Architecture

Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

By mid-century, Modernism had morphed into the International Style, an aesthetic epitomized in many ways by the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
3 See...

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

Major examples of this can be found in greener roof designs, biodegradable materials,and more attention to a structure's energy usage.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

In the late 20th century a new concept was added to those included in the compass of both structure and function, the consideration of sustainability.

It is widely assumed that architectural success was the product of a process of trial and error, with progressively less trial and more replication as the results of the process proved increasingly satisfactory.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

Following this lead, the Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar, Germany in 1919, redefined the architectural bounds prior set throughout history, viewing the creation of a building as the ultimate synthesis—the apex—of art, craft, and technology.

Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction.

For Ruskin, the aesthetic was of overriding significance.

Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration.

While the notion that structural and aesthetic considerations should be entirely subject to functionality was met with both popularity and skepticism, it had the effect of introducing the concept of "function" in place of Vitruvius' "utility".

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

(July 2011)
Main article: History of architecture
Vernacular architecture in Norway.
[edit] Origins and vernacular architecture

Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills).

Among the philosophies that have influenced modern architects and their approach to building design are rationalism, empiricism, structuralism, poststructuralism, and phenomenology.

Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution laid open the door for mass production and consumption.

They felt that architecture was not a personal philosophical or aesthetic pursuit by individualists; rather it had to consider everyday needs of people and use technology to give a livable environment.

While the notion that structural and aesthetic considerations should be entirely subject to functionality was met with both popularity and skepticism, it had the effect of introducing the concept of "function" in place of Vitruvius' "utility".

The Design Methodology Movement involving people such as Christopher Alexander started searching for more people-oriented designs.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

The Design Methodology Movement involving people such as Christopher Alexander started searching for more people-oriented designs.

The Design Methodology Movement involving people such as Christopher Alexander started searching for more people-oriented designs.

Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction.

The National Congress of Brazil, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
[edit] Modern concepts of architecture

The great 19th century architect of skyscrapers, Louis Sullivan, promoted an overriding precept to architectural design: "Form follows function".

As documentation produced by architects, typically drawings, plans and technical specifications, architecture defines the structure and/or behavior of a building or any other kind of system that is to be or has been constructed.

Many architects felt that buildings had become overly decorated and burdened with various styles that they could no longer be honest to the function.

Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources.

Robert Venturi's contention that a "decorated shed" (an ordinary building which is functionally designed inside and embellished on the outside) was better than a "duck" (an ungainly building in which the whole form and its function are tied together) gives an idea of these approaches.
[edit] Architecture today
Main article: Contemporary architecture
Postmodern design at Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, by Santiago Calatrava.

When Modern architecture was first practiced, it was an avant-garde movement with moral, philosophical, and aesthetic underpinnings.

Pugin

In the early nineteenth century, Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin wrote Contrasts (1836) that, as the titled suggested, contrasted the modern, industrial world, which he disparaged, with an idealized image of neo-medieval world.

"Function" came to be seen as encompassing all criteria of the use, perception and enjoyment of a building, not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural.

As documentation produced by architects, typically drawings, plans and technical specifications, architecture defines the structure and/or behavior of a building or any other kind of system that is to be or has been constructed.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

Utility – it should be useful and function well for the people using it
Beauty – it should delight people and raise their spirits.

The Crystal Cathedral, California, by Philip Johnson (1980)

Architects such as Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer worked to create beauty based on the inherent qualities of building materials and modern construction techniques, trading traditional historic forms for simplified geometric forms, celebrating the new means and methods made possible by the Industrial Revolution, including steel-frame construction, which gave birth to high-rise superstructures.

The notion of style in the arts was not developed until the 16th century, with the writing of Vasari.[6]

3] The main reason for the shift is because architecture has become much more complicated.

An example of an architecturally innovative green building is the Dynamic Tower which will be powered by wind turbines and solar panels.[12

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

Among the philosophies that have influenced modern architects and their approach to building design are rationalism, empiricism, structuralism, poststructuralism, and phenomenology.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction.

Leone Battista Alberti, who elaborates on the ideas of Vitruvius in his treatise, De Re Aedificatoria, saw beauty primarily as a matter of proportion, although ornament also played a part.

