Joeseph Strauss

Joseph Strauss caught my eye because he is the engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge. I realize that his title may not include 'architect' but it takes a great deal of architectural ingenuity to design and construct a bridge of such great difficulty.

"He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio to an artistic family of German origin, having a mother who was a pianist and a father who was a writer and painter.^[1] He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1892, serving as both class poet and president. Strauss was a founding member of the chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity while at the University of Cincinnati. Strauss graduated with a degree in economics and business." (www.wikipedia.org)

After his graduation from Cincinnati, he began work on bascule bridges under the firm of  Ralph Modjeski. Besides the Golden Gate Bridge, Strauss designed the Burnside Bridge and the Lewis and Clark Bridge. Strauss died a year after the completion of the Golden Gate Bridge. He died in Los Angeles, California.

Joseph B. Strauss Memorial (flickr.com)

Final Exam Link

http://my.RCampus.com/tstonie11

Green Architecture

Green Architecture or Sustainable Architecture is a modern approach to architecture that deals with the environmental and political issues of the current time. The details include the ecological and efficient design of every bulding or structure as well as designing the buildings with energy and environmental concerns. This is a relatively new and fast spreading take on architecture.

(landscape-painting.org)



(robaid.com)

Frank Lloyd Wright (1887-1959)

Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Wisconsin in 1867. His mother was a great influence on his thourough education encouraging him to learn art, music, and take intrest in nature. This intrest in nature is what characterizes Wright's work with his buildings encorporating the nature surrounding the building. Another intrest Wright took up as a young child was geometry which also characterized his work. This mastery in geometry allowed for Wright to expand common shaped of buildings and set the first form of American architecture. Wright did not like the fact that all previous and current architectural forms were originating in Europe and so he created the first true American form. Although he wanted a strictly new American form, Wright did draw some of his inspiration from Japan and visited frequently. Frank Lloyd Wright is the most influencial architect in history and set the standard for architectural excellence.

(en.wikipedia.org)

Post Modern Architecture

Post Modern Architecture was certified as a style of architecture in the 1970's but continues its influence into todays architecture. This style is heralded by the return of wit, ornament, and reference and is a sort of melting pot of previous styles of architecture. This mosaic of styles took familiar classic styles and twisted them to form a new style of uniqueness. "Perhaps most obviously, architects rediscovered the expressive and symbolic value of architectural elements and forms that had evolved through centuries of building which had been abandoned by the modern style." (http://www.wikipedia.org/) Post Modern Architecture is also well known as neo-eclectic and is characterized by unusual angles and textures. Modern architects think of Post Modern buildings as vulgar and resemble shopping malls, but nonetheless Post Modern Architecture was an important stepping stone in the design of our current world in the structural sense.

(engagingplaces.org.uk)


(activerain.com)

Bridge Structure (cont)

I have not made contact with Mrs. Lafasciano yet, im not sure if I will or not yet. I have all the materials I need but thank you!

Bauhaus Architecture

Bauhaus architecture, whose founding father was Walter Gropius, developed in Germany in the 1920s and later in the U.S., in the 1930s. The American form of this architectural style was dubbed the International Style after Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and other leaders of Bauhaus migrated to the U.S., with the Nazi’s growing influence. The Bauhaus school in Dessau was closed on April 11th, 1933, by the police, at the insistence of the National Socialist government. (jewishvirtuallibrary.org) Bauhaus buildings are usually cubic which means many right angles, they have smooth facades and open floor plans.

(thecornerreport.com)

Bridge Project Outline

For the bridge project I have decided to design, build, and test (if possible) the strength of the designed bridge. I will make a layout design of the side structure and dorsal and ventral sides. I will decide on the best design, in terms of structural integrity, and construct the design using wood glue and popsicle sticks. Then I would like to test the structural integrity of the bridge in two potential ways. The first would be to use the Tech Ed teachers bridge strength tester and the second would be to use objects of sequencial weight and submit the bridge design to an alloted time.

