ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing buildings and other physical structures. Architecture is often perceived as a work of art in a building or a structure. Architecture is in your EVERYDAY LIFE! (where?) If you live in a home or an apartment, what does it look like? What are the windows and doors like? What is the structure? Ask yourself how YOU might design a place for you to live if you had the choice? That’s what architects do!

ARCHITECTURE means offering or rendering professional services in connection with the design and construction of buildings, or built environments. Some qualities of Architecture are: Durability – a building should stand up robustly and remain in good condition. Utility – it should be suitable for the purposes for which it is used. Beauty – it should be aesthetically pleasing. It is an architects job to see that all of these standards are met!

Architectural plans start with sketches of buildings and structures.

Ancient architecture: In many ancient civilizations, such as those of Egypt and Mesopotamia, architecture reflected the constant engagement with the divine and the supernatural. Many ancient cultures constructed large monuments to represent political power, rulers, kings, queens and the culture of the people. The great pyramids were a good example of that. ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE

The Great Egyptian Pyramids were built thousands of years ago. In a way, this was the first ‘example’ of architecture that exists.

The Great Pyramids were very large- look at the people in the photos and think they are standing on ONE STONE on the pyramids, which were made up of a myriad of stones! These were made for kings!

Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Mt. Der- El-Bahari. The Sphinx at Gaza Cairo, Egypt. As you can see, some of the architecture was built into the mountains, using it as a backdrop or part of the structure.

What would your mom or dad or another relative think about this? The architecture 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. Architectural "style" developed in the form of the Classical orders. Elements like columns and facades were added to buildings and structures. Many of these styles can be seen in Greece, Italy and throughout Europe.

The Coliseum in Rome is one of the most famous structures in the world, built in 70 A.D.

Watterson put everyday things into funny situations- from YOUR perspective! Many different buildings took on the classical style Many of these are hundreds and thousands of years old!

Do you daydream sometimes? If so, how would you put it into a cartoon? Notre Dame, one of the most famous churches in the world, is in Paris. France. Notre Dame was built in It is one of the best examples of French Gothic Architecture in the world.

Many of the world’s most impressive structures and buildings were either churches or palaces. This is Buckingham Palace, built in London, England.

? The Palace of Versailles, France. Originally built in Look at the beautiful landscaping and shape of the bushes around the gardens!

More photos of Versailles!

Read the following cartoons and think about how you would tell a story! Not only were the exteriors of these buildings exquisite, but the interiors (the insides), were also stunning! Many people were employed to build these building wonders. In ancient times (in Egypt) slaves were used for such work to build the pyramids. There were no trucks, cranes or construction equipment back then! Servants were employed in later times in order to keep places like this operating on a daily basis. Can you imagine living in a palace like Versailles? The average home is around 2,600 square feet today. The Palace of Versailles was 720, 206 square feet! Larger than a Home Depot store! Do you think it would be a great place to play hide and seek?

The Hall of Mirrors inside Versailles. Would it take you forever to clean the glass in this room?

The State Room inside Buckingham Palace. Look at all of the details in the lights, the furniture, and the wood design in the room. You probably would not want to have to set this table, huh?

The best example of “Chateauesque’ Palace style Architecture in the United States is also known as “America’s Largest Home” and is actually in our own state, North Carolina, in Asheville. It is called The Biltmore Estate. If you have a chance to visit, take it! It’s only 2.5 hours from Charlotte. It’s the closest thing we have in the United States to a Castle, and was fashioned after many famous palaces and residences in France and England. It was built in 1885 by George Vanderbilt.

The Biltmore Estate, Asheville North Carolina.

The Biltmore Estate and Grounds.

Another example of wonderful Architecture in Asheville is only 10 minutes from the Biltmore. This is The Grove Park Inn!

As time goes on, architectural styles change. Some stay, some go, and some come back! What architectural style is your home? Maybe you could look it up?

“Falling Water”, one of the most famous homes in the United States, designed by one of the most famous architects, Frank Lloyd Wright was built over a waterfall in It is now a National Historic Landmark. He used the landscape around the home to build it into its surroundings!

Another one of the most famous buildings in the world, The Taj Mahal, in India has some of the most expensive furnishings in a building anywhere in the world.

The Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. You can go inside this- yes- it’s a building structure!

Goodbye from Calvin and Hobbes and Bill Watterson- Time for activities and discussion! The Opera House In Sydney, Australia.

The Kremlin in Red Square, Moscow, Russia. Look at these beautiful colors!

Does anyone know this house?

More fun examples of different architecture!

Sometimes architects do something completely unexpected! This is called “The Mushroom House” in Rochester, New York

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The tallest building in the world is The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Hopefully you learned something about architecture. Remember it’s about form and function! Take out your pencils, colored markers or crayons. Time for fun activities!