HISTRORY OF ART

AND
ARCHITECTURE

MULUGETA B. (Practicing Architect)

A.Y.: - 2022
 Question

What is Architecture?
 Definitions

ARCHITECTURE …

Architecture is the ART and

SCIENCE of DESIGNING and
CONSTRUCTING BUILDINGS
 Cont.

Art
The creation of beautiful or thought-provoking
works by human rather by nature (e.g. in
painting, music, or writing …)

Science
The study of physical and natural world and
phenomena by using systematic observation
and experiment
 Cont.
The product or result of architectural work:
buildings, urban areas and landscapes.

A style or method of building characteristic of a

people, place or time.

The profession of designing buildings and

other habitable environments by architects.

The conscious act of forming things resulting in a

unifying or coherent structure.
 Etymology
The word ‘architecture’ comes from
the Greek arkhitekton, which is a
combination of the word arkhi,
meaning “chief” or “master”, and
tekton, meaning “mason” or “builder”.

Lion Gate in the ancient Greece shows the

detailed stone carving at which the Mycenaeans
outshined. (14th - 12th century BC)
 Etymology
In line with the etymology, architecture
used to denote both the process and the
product of designing and constructing
buildings; and the architect used to be
known as the “master mason” or
“master builder” in the past.

Leonardo da Vinci was known not only

as a masterful painter but also as an
architect, sculptor, engineer, and
scientist. (1452 – 1519)
 Definition
In its most simple form, architecture is
the design and organization of spaces,
and in its most common form, it is the
design of buildings, their interiors and
surrounding spaces.
The Milan Cathedral stands
in the Piazza del Duomo in
the center of Milan, Italy.
 Definition
The architect acts as a designer, who
can work in a wide range of scales,
from a scale as large as the planning of
a city, up to a scale as small as the
design of a chair.
 Definition
Therefore, Architecture is the design of
the total built environment, from the
macro-level of town planning to the
micro-level of furniture and product
design.

SO …
 Definition
Architecture both as an art and a
science, is
- The matrix of society by which one can measure
the level of “civilization” of a nation.

- An unavoidable human artifact which tells

everything about people. (victories, aspirations,
and sacrifices, all are written with solid letters of
stone and bricks.)

- Also the embodiment of the intangible human

culture and reflection of lifestyle.
 Definition
In terms of Design

Architecture focuses on the

components or elements of a
structure or a system and unifies them
into a coherent and functional whole,
according to a particular approach in
achieving the objective(s) under the
given constraints or limitations.
 History
Origin of Architecture
Architecture is one of the oldest
professions in human history.
It appeared with human being’s need
of shelter to protect himself from the
weather and danger outside.
It first evolved as the outcome of
needs (like shelter, security, worship
etc.) and means (availability of place,
building materials and skills).
 History
Ancient – Present
 Reflections

Discussion time
 Basics

ABCs of Architecture
 Basics
The earliest surviving written work
on architecture is Roman architect
Marcus Vitruvius’ De architectura
(Ten Books on Architecture), which
was written in the early 1st century
AD.

(Translated in 1914)
 Basics

Vitruvius has written in his book

that a good building must satisfy
three main qualities, which are:

1. Firmitas (firm)
2. Utilitas (useful)
3. Venustas (beautiful)
 Basics

Vitruvius denoted that a good

building should be
- Structurally firm
- Functionally useful
- Aesthetically beautiful
So that the architect should strive
to fulfill each of these three
qualities as much as possible.
 Basics
Firmness
Architectural products (buildings)
should be firm, which means that they
should stand up firm and solid, and
remain in good condition.

The Pantheon in Rome (118-128 AD)

 Basics
Functional
Architectural products (buildings)
should be functional, which means that
they should be useful and function well
for the people using them.

- Residential Buildings
- Public Buildings
- Commercial Buildings
- Industrial Buildings
 Basics
Aesthetic
Architectural products (buildings)
should be beautiful, which means
that they should please the senses
of the people who view and use
them.

“Architecture is solidified music”

 Basics
- Therefore, architecture should try to
reach the optimum combination of the
structural firmness, formal and spatial
beauty, and the functionality of the
building.
- For this reason the profession of
architecture is in between the arts, the
science and the humanities.
The END!!! Thank you!!!