Neoclassical Architecture

Neoclassical Architectrue meaning "new" classical is a form of architecture starting in the mid 18th century. This form of architecture is a newer version of Greek and Roman architecture focusing on walls, pillars, and domes. A key characteristic of Neoclassical Architecture is that this form focused on the separate parts of a building and how each section has its own personal feel and contribution to the entire structure. Neoclassical Architecture is still around in this century as well.
In Britain a number of architects are active in the neoclassical style. Two new university Libraries, Quinlan Terry's Maitland Robinson Library at Downing College and ADAM Architecture's Sackler Library illustrate that the approach taken can range from the traditional, in the former case, to the unconventional, in the latter case. The majority of new neoclassical buildings in Britain are private houses. Firms like Francis Johnson & Partners specialise in new country houses. (www.wikipedia.org)

(http://www.frontdoor.com/)

International Architecture

International architecture was a modern movement during the 1920s and 1930s. The men who coined the term "International Architecture" were Henry Russel Hitchcock and Philip Johnson. These men wrote a book to record the International Exhibition of Modern Architecture in 1932 which sparked this category of architecture. Hitchcock and Johnson identified three different principles which outlined this new style. The first was the expression of volume rather than mass. The second was balance rather than preconceived symmetry. The third and final principle was expulsion of applied ornament. International Architecture was a new modern form that advanced pre-set principles of architecture.

archdaily.com


(bustler.net)

Skyscrapers

Skyscapers are tall continuously inhabited buildings made of reinforced concrete, steel, and glass. Skyscrapers are usually buisiness buildings for large companys. The building is contructed in stories and adapted to the needs of each story. The basic outline for constructing a skyscraper is a steel skeleton with concrete acting as the muscles, tendons, and ligamments. The skin to the building is the glass. Glass is usually he majority of the exterior of the building which is somewhat ironic because glass is usually associated with weakness, but is a major component in the strongest structures in the world. Technological advances like air conditioning, elevators, and water pumps allow the buildings to be practical in their function. Until the 19th century, buildings of six stories or more was rare. Skyscrapers are extravigant feats of architectural engineering and have essentially maximized the number of employees in a building that takes up a small amount of area. Skyscrapers have advanced the output of production for businesses and have, in turn, advanced business and the economy.

(http://www.coolipadwallpapers.com/cityscapes/skyscrapers-11-big.htm)

Arts and Crafts Architecture

The Arts and Crafts Movement was a style of decorative arts that originated in England from the 1880s-1930s. Insitgated by William Morris, an author and an artist, the Arts and Crafts Movement developed the most in the British Isles, but spread into Europe and North America. The movement encouraged the use of quality materials and true craftsmanship. It was really and anti-industrial movement and seems to be the first rebellious movement against standard society.

William Morris wallpaper design (blog.designsquish.com)


(coloarts-crafts.org)

Bridge Structure Analysis

Bridges are key aspects of travel and transportation for human life spanning back thousands of years. They provide a solution to the unworkable terrain that the Earth is made of. They can span large rivers, lakes, or oceans as well as deep canyons or trenches. There are four major types of bridges at this current age. The first bridge is a beam bridge. This bridge is a single beam that is supported by piers. This bridge isn't as structurally sound as the other designs, but it is a simple bridge that can provide crossing of around 250ft. The next type of bridge is the truss bridge. This a complex bridge made up of mostly triangles. In detail, the bridge has two arms that extend from each of the two piers. Diagonal steel tubes hold these arms in place. As well as the bridge having arms supporting the first two spans, the bridge has cantilever arms that support a third span. In terms of strength, I would award this bridge with the gold medal. It seems to be the most structurally sound bridge that withstands the greatest weight. The third type of bridge is the arch bridge. This bridge's origin dates back to Roman times when they would use arched to contruct great architecural wonders like the Collesseum. Arch bridges either consist of steel or concrete and can span up to 800ft. The final type of bridge is the suspension bridge. This bridge is the most advanced and current design used today. It can span an impressive 2,000 to 7,000 feet. These bridges are literally suspended by massive cables hung from the giant supportive "U" bars and attached to the roadway. The major support these bridges have come from the large steel pillars from which the "U" bars are attached. Bridges are complex feats of architectural and egineering excellence. These structures are a very important tool used by humans every single day.

