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Ancient Civilizations Architectures

There are several examples of ancient cultures' architectural legacy in the form of

surviving structures and their effect on the current architecture. Egypt and America got ruled

by ambitious pharaohs who built pyramids, while Roman cities and Japanese religious sites

had arches (Bertman 5). The Great Wall of China, the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople,

and the Hadrian's Wall in Britain are just a few examples of the numerous ancient walls

dotted the landscape. Throughout the ancient world, theaters, arenas, and stadiums were

commonplace, and today they may be seen in cities across the globe. Early examples of

classical architecture, derived from Near Eastern and Egyptian models and further developed

by the Etruscans and Romans, may be found in many towns worldwide, including the

courthouse, opera theater, and public library, where classical columns adorned the exterior. A

wide range of topics is covered in this compilation, encompassing temples of Hinduism, Inca

design, and the Byzantine churches that still have a strong influence on modern design.

Southeast Asia Architecture

Buddhist monks lived in tiny cells surrounded by a large open courtyard. Buddhists

used stupas, a semi-spherical mountain of debris and mud created to cover relics because

their beliefs did not specify a specific architectural style for devotion. The axiality of the

passage inside these stupas is said to have cosmological significance. The topes were

extended into enormous semi-circular forms to reflect the uncomplicatedness and importance
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of the sphere (plan, section, and height) and encircled by an encircled fence a few years later

(about 250 BCE) (Stouhi). In one of the most renowned Buddhist sanctuaries, Sanchi, the

Great Stupa in Sanchi, the hemisphere got crowned with harmica and a three-tiered element

known as chatra. Additionally, the enormous stone gates known as toranas became richly

decorated with animal and form carvings and wood imprints.

To link worshipers with their gods, Hindus created Hindu temples. On the other hand,

the temples served as homes for the gods and sacred artifacts and places of worship. Cosmic

and natural integrations were prevalent in the temples. They focused on precise positionings,

balance, sacred geometric patterns, and axialities. For example, the mandala, a square divided

into two, is frequently employed in Hindu temple architecture. Using corbeling and post-and-

lintel techniques, what had remained erected at a small scale grew considerably in height

during the following years. The central tower of the main shrine of Angkor Wat, one of the

most prominent Hindu temples, has intricate and extravagant stone carvings and

ornamentation, as seen around 1120 CE (Stouhi).

Nevertheless, China's supposedly unparalleled practices in the twenty-first century

conceal a modernization process that has lasted several centuries. During that time, East and

West were involved in exciting discussions, and China's construction and design have adored

both prominence and disdain, albeit in inequitable measure, from the West. Although the

increasing number of treaty ports allowed extraneous architecture, building methods, and

resources to enter China in the late 19th century, putting pressure on the country's traditional

wooden border and distinguishing roof, the rise of Innovativeness in Europe and America in

the early 20th century presented a contradictory twist to what had previously appeared to be a

stable progression of architectural conquest in China. (Denison 119).

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On the other hand, China failed to meet the challenge, and only the greatest architects

of the century could bring it to life. China's first generation of suitably skilled architects had

to deal with these challenges for most of their careers. They returned from distant campuses

in the 1910s. They formed the core of China's successive architectural society, which by the

1930s had mellowed to the point where it could contest the formerly overwhelming reign of

overseas architects in China and win contracts to project some of China's most imperative

structures and urban strategies at the time. (Denison 120). As a result, while the materials and

craftsmanship essential to the form and character of Chinese roofs became replaced by

concrete and steel, the aesthetic of the structure and nature of a Chinese roof remained

unpersuasively cast in awkward resources, confirming Ino Dan's proclamation that 'any effort

to reestablish the form of Japanese or Chinese style utilizing iron and cement should not be

allowed under any occasions. It would be an anachronistic and absurdity if the tile roof stood

made to encompass any scale structures with the contemporary interior arrangement.

The grand hotel appeared in colonial South-East Asia at the start of the nineteenth and

twentieth century as a new architectural type aimed at the rising market of intercontinental

tourists (Peleggi 255). These hotels were distinguishable from other types of lodging for

tourists, such as motels and travel cottages, by their size and amenities and their higher

service standards. Colonialists and tourists of the high imperial age enjoyed luxury and

comfort traditionally associated only with the metropolis in British Burma, French Indochina,

and Malaya. South-East Asia's magnificent hotels enjoyed their heyday from the late 1920s to

the early 1930s, when the rubber and tin industries declined. The Japanese profession of the

zone in the early 1940s brought an end to the golden era (Peleggi 255). South-East Asia's

cityscapes were transformed by economic and infrastructure modernity in the 1960s and

1970s, getting a new generation of jet-propelled mass tourism to the region (Peleggi 255).

