History of Architecture - Essay Example

History of Architecture Shelter is considered to be a universal human need that is shared with other living things. It is quite valuable to make efficient shelters because building consumes a lot resources and manpower that is needed for other things. Human beings build homes that use natural resources to meet a vast array of desires and needs similar to the way birds select as well as pile up materials from their local living conditions to fashion-safe and nurture their nests. The essay will have a brief history of architecture, discuss the ways that human dwelling exact, use and discard energy. It will also reveal innovative new building technologies and strategies that can help and restore the viability of a natural cycle (History of architecture, 12). This essay will also touch on the main functions of a shelter and how humans have continuously adapted to differing environments through an amazing diversity of structure. Humans are required to live harmoniously with each other for future growth of the environment. This essay will discuss the nature of dwelling (from the urban scale to the “home”) in the built environment from the 18th-21st centuries, putting into consideration the scale of the city and the individual or multi-family dwelling. In addition, this essay will describe the design global and the local-built environment from the 18th-21st century and what were happening during the age of reason or enlightenment period, the modern period, and the postmodern period. The traces that are found in caves makes us believe that early humans were living in caves. The bones they gnawed, even their own bones, and the flints they used were creped around for ever in a cave but get scattered or demolished somewhere else. Caves were winter shelters, and none wished to remain inside on a summer day. This is similar to the response that our ancestors portrayed. The right to travel extensively for the goals of hunting as well as gathering called for the need for at least a short-term shelter. The demand for shelter brought about the beginning of architecture (Pryce, 19). The early human needed a shelter against rain and sun hence they would lean some protective shields, for example, they used leafy branches against the trunk of a tree. Traces of early dwellings that can be counted as reliable were found for as early as 30,000 years ago. The circular or oval ring of stones together with the local materials that was used to act as a tent-like roof was enough evidence that the early humans practiced architecture. An encampment from 25,000 years ago has been at Dolni Vestonice in Eastern Europe. The evolution of architecture shifted form tents to round houses by around 8000 BC. By 6500 BC, human beings lived in houses with straight walls, which had windows. From the 5th to the 2nd millennium, the construction of Stone Age graves and temples was acquired, and it became common. Multi-family dwelling also known as a multi-dwelling unit or multi-family residential is a categorization of the housing element for the non-commercial populace is contained within one or several building within one complex (McIntyre et al, 15). One common form of a multi-family dwelling is an apartment building. In some cases, multi-family dwelling building is owned individually instead of leasing from a single apartment building owner. There are different types of multi-family dwelling. These include two flat, which is commonly built on a house lot. The second one is a three flat which is similar to two flat, but it contains three flats; they are most common. Another type of multi-family dwelling is a four flat apartment (Graff, 17). Duplex or semi-detached - one building, which consist of two houses, townhouse – this is a type of house that is attached to townhouses. There is also the apartment, mixed used building, and apartment community. A one-family dwelling might be referred to as a semi-detached housing. In this case, each unit is separate from another. This makes it easier to sell the house with its own property deed. In addition, each house can be supplied with its own electric meter and therefore, there is no grouping of people or families because everyone has their own property line, yard, and many other unmentioned advantages that go along with this type of house. The 19th century is also referred to as the eclectic century. At this period, the public realized the glorious potential of cast-iron architecture (Vidler, 43). This public realization took a position in the 1840s, but the technology originated from factory constructions in the 1790s. At this era, cast iron was used in China for structural purposes, but it was a Britain innovation when the first fireproof mill was built by William Strutt. In the 19th century, the standard factory and warehouse interior was built of arched brick floors, on the pillar and cast-iron beams. Joseph Paxton is linked above all with the most glamorous stage in the cast-iron architecture. He built a great tent-like conservatory which consisted of cast iron and glass when he was serving as the superintendent of the duke of Devonshire’s gardens at Chatsworth (Middleton, 35). Apartment building is a multiple apartment building. These apartments range in sizes; some have hundred of apartments while others with few apartments. Any building that has space for both office, and commercial business. Lastly, apartment community is a collection of apartment’s building on neighboring piece of land, which is primarily owned by an individual. These buildings share amenities and grounds. Such amenities include parking areas, pools, and maybe a community clubhouse that is used as rental offices for the neighborhood. This season is also referred to as the Enlightenment period. This period lasted for 200 years that is from 1600 to 1800, and was full of spectacular discoveries and works of art. At this period, mankind started to question how something worked, why it worked in that manner, and who took control of that thing. Creative thinking or modern science was brought forth at this period. The first dictionary of English language was witnessed at this period, invention of the telescope and microscope which aided man in his search for answers, and many more discoveries (Harmon, 14). However one of the most spectacular shifts was in the architectural field. During this time, there was a wide range of architecture styles, which still exist until now. An example of spectacular architectural designs is cathedral castles, and homes which are located in Europe. Each and every architect who constructed the spectacular work of art