is discontinued in favor of minimalism. This style remains pevelant in today's architecture.

Bibliography

(http://www.seemydesign.com/) (http://www.wikipedia.org/)

Subcategories of Architecture of Personal Intrest

Interior design-  is a spatial art and environmental design form and practice. It is the process through which the interiors of buildings are designed, concerned with all aspects of the human uses of structural spaces. Median annual wages of wage-and-salary architects were $70,320 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $53,480 and $91,870. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,320, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $119,220. Those just starting their internships can expect to earn considerably less.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interior_architecture).
(interiorcomplex.com)


Landscape architecture- is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, and/or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions that will produce the desired outcome. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscape_architecture)
(gaialandscapedesignbackgrounds.net)


Architectural History- is the study of changes in the history of architecture in different countries and time periods. It covers the contributions from different countries of a strong architectural background as well as how architecture developed through the ages.
(soa.utexas.edu)

(photographersdirect.com)

(hickerphoto.com)

The last three images kind of represent what I think are substantial changes in architecture through history.

Architectural technologist- is the profession also known as a building technologist is someone that provides building design services and solutions. They are trained in architectural technology, building design, and construction. An architectural technologist usually is the overseer of the construction of a building. An architectural technologist is able to start with a building concept and fully follow it through to it's completion.
       I am most interested in being an architectural technologist because it is an exciting thing to take an idea from your mind and see it brought to life by your instruction. I feel as though my talents are suited for this particular job description because I am creative and can handle leading employees through the construction process. I think that an architectural technoligist is a kind of jack-of-all-trades sort of person and is a higher level employee which I like.
       The schooling required for this falls into three categories: education, experience, and examination. To start with an architect has to enroll in an architectural university which will require 4 to 5 years to complete. Then, most aspiring architects take on an internship for about two years to get experience in the world of architecture. After the internship, all architects have to undergo the ARE (architectural registration exams) to acquire their license. Once an architect has their license they have to be admitted to a firm. Once in a firm an architect usually starts at a low rank moves up the business ladder. A school with an architectural major in landscape architecture, environmental design, and architectural technology is Virginia College. I am not sure whether or not I want to attend college for architecture, but this is a possible example of a school i would go to.