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Architecture

University

Introduction to the Bachelor's Degree in Architecture. Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

30 flashcards18 quiz questions6 summary sections

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Definition, history, and movements of architecture

  • Architecture: the art and technique of projecting, designing, and constructing human habitats.
  • Neolithic: the origin of permanent dwellings and ceremonial enclosures due to sedentary lifestyles.
  • Mesopotamia and Egypt: development of ziggurats, temples, and pyramids with multiple functions.
  • Greece and Rome: the foundation of classical architecture; introduced the arch, columns, concrete, and aqueducts.
  • Renaissance: recovery of classical forms and the recognition of the architect as an individual.
  • Industrial Revolution: use of steel and glass to achieve new heights.
  • Modern Architecture: emphasis on functionality, geometric simplification, and social housing.
  • Traditions: determined by the physical environment (climate, geography) and culture (religion, history).
  • Greek Classicism: divided into three orders (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian).
  • Neoclassicism: a counter-movement to the Baroque; characterized by sobriety and symmetry.
  • Art Nouveau: curvilinear designs, asymmetry, and floral ornamentation.
  • Modernism (mid-20th century): break with ornamentation; focus on rationalism and industrial materials.
  • International Style (1920-1940): pursuit of universality, geometry, and the use of glass/steel.
  • Minimalist Architecture: initiated by Mies van der Rohe; seeks purity and simplicity.

Evolution of Architecture: Postmodernism, Contemporaneity, and Sustainability

  • Postmodernism: 1970-1980, based on eclecticism and historical styles
  • Contemporary architecture: From 1980, multidisciplinary and complex approach
  • Division of roles: Design architect vs. project architect
  • Design criteria: Durability, sustainability, quality, budget, and local regulations
  • Current focus: Based on social sciences and human needs, not just aesthetics
  • Sustainability: Priority of environmental design over immediate cost
  • Sustainable techniques: Passive solar, green roofs, and biodegradable materials
  • Key reference: LEED rating system
  • Smart growth movements: New Urbanism, neofuturism, and classical architecture
  • Architectural theory: Branch of the philosophy of art regarding aesthetics and semantics

Foundations and principles of architecture according to Vitruvius and the contemporary vision

  • Basic principles: Venustas (Beauty), Firmitas (Firmness), and Utilitas (Utility)
  • Architecture: balance between the three previous principles
  • Vitruvian Elements: Order, Disposition, Proportion, and Distribution
  • Distribution: rational use of materials and land for the lowest cost
  • Vitruvian Division: construction, gnomic, and mechanics
  • Critique of Perrault: analytical and fragmented vision into three autonomous branches
  • Contemporary Architecture: a creative, innovative, and unprecedented exercise
  • Exclusion: architecture produced by the real estate industry is not considered creative architecture

Historical evolution and fundamental concepts of architecture

  • Basic attributes: durability, utility, and beauty
  • Alberti: Beauty based on proportion and the golden mean
  • Vasari: Development of the notion of style in the 16th century
  • Serlio: First manual of practical aspects and catalog of the five orders
  • Pugin: Defense of the Gothic as Christian architecture against industry
  • Semper: Distinction between Kernform (structure) and Kunstform (art)
  • Ruskin: Architecture requires adornment to have aesthetic value
  • Le Corbusier: Difference between construction (materials) and architecture (ingenuity/emotion)
  • Mies van der Rohe: Architecture begins in the careful joining of materials

Evolution, concepts, and sustainability in modern architecture

  • Material impact: 20th-century architecture used 1/3 of the world's materials
  • Causes of the boom: Population growth and massive migratory movements
  • Stylistic transition: From historicist eclecticism (19th century) to original styles (20th century)
  • Original styles: Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Modernisme, Bauhaus, International Style, Postmodernism
  • Louis Sullivan's precept: "Form follows function"
  • Concept of Function: Includes use, perception, enjoyment, aesthetics, psychology, and culture
  • Aesthetic Dimension: Architecture influences social life beyond functionality
  • Influential Philosophies: Rationalism, empiricism, structuralism, post-structuralism, deconstruction, and phenomenology
  • New Axis: Sustainability incorporated at the end of the 20th century
  • Sustainable Architecture Requirements: Material production, environmental impact, and efficiency in energy, water, and waste

Concept, evolution, and specialization of architecture

  • Architecture: one of the 7 Fine Arts due to its aesthetics and structure.
  • Key difference: architecture creates meaningful spaces (it is not mere construction).
  • Impact: conditions human behavior physically and emotionally.
  • 19th Century: beginning of the concern for habitability and hygiene in housing.
  • Exteriorism/Landscaping: specialization in plazas, avenues, and parks.
  • Industrial Design: specialization in furniture and building objects.
  • Urbanism: planning of urban systems (independent or joint with engineers).
  • Current requirement: ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.
  • Key competencies: mastery of digital technologies, design, research, and management.

Flashcard preview (6 of 30)

  1. 01

    Etymology of the term 'architecture' (from Ancient Greek):

    architéktōn (chief builder)

  2. 02

    The period in which human communities adopted a sedentary lifestyle based on agriculture:

    Neolithic

  3. 03

    What elements did ancient civilizations combine in their architecture?

    Religious, political, and defensive functions

  4. 04

    What architectural style emerged as a counter-movement to the Baroque (18th – 19th centuries)?

    Neoclassicism

  5. 05

    Which architect is the pioneer of minimalist architecture (1940–present)?

    Mies van der Rohe

  6. 06

    In Postmodernism, what aesthetic characteristic stands out against the rigidity of modernism?

    Eclecticism (use of bright colors and ornamental elements).

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