ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER AND STYLE
The character of a building depends upon its capacity to express a particular function and status. All aesthetic components, such as unity, composition, contrast and scale together make up the character of a building to evoke a certain visual and psychological response in the user. •
Character also brings out the utility and purpose of a building.
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Whether it is a bank or a church or a library, it should possess an appropriate character. For instance, the structure of the Bank should be such that it should look massive and represent the countrys countrys financial stability. stability.
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Charac Character ter of a buildi building ng denotes denotes all those those !ualit !ualities ies "hich "hich differ different entiat iatee it from from other other buildings. #t is the notable feature of a building and describes the purpose of its existence. existence.
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#n design, character is obtained not only from the natural or man $ made elements but also from aspects like function, materials and technology of construction.
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The character of the building is reflected in terms of treatment of openings, scale of elements, proportion of the smaller to the larger units etc.
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%aterials based on their intrinsic character or nature is to be used accordingly. &x' When stone is used it signifies strength as also long lasting nature. (imilarly use of glass denoted fragile character and one of delicate nature than strength. %aterials like "ood, steel or brick "hen used "ith their natural finishes can give and enhance the beauty of the structure.
The architectural style of the building is the individual personality of a building that emerges from a collective interaction of aesthetics, as they relate to use, construction, time period, geographical location, etc.) •
(tyle is definite type of architecture distinguished by special characteristics or type of structure, ornamentation etc. (tyle is an attribute of all good design, contributing vitally to a character.
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Arch Archiitect tectur ural al sty style cons consti tittutes utes a
mode ode
of clas classi sify fyin ing g architecture lar largely gely by
morphological characteristics in terms of form, form, techni!ues, materials, etc. materials, etc.
Character is the !uality. (tyle is the "ay or type *a manner in "hich a character is expressed in a particular "ay+. (tyles may change but character doesnt undergo changes. Character of a building is achieved "illfully. #t gives an identity to the building. Character in its maturity can be called style. The same character "hen carried over to all buildings at a particular time and over a same area "ill be called style.
Architectural character can be divided in to 3 categories
!unctional Character #n architecture it is developed as expressions of a building "hich is the
manifestation of internal function. The purpose or function of a building gives us the external appearance of a building. &x' esign of factory building, industrial "orkshops, the layout of "hich are dictated purely by a functional aspect. The function can be static or dynamic, hori-ontal or vertical, compact or spra"ling. A type of classification of functional character includes the' Permanent structures "ill have performance of repetitive functions or actions. ence use of more permanent materials.
#ncase of Semi-permanent structure use of materials "ill be of such a nature "hich can be removed and reused like portable cabins, thatch roof, or AC sheet, /olycarbonate sheet etc.
Transient structures are meant to satisfy the immediate need and can be dismantled or removed. &x' &xhibition pavilions, film or theatre sets Also use of domes for large spans and use of columns and beams for medium and smaller spans reflect the functional character of the structure.
For example' esigning skylights instead of "indo"s can indicate a museum. esigning a long "all having numerous "indo"s in a particular order can also indicate a museum. esigning tall and "ide "indo"s suggest a library. esigning a symmetrical entrance to a central block having a "ide entrance to express balance and rhythm indicates public buildings.
Associated Character This character develops from the influence of ideas or impression related
to or gro"ing out of past experience. #t is used to recogni-e a building "hich has been associated "ith particular style.
&x' esign of a temple out of religious belief or spiritual context, layout of a house $ based on vaastu shaastras etc The character of some buildings is expressed through elements associated "ith certain influences. (uch influences often go thousands of years back in history and culture. Cultural aspects play an important role in determining the Associated Character of a particular structure0. We recogni-e a building by its features, "hich "e associate "ith a particular structural style. A spire on a to"er by the side of a spacious building indicates a church. A gopuram depicts a indu Temple "hereas a crescent and a "hite dome is the symbol of a mos!ue.
PLACES OF WORSHIP "ersonal Character or Individual character &ach architect "ould express certain character
"hich makes hi1 her o"n style. &x' Frank 2loyd Wright, 2e Corbusier, Charles Correa. Character in architecture is comparable "ith the attributes of an individual. #f a building is designed in the proper spirit, personal characteristics such as grace, dignity and vitality can be expressed as an integral part of the structure.
RONCHAMP
In#luences on St$le are •
3eography
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Climate
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%aterials available
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4eligion and tradition
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Construction Techni!ues
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Function
5sually repetition of features like columns, courtyards, ornaments openings etc. is seen. 4oof treatments, fa6ade treatments all are repeated in a similar fashion in a particular area and time. T$%es o# St$le •
Based on place $
&gyptian, 4oman, 3reek etc.
