ARCHITECTURE

Definition

Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures to satisfy individual and communal needs. It is a complex art inasmuch as the task of the architect is not only to create the design of the exterior of the building or similar structure, but also to do the design of its interior.

Kinds of Architectural Construction

Primitive men used to live in

caves primarily because they did not

have the tools for building houses

and were not equipped with the

knowledge of construction. When

they began making implements, they

started constructing tree houses and

similar dwelling places. Through the

years, the structures that housemen

have continuously improved. With

the Industrial Revolution and the

introduction of steel and other

construction material, the

mushrooming of high-rise buildings

(See Figs.4.1 and 4.2) is inevitable.

Architects see to it that the basic

kinds of architectural construction

form part of these sky-reaching

buildings. These are the post and

lintel, the cantilever, the arch, the

truss, the vault, and the dome.

Post and Lintel. The

post and lintel consists

of a horizontal beam

called lintel and two

vertical posts to

support it. It is usually

found in doors and

entrances. The

prehistoric

Stonehenge (See

Fig.4.3) illustrates this

type of architectural

construction.

Cantilever. Similar to the post and lintel, the cantilever has two vertical posts for support and a horizontal beam with one end more extended than the other. Oftentimes, steel is used for this type of architectural construction because of its tensile strength. At times, wood is also used less frequently because of its tendency to warp, sag, and rot.

Arch. The arch consists of several wedge-shaped blocks of stone called voussoirs held together by a key stone. It served to support other structures such as roof and to be a symbolic gateway. The Arch of Triumph in Paris, France, illustrates this type of architectural construction introduced by the Romans and dominant in Roman architecture.

Dome. The dome is a

large hemispherical roof

or ceiling that looks like

an inverted cup. It is an

extension of the

principle of the arch

capable of enclosing a

wide area, The Dome

of the Rock (See

Fig.4.4) in Jerusalem is a

class example of this

type of architectural

construction.

Vault. The vault (See Fig.4.5) is an arched structure of masonry usually forming a roof or ceiling. Similar to the dome, it is an extension of the principle of the arch capable of enclosing a vast expense of space. It has several types, namely; barrel vault, groined vault, cross vault, Welsh vault, and cloister vault.

Truss. The truss (See

Fig.4.6) consists of a

braced framework of

beams or bars forming

one or more triangles.

An assemblage of

beams forming a rigid

framework, it is usually

used to support the

roof.

Mediums

The mediums used in architecture

are classified into light and heavy

materials. Light materials include paper,

nipa, bamboo, and other light wood. All,

except paper, form part of nipa huts and

similar dwellings in tropical countries. The

advantage of these materials is that they

allow for good ventilation, but their

disadvantage is that that are not resistant

to fire and other natural elements. Thus,

houses made of light materials, especially

those in squatter or slum areas, are

described as fire hazards. The rend now is

toward the use of heavy materials which

are not only fire-resistant but also durable

and able to withstand natural forces such

as earthquakes, landslides, storms, and

floods. These materials are hardwood,

stone, concrete (combination of cement,

gravel, and sand), brick, steel, and cast

iron. They always form part of high-rise

buildings, for example, condominiums.

Prehistoric Period. The caves used to be first dwellings of the Stone Age men. After they had created their tools and other implements such as the adzes, they began constructing their tree houses with the use of materials indigenous in their surroundings. The Egyptians were among ancient civilizations who came up with enormous architectural works. Their pyramids built to entomb their leaders, the pharaohs, are one of the wonders of the Ancient World. These structures are more complex than their earlier counterpart, the mastaba, a chamber for the dead. The Babylonians also constructed their own structures, the famous of which are the Hanging Garden of Babylon (another ancient wonder) and the Tower of Babel, a ziggurat.

Greek Period. The Parthenon typifies the architecture of this period. Adorned with relief sculpture by Phidias and his assistants, it exemplifies the post-and lintel system of architecture. Other well-known buildings are the Temple of Diana ( another ancient wonder), Erechtheum, and the Temple of Winged Victory. The Greeks are famous for their architectural orders(See Appendix B): the Ionic (with the simplest capital), the Doric ( with a capital having rams horns or volutes), and the Corinthian (with a capital having acanthus leaves).