had their own method and style in creating one of their spendthrift buildings. On the other hand, the materials that were used during the Enlightenment period are far much different from what is being used today. In general, there is an enormous different between the architecture of Enlightenment and any other time thus calling for studies about this period. In addition, in 1730s, Rome started to resemble one huge construction site, with a series of expensive and ambitious new building campaign. This new campaign was meant to transform the substance and face of Rome. This transformation of Rome was made possible by the culture of architecture in Enlightenment, which brought to life the intellectual and theologians and the extensive architectural programs which brought this powerful shift in Rome. There are many angles through which the evolution of architecture may be looked. Historians see this as a social matter which is closely tied to the project of modernity hence the age of reason or the Enlightenment. Political and social revolutions were the reasons behind the development of modern architecture. According to some historians, technological and engineering development may have primarily facilitated in the awakening of modern architecture. However, there are historians who view modernism as a reaction against eclecticism, a matter of taste, and the lavish stylistic excesses of Victorian and Edwardian architecture (Avery, 63). Rapid technological advancement and the modernization of the society were the key issues that drove modern architecture to a totally new turn in the 20th century. New buildings were invented with the help of the industrial revolution, which made it possible for the availability of newly-available building materials, for example iron, sheet glass, and steel. In 1976, Charles Bage who was a mill owner used his ‘fireproof’ design for the first time. This ‘fireproof’ design relied on bricks with flag stone floors and iron bricks. The mills were capable of accommodating bigger machines because they became much stronger after the new construction. Introduction of a section beam by Eaton Hodgkinson took place in early 1830s led to a widespread of iron construction. Places like Manchester and parts of west Yorkshire as ‘Dark satanic mills’ were transformed by the austere industrial architecture. One of the earliest iron and glass constructions was the Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition by Joseph Paxton in 1851 (Glancey, 53). This was followed by a first metal and glass curtain wall in 1864. Louis Sullivan and William Le Baron Jenney further developed a steel-frame skyscraper in Chicago at around 1890. Beginning of criticism about the modern architecture in the 1960s on the grounds that it seemed elitist, universal, and lacked meaning led to postmodern architecture. There was additional critique, especially the wrecking of Penn Station in New York in 1963 as a result of new modernist constructions, especially the Urban Renewal, which emerged after the loss of traditionalist structures. As the criticism continued to emerge, architects found the need to explore postmodern architecture, which deliberately chose to move away from rectilinear design, a combination of some pre-modern elements, and thus leading to an eclectic style. Postmodern architecture seemed to trend over modernism by the 1980s. It is obvious that, architects rediscovered the form that had transformed throughout centuries of the building which had been left out by the modern style, and the symbolic and expensive value of architectural elements. The early godfathers of postmodern architecture are Philip Johnson and Michael Grave. These men came up with some the large-scale postmodern architectures which are Sony Building in New York City and Portland Building in Portland (Norman, 27). These postmodern architectures borrowed references and elements from the past, in addition to introducing color, and symbolism to architecture. Another description of postmodern architecture is neo-eclectic. This is a stage whereby ornament and reference have returned to the facade hence replacing the aggressively unornamented modern style. Last, postmodern architects may have ended up viewing modern building as bland, overly simplistic, ethic, and abstract thus leading to the need of coming up with better designs that were suitable for the present time. In conclusion, it is essential to note that, every house or apartment building has got its own advantage and disadvantage. Family size is the key factor to consider when buying or constructing or building a house. A shelter serves for many purposes one of them being security. Therefore, when determining the size of the shelter to build it is imperative to have an eye on the scope of the family so as to know the best suited size that will accommodate everyone, and make them feel secure (Ungers, 23). The architectural techniques and strategies are changing as days pass and new trends are popping in to replace the old ways. It is essential to be familiar with the changes and embrace them when necessary so as to avoid being left out as technology moves. People should learn to adapt to technological changes especially architectural changes that are meant to transform our environment for better. Works Cited "History of architecture." History World - History and Timelines. (2013). Web. 12 June 2013. Avery, Derek. Victorian & Edwardian architecture. London: Chaucer, 2003. Print. Glancey, Jonathan. Architecture. London: DK, 2006. Print. Graff, N. Walter. Representing seniors purchasing a multi-family dwelling unit. St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, 2005. Print. Harmon, Joseph E. "The Literature of Enlightenment: Technical Periodicals and Proceedings In The 17th And 18th Centuries." Journal of Technical Writing and Communication 17.4 (1987): 1-1. Print. McIntyre, Norman, Daniel Williams, and Kevin McHugh. Multiple Dwelling and Tourism Negotiating Place, Home, and Identity. Wallingford Cambridge, Mass: CABI Pub, 2006. Print. Middleton, Robin, and David Watkin. Neoclassical and 19th Century Architecture. New York: Abrams, 1980. Print. Norman, John. Fire Officer's Handbook of Tactics. Tulsa, Okla.: PennWell, 2005. Print. Pryce, Will. World Architecture: The Masterworks. London: Thames & Hudson, 2008. Print. Ungers, O.M., Hans F. Kollhoff, and Berlin Academy. The Urban Villa: A Multi-family Dwelling Type. Cologne: Studio Press for Architecture, 1977. Print. Vidler, Anthony. Histories of the Immediate Present: Investing Architectural Modernism. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2008. Print. Read More