House builders could use current architectural design in their work by combining features found in pattern books and architectural journals.
[edit] Modernism and reaction of architecture
Main article: Modern architecture
The Bauhaus Dessau architecture department from 1925 by Walter Gropius

The dissatisfaction with such a general situation at the turn of the twentieth century gave rise to many new lines of thought that served as precursors to Modern Architecture.

It requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow.

(July 2011)
Main article: History of architecture
Vernacular architecture in Norway.
[edit] Origins and vernacular architecture

Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills).

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

By contrast, the le Corbusier's contemporary, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said that architecture begins "when 2 bricks are put together."

Robert Venturi's contention that a "decorated shed" (an ordinary building which is functionally designed inside and embellished on the outside) was better than a "duck" (an ungainly building in which the whole form and its function are tied together) gives an idea of these approaches.
[edit] Architecture today
Main article: Contemporary architecture
Postmodern design at Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, by Santiago Calatrava.

Architecture was the "art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by men ... that the sight of them" contributes "to his mental health, power, and pleasure".

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

(July 2011)
Main article: History of architecture
Vernacular architecture in Norway.
[edit] Origins and vernacular architecture

Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills).

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

"Architecture" can mean:

The art and science of design and erecting buildings and other physical structures.

According to Vitruvius, a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitas, utilitas, venustas,[4][5] which translate roughly as –

Durability – it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.

The Taj Mahal (1632–1653), in India
[edit] Islamic architecture

Islamic architecture began in the 7th century CE, incorporating a blend of architectural forms from the ancient Middle East and Byzantium, but also developing features to suit the religious and social needs of the society.

Following this lead, the Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar, Germany in 1919, redefined the architectural bounds prior set throughout history, viewing the creation of a building as the ultimate synthesis—the apex—of art, craft, and technology.

Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration.

There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.

To restrict the meaning of (architectural) formalism to art for art's sake is not only reactionary; it can also be a purposeless quest for perfection or originality which degrades form into a mere instrumentality".[9]

To restrict the meaning of (architectural) formalism to art for art's sake is not only reactionary; it can also be a purposeless quest for perfection or originality which degrades form into a mere instrumentality".[9]

Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

The architecture and urbanism of the Classical civilizations such as the Greek and the Roman evolved from civic ideals rather than religious or empirical ones and new building types emerged.

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

There has been an acceleration in the number of buildings which seek to meet green building sustainable design principles.

Nunzia Rondanini stated, "Through its aesthetic dimension architecture goes beyond the functional aspects that it has in common with other human sciences.

The term "architecture" has been adopted to describe the activity of designing any kind of system, and is commonly used in describing information technology.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

Starting in the 1980s and into the new millennium, the field of architecture saw the rise of specializations for each project type, technological expertise or project delivery methods.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.

Some examples of canons are found in the writings of the 1st-century BCE Roman military engineer Vitruvius, the Kao Gong Ji of ancient China[Notes 1] and Vaastu Shastra of ancient India and Manjusri Vasthu Vidya Sastra of Sri Lanka.

The most important aspect of beauty was therefore an inherent part of an object, rather than something applied superficially; and was based on universal, recognisable truths.

It requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow.

The architecture and urbanism of the Classical civilizations such as the Greek and the Roman evolved from civic ideals rather than religious or empirical ones and new building types emerged.

Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

A style and method of design and construction of buildings and other physical structures.

Starting in the 1980s and into the new millennium, the field of architecture saw the rise of specializations for each project type, technological expertise or project delivery methods.

The Modernists wanted buildings that were beautiful not in overwhelming decoration but beautiful in simplicity Notable among these is the Deutscher Werkbund, formed in 1907 to produce better quality machine made objects.

The National Congress of Brazil, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
[edit] Modern concepts of architecture

The great 19th century architect of skyscrapers, Louis Sullivan, promoted an overriding precept to architectural design: "Form follows function".

The Crystal Cathedral, California, by Philip Johnson (1980)

Architects such as Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer worked to create beauty based on the inherent qualities of building materials and modern construction techniques, trading traditional historic forms for simplified geometric forms, celebrating the new means and methods made possible by the Industrial Revolution, including steel-frame construction, which gave birth to high-rise superstructures.

To restrict the meaning of (architectural) formalism to art for art's sake is not only reactionary; it can also be a purposeless quest for perfection or originality which degrades form into a mere instrumentality".[9]

An example of an architecturally innovative green building is the Dynamic Tower which will be powered by wind turbines and solar panels.[12

As documentation produced by architects, typically drawings, plans and technical specifications, architecture defines the structure and/or behavior of a building or any other kind of system that is to be or has been constructed.

Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration.

The earliest surviving written work on the subject of architecture is De architectura, by the Roman architect Vitruvius in the early 1st century CE.[3]

Starting in the 1980s and into the new millennium, the field of architecture saw the rise of specializations for each project type, technological expertise or project delivery methods.

Buildings were ascribed to specific architects – Brunelleschi, Alberti, Michelangelo, Palladio – and the cult of the individual had begun.

According to Vitruvius, the architect should strive to fulfill each of these three attributes as well as possible.

Immediately after World War I, pioneering modernist architects sought to develop a completely new style appropriate for a new post-war social and economic order, focused on meeting the needs of the middle and working classes.

House builders could use current architectural design in their work by combining features found in pattern books and architectural journals.
[edit] Modernism and reaction of architecture
Main article: Modern architecture
The Bauhaus Dessau architecture department from 1925 by Walter Gropius

The dissatisfaction with such a general situation at the turn of the twentieth century gave rise to many new lines of thought that served as precursors to Modern Architecture.

In many Asian countries a pantheistic religion led to architectural forms that were designed specifically to enhance the natural landscape.

Utility – it should be useful and function well for the people using it
Beauty – it should delight people and raise their spirits.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

These texts provided both general advice and specific formal prescriptions or canons.

There was still no dividing line between artist, architect and engineer, or any of the related vocations, and the appellation was often one of regional preference.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

Following this lead, the Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar, Germany in 1919, redefined the architectural bounds prior set throughout history, viewing the creation of a building as the ultimate synthesis—the apex—of art, craft, and technology.

The National Congress of Brazil, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
[edit] Modern concepts of architecture

The great 19th century architect of skyscrapers, Louis Sullivan, promoted an overriding precept to architectural design: "Form follows function".

Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art.

Moving the issue of environmental sustainability into the mainstream is a significant development in the architecture profession.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

Buddhist architecture, in particular, showed great regional diversity.

A general term to describe buildings and other infrastructures.

Design activity, from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).

Aesthetics became a criterion for the middle class as ornamented products, once within the province of expensive craftsmanship, became cheaper under machine production.

Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

As the complexity of buildings began to increase (in terms of structural systems, services, energy and technologies), architecture started becoming more multi-disciplinary.

These texts provided both general advice and specific formal prescriptions or canons.

They felt that architecture should not be an accumulation of past traditions but that it should be adapted toward the common man.

Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

During the Medieval period guilds were formed by craftsmen to organize their trade and written contracts have survived, particularly in relation to ecclesiastical buildings.

Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system has been instrumental in this.[11]

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

Many architects resisted Modernism, finding it devoid of the decorative richness of ornamented styles and as the founders of that movement lost influence in the late 1970s, Postmodernism developed as a reaction against its austerity.

Fallingwater, Organic architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright.

When Modern architecture was first practiced, it was an avant-garde movement with moral, philosophical, and aesthetic underpinnings.

The Taj Mahal (1632–1653), in India
[edit] Islamic architecture

Islamic architecture began in the 7th century CE, incorporating a blend of architectural forms from the ancient Middle East and Byzantium, but also developing features to suit the religious and social needs of the society.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

There was still no dividing line between artist, architect and engineer, or any of the related vocations, and the appellation was often one of regional preference.

These texts provided both general advice and specific formal prescriptions or canons.

The Modernists wanted buildings that were beautiful not in overwhelming decoration but beautiful in simplicity Notable among these is the Deutscher Werkbund, formed in 1907 to produce better quality machine made objects.

The architecture and urbanism of the Classical civilizations such as the Greek and the Roman evolved from civic ideals rather than religious or empirical ones and new building types emerged.

There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.

The Pyramids at Giza
[edit] Ancient architecture

In many ancient civilizations, such as that of Egypt and Mesopotamia, architecture and urbanism reflected the constant engagement with the divine and the supernatural, and many ancient cultures resorted to monumentality in architecture to represent symbolically the political power of the ruler, the ruling elite, or the state itself.

Through its own particular way of expressing values, architecture can stimulate and influence social life without presuming that, in and of itself, it will promote social development.'

Buildings were ascribed to specific architects – Brunelleschi, Alberti, Michelangelo, Palladio – and the cult of the individual had begun.

