Jan 2016 ANKIT KUMAR ASST.

PROF; GCAD 1
Content

Introduction to Architecture Design Theory-IV

Objective
Theory in Antiquity

Intent
To make students aware about the subject what is architecture design
theory-IV is all about and what we are going to study this semester.

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

What is Design Theory ??

THEORY PRACTICE

(lectures, books, treatise and dialogue) (design of cities, buildings, objects)

Theory is an interpretation of design ideas and practice,. Theories give a

tangible understanding of otherwise ambiguous thought.
Eg. Modernism , Deconstructivism etc.

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

Is there any connection with social, political conditions and time?

Role of technology ?

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

Design philosophy ??

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

- Louis Sullivan

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

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 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

Danziger Studio, Los Angeles Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

THEORY IN ANTIQUITY

ANTIQUITY ERA
SUMERIAN
There is little information or
ASSYRIAN evidence about major architectural
theory in antiquity, until the 1st
EGYPTIAN century BCE, with the work
of Vitruvius.
GREEK

ROMAN This does not mean, however, that

such works did not exist. Many
BYZANTINE works never survived antiquity.

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

VITRUVIUS

 Vitruvius was a Roman WRITER, ARCHITECT and ENGINEER active in the 1st
century BCE.
 He was the most prominent architectural theorist in the Roman Empire
known today, having written De architectura, (known today as The Ten Books
of Architecture)
 this book was probably written between 27 and 23rd BCE in LATIN and GREEK
on architecture.
 This book is divided into ten sections or books. It covers it covers almost
every aspect of Roman architecture, from town planning, materials,
decorations, temples, water supplies, etc

Jan 2016 ANKIT KUMAR ASST. PROF; GCAD 14

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

VITRUVIUS

De Architectura – Ten Books on Architecture

BOOK 1 : Town planning, architecture or civil engineering in general, and the
qualifications required of an architect or more modernly the civil engineer.
BOOK 2: Building materials
BOOK 3: Temples and the orders of architecture.
BOOK 4: Theory of proportions.
BOOK 5: Civil buildings (Theaters, baths and other public buildings.)
BOOK 6: Domestic buildings
BOOK 7: Pavements and decorative plaster work.
BOOK 8: Water supplies and aqueducts.
BOOK 9: Sciences influencing architecture geometry, measurement, , astronomy, sundial.
BOOK 10:Use and construction of machines - Roman siege engines, water mills, drainage
machines, Roman technology.

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

VITRUVIAN TRAID
FIRMNESS (STRUCTURE)

FIRMITAS

UTILITAS VENUSTAS

COMMODITY (FUNCTION) AESTHETICS/BEAUTY

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

FIRMITAS (DURABILITY AND STRUCTURAL STABILITY)

Durability will be assured when foundations are carried down to the

solid ground materials are wisely selected.

Pantheon, Rome
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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

UTILITAS (APPROPRIATE SPATIAL ACCOMODATION)

Utilitas refers to issues that are important to the functionality of

the Architecture.

markets of Trajan, Italy Rome

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

VENUSTAS (AESTHETICS/ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE)

When the appearance of work is pleasing in good taste, and when
it’s members are in due proportion according to correct principles of
symmetry.

mausoleum of Augustus, Italy Rome

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

IDENTIFYING PRINCIPLES OF VITRUVIUS IN WORLD ARCHITECTURE

DURABILITY AND
FIRMITAS STABILITY ARE THE MAIN
CONCERN OF THE DESIGN.

Santiago Calatrava, HSB Turning Torso Sweden

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 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

IDENTIFYING PRINCIPLES OF VITRUVIUS IN WORLD ARCHITECTURE

VENUSTAS

Building
appearance is
most
important
design
consideration
here
Lotus temple, New Delhi, India

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

IDENTIFYING PRINCIPLES OF VITRUVIUS IN WORLD ARCHITECTURE

UTILITAS Modern architecture focuses on Functionality

Villa savoye by Le Corbusier

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

VITRUVIUS IDEA OF BEAUTY AND PROPORTION

He believed that no temple can rational

composition without symmetry and
proportion, that is if it has not an exact
calculation of members like a well shaped
man.

According to Vitruvius all temples have are

completely developed by geometric
proportions and relations.

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

VITRUVIUS IDEA OF BEAUTY AND PROPORTION

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THEORY- IV

VITRUVIUS IDEA OF BEAUTY AND PROPORTION

Vitruvian man

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Questions

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Further Readings

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