Unit Summary: Foundations

The first unit of the semester, Foundations, has laid out the basic principles that guided the first structures created. From the simple post and lintel form to the use of pendentives at the Hagia Sophia, we have studied how man has borrowed from those that came before them.

All of the regions we looked at dealt with the idea of bringing godly opulence to earth. The Egyptians built pyramids and tombs worthy of the Gods and that reached far into the sky. The Greeks constructed the elaborate worship area, the Acropolis, on a steep hill as a tribute to the Goddess Athena. Rome used the dome shape as a smaller version of the universe, which culminated in the building of the Panthenon as a temple for the seven major Gods and Goddesses. Finally, the Hagia Sohpia was built in Turkey with elaborate interior décor in order to recreate heaven on Earth.

There are two specific examples of design from the ancient world that have had a direct influence on our world today. First up is the Porch, court, and hearth concept invented in Greece. They began to build these three spaces in every home or building to provide a sense of order. The porch is the spot that welcomes you to the space, where you are transformed to enter. The court is the gathering space in the home, the modern day living room. Last is the hearth, the heart of the space. In Greece this may have been the altar in a temple, nowadays it’s the kitchen or the bedroom.

The second form architecture that affects us is using design to order civil life. The Romans planned outdoor spaces like the baths, forums, and theaters to fit a lot of people. Their cities had roads and buildings in a grid pattern which helped traffic flow in the most efficient way possible. Since the Romans conquered so much of the world, these notions were used in parts of Europe, which in turn were brought to America.

We ended this unit with a look at the Hagia Sophia, a basilica from the 4^th century built in Turkey. It represents the fusion of different design ideas from different regions. The basilicas that came before it couldn’t find a medium between the circle and square shapes. The Hagia Sophia solved this issue by placing a circular dome over a square, inventing the pendentive. It was highly influenced by the Roman arch, as well as the importance of interior surface decoration. The versatility of the design is proven by the fact that even though it was constructed as a Christian church, it was later used as a Muslim mosque.

So far, this class has been highly influential and crucial to my journey as a designer. It is eye opening to understand how the buildings and furniture around me came to be. Learning the origins of design features is extremely useful when I’m trying to create something. For example, understanding why an arch was first developed and used would help me decide if I wanted to useit in my own design. I’m excited to learn about more periods of architecture and how they can further influence me.

image source