A general term to describe buildings and other infrastructures.

According to Vitruvius, a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitas, utilitas, venustas,[4][5] which translate roughly as –

Durability – it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.

They felt that architecture should not be an accumulation of past traditions but that it should be adapted toward the common man.

La Rotonda (1567), Italy by Palladio
[edit] Renaissance and the architect

With the Renaissance and its emphasis on the individual and humanity rather than religion, and with all its attendant progress and achievements, a new chapter began.

3] The main reason for the shift is because architecture has become much more complicated.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

Formal architectural training in the 19th century, for example at Ecole des Beaux Arts in France, gave much emphasis to the production of beautiful drawings and little to context and feasibility.

Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction.

Pugin

In the early nineteenth century, Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin wrote Contrasts (1836) that, as the titled suggested, contrasted the modern, industrial world, which he disparaged, with an idealized image of neo-medieval world.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

Buddhist architecture, in particular, showed great regional diversity.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

The architecture and urbanism of the Classical civilizations such as the Greek and the Roman evolved from civic ideals rather than religious or empirical ones and new building types emerged.

Many architects resisted Modernism, finding it devoid of the decorative richness of ornamented styles and as the founders of that movement lost influence in the late 1970s, Postmodernism developed as a reaction against its austerity.

Architecture has become more than just building but has morphed into an extensive process involving durability, quality, money, and compliance to local laws.

Architecture (Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter, mason") is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction.

Immediately after World War I, pioneering modernist architects sought to develop a completely new style appropriate for a new post-war social and economic order, focused on meeting the needs of the middle and working classes.

Due to a surplus in production the economy began to expand resulting in urbanization thus creating urban areas which grew and evolved very rapidly in some cases, such as that of Çatal Höyük in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro of the Indus Valley Civilization in modern-day Pakistan.

Robert Venturi's contention that a "decorated shed" (an ordinary building which is functionally designed inside and embellished on the outside) was better than a "duck" (an ungainly building in which the whole form and its function are tied together) gives an idea of these approaches.
[edit] Architecture today
Main article: Contemporary architecture
Postmodern design at Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, by Santiago Calatrava.

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

Many notable artists, designers, and architects taught at the Bauhaus such as Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, and Walter Gropius.

Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration.

Design activity, from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

Architecture was the "art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by men ... that the sight of them" contributes "to his mental health, power, and pleasure".

Leone Battista Alberti, who elaborates on the ideas of Vitruvius in his treatise, De Re Aedificatoria, saw beauty primarily as a matter of proportion, although ornament also played a part.

Sustainable practices that were at the core of vernacular architecture increasingly provide inspiration for environmentally and socially sustainable contemporary techniques.[10]

They rejected the architectural practice of the academic refinement of historical styles which served the rapidly declining aristocratic order.

In many Asian countries a pantheistic religion led to architectural forms that were designed specifically to enhance the natural landscape.

There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.

Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources.

St Mary's Cathedral, Killarney, designed by A.W.N.

Major examples of this can be found in greener roof designs, biodegradable materials,and more attention to a structure's energy usage.

They rejected the architectural practice of the academic refinement of historical styles which served the rapidly declining aristocratic order.

Examples can be found throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and the Indian Sub-continent.

These texts provided both general advice and specific formal prescriptions or canons.

They rejected the architectural practice of the academic refinement of historical styles which served the rapidly declining aristocratic order.

Extensive studies on areas such as behavioral, environmental, and social sciences were done and started informing the design process.

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

Immediately after World War I, pioneering modernist architects sought to develop a completely new style appropriate for a new post-war social and economic order, focused on meeting the needs of the middle and working classes.

Due to a surplus in production the economy began to expand resulting in urbanization thus creating urban areas which grew and evolved very rapidly in some cases, such as that of Çatal Höyük in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro of the Indus Valley Civilization in modern-day Pakistan.

They rejected the architectural practice of the academic refinement of historical styles which served the rapidly declining aristocratic order.

The Crystal Cathedral, California, by Philip Johnson (1980)

Architects such as Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer worked to create beauty based on the inherent qualities of building materials and modern construction techniques, trading traditional historic forms for simplified geometric forms, celebrating the new means and methods made possible by the Industrial Revolution, including steel-frame construction, which gave birth to high-rise superstructures.

"Function" came to be seen as encompassing all criteria of the use, perception and enjoyment of a building, not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural.

Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements.

Buildings displayed their functional and structural elements, exposing steel beams and concrete surfaces instead of hiding them behind decorative forms.

As a result, many of the teachers and students fled to other countries and spread their ideas.

Due to a surplus in production the economy began to expand resulting in urbanization thus creating urban areas which grew and evolved very rapidly in some cases, such as that of Çatal Höyük in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro of the Indus Valley Civilization in modern-day Pakistan.

In relation to buildings, architecture has to do with the planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, environmental, and aesthetic considerations.

The 19th century English art critic, John Ruskin, in his Seven Lamps of Architecture, published 1849,[7] was much narrower in his view of what constituted architecture.

The Taj Mahal (1632–1653), in India
[edit] Islamic architecture

Islamic architecture began in the 7th century CE, incorporating a blend of architectural forms from the ancient Middle East and Byzantium, but also developing features to suit the religious and social needs of the society.

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

Leone Battista Alberti, who elaborates on the ideas of Vitruvius in his treatise, De Re Aedificatoria, saw beauty primarily as a matter of proportion, although ornament also played a part.

Effective architects generally received their training in the offices of other architects, graduating to the role from draughtsmen or clerks.

As human cultures developed and knowledge began to be formalized through oral traditions and practices, building became a craft, and "architecture" is the name given to the most highly formalized and respected versions of that craft.

Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration.

For Alberti, the rules of proportion were those that governed the idealised human figure, the Golden mean.

Starting in the 1980s and into the new millennium, the field of architecture saw the rise of specializations for each project type, technological expertise or project delivery methods.

Part of the architectural profession, and also some non-architects, responded to Modernism and Postmodernism by going to what they considered the root of the problem.

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

An example of an architecturally innovative green building is the Dynamic Tower which will be powered by wind turbines and solar panels.[12

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
...

Among the philosophies that have influenced modern architects and their approach to building design are rationalism, empiricism, structuralism, poststructuralism, and phenomenology.

A style and method of design and construction of buildings and other physical structures.

The notion of style in the arts was not developed until the 16th century, with the writing of Vasari.[6]

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

Architecture was the "art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by men ... that the sight of them" contributes "to his mental health, power, and pleasure".

The role of architect was usually one with that of master mason, or Magister lathomorum as they are sometimes described in contemporary documents.

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

The 19th century English art critic, John Ruskin, in his Seven Lamps of Architecture, published 1849,[7] was much narrower in his view of what constituted architecture.

There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.

It requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow.

Through its own particular way of expressing values, architecture can stimulate and influence social life without presuming that, in and of itself, it will promote social development.'

In the late 20th century a new concept was added to those included in the compass of both structure and function, the consideration of sustainability.

To restrict the meaning of (architectural) formalism to art for art's sake is not only reactionary; it can also be a purposeless quest for perfection or originality which degrades form into a mere instrumentality".[9]

Design activity, from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture).

An example of an architecturally innovative green building is the Dynamic Tower which will be powered by wind turbines and solar panels.[12

"Function" came to be seen as encompassing all criteria of the use, perception and enjoyment of a building, not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural.

As human cultures developed and knowledge began to be formalized through oral traditions and practices, building became a craft, and "architecture" is the name given to the most highly formalized and respected versions of that craft.

During the Medieval period guilds were formed by craftsmen to organize their trade and written contracts have survived, particularly in relation to ecclesiastical buildings.

By mid-century, Modernism had morphed into the International Style, an aesthetic epitomized in many ways by the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center.

Through its own particular way of expressing values, architecture can stimulate and influence social life without presuming that, in and of itself, it will promote social development.'

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

There was still no dividing line between artist, architect and engineer, or any of the related vocations, and the appellation was often one of regional preference.

It requires the creative manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light and shadow.

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

Texts on architecture have been written since ancient time.

Many architects resisted Modernism, finding it devoid of the decorative richness of ornamented styles and as the founders of that movement lost influence in the late 1970s, Postmodernism developed as a reaction against its austerity.

The term "architecture" has been adopted to describe the activity of designing any kind of system, and is commonly used in describing information technology.

As the complexity of buildings began to increase (in terms of structural systems, services, energy and technologies), architecture started becoming more multi-disciplinary.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art.

These texts provided both general advice and specific formal prescriptions or canons.