Roman Period. The Greatest contributions of the Romans to Western civilization are in the field of architecture. While they adopted the three classical orders of Greek architecture, they added the Tuscan orders (with plain abacus capital but without flutings) and the composite order(with bell-shaped capital having two rows of acanthus leaves surmounted by scrolls). Unlike the Greeks, the Romans combined the orders in one building (Ortiz et al., 1976). They also introduced the dome, a structure exemplified by the Colosseum. Besides this semi-circular structure, the Arch of Triumph, the Baths of Caracalla, the Pantheon, and the Roman aqueducts were built during this period.

Medieval Period. The architecture during the Middle Ages is divided into four artistic style: Early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic. Early Christian (See Fig.4.8.) is typified by the old Basilica of St. Peter (326 A.D.) (See Fig.4.9.) in Rome, dedicated by Emperor Constantine and known to be the first Christian Church. Byzantine architecture is exemplified by the 6th -century HagiaSophia, built in Constantinople and design to conform to the Greek cross with four equilateral arms, as opposed to the Latin cross with the only three equilateral arms. The Romanesque church has a massive, horizontal emphasis, an east-west orientation of the basilica, and a cruciform shape, with a long central aisle, the nave, traversed by the transept at right angles. Contrasted to the Romanesque church, the Gothic cathedral has a vertical emphasis, with its high, pointed spires. A good example of this is the Chartres Cathedral in France (Ortiz et al., 1976). Another example is the San Sebastian Church in the Philippines. Surviving examples of medieval secular (non-religious) architecture are castles and fortified walls (e.g., Walls of Intramuros)which primarily served for defense.

Renaissance Period.

Renaissance architecture involved the construction of aristocratic residences calles palazzos (Cosimo de Medici's Medici-RiccardiPalace in Florence designed by Michelozzi and the Rucellai Palace in Florence designed by Leon Battista Alberti) and churches (the dome of the Florence cathedral designed by Brunelleschi and the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome designed by Michael Angelo) (Ortiz et al., 1976).

Mannerist Period.

Mannerism, as a period style, is exemplified by the works of Giorgio Vesari (Palazzo degliUffizi in Florence), BartolommeoAmmarati (courtyard at the Palazzo Pitti in Florence), and andreaPalladio (Villa Rotondain Vicenza and S. Giorgio Maggiore in Venice). (Janson, 1991)

Baroque Period.

Exemplified by the

Church of San Carlo alle

Quatro Fontane designed

by Francesco Borromi,

Baroque architecture is

characterized by a highly

ornamented facade, giant

and twisted columns,

broken pediments, and

common decorative

motifs (Ortiz et al., 1976).

Classic Period. The

classical style found its

full expression in 17th -

century architecture in

the Palace of Versailles,

built for the court of

King Louis XIV by

Mansart and Le Vau

(Ortiz et al., 1976).

Modern Period. The Bauhaus, a school of design founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar,Germany in 1919, was responsible for the development of an International Style of architecture and design, which gradually spread through out the industrial world. In the Bauhaus Building, many architectural and industrial ideas flourished; however, central to Bauhaus teaching were Louis Sullivan's principle that form follows function and William Morris belief that utility and aesthetics could be integrated. Frank Lloyd Wright, an American pioneer in early 20th -century architecture affected the International Style, but he developed his own style that never fit into any category. Most of the skyscrapers built during the 20th century and the early years of the 21st century are applications of the modern style.

Arguelles, Carlos D.

A contemporary of Juan Nakpil, Arguelles design the PhilamlifeBuilding for United Nations Avenue, considered as one of the finest buildings in Southest Asia (Espina et al., 2004). He also designed Development Bank of the Philippines and Philippine National Bank on Escolta.

Alli, Armando Dominador N.

An architect, planner, and environment consultant (APEC), Alli has been for more than two decades a practitioner in technological professions, preparing comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs), development master plans (DMPs), site master plans (SMPs), transportation system/facility plans, architectural designs for commercial, institutional, recreational, and residential structures, and allied design work.

Antonio, Pablo S.

(January 25, 1902-June 14-1975)

Name as the National Artist of the Philippine for Architecture in 1976 by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Antonio is a pioneer of modern Philippine architecture. He designed the Ideal Theater, Life Theater, Manila Polo Club, and far Easter University Campus. He finished his education at the University of London with the financial assistant in the Legislative Building project.

Concio, Cesar H.

Concio designed the

Redemptorist Church in

Baclaran and UP

Protestant Chapel.

De Guzman Arellano,

Juan M.

(Born April 25,1988)

Greatly influenced

by Art Deco

architecture, De

Guzman Arellano is best

known for Manila's

Metropolitan Theater,

which was

controversially modern

during his time.

De Guzman Arellano,

Juan M.

He also designed the

Manila Post Office

Building, the Jones

Bridge, and the

Executive House (1926),

which now houses the

National Museum of

the Philippines.

Gutierrez, Gregorio

Gutierrez designed

the Sta. Cruz Church

Locsin, Leandro

(August 15, 1928-November 15, 1994)

Named as the National Artist of the Philippines for architecture in 1990 by Pres. Corazon Aquino, Locsin is best known for Cultural Center of the Philippines (See Fig.4.7). His other works are the church of the Holy Sacrifice in the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, St. Andrew's Church (circular). Antipolo Church (circular), and Philippine International Convention Center.

Luis Lira

The first filipinoarchitect conferred with a Master of Architecture degree at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, Luis is a global LEED architect holding architectural licenses in two countries, the USA and the Philippines. An award-winning architect, design correspondent, and best-selling author, she completed her first audio-book entitled FRANKlySpeaking: It's the wRIGHTWay.

Mangio, Nestor S.

An internationally famous architect, Mangio is an environmental planner, a successful real estate and community developer, and a world-renowned lecturer and convener in urban design and environmental planning. He was appointed by Pres. Fidel Ramos as a director of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, Clark Development Corporation, and a Fort BonifacioDevelopment Corporation.

Manosa, Francisco

Famous for his design of the Coconut Palace in Tagaytay, Francisco Manosa is the most outspoken champion of an indigenous Filipino architecture. He shared his expertise through his book entitled Designing Filipino: The Architecture of Francisco Manosa, which showcases his design for ten residential projects, five churches, four commemorative structures, five hotel/resort projects, five institutional projects, four international expositions, and various industrial projects.

Mapua, Tomas

(Born December 21, 1888)

One of the founders of the Mapua Institute of Technology and the first registered Filipino architect, Mapuasupervised by the designing of the Philippine General Hospital on Taft Avenue and Training School Building of Normal School.

Nakpil, Juan F.

A teacher and a civic leader,

Nakpil is a pioneer and innovator in

Philippine architecture. He designed

the 1937 International Eucharistic

Congress; moreover, he rebuilt and

enlarged the Quiapo Church in 1930

and added a dome and a second

belfry to the original design. He also

reconstructed Dr. Jose Rizal's house

in Calamba, Laguna. Among his major

works are Geronimo de los Reyes

Building, Magsaysay Building, Rizal

Theater, Capitol Theater, Captain

Pepe Building, Manila Jockey Club,

Rufino Building, Philippine Village

Hotel, Iglesia ni Cristo Church in San

Juan, San Miguel Pro-Cathedral,

Quezon Institute Hospital, Social

Security System Building in Quezon

City, UP Administration Building, and

UP Library.

Ocampo, Fernando

Ocampo designed

the Manila Cathedral,

Antipolo Cathedral, and

UST Chapel.

Palacio Genaro O.

Palacio designed

the San Sebastian

Church.

Santos Jr., Ildefonso P.

Known as the Father of Landscape Architecture, Ildefonso Santos Jr. is among the latest recipients of the National Artist of the Philippines award. A designer of majestic parks and urban spaces, he designed the Loyola Memorial Park in MarikinaCity and the Paco Park and Rizal Park in Manila, as well as the Tagaytay Highlands in Cavite and the Crystal Springs (a mountain spa) in Los Baos, Laguna.

Santos-Viola, Carlos A.

A well known kapilya designer, Santos-Viola used to work for Juan Nakpil & Associate. The first chapel of the Christian evangelical group Iglesiani Cristo that he designed was the Cubao chapel, which marked the start of his long-lasting work relationship with the INC, he was a devout Catholic throughout his entire life.

