Project 1 (Sketching Analysis)

The history of architecture traces the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, overarching stylistic trends, and dates. The historical richness creates a very vibrant architectural fabric. However, many historical buildings may face the risk of being demolished to make way for more contemporary buildings. Thus, by recording, documenting and analysing the buildings, we can contribute to preserve the historical evidence of the valuable historical Architecture.

Duration: 7 weeks (1-2 weeks per task)

Objectives:

To employ appropriate visual and verbal architectural vocabulary when referring to building types, series and periods
To show the appropriate sequence of historical periods and how they are represented architecturally.
To discover the way in which many varied factors contribute to the development of form.

We were to complete five sketches of different historical buildings each on an A4 cartridge paper. We were given a list of buildings to choose each one from five topics, which are Pre historic, Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Greece and Rome, Middle Ages and Renaissance, and Age of Enlightenment. The buildings that I have chosen were Stonehenge, Great Temple of Ramesses II, The Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and Altes Museum.

Pre Historic (Stonehenge)

I chose Stonehenge for this pre historic topic was because I think that Stonehenge was very mysterious and enormous which made me very curious about it. The main highlights of this analysis was the Heel Stone, Trilithon, Arthurian Legend and it was one of the earliest monument of the world. Stonehenge is situated on Salisbury Plain in south-western England. It was built in the late Stone Age (Neolithic) and the Bronze Age. It consists of outer ring of vertical sarsen stones, each around 4m high, 2.1m wide, weighing around 25 tons, topped by connecting horizontal lintel stones and bluestones.

Ancient Egyptian (Great Temple of Ramesses II)

I chose Great Temple of Ramses ll because I think the statues are enormous and architecture is nice and I was also curious about this temple as I have never heard of this temple unlike the pyramids of Giza where it is more popular and well known. The main highlights of this temple was the location of it has something to do with the solar alignment and it had been relocated by cutting the statues into pieces and moved away from the lake Nasser. The temple was also known as the Abu Simbel, it was built by Ramses ll in ancient Nubia, where he wished to demonstrate his power and his divine nature.

Ancient Greece and Rome (The Colosseum)

I chose The Colosseum is because I think it is very famous and the architecture of it is very breathtaking and extraordinary. The main highlights of this analysis was the seating of it was according to the social status determined by Roman law. Moreover, it was enormous as it could seat up to 50,000 people and it also has underground passages below it called hypogeum, which allows animals, actors and gladiators to suddenly appear in the middle of the arena. The Colosseum, also named The Flavian Amphitheater and was built during the reign of the Flavian emperors as a gift to the Roman people.

Middle Ages and Renaissance (St. Peter's Basilica)

I chose St. Peter's Basilica because I think that it is very artistic filled with many sculptures forming a complicated art piece. The main highlights of this church was it was built according to three famous architects' proposals, which include Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo and finally Carlo Maderno combined all of the proposed plans and the final church was built based on his proposal. The St. Peter's Basilica begun by Pope Julius ll in 1506 and completed in 1615 under Paul V. It is designed as a three-aisled Latin cross with a dome at the crossing, directly above the high altar.

Age of Enlightenment (Altes Museum)

I chose Altes Museum because I think that the architecture is neat and nice, yet the eagles on top of it made the entire building pageant and gorgeous. The main highlights of this building was it houses the collection of classical antiquities of the national museums in Berlin. It was built by a Prussian architect, Karl Friedrich Schinkel, where he was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings. It was Berlin's first museum and the nucleus of the museum island. It was built between 1823 and 1830, being one of the most important neoclassical architecture.