3.0 LEARNING FROM THE PAST

3.1 The Incomparable and Exceptional Architecture

3.1.1 Designing through Identities and Cultures

Ancient architecture created architectures that have high value in the design and form which we hardly possessed now. Why is there such a statement? This is because the design of the ancient architecture relates and conveying a very strong message of the identities and believes of the communities itself. For instance, the function of the architecture like the temples in Greek are first being classify before building it. For the exterior (Figure 13, 14 & 15), the buildings are comprehensive with ornaments whilst the interior (Figure 16, 17, Diagram 2 & Diagram 3) are rather plain.


Figure 13:　 Palace de la Madeleine　　　　　
Figure 14 & 15: Ornaments of the Exterior
Figure 16: Inside the Greek Temple
Diagram 2: Worship Area
Figure 17: Interior of the Parthenon
Diagram 3: The Exterior and Interior of Parthenon


This is due to the function of the temples as an object of art to honor their God. On the other hand, the Roman architectures have varied method when compared to the Greek in designing their architectures, adapting to the needs and believes of its communities. For example, the public spaces such as the bathhouses, amphitheaters and public housing have ornate both externally and internally. It is to reflect the culture of the communities in the Roman Empire that emphasizes in the pursuit of pleasure living.

However, the design of architecture through the identities and cultures changed in this contemporary era. Religious architecture formally are built to honor the God is no longer applicable anymore. People today want religious architecture to please them and to ‘honor’ their wealth status. The Ray of Light Mosque (Figure 18 & 19) in Dubai is an example of the contemporary mosque that has turned away from the characters of what a mosque used to have (minarets, domes etc). It is design using extravagant forms that do not really shows the gist of the Islamic characters. These drastic changes of the Islamic religious architecture have to be considered seriously because Arab is an Islam dominated country where it plays as the role model for others Islamic countries (mostly in the third world countries). When the characters of the Islam religious architecture that have been inherited for thousands of years changed, there will be a conflict either to follow the trend of the contemporary Islamic religious architecture of the Middle East or continuing to preserve the authentic Islamic religious architecture.

Figure 18: The Ray of Light Mosque in Dubai
Figure 19: Night View of the Mosque

3.1.2 Values in Forms and Constructions

Next, let’s observe the construction details and the form of the architectures. Greek architecture used more rectilinear and ‘post and beam’ construction. Usually the Greek just built simple yet functional architecture because they are the first civilized group of people to start introducing proper architectures to the world. In contrast, the Romans have the possibilities to construct in a more complex form partly because they learnt from the Greek and also partly because they are the master of concrete, arch and domes. Then, the styles of the columns are evaluated.

Obviously, the Greeks are being identifiable through looking at the columns capitals. Greek architecture prefers the Doric and Ionic columns (Diagram 4 & 5) which have unadulterated and cleaner lines. It is assured that the way the Greeks choose the design and the form of their architectures are basically based on their identities and cultures approach. The builders are very conscious and detailed in every aspect, including how the architecture elements link to the communities itself. This is further enhanced by how the elements of the columns chosen by the Greeks (pure and clean lines) relate to the types of drapery (simple and clean) that the communities wore during that period. In contrast, the Romans preferred the Corinthian style (Diagram 6) columns because it accommodates more ornaments. These Corinthian columns are suggesting that the cultures of the Romans which are more pleasure living people.


Diagram 4& 5: Greece Columns: Doric and Ionic Diagram 6: Roman Column: Corinthian

However, this essence of values in forms and constructions changed in this Information Age. Unlike the ancient architecture, the architecture today is constructed in various (including unimaginable) forms when the 3D software and computational algorithms are generated. These contemporary forms are created mostly to show the advancement of these technologies. For instance, the Cagliari Contemporary Arts Centre (CCAC) (Figure 20 & 21) by Zaha Hadid in Italy is an example showing the architecture itself is constructed using the 3D software. As most of us realized, the Italians are rich in their cultures (craftsmanship in architecture) where most of their architecture is still preserved in their ancient forms to convey their cultures to the foreigners. It is quite a shame and disappointment that the forms of the CCAC seem to incline to portray the architect (Zaha Hadid) style (Figure 22 & 23) rather than to show the identity and culture of the Italians. This changed of perceptions of architecture as a symbol of the architects rather than for the particular community differs from how the Greek and Roman architectures have once undoubtedly carried its own culture. Inevitably, the inappropriate application and the superficial form obsessions of today’s computational architects have ‘killed’ the spirit of the architecture (ethical, social and aesthetic component), creating more and more soulless fractal architectures which will eventually lead us to the end of architecture.

Figure 20: The Cagliari Contemporary Arts Centre in Italy
Figure 21: Bird’s Eye View of the Arts Centre
Figure 22 & 23: Interior of the Arts Centre Which Shows the Iconic Zaha Hadid Style


3.1.3 Connectivity to Architecture through Materials

Ancient builders chose the materials through a series of process, to name a few: touching, smelling, listening and knocking. In most of the time, these materials are being produced and assembled through hand. One of the examples is the Periclean Parthenon in Greece, which has been in high respect primarily due to its well preservation and it’s remarkably comprehensive cultural and historical context, whilst providing a physical and spiritual religious sanctuary for the Greek communities. This Greek architecture is in the heart of everyone in Greece and thus it has to last long to continue spreading its functionality to the future generations, century to century. Therefore, the selection of materials to build the Parthenon is vital.

Stones (Figure 24) are one of the chosen materials whereby they had went through a process of being feel, listen and knock by the builders to test for its durability. The stones are a great material because it had a solid surface where it can last from the weather. Stones will not have to be painted and need less care and repair compare to other materials like concrete, saving the maintenances whilst having a longer lifespan. The Greek builders came out with an interesting method to hold the stones together without using mortar. Edges of the stones are accurately refined, holes with iron clamps and enclosed the blocks of stones with melted lead in order to secure tightly and make the stones even more durable.


Figure 24: Stones as the Main Material for the Parthenon


Although these process seems to be redundant to us, but believe it or not, it is tremendously important and should be practice by us today because through this process, the materials chosen will mean more to us (carry our cultures and identity) and also make the architecture to be durable, functional and aesthetic in a way. As a result, humankind will links to their own architecture even more than ever. These ancient builders are more patience and attentive in selecting materials that will be able to carry their own cultural identities. This is because they have grasped the point that the easiest and most straight forward way for others to understand the architecture’s characteristics and the cultures of its communities are through the materials used. These materials play an important role in suggesting the communities’ favors, restriction and their living method. By selecting the right materials, it not only allowed the communities to feel much more connected, but they also do feel attached and oneness to the architectures.

From the triumph till the fall of the above ancient architectures, architectures are constructed according to the precise principles and also acknowledging the user’s cultures, identities and needs. The father of architecture, Roman architect, Marcus Vitruvius, who lived in the first century, believed that all buildings should be constructed not only according to symmetry and proportion, but also the functionality, durability and beauty. “For without the precise principles no architecture can have a regular plan," Vitruvius quoted in his famous treatise De Architectura, or Ten Books on Architecture. This Vitruvius’s principles will be analyzed in the following chapter.