TEXT 18. Architecture: its forms and functions.

Architecture is the art or science of planning, building and structures. Without consideration of structural principles, materials, social and economic requirements a building cannot take form. But without aesthetical quality inherent in its form a building cannot be considered as a work of architecture as well. From the very beginning of construction in human history lots of architectural skills, systems and theories have been evolved for the construction of the buildings, which have housed nations and generations of people in any kind of their activity. Writings on architecture are almost as old as writing itself. Books on the theory of architecture, on the art of buildings, and on the aesthetical view of buildings exist in great number. The oldest book, which sets forth the principles, upon which buildings should be designed and which aim is to guide the architect, is the work of Markus Vitruvius Pollio written in the first century B. C. Architecture is an art. Its nowadays expression should be creative and consequently new. The heritage of the past cannot be ignored, but it must be expressed in modern terms. There exists an evident paradox in the coexistence of change and survival in every period of human civilization. This paradox of change and repetition is clearly illustrated in any architectural style. Architecture is also the style or manner of building in a particular country or period of history. There are widely known examples of Gothic architecture all round the globe. During many centuries mankind admires the architecture of ancient Greece or Roman Empire as well. Nearly two thousand years ago the Roman architect Vitruvius listed three basic factors in architecture. They are convenience, strength and beauty. These three factors have been present and are always interrelated in the best constructions till the 21st century. No true architect could think of any of them3 without almost automatically considering the other two as well. Thus, architectural design entails not only the necessity to study various solutions for convenience, structure, and appearance as three separate processes. Architectural design also includes the necessity to keep in mind the constant interaction of these factors. It's impossible for an architect first plan a building from the point of view of convenience, and then make the design of a strong construction around his plan to shelter it. Then, as a final touch, try to adjust and decorate the whole to make it pretty. Any design evolving from such kind of work will produce only a confused, incoherent, and unsatisfactory building. When speaking about any truly great building we cannot but say that every element in it has a triple implication or significance. This triple nature of architectural design is one of the reasons why architecture is a difficult art. It needs some unique type of imagination as well as long years of training and experience to make a designer capable of getting requite in the light of these three factors—use, construction, and aesthetic effect—simultaneously. The designer must have a good knowledge as of engineering so of building materials. This knowledge will enable him to create economically strong and practical construction. The designer, in addition, must possess the creative imagination, which will enable him to integrate the plan and the construction into the harmonious whole. The architect's feeling of satisfaction in achieving such integration is one of his/her (their) greatest rewards.

 

Questions

 

Tasks

1. Find the main idea of the text.

1. The historical background of twentieth-century archi­tecture finds little place in this article.

2. Books on the theory of architecture exist in fair number.

3. Three basic factors in architecture—convenience, strength and beauty-are always present and interrelated in the best structures.

4. This paradox of change and repetition is clearly illustrated in any architectural style.

 

2. Complete the sentences according to the text. Work in pairs.

1. From the very beginnings of architecture many systems and theories have been evolved for the construction of the buildings...

a)...that set forth the principles upon which buildings should be designed;

b)...that do not imply a denial of the value of our cultural heritage;

c)...that have housed nations and generations of men in all their essential activities;

d)...that every element in it has a triple implication.

2. The designer must have a sufficient knowledge of engi­neering and of building materials...

a)...to produce a designer capable always of making the requisite in the light of these three factors;

b)...to enable him to create economically a strong as well as practical struc­ture;

c)...to think of one of them without almost automatical­ly considering the other two as well;

d)...to make it pretty.

3....but it must be expressed in contemporary terminol­ogy.

a) This paradox of change and repetition is clearly illus­trated...

b) Nearly two thousand years ago the Roman archi­tect Vitruvius listed three basic factors in architecture...

c) This triple nature of architectural design is one of the reasons why architecture is a difficult art...

d) The heritage of the past cannot be ignored...

4....and philosophers and historians have taken great pains to explain it.

a) The paradox of the coexistence of change and survival is evident in all phases of the human story...;

b) Thus archi­tectural design entails the study of solutions for convenience, for structure, and for appearance...;

c) Writing on architecture is almost as old as writing itself...;

d) The historical background of twentieth-century architecture finds little place in this article...

3. Think of three or more important buildings/structures. What do you know about them? Make notes.

4. Compare your ideas with the partner. Decide which are the three most important buildings/structures and explain your reasons to the class.

5. Work in pairs/groups. Choose two important buildings that you know about. If possible, do some research to find out more information about them.

 

 

Before you start

Work in groups and discuss the question

Do you agree that a true community is a living organism?

TEXT 19. City Architecture

Any community consists of examples of architecture but in another sense the

community itself is the form of architectural planning. A true community grows and changes, and its change is a symptom of its life.

In Europe and in the original settlements of North and South America the

modern city grew up around an older core, and down to our days these cores have

continued to have a powerful influence on new plans. Certain urban lay-outs which

have been repeated automatically are still looked upon as standard forms.

The medieval town was a combination of camp, market, and sanctuary. The necessity for protection colored all its institutions, dictated the use of a defensive site on hillside or waterside. It led to the erection of walls separating the town from the country and allowing access only through guarded gates. The social functions of the medieval town were concentrated in a square. Medieval builders, in their handling of space and their bold contrasting of horizontal and vertical, still have something to teach the twentieth-century architect who knows no way of achieving height except by erecting skyscrapers.

The Baroque (or so-called Renaissance) city was formulated in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and was actually built in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In the Baroque plan the old medieval market square is transformed into the traffic circle which the pedestrian crosses at a great risk. The focus of this plan contrast with the medieval town, the Baroque city demands flat sites, straight continuous streets, and uniform building and roof lines. It was built for armies and wheeled vehicles. The typical Baroque form might be called the parade city: not only its soldiers but also its citizens and its buildings are on parade. Whatever is visible must submit to this geometry; the city is organized for show.

The Baroque plan, unlike the medieval, left a deep imprint on later generations; it became standard throughout Western civilization. This style preferred straight streets to curved ones ignoring the topography.

Questions

1. Is the community itself the form of architectural planning?

2. Where did the modern city grow up?

3. What was the medieval town?

4. What was the typical Baroque form?

Tasks

1. Match the Russian equivalents to the following words

original (2) превращать, преобразовывать

community (1) видимый, в поле зрения

combination (3) оригинальный

protection (3) