AN INTRODUCTION TO ARCHITECTURE

BEG 112 AR
Year: I Semester: I
Total
Examination Scheme Remarks
marks
Internal
Final
Teaching Assessments
schedule
Hours/Week
Theory Practica
Theory Practical
Mark l Mark

L Tu P T Duration Mark Duration Mark

2 - - 2 1.5 hrs 40 - - 10 - 50

Course Objectives:
To understand architecture, its relation with society, culture, religion, technology and
built environment.
To understand the prospects and opportunities of architectural profession, its relation
with other professions, rules and regulations of architecture in Nepal.
Topics of Course:

1. Introduction to architecture and need of architectural education in Nepal - 1.5hrs.

Tutorial
2. Prehistoric development, stone henge, cave structures, pyramid. - 2.5hrs.
Tutorial
3. Architecture & built environment in social, cultural and religion context. - 3.5hrs.
Tutorial
4. Technology and material influences - 3hrs.
(In the context of Nepali architecture)
Tutorial
5. Architecture of the world
A. Eastern Architecture - 3hrs.
i. Nepalese architecture
ii. Hindu & Buddhist architecture
iii. Muslim architecture
B. Western Architecture - 5hrs.
i. Greek architecture
ii. Roman architecture
iii. Renaissance
iv. Gothic
v. Baroque
vi. Modernism
6. Fields of architectural professions - 1.5hrs.
i. Planners
ii. Engineers
iii. Interior designers
iv. Landscape designers

7. Practice in public and private organizations - 1.5hrs.

8. Planning control/ Building by-laws -1.5hrs.

9. Introductory knowledge on various school of architecture -0.5hrs.

Tutorial:
Presentation on various topics such as temples, residential buildings, typical social
structures etc.
Reference:

1.Ching,Francis D, A Visual Dictionary of Architecture, VNR Publications, New

York. 1997.

2. Fletcher, Banister, A History of Architecture, 19th Edition.

3. Hiraskar G.K., The Great Ages of World Architecture, Dhanpat Rai and Son,
Delhi, 1996.

4. The Architects, ED Kostof, Siro, Oxford University Press, New Yourk, 1997.

5. Nuttgens, Patrick, The Story of Architecture, 2nd Edition, Phaidon Press Ltd.
London. 1997.

6. Stern, Robert A, Pride of Place, Hougton Miftlin Co., Boston 1986.

7. R J C Atkinson, English Heritage; Stonehenge and Neighbouring Monuments.

8. I E S Edwards, The Pyramids of Egypt.

 TEACHING PLAN
BEG 112 AR: Introduction to Architecture

Lect 1.5 hrs PER WEEK

Final Examination duration 1.5 hours Total marks 40

Week 1: Introduction to architecture and need of architectural

education in Nepal
Week 2&3: Prehistoric development, stone henge, cave structures,
pyramid.
Week 4: Architecture, built environment and the society.
Week 5 : Social, cultural and religious context of architecture.
Week 6 : Excursion
Week 7: Technology and material context of architecture.
Week 8: Technology and material context of architecture.
Week 9: Presentation
Week 10: Eastern Architecture
Week 11 & 12 : Western Architecture
Week 13: The architecture profession and its interactive relationship
with allied professionals such as planners, engineers,
interior designers, landscape architects etc.
Week 14 : The profession of architecture in Nepal -its practice both
public and private, career opportunities.
Week 15: Architect and the client, Planning and Building controls in
force.
Week 16: Assessments/Marking/Closing
*****
 Chapter One:

STUDY OF ARCHITECTURE & NEED OF ARCHITECTURAL

EDUCATION IN NEPAL [1.5 hrs.]

What is architecture?
Architecture is nothing more and nothing less than the gift of making places
for human purposes.
-Spiro Kostof (an architectural historian)

Architecture is generally conceived, designed and realized, built in response

to an existing set of conditions. These conditions may be purely functional in
nature or they may also reflect in varying degrees, the social, political and
economical climate.
- Francis D. K. Ching in “Architecture: Form, Space and Order”

You employ stone, wood and concrete and with these materials you build
house and palaces. That is construction. Ingenuity is at work.
But suddenly, you touch my heart, you do me good. I am happy and I say:
“This is beautiful.” That is architecture. Art enters in.
My house is practical. I thank you, as I might thank Railway engineers or the
Telephone service. You have not touched my heart.
-Le Corbusier in his book “Towards a New Architecture (1927)”
Architecture is something I can’t describe because it has no smell, no touch,
but it is a feeling, it has spirit. It is that what you want to be. It can be said that
architecture is learnt by expression experienced by seeing then by realizing
and lastly by doing same thing practically.
-Louis I. Kahn

