Traditional and Contemporary Architecture. Conflict, coexistence or indignation - Essay Example

Simard and Mercier studied the procedure of community building in Quebec City and found that ‘the city produced by post modernity (2) stands out at two different but interdependent levels: as regards changes to the urban form and in the area of planning practices and policies. Respecting the issue of urban form, the contemporary city is beset by a series of social, economic and geographical transformations’. As examples the following facts are referred: ‘the rise of information technologies, the increase in social divisions and the relocating of central activities’.

Overall, ‘it appears that the post-modern city is undergoing a process of atomization which, in turn, leads to a crystallizing of differences and enclaves. Seen from a historical perspective, the city becomes a highly complex environment which is constantly being reconstituted’. (Simard, Mercier, 2001, 25). According to the Sear (1998) in ancient Rome the structure of the public authority the responsible for the state’s architecture was as follows: ‘Roman architects worked for the army, the civil service or were in private practice.

We possess a good deal of background evidence about them as well as an entire treatise on the subject, written by Vitruvius in about 23 BC. Amongst other things it is explained how a Roman architect drew up plans, elevations and shaded perspective drawings of his buildings. A skilled draughtsman, he says, ought to be able to produce coloured drawings to convey an impression of the work which he proposes’. He also found that ‘Geometry is a great help in architecture. It teaches us the use of the rule and compasses, and facilitates the layout and planning of buildings by the use of the set-squares, the level and the plumbline.

Moreover by means of optics the light in buildings can be correctly drawn from fixed quarters of the sky. Also it is by