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

Following this lead, the Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar, Germany in 1919, redefined the architectural bounds prior set throughout history, viewing the creation of a building as the ultimate synthesis—the apex—of art, craft, and technology.

To satisfy the contemporary ethos a building should be constructed in a manner which is environmentally friendly in terms of the production of its materials, its impact upon the natural and built environment of its surrounding area and the demands that it makes upon non-sustainable power sources for heating, cooling, water and waste management and lighting.
[edit] History
This section does not cite any references or sources.

Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution laid open the door for mass production and consumption.

Following this lead, the Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar, Germany in 1919, redefined the architectural bounds prior set throughout history, viewing the creation of a building as the ultimate synthesis—the apex—of art, craft, and technology.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
3 See...

Aesthetics became a criterion for the middle class as ornamented products, once within the province of expensive craftsmanship, became cheaper under machine production.

While the notion that structural and aesthetic considerations should be entirely subject to functionality was met with both popularity and skepticism, it had the effect of introducing the concept of "function" in place of Vitruvius' "utility".

Leone Battista Alberti, who elaborates on the ideas of Vitruvius in his treatise, De Re Aedificatoria, saw beauty primarily as a matter of proportion, although ornament also played a part.

Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution laid open the door for mass production and consumption.

Early human settlements were mostly rural.

Postmodernism viewed Modernism as being too extreme and even harsh in regards to design.

The role of architect was usually one with that of master mason, or Magister lathomorum as they are sometimes described in contemporary documents.

Within the past several decades, architects have realized that buildings must take into account their effect upon the environment.

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

House builders could use current architectural design in their work by combining features found in pattern books and architectural journals.
[edit] Modernism and reaction of architecture
Main article: Modern architecture
The Bauhaus Dessau architecture department from 1925 by Walter Gropius

The dissatisfaction with such a general situation at the turn of the twentieth century gave rise to many new lines of thought that served as precursors to Modern Architecture.

On the difference between the ideals of "architecture" and mere "construction", the renowned 20th C. architect Le Corbusier wrote: "You employ stone, wood, and concrete, and with these materials you build houses and palaces: that is construction.

For Ruskin, the aesthetic was of overriding significance.

Utility – it should be useful and function well for the people using it
Beauty – it should delight people and raise their spirits.

Immediately after World War I, pioneering modernist architects sought to develop a completely new style appropriate for a new post-war social and economic order, focused on meeting the needs of the middle and working classes.

The Crystal Cathedral, California, by Philip Johnson (1980)

Architects such as Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer worked to create beauty based on the inherent qualities of building materials and modern construction techniques, trading traditional historic forms for simplified geometric forms, celebrating the new means and methods made possible by the Industrial Revolution, including steel-frame construction, which gave birth to high-rise superstructures.

During the Medieval period guilds were formed by craftsmen to organize their trade and written contracts have survived, particularly in relation to ecclesiastical buildings.

There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.

It is widely assumed that architectural success was the product of a process of trial and error, with progressively less trial and more replication as the results of the process proved increasingly satisfactory.

According to Vitruvius, a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitas, utilitas, venustas,[4][5] which translate roughly as –

Durability – it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.

Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration.

"Architecture" can mean:

The art and science of design and erecting buildings and other physical structures.

The approach of the Modernist architects was to reduce buildings to pure forms, removing historical references and ornament in favor of functionalist details.

They rejected the architectural practice of the academic refinement of historical styles which served the rapidly declining aristocratic order.

Following this lead, the Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar, Germany in 1919, redefined the architectural bounds prior set throughout history, viewing the creation of a building as the ultimate synthesis—the apex—of art, craft, and technology.

Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright developed Organic architecture in which the form was defined by its environment and purpose, with an aim to promote harmony between human habitation and the natural world with prime examples being Robie House and Falling Water.

Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art.

Many architects resisted Modernism, finding it devoid of the decorative richness of ornamented styles and as the founders of that movement lost influence in the late 1970s, Postmodernism developed as a reaction against its austerity.

It is widely assumed that architectural success was the product of a process of trial and error, with progressively less trial and more replication as the results of the process proved increasingly satisfactory.

As the complexity of buildings began to increase (in terms of structural systems, services, energy and technologies), architecture started becoming more multi-disciplinary.

There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
3 See...

Buildings displayed their functional and structural elements, exposing steel beams and concrete surfaces instead of hiding them behind decorative forms.