Colonial-era great resorts that had survived deconstruction could not compete with the degree
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of elegance and comfort offered by newer facilities; thus, they mainly drew budget tourists.

Grand hotels were often converted into state guesthouses by the region's socialist

governments. Many surviving colonial hotels received a much-publicized refurbishment and

re-launch in the 1990s, widely publicized (Peleggi 255).

Christian Architecture

People assume Christian architectural styles to have begun after Christ's death, or at

the very least in the second half of the first century CE, until the early twentieth century.

According to later findings and examinations, the true Christian style didn't appear until the

2nd or 3rd century. It's even more challenging to pin down the end of this time, which could

fall anywhere between the 4th and the 6th century (Britannica). Early Christian design spread

throughout the Roman Empire, adjusting to the pagan plan. It then developed its distinct

styles, which changed over time based on local cultural trends. Emperor Constantine the

Great built Constantinople (ancient Byzantium) as a new capital during his reign (306–337).

(Britannica). As a result, Byzantine art and architecture spread across the Eastern Christian

world.

Early Christian architectural design in the West, or the Latin component of the Roman

Empire, is typically distinguished from Christian architecture in places where the dominant

language is Greek. While allowing a degree of latitude in the beginning date of this division

(330, the basis of Constantinople; 395, the separation between the Greek and Latin parts of

the empire; or, lastly, Justinian's reign (527–565)), it is also conventional to classify the latter

as proto-Byzantine (Britannica). Early Christian monuments are defined in this article by

their stylistic differences from the true Byzantine stylishness found in Constantinople. This

segment has no accurate chronological frontier since the evolution from the previous to the

later architecture debated in the following section took place at various eras and sites. In its
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early stages, Christian architecture had a long and fruitful history in the Eastern regions

before Justinian came along and paved the way for Constantinople's hegemony (Britannica).

In the West, the conclusion of early Christian architectural design gets more easily discerned

than in the rest of Europe. As a result of the fall of Roman rule in the 5th century, this

architectural style faded away. When barbarous peoples from the East overthrew the Romans,

they left behind an assortment of regional styles influenced by their new masters.

There are many examples of modern architecture that show this. The Christian

church's spatial layout has a unique longitudinal axis that often runs east-west (with certain

deviations depending on local and construction circumstances). Reflecting heavenly bodies

above particular places signifies that they mirrored the sun's passage. Cruciform and with a

vertical axis, the church's construction is at the same time an essential part of its overall

design. Secondary axes penetrating lateral and angular divisions and covered by secondary

domes often accompany the primary vertical axis. The church's circular motion is created,

repeated throughout ceremonial circumambulations around the altar and symbolic and holy

marches around the structure (Bondarenko 1881).

People now study a work that demonstrates a universalist approach to religion. Take

Le Corbusier's Notre Dame du Ronchamp, a small Catholic Church erected just outside Paris

by the architect (Jasper 358). The church's primary character is constructing new space,

defined by light through the strategic placement of objects and gaps. As a result of its pared-

down style, which avoided the decorative religious figures and excessive details of typical

churches of the era, it is a purely meditative setting. Architects seem to follow Corbusier's

footsteps by creating sacred spaces that encourage meditation and reflection, regardless of

religious affiliation, in the modernist style. The structures represent ideals shared by a wide

range of religious traditions that secular and non-religious individuals can also accept. The
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symbolism is less pronounced when contrasted with the altar of a conventional Catholic

Church in Rome.

Islamic Architecture

The wide variety of styles seen in Islamic architecture has influenced the design and

construction of secular and religious structures alike. Arches can be seen in almost every type

of architecture, from homes to mosques, and become most typically found in courtyards.

Semi-circular arches got first used in Roman and Byzantine architecture (Rahman 8).

Andalusia became a center of competence for Muslim architects who began to design new

types of arches that were both structurally and visually superior. For centuries, European

architecture became influenced by the early Islamic architectural style, which drew

inspiration from other contemporary architectural styles and incorporated them into its own.