Aalto Alvar

(1898-1976)

A finnish modern architect, Aalto displayed in his works a carefully crafted balance of intricate and complex forms, spaces, and elements. Among his works are Bell Tower in Kauhajol, Municipal Hospital in Alajol, Vlipuri Library, Defense Corps Building, Helsinki University of Technology, and Helsinki House of Culture, all in Finland, and Baker House, Massachusetts Institute of technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Boehm, Gottfried

A German architect, Boehm worked for Rudolf Schwarz, another prominent German church architect. Among his major Zublin Office Building (1985) in Stuttgart, Town Hall in Bernsberg, Municipal Building in Rheinberg, Restaurant in Bad Kreuznach, Deutsche Bank in Luxembourg, and Public Library (2004) in Ulm, all in Germany.

Gropius, Walter

(1883-1969)

A German architect,

Gropius designed the

Bauhaus in Dessau,

Germany and Harvard

Graduate Center in

Cambridge and Harvard

Graduate Center in

Cambridge,

Massachusetts.

Loos, Adolf

(1870-1933)

An Austrian architect, Loos was one of the most important pioneers of the modern movement in architecture. Among his major works are CafMuseum, WohnungLeopold Langer, Wohnung Rudolf Kraus, Steiner House, ScheuHouse, Horner House, Rufer House, and Villa Stross, all in Vienna Austria.

Maki, fumihiko

A Japanese architect, Maki is a major figure in Japanese architecture because of his architectural and urban design and his contributions to architectural theory. Some of his major works are Hillside Terrace Apartment Complex in Fujisawa, National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, and TokoyoChurch of Christ, all in Japan.

Roche, Kevin

One of the founders of the firm Kevin Roche, John Dinkeloo, and Associates, Roche produced some of contemporary America's most significant and influential civic and corporate architecture. A number of his major works are Oakland Museum of California in Oakland, Ford Foundation Building in New York City, Knights of Columbus Building in New Haven, Connecticut, United Nations Plaza in New York City, Fine Arts Center of University of Massachusetts in Amherst, |National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland, Quincy Market in Boston, Massachusetts, and many buildings on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.

Rossi, Aldo

One of the most influential architects during the period 1975-1988, Rossi recognized internationally in the ares of theory, drawing, and architecture. His major works include the AsabaDesign Studio in Tokyo, University of Castellanza in Castellanza, San Carlo allaBarona Church in Milan, Canary Wharf Office Complex in London, Pallazo del Cinema in Venice, City Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Disney Office Complex and Celebration in Disneyland, Orlando.

Saarinen, Eliel

(1873-1950)

A Finnish architect, Saarinenhas a career spanning for 50 years and divided into two parts: hthe first phase when he was a practitioner in Finland for 25 years and the second phase when he emigrated to the United States in 1923 and stayed there. Finnish Pavilion at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, Clubhouse of Luther Factory in Tallinn, Estonia, Lahti Town Hall in Finland, Saint Paul's Church in Tartu, Estonia, First Christian Church in Columbus, Indiana, Christ Center in Fenton, Michigan are some of his majot works.

Scarpa, Carlo

An enigmatic character in the history of modern architecture and design, Scarpa did designs studied and patterned after by architects and students throughout the world. His major works include Palazzo Chiaramonte in Palermo, Palazzo Ca Foscari in Venice, Veritti HouseinUdine, Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence, Showroom of Olivetti, Scatturin House, and Balbono House, all in Italy.

Siza, Alvaro

A Portuguese architect, Siza is one of the best-known architects in Portugal of the 20th century. He produced numerous projects for clients in Portugal (houses, schools, and other institutions) and designed the Residential Complex Schilderqijk West in the Hague, Netherlands and Centro Galiziano(Museum of Modern Art) in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Wright, Frank Llyod

(1869-1959)

A world-renowned American architect, Wright is one of the architects in the world whose designs are studied by students and professionals in the field. Among his major works are Kauffman |House in Bear Run, Pennyslvannia, Geggenheim Meseum in New York, Johnson Wax Building in Wisconsin and Unity Church in Oak Park Illinois.