They felt that architecture was not a personal philosophical or aesthetic pursuit by individualists; rather it had to consider everyday needs of people and use technology to give a livable environment.

Robert Venturi's contention that a "decorated shed" (an ordinary building which is functionally designed inside and embellished on the outside) was better than a "duck" (an ungainly building in which the whole form and its function are tied together) gives an idea of these approaches.
[edit] Architecture today
Main article: Contemporary architecture
Postmodern design at Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, by Santiago Calatrava.

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

The Pyramids at Giza
[edit] Ancient architecture

In many ancient civilizations, such as that of Egypt and Mesopotamia, architecture and urbanism reflected the constant engagement with the divine and the supernatural, and many ancient cultures resorted to monumentality in architecture to represent symbolically the political power of the ruler, the ruling elite, or the state itself.

Moving the issue of environmental sustainability into the mainstream is a significant development in the architecture profession.

Part of the architectural profession, and also some non-architects, responded to Modernism and Postmodernism by going to what they considered the root of the problem.

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

Pugin

In the early nineteenth century, Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin wrote Contrasts (1836) that, as the titled suggested, contrasted the modern, industrial world, which he disparaged, with an idealized image of neo-medieval world.

Formal architectural training in the 19th century, for example at Ecole des Beaux Arts in France, gave much emphasis to the production of beautiful drawings and little to context and feasibility.

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

Buildings displayed their functional and structural elements, exposing steel beams and concrete surfaces instead of hiding them behind decorative forms.

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

(July 2011)
Main article: History of architecture
Vernacular architecture in Norway.
[edit] Origins and vernacular architecture

Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills).

It is widely assumed that architectural success was the product of a process of trial and error, with progressively less trial and more replication as the results of the process proved increasingly satisfactory.

Many architects felt that buildings had become overly decorated and burdened with various styles that they could no longer be honest to the function.

Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art.

On the difference between the ideals of "architecture" and mere "construction", the renowned 20th C. architect Le Corbusier wrote: "You employ stone, wood, and concrete, and with these materials you build houses and palaces: that is construction.

During the Medieval period guilds were formed by craftsmen to organize their trade and written contracts have survived, particularly in relation to ecclesiastical buildings.

As human cultures developed and knowledge began to be formalized through oral traditions and practices, building became a craft, and "architecture" is the name given to the most highly formalized and respected versions of that craft.

Buildings displayed their functional and structural elements, exposing steel beams and concrete surfaces instead of hiding them behind decorative forms.

According to Vitruvius, a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitas, utilitas, venustas,[4][5] which translate roughly as –

Durability – it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.

(July 2011)
Main article: History of architecture
Vernacular architecture in Norway.
[edit] Origins and vernacular architecture

Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills).

(July 2011)
Main article: History of architecture
Vernacular architecture in Norway.
[edit] Origins and vernacular architecture

Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills).

The most important aspect of beauty was therefore an inherent part of an object, rather than something applied superficially; and was based on universal, recognisable truths.

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

Among the philosophies that have influenced modern architects and their approach to building design are rationalism, empiricism, structuralism, poststructuralism, and phenomenology.

The Pyramids at Giza
[edit] Ancient architecture

In many ancient civilizations, such as that of Egypt and Mesopotamia, architecture and urbanism reflected the constant engagement with the divine and the supernatural, and many ancient cultures resorted to monumentality in architecture to represent symbolically the political power of the ruler, the ruling elite, or the state itself.

House builders could use current architectural design in their work by combining features found in pattern books and architectural journals.
[edit] Modernism and reaction of architecture
Main article: Modern architecture
The Bauhaus Dessau architecture department from 1925 by Walter Gropius

The dissatisfaction with such a general situation at the turn of the twentieth century gave rise to many new lines of thought that served as precursors to Modern Architecture.

Pugin

In the early nineteenth century, Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin wrote Contrasts (1836) that, as the titled suggested, contrasted the modern, industrial world, which he disparaged, with an idealized image of neo-medieval world.

The most important aspect of beauty was therefore an inherent part of an object, rather than something applied superficially; and was based on universal, recognisable truths.

In addition, there has been an increased separation of the 'design' architect [Notes 2] from the 'project' architect.[Notes

The Pyramids at Giza
[edit] Ancient architecture

In many ancient civilizations, such as that of Egypt and Mesopotamia, architecture and urbanism reflected the constant engagement with the divine and the supernatural, and many ancient cultures resorted to monumentality in architecture to represent symbolically the political power of the ruler, the ruling elite, or the state itself.