Beam Bridge (pbs.org)


Truss Bridge (sunnysideoflouisville.org)


Arch Bridge (ce530learningobjectsjjh.wikispaces.com)


Suspension Bridge (theodora.com)

Art Nouveau

Art Nouveau is an international philosophy shared by artists and architects during the early 20th century. it focused on the visual arts and decorative expression.  The goal of this movement was to try to make art an everyday part of life and an aspect of the environment around us. Art noveau literally translates from the French word meaning "new art". It is most popular in Europe and the British Islands, but is known around the world.This style was greatly influenced by the Czech artist Alphonse Mucha. His style was originally known as Style Mucha but transformed into Art Noveau. Art Noveau was essentially a spectacular transition from 19th century art into the new twentieth century art and reallly brought about a new advanced age in the artistic world.
Stained glass piece. (chantal-stainedglasspatterns.com)

Tulips (harmonia.meccahosting.com)

Romanticism and Baroque Architecture

Romanticism was a time of enlightened thinking. People began to view their world around them as beautiful and open for discovery. It began in the second half of the 18th century and was strengthened during the industrial revolution. With this new way of thinking came a rebellious revolt against most political and social standards set by the Age of Enlightenment.


Baroque architecture began in the late sixteenth century and the major aspects of its style are new explorations in form, light, shadow, and dramatic intensity. "Whereas the Renaissance drew on the wealth and power of the Italian courts and was a blend of secular and religious forces, the Baroque was, initially at least, directly linked to the Counter-Reformation, a movement within the Catholic Church to reform itself in response to the Protestant Reformation. Baroque architecture and its embellishments were on the one hand more accessible to the emotions and on the other hand, a visible statement of the wealth and power of the Church. The new style manifested itself in particular in the context of the new religious orders, like the Theatines and the Jesuits who aimed to improve popular piety." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_architecture) Architects that had the most influence on Baroque architecture were Gianlorenzo Bernini, Francesco Borromini and the painter Pietro da Cortona. Each of these visionaries added their own piece of thought to Baroque architecture and evolved it into the well known form seen today. The most well known areasto see this style of architecture today is in Germany and Mexico.

Berlin Cathedral (bekah286.pbworks.com)

Mexico City (thefirstpost.co.uk)

Renaissance Architecture

"Renaissance architecture began in Florence, Italy in the early 15th century. A common feature of renaissance architecture was the dome. Almost all renaissance cathedrals had domes. Many domes had paintings or decorations on the ceilings. French renaissance architecture had outer walls, and towers, and the domes were usually only on the inside of a building. Some good examples of renaissance architecture with domes are the Duomo of Florence, and St. Peter's cathedral in Rome. Famous architects and artists such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo Di Vinci, and Filippo Brunelleschi were shapers of renaissance architecture." (library.thinkquest.org/16545/data/low/​renai.htm)
St. Peters(visual-arts-cork.com)

Chateau de Chambord (tourismnewsinfo.com)

Gothic Architecture

Gothic style architecture arose during the mid to late medieval times and included Romanesque and Renaissance architectural styles. Gothic architecture originated in the 12th century in France and lasted until the 16th century. The common name that most people attributed to Gothic architecture was the "French Style". It's characteristics included the pointed arch, the ribbed vault, and the flying butress. Examples of these are shown below. Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe. Major materials used are stone, brick, and a sort of mortar to hold the bricks and stone together. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_architecture)
The names of Robert de Luzarches, Thomas de Cormont and Renaud de Cormont could once be found on an inlaid "labyrinth" in the floor of the nave of Amiens Cathedral, built between 1220-1236, but this has not been preserved. (http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/architecture/architects.html)

Pointed arch (flickr.com)


Ribbed vault (shutterstock.com)

Flying Buttress (flickr.com)

My House

Classical Architecture

Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance. Classical architecture has inspired many more recent architects and has led to revivals such as neoclassical architecture from the mid-18th century and the Greek Revival of the 19th century.(www.wikipedia.org)
Some elements can still be found in today's architecture. For example, the stone domes of our nation's capitol is a great example of the Classic Architecture's rendition of a domed building complex. Also, the brackets as well as the arches have the same basic idea. The architects of that time made every building symmetrical down to the smallest component.
A well known example of Classical Architecture is the  Greek Parthenon. (shown below)

(rozanehmagazine.com)
I am Irish and found a website describing architecture of the Classical period in Ireland. The first Classical public building was the Royal Hospital in Dublin. Designed by Sir William Robinson and built in 1680-84, it was a home for retired soldiers modelled on Les Invalides in Paris. The buildings are ranged around an arcaded courtyard, with the great hall and chapel on one side and the living quarters on the other three. The building is now completely restored. (http://www.ireland-information.com/reference/classic.html)


This is the Royal Hospital. (irelandposters.com)

Google Sketchup (My Bedroom)