Last edited 13 May 2020

Architectural history

Architectural history is the study of building through the ages. It comprises architecture and architectural styles ranging from pre-ancient civilisations to contemporary architecture. A subject in its own right, the study of architectural history forms an important component of an architect’s education, although it is a subject that is also accessible to those outside mainstream architecture.

Architecture is a by-product of human existence and every age has its own distinct architecture, whether that is defined by prevailing ideas, construction materials, technology or new building types. The study of architectural history, therefore, is not just about a study of the buildings themselves but also the conditions – social, economic, political and material – that influenced those buildings. It also involves the study of stylistic and spatial expression.

[edit] Studying architectural history

The classic approach to studying architectural history adopted by schools of architecture and text books, involves studying – or at least having an acquaintance with – past historical periods. They are usually studied individually, progressing from the earliest to the most recent periods.

It is quite possible to study an architectural period without studying the preceding one although this will not give a complete understanding of the period being studied. For example, someone who is not acquainted with classical Greek architecture would be ill-advised to jump into the Roman period as the latter drew much of its inspiration from the former.

Architectural periods are usually divided up according to style and date and may typically cover the following:

Pre-classical architecture (including Egyptian)
Classical architecture (Greek and Roman).
Pre-Romanesque (including Saxon)
Byzantine.
Romanesque.
Gothic. (including Perpendicular and other variants).
Islamic (including Ottoman and other Asian architecture).
Renaissance.
Baroque.
Mannerist.
Rococo.
Georgian.
Neoclassical.
Victorian.
Edwardian.
Art Nouveau.
Modern movement (including Constructivism and Deconstructivism).
Post modernism.

For more information see: Architectural styles.

The architecture of other geographical regions may also be added eg, African, American, Chinese and Japanese and many others.

[edit] Why an understanding of architectural history is important

Knowledge of architectural history gives an understanding of the ideas that were important to and shaped past societies. A building can reveal much about the society that produced it. For example, a tall building would be tall for a reason: what idea did it express that required such height, usually at great expense in terms of cost, not to mention the lives lost to achieve it? Gothic cathedrals were the tallest buildings of their day because religion both ordered and regulated society. Today, the tallest buildings are usually office buildings, an indication of how important commerce is to the modern world.

Why did some medieval houses include a jetty (a small projection or overhang) at the first and sometimes second floor levels? The reasons are bound up not only with gaining a little more living space but also about conspicuous consumption, an ostentatious feature to express the owner’s wealth and prestige.

Medieval windows and stained glass are typically characterised by small glass elements held in place by lead cames. This was because glass was not only very expensive but also because it could not be manufactured in large sizes.

The gardens at the 17th century Palace of Versailles just outside Paris follow the then French style of being highly formal and ordered, expressing a mastery over nature. This was an important concept in an age of enlightenment when great progress was made in philosophy and the sciences, and architects and designers were keen to express such notions.

Le Corbusier’s houses often feature large, ribbon windows and open plans. The windows allow light into the building because it was recognised that access to light and fresh air were conducive to good health. Such considerations, hitherto not recognised as important in past societies, were a direct result of progress in medicine and health generally. Raising the house on pilotis (columns) was not just a stylistic feature but meant the damp conditions traditionally associated with ground floors could be avoided, and cars could be parked underneath.

Understanding architectural history allows an insight not only into past built form and the ideas behind it but also the capabilities and limitations of past societies. Perhaps as importantly, history can comprise an eclectic resource, offering design ideas and architectural elements that can be modified and reused in contemporary design.