OPUS 4

This week we learned that in architecture there seems to be and archetype, prototype and hybrid for most or all building forms. This is to say that ideas for buildings generally originate from older buildings - the new buildings take the best aspects from the old, and improve the ideas. Therefore the archetype is the foundation - the first step. An example of this would be the Doric columns used in Greek architecture. These Doric columns were improved on; the basic structure was the same but the shape was slightly changed, and detail was added to create ionic columns. The hybrid in this example is the Corinthian columns. While the Romans used Doric as well as ionic columns, they modified them once again to create thinner, more precise columns which had still more decoration. Another example of the archetype, prototype, and hybrid comparisons would be the use of arches. In Greece, post and lintel construction was used (the archetype) which gave way to the idea of arches. The arches were then constructed by the Romans to create a larger appearance of space, and vaults were then formed out of those (prototypes). Finally two vaults were placed on top of each other in opposite direction creating groin vaults (the hybrid) as well as making the most possible room.




The evolution of architecture based on archetype, prototype, and hybrid brings to mind the idea that there is a source for everything. Something I have already mentioned was that the source of vaults used in Roman architecture were arches, and the source of arches were columns from Greek architecture. Much of Roman architecture came from Greek buildings - whether it was improving their ideas, or discarding them and beginning all over, the Romans took what they new of Greek architecture and created new, fantastic buildings. Another form of source is architecture being based off of the landscape and the warfare. (Roth, 247) Many Roman buildings were constructed on the land, ignoring any natural surrounding features. Also, different roman villages were build with a large wall border, separating the city from outside predators.

In many areas during Roman rule, cities and buildings were named after priests or kings in charge, to show their status. Hierarchy in the Roman empire important, for instance, because only priests and the social elite were allowed to go inside many buildings and experience their awesome interior. (Roth, 247) Ordinary civilians and especially servants and slaves were not allowed into some of these more precious buildings, but were only able to admire them from the outside. Also, priests had very little contact with ordinary artisans, merchants and slaves. (Roth, 250) It was not very often that they were around these people, but instead were surrounded with people of equal status. A simpler example of hierarchy can be seen on the columns in the Coliseum - the first floor has Doric columns, the most basic; the second floor had ionic columns, becoming greater; the third Corinthian, the most complex. (Roth, 267)



Order was a main influence in Roman architecture. In the Roman empire they tried to achieve order ond unity by the way they shaped urban spaces. The Romans "ordered ranks of axially disposed and colonnaded buildings." (Roth, 250) What this means is that the roads formed what looked similar to a series of right angles, creating lines of homes. Also, urban spaces looked very similar, and did not vary on outward appearances. In this way, the Romans created some form of order, and they even sliced through nature (ex. mountains, hills) to make it as perfect as possible. Old cities used somewhat irregular rectangles in their building design, but the basic idea of "axial disposition" was still in use. (Roth, 253) The main streets in a city moved from north to south (the Cardo) and east to west (the decumanus), which was known as orthogonal planning. (Roth, 253)



The entourage, or the landscape surrounding a piece of architecture, was not an important feature to the Romans. As I have already mentioned, they cut through nature in order to make their order possible, they changed nature for their benefit. As explained in Roth, p. 250 "if a stony outcrop loomed in the way, they simply cut through it. They captured streams and conducted water more than 30 miles...to the cities, tunneling through hills and lifting the aqueducts over valleys." Instead of building closer to the water, or moving the stream with the land, the Romans actually went straight through everything that was in their way, as in this example.

I have learned in this last week that the source of architecture today was heavily influenced by Roman architecture, just as the roman architecture was influenced by Greek buildings and so on. A major way to show this is by the use of the archetype, prototype and hybrid comparisons. Hierarchy played an important role in the Roman empire as well - slaves built the beautiful buildings, but were not allowed into some of them. The use of hierarchy also helped create order, such as the hierarchy and order of the Doric, ionic, and Corinthian columns. This order was also a very prominent aspect of Roman architecture. The societies, in some ways were surrounded by order - the order of buildings, of roads, and even of external appearances. Lastly, the order they employed would not have been possible without the manipulation of the surrounding nature, or entourage.