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Based on religion 7 ravidian style, 8rissan (tyle, 9i:ayanagar (tyle
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Based on (tructural techni!ues 7 &gyptian an d 3reek' Trabeated system 4oman' Arcuated system 3othic' Flying buttress &arly Christian' /endentives
&' (ASED )N "LACE •
Eg$%tian
The t"o predominant building materials used in ancient &gypt "ere sun7baked mud brick and stone. %ost buildings contain flat roofs supported by external "alls and columns.
Walls "ere immensely thick. Columns "ere confined to the halls and inner courts. The massive sloping exterior "alls, containing only a fe" small openings, columns and piers "ere covered "ith hieroglyphic and pictorial carvings in brilliant colors. %any motifs of &gyptian ornament are symbolic, such as the scarab, or sacred beetle, the solar disk, and the vulture. From natural ob:ects, such as palm leaves, the papyrus plant, and the buds and flo"ers of the lotus, they developed conventionali-ed motifs. The belief in existence beyond death resulted in sepulchral architecture of utmost impressiveness, permanence and scale.
GREAT PYRAMID •
*ree+
3reek architecture is important because of its logic and order. They planned their temples according to a coded scheme of parts, based on function. %athematics determined the symmetry, the harmony, the eye;s pleasure. 3reek designers used precise mathematical calculations to determine the height, "idth and other characteristics of architectural elements. These proportions might be changed slightly, and certain individual elements *columns, capitals, base platform+, might be tapered or curved, in order to create the optimum visual effect, as if the building "as a piece of sculpture. The 3reeks also invented the classical
PARTHENON •
Ro,an
4oman culture has been a po"erful force in shaping the styles and history of &urope and beyond. These 4oman Architecture included •
Basilicas used as administrative centers.
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A!ueducts, "hich "ere used to carry "ater for many miles to overcro"ded cities.
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Amphitheaters created to provide entertainment.
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Temples created to placate the gods.
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Triumphal arches and columns used to tell the stories of great battles.
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Bathhouses, "hich served as meeting places a s "ell as a place to get clean in "arm "ater.
Certain features such as the arch, dome and concrete, are considered central to any understanding of 4oman building techni!ues.
COLOSSEM -' (ASED )N RELI*I)N •
Dravidian st$le
ravidian architecture emerged in the (outhern part of the #ndian subcontinent. #t consists primarily of temples "ith pyramid shaped to"ers constructed of sandstone, soapstone or granite. The gate"ays or G!puras, /illared alls are Man"apas and the (anctum (anctorium or Gar#a $ri%a&
DRA'IDIAN STYLE
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)rissan st$le
The 8rissan temple architecture ranging from =th to >?th century A.. referred to as @alingan (tyle of temple architecture. Though broadly they co me under the orthern style or agara style, they have certain special features "hich are uni!ue of their o"n. The 8rissan temples are of three types 7 @hakhara eula, 4ekha eula, /idha or Bhadra eula These mark the culmination of a distinct style of architecture called the @alinga style remarkable in its plan elevation and details of decoration. #n the simplest form, a temple of this style consists of a structural duel, the main temple or shrine and the frontal porch. While the main temple, called 9imana or eula, is the sanctum enshrining the deity the porch or assembly hall called agamohana is the place for the congregation of devotees. Although the t"o temples are architecturally different, they are constructed in axial alignment and interconnected so as to form an integral pattern.
ORISSAN TEMPLE •
.i/a$anagar st$le
9i:ayanagara architecture can be broadly classified into religious, courtly and civic architecture, as can the associated sculptures and paintings. The 9i:ayanagara style is a combination of the Chalukya, oysala, /andya and Chola styles. The most popular material for temple construction "as chloritic schist or soapstone. This "as good for sculpture as soapstone is soft and easily carved. While the use of granite reduced the density of sculptured "orks, granite "as a more durable material for the temple structure.
'I(AYANAGARA STYLE 3' (ASED )N STRUCTURAL TECHNI0UES •
Trabeated s$ste,
A trabeated system has a lintel, header, or architrave as the hori-ontal member over a building void supported at its ends by t"o vertical columns, pillars, or posts. &g. 3reek and &gyptian style
STONE HENGE •
Arcuated s$ste,
While other cultures had made limited use of semi7circular arches, the 4omans "ere the first to take "ide advantage of them through the creation of buildings and infrastructure. The "ay arches distribute "eight are "hat made them so popular. Arches direct the "eight so that it is concentrated on the upright supports. This means fe"er columns are needed and larger open spaces can be spanned.
R!man a)ue"uct supp!rte" #* arc%es
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!l$ing (uttress
A flying buttress is a specific form of buttressing most strongly associated "ith 3othic church architecture. The purpose of any buttress is to resist the lateral forces pushing a "all out"ards by redirecting them to the ground.
FLYING +TTRESS •
"endentives
A pendentive is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a s!uare room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room. The pendentives, "hich are triangular segments of a sphere, taper to points at the bottom and spread at the top to establish the continuous circular or elliptical base needed for the dome.
PENDENTI'E
