Point: Foundations

During the foundations unit most of the structures that we have discussed transcended the way that architecture was viewed in their respective cultures and have taken original ideas of building further. Through out these time periods new methods are developed for more effective forms and structures. We also see the use of arches, vaulted ceilings, flying buttresses, and domes, which have lasting impacts on buildings to come. The scale of buildings are also taken to another level, as seen in the Roman temples to the Cathedrals during the “Dark Ages” and the idea of the Wu-Wu, emphasizing on the importance of the power of verticality. The idea of stacking also occurs both in the structures like the Roman Coliseum and the Cologne Cathedral. The use of stacking allowed buildings to be built upward with stronger support. Arches were also used to help support and strengthen these structures. However we see the use of flying buttresses in the Cathedrals, which was a new idea to help expand the idea of verticality and reaching Heaven. Stacking doesn't only serve the purpose of firmness, but also serves as a commodity because of it allows more room to be used, and ads visual delight to buildings like the cathedrals. At the same time the Romans stacked with the use of arches for structural support because horizontal stacking was the most important to the Romans.

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We are also able to see how important the elements of Circles are in two of the cultures we studied in this unit which were Rome and England. The idea of the circle was important to the function of worship in religious structures like the Pantheon in Rome. This can be compared to the Stonehenge in England. The Stonehenge is one of the most mysterious structures that stands today, however there are hints indicating that it could have been used for religious purposes. The idea of using a circle to worship creates an area where there is complete equality among those who are in the structure, but the verticality and scale of the structure is what emphasizes on the function of the building. In the case of the pantheon the size of the space emphasized on the power of the gods and made one feel small in comparison to their might almost forcing religious experience on them.
We also see in this unit the use of line as a form of building. It is evident with the rise of Mycenaean architecture. Unlike the earlier Minoans, whose architecture was based on a carefree culture that took pleasure out of life, the Mycenaeans built large walls around the city of Mycenae in order to fortify it out of fear of invasions. Another culture that also uses this form of building is the Roman culture with the use of structures like roads and aqueducts. While there were not exactly buildings or places of worship, these structures helped to transport people and items freely along an axial plane. For example the aqueducts transported water into the city and help provide for the baths. At the same time the roads of Rome all met at crossroads at some point or another, which almost supports the phrase “All roads lead to Rome.”


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