Building a FoundationBuilding a Foundation

Learning about ArchitectureLearning about Architecture

Learning Goals:• Architects are artists• Basic architectural elements• Art is in the world around you, even in everyday objects• Design a finished product using separate elements

The art of designing and constructing buildings.

Every building is designed by an architect.

Seattle Public Library – Seattle, WA

What is architecture?

The first known book about architecture was written by a Roman architect , Vitruvius.

Romans were well-known for their architecture.

Beauty

Utility

Durability

The Coliseum – Rome, Italy

Architects still use these today!

B

U

D

Hi, I’m Vitruvius!You can call me

BUD!

I believe every building should be strong in:

Elements of Architecture

The Crooked House – Poland

To make a building beautiful, useful and durable , architects use 6 basic elements.

MassingTexture/Lines

RooflineWindows

Entrance/DoorsDecoration

Massing:Massing is the height, length and form of a building.

Can MASSING affect how you

feel about a building?

How do you feel when

you walk up to a

skyscraper?

How do you feel when

you walk up to a home?

Texture/Lines:Texture & lines create interest when looking at the mass.

Cubic houses – Rotterdam, Netherlands

St. Vitus Cathedral – Prague, Czech Republic

What kinds of materials and shapes can I use?

Does your

house look like

this!?

RooflineRooflines can be very different from building to building

Chateau – Mont St. Michel, FranceSkyline, Manhattan, New York

What shape is

your roof?

Do you like my

roofline?

WindowsWindows often show expression for the building.

Heroes Building – Santiago, Chile

Kyoto, Japan

Open Concepts House

Do you like lots of

windows or just a few?

Do you like big

windows or small

windows?

I think that house is

looking at me…

And I think it might be

hungry!

Entrance/DoorNotre Dame Cathedral – Paris, France

Farewell Chapel - Krasnja, Slovenia

The entrance is very important!

How else would you get

in the building?

DecorationDecoration is a great way to show style in architecture

Marché des Halles – Avignon, FrancePublic Library – Kansas City, Missouri

This building is decorated with

plants!

This library looks like giant

books!

Styles change from place to

place.

Architectural StylesEvery building also has a certain style

and over time... like hair and

fashion

Let’s look at 5 different styles.

ClassicalFrom around 500 BC – 500 AD • Grand and imposingGrand and imposing

• Columns and archesColumns and arches• Very formalVery formal• SymmetrySymmetry

Parthenon replica – Nashville, Tennessee

US capitol building – Washington, D.C.

GothicFrom around 1200 - 1550

Wells Cathedral, Wells, Somerset, United Kingdom

• Decorative & ornateDecorative & ornate• Castles and cathedralsCastles and cathedrals• StonesStones• Arches & Tall WindowsArches & Tall Windows

ColonialFrom around 1600 - 1820

Colonial Cape Cod house - Massachusetts

• American colonistsAmerican colonists• Native American influenceNative American influence• Simple “Salt Box” styleSimple “Salt Box” style• Front symmetryFront symmetry

John Teller House - Schenectady, NY

Arts & CraftsFrom around 1850 - 1930

Galveston, Texas

Sears catalog - Arts & Crafts house

• Do-it-YourselfDo-it-Yourself• Back to NatureBack to Nature• Pitched roofsPitched roofs• Lead or Stained GlassLead or Stained Glass

PostmodernFrom about 1960 - present

Experience Music Project building - Seattle

TV station Beijing, China

• Fun and creativeFun and creative• Unusual shapesUnusual shapes• DecorativeDecorative• Combination of stylesCombination of styles

Architectural DrawingsIt takes lots of drawings to get what you want.

Floor PlanWhat the

building looks like from

above with the roof off.

Cross SectionWhat the

building looks from the front

or side with the wall off.

Site PlanA picture of the building

on the property

where will be built.

Elevation DrawingA simple

drawing from just outside the building.

Remember:

•Massing•Texture/Lines•Roofline•Windows•Entrance/ Door•Decoration

Draw your dream house!

Be creative and HAVE FUN!