Colonial Architecture in Americas - Assignment Example

American colonial architecture began during colonial rule in the 17th century. The settlers from various European countries arrived there, dwelled there and brought their own technique of architecture with them. Among them were the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German. European architecture became dominating in the Americas. As historians Burkholder and Johnson have pointed out, "in a remarkably short time, the conqueror's cathedrals, convents, administrative buildings, and private residences replaced the pyramids, elevated plazas, ball courts, and palaces of the indigenous elites.

” (Mark A. Burkholder and Lyman L. Johnson, 2004) Thus the American architecture can be called amalgamative in its characteristic. But still, it was not possible for the European settlers to implement the same method of architecture on the new land where they had arrived. On the other hand, they had to adapt their style according to the arbitrariness of nature. It is the first and necessary thing every living creature has to learn and that is the skill of adaptability because nature doesn’t change its rules and its characteristics but we have to make changes according to the natural and Geographical characteristics of a particular region.

The field of architecture also has to follow the same rule. Hence the colonial architecture in the Americas had to take into consideration the topography and climate of the region which they had chosen. And while constructing the building in a particular region the architects had to consider which pattern of architecture would be suitable in that area. Along with the Geographical factors, the social, historical and cultural factors also impinged on the characteristics of Architecture. “In each region and in each generation, architecture reflected prevalent conditions of climate, materials, building techniques, and social organization.