Maya: "Experts call all places where immortals and mortals dwell, "dwelling
sites" (vastu, j:t' ). The Earth is the principal dwelling place because it is on
Her that constructed dwellings (våstu, jf:t' ) such as temples have appeared
and it is because of Her nature as site and because of the temples' union with
this site that the ancients called them dwelling sites in this world."
Mayamata 2.1-3

“All habitations are defined by their dimensions" Mayamata 5.1

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical
structures. It is both the process and product of planning, designing and
constructing space that reflects functional, social and aesthetic considerations.
It requires the manipulation and co-ordination of materials technology, light
shadow and others. A wider definition may comprise all design activities from
macro –level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro- level.
(Construction details and interiors etc)
Summing up the word “Architecture” is the composite word of two-
“Arch” and “Tecture”.

Arch—Concave construction of stones/other building materials and

Tecture--- the techniques for providing support to the arch to transfer
incumbent weight of the arch to the ground

The selection of forms, shapes, materials, textures, colors etc for arch and
tecture is the another art of enjoyment

So architecture tells,

How to provide support/ build building economically in terms of materials and

spaces.

Mostly architecture is represented by a building which meets all the logical

functions satisfactorily while maintaining soundness in construction and
beautiful composition.
Architecture is:

Art Art of building design

Creative art
Utilitarian art
Social art
Mother of all arts

Science Includes systematic process / Design process

and principles
Systematic way of doing things
Skilful technique

Technology Structure and enclosure (Building erects with the

help of technology)
Comfort, safety and protection
Proper use of material
Architecture is scientific art of designing built environment.

Architecture is science of planning the elegant, beautiful and comfortable

buildings for the human purpose.

Architecture is art of organizing spaces.

Architecture is applied science rather than pure science.

Architecture is the art which gives element of surprise to buildings.

Architecture is poetry of construction and a frozen music.

Architecture also is:

•A physical record of human activity / Printing machine of all ages
•A non-verbal form of communication
•Matrix of civilization
•Innovative and creative work for human comfort

Architecture holds unique position for being both art and science.
Aims or goals of architecture
•Utility and suitability
•Appreciation of visible beauty
•Orderly disposition
•Truthfulness
•Scale
•Faithfulness and full understanding
•Nobility
Bases for development of architecture
•Life
•Love
•Hope
•Death
Principles of architecture
•Goodness or convenient arrangement
•Beauty and Truth
Qualities of architecture
Strength & Vitality
Unity
Restraint
Refinement
Repose & Grace
Breadth
Scale
Good pictorial setting and Expression of purpose
Elements of Architecture

Roman Architect Vitruvius (25 BC) established the basic elements of

architecture which have remained essentially unchanged. These are referred
to as the “Vitruvian Triad”.

Vitruvian Triad #1: Utilitas (Function / Utility / Commodity)

Does a building work by supporting and reinforcing its use?

Vitruvian Triad #2: Firmitas (Firmness/Durability)

The most apparent part of the building - what makes it stand up?
The structural quality and technology of the building

Vitruvian Triad #3: Venustas (Beauty)

Does a building look pleasing and appealing to the eyes?
The aesthetic or visual quality of building.
Architectural education in Nepal

Architectural education at bachelor level (B. Arch) under the affiliation of

Tribhuvan University (TU) started in the year 1995 at Institute of Engineering,
Pulchowk Campus. A year later in 1996, Nepal Engineering College (nec) also
in affiliation with TU started B. Arch in private sector. By this time, more than
hundreds of architects have been produced by both of these institutions.
Currently, apart from above mentioned schools of architecture, Kathmandu
Engineering College (KEC), Khwopa engineering College and Acme
.Engineering College have also been running B. Arch course
 Chapter Two:
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF
ARCHITECTURE

Prehistoric development Stone henge, Cave

structures, Pyramid

NEXT…………………….
TUTORIAL# 1

1. What do you mean by architecture? Explain the

various definition of Architecture.

2. What are the factors related to architecture?

Describe with examples.
 Chapter Two:
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ARCHITECTURE
[2.5 hrs.]
• Architecture doesn’t take place in a vacuum.
• Art and certainly architecture are the result of the culture and history of time
and a place and of other times and places that have influenced it.
•The actual structures and forms of architecture were almost always the
product of time and space – of circumstances more than will Man's thought
and actions- his religion, politics, art, technology and aspirations, as well as
landscape, geology and the climate are the things from which an architecture
is born.
Hence, History of architecture is the story of civilizations, cultures of individual
and inventions.
Architecture, like all culture grows out of a people’s past- out of shared
traditions and convention- altered and reinterpreted to reflect circumstances
and interests of the present.
Robert A.M. Stern (Pride Of People)
 DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE INTO THREE
STAGES

Cave
Pre-historic period
Historic period