In the first descendants following the death of the Prophet, there were very few

Islamic structures. Construction of a new Ka'aba, the first significant piece of Islamic

architecture, began in 630 AD when an Abyssinian carpenter was hired (Rahman 8). Starting

in the late 650s, Islam began to consolidate and spread worldwide (Rahman 8). A large

country area was taken by Muslim soldiers, mostly moving westward. The structures drew on

various crafts and knowledge from Muslim countries. Since Muslims had no architectural

heritage, they had to rely on local or imported artisans to do the work until the 8th century,

when they got given new principles and an emblematic decoration to work with instead. This

is the only case where mosques have got built-in former temples. The shared cultural and

religious codes that structured believers' daily routines and worldview stayed shaped by

Islam, which was the unifying force in their urban environment.

As a result of advancements in modern technology, architectural styles are constantly

evolving. Implementing new technologies has altered human behavior and thought patterns in
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an ever-evolving world. 'Adapt or die is a common belief and attitude (Faiz Toorabally et al.

1). Because architects aren't an exception to the rule, they've changed their ideas and how

they carry out their profession. Building functionality is getting more attention than ever

before, even if the building's social and cultural effects standstill taken into account. A

contributing factor is the availability of software for simulating the functionality of spaces,

but not social interaction or aesthetics of a building. As a result, contemporary technology is

revolutionizing the practice of architecture and creating a global village (Faiz Toorabally et

al. 2). This might lead to the entire global village having the same architectural style in the

future. The evolution of Islamic architecture has fluctuated over time, just as the rest of the

globe has. As a result, it is essential to remember that architecture got intrinsically linked to

Islam in the Islamic world. An indispensable role in defining cultural identity is played by

architecture as a tangible artifact. The most delicate approach to conveying a religion or

culture via architecture is through its religious buildings. Mosques and their associated

architectural aspects have long served as iconic representations of Islamic architecture.

Conclusion

While some of the contrasts between ancient and modern architecture are readily

visible to the naked eye, others require careful examination before grasping them. Many

historical structures have a traditional look, yet contemporary architecture has designs that

stray away. Modern architecture's goal is to develop designs that stand out from the rest of

the landscape. Architecture became heavily influenced by the topography of a region and

where specific structures were to stay erect. With modern architecture, on the other hand, the

initiative itself and its eventual goal are the driving forces behind the design. It remains stated

that modern architecture is devoid of all superfluous and pointless elements. It is already

clear what the facility will use before the structure has even been implemented. A structure's

purpose is just as vital as its design and aesthetics, where architecture comes in. To use an old
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cliché, the only thing that is certain in life is change. As for architecture, it's the same. Like

any other field, architecture has evolved to meet the changing needs of society. Every country

has its unique architectural traditions that are a part of its cultural, social, religious, and

geological identity.
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Works Cited

Bertman, Stephen. Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. New York, Oxford University

Press, 2005.

Bondarenko, Igor. "Architecture of Christian Church in the Context of Archaic Ideas of the

Universe." Procedia Engineering, vol. 165, 2016, pp. 1880–1887,

10.1016/j.proeng.2016.11.937. Accessed 3 Nov. 2020.

Britannica. "Western Architecture - Early Christian." Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Mar.

2022, www.britannica.com/art/Western-architecture/Early-Christian. Accessed 27

Apr. 2022.

Denison, Edward. "Architecture in China and the Meaning of Modern." Architectural Design,

vol. 78, no. 5, Sept. 2008, pp. 118–123, 10.1002/ad.750. Accessed 13 May 2020.

Faiz Toorabally, Muhammad Faiz Toorabally, et al. "Impact of Modern Technologies on

Islamic Architecture in Malaysia and Middle East." Nova Journal of Engineering and

Applied Sciences, vol. 5, no. 1, 7 July 2016, p. 1, 10.20286/nova-jeas-050101.

Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.

Jasper, David. "The Arts and Modern Christian Architecture." Theology, vol. 114, no. 5, 21

July 2011, pp. 353–362, 10.1177/0040571x11411541. Accessed 1 June 2019.

Peleggi, Maurizio. "Consuming Colonial Nostalgia: The Monumentalisation of Historic

Hotels in Urban South-East Asia." Asia Pacific Viewpoint, vol. 46, no. 3, Dec. 2005,

pp. 255–265, 10.1111/j.1467-8373.2005.00289. x. Accessed 19 Nov. 2019.

Rahman, Mohammed Mahbubur. "Islamic Architecture and Arch." International Journal of

Built Environment and Sustainability, vol. 2, no. 1, 15 Jan. 2015, 10.11113/ijbes.

v2.n1.52.
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Stouhi, Dima. "History of Architecture: Ancient India & Southeast Asia." ArchDaily, 14 Oct.

2020, www.archdaily.com/943846/history-of-architecture-ancient-india-and-

southeast-asia. Accessed 26 Apr. 2022.