At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope of the generalist.
[edit] Early modern and the industrial age
Paris Opera by Charles Garnier (1875), France

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, often at the expen...

Architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright developed Organic architecture in which the form was defined by its environment and purpose, with an aim to promote harmony between human habitation and the natural world with prime examples being Robie House and Falling Water.

Architecture was the "art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by men ... that the sight of them" contributes "to his mental health, power, and pleasure".

Contents
[hide]

1 Theory of architecture
1.1 Historic treatises
1.2 Modern concepts of architecture
2 History
2.1 Origins and vernacular architecture
2.2 Ancient architecture
2.3 Asian architecture
2.4 Islamic architecture
2.5 The medieval builder
2.6 Renaissance and the architect
2.7 Early modern and the industrial age
2.8 Modernism and reaction of architecture
2.9 Architecture today
3 See...

"Function" came to be seen as encompassing all criteria of the use, perception and enjoyment of a building, not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural.

This major shift in architecture has also changed architecture schools to focus more the environment.

The National Congress of Brazil, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
[edit] Modern concepts of architecture

The great 19th century architect of skyscrapers, Louis Sullivan, promoted an overriding precept to architectural design: "Form follows function".

While the notion that structural and aesthetic considerations should be entirely subject to functionality was met with both popularity and skepticism, it had the effect of introducing the concept of "function" in place of Vitruvius' "utility".

The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings, that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

Some examples of canons are found in the writings of the 1st-century BCE Roman military engineer Vitruvius, the Kao Gong Ji of ancient China[Notes 1] and Vaastu Shastra of ancient India and Manjusri Vasthu Vidya Sastra of Sri Lanka.

These texts provided both general advice and specific formal prescriptions or canons.

Utility – it should be useful and function well for the people using it
Beauty – it should delight people and raise their spirits.

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

The Bauhaus is credited as one of the birthplaces of the modernist movement.

Due to a surplus in production the economy began to expand resulting in urbanization thus creating urban areas which grew and evolved very rapidly in some cases, such as that of Çatal Höyük in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro of the Indus Valley Civilization in modern-day Pakistan.

Moving the issue of environmental sustainability into the mainstream is a significant development in the architecture profession.

By mid-century, Modernism had morphed into the International Style, an aesthetic epitomized in many ways by the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center.

(July 2011)
Main article: History of architecture
Vernacular architecture in Norway.
[edit] Origins and vernacular architecture

Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills).

There has been an acceleration in the number of buildings which seek to meet green building sustainable design principles.

Pugin

In the early nineteenth century, Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin wrote Contrasts (1836) that, as the titled suggested, contrasted the modern, industrial world, which he disparaged, with an idealized image of neo-medieval world.

The 19th century English art critic, John Ruskin, in his Seven Lamps of Architecture, published 1849,[7] was much narrower in his view of what constituted architecture.

Green roof planted with native species at L'Historial de la Vendée, a new museum in western France.

Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing buildings and structures, including scheduling, cost estimating and construction administration.

House builders could use current architectural design in their work by combining features found in pattern books and architectural journals.
[edit] Modernism and reaction of architecture
Main article: Modern architecture
The Bauhaus Dessau architecture department from 1925 by Walter Gropius

The dissatisfaction with such a general situation at the turn of the twentieth century gave rise to many new lines of thought that served as precursors to Modern Architecture.

The widespread application of the pointed arch was to influence European architecture of the Medieval period.
[edit] The medieval builder
Notre Dame de Paris, France

In Europe, in both the Classical and Medieval periods, buildings were not often attributed to specific individuals and the names of architects remain frequently unknown, despite the vast scale of the many religious buildings extant from this period.

Buildings displayed their functional and structural elements, exposing steel beams and concrete surfaces instead of hiding them behind decorative forms.

Immediately after World War I, pioneering modernist architects sought to develop a completely new style appropriate for a new post-war social and economic order, focused on meeting the needs of the middle and working classes.

Due to a surplus in production the economy began to expand resulting in urbanization thus creating urban areas which grew and evolved very rapidly in some cases, such as that of Çatal Höyük in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro of the Indus Valley Civilization in modern-day Pakistan.

The Design Methodology Movement involving people such as Christopher Alexander started searching for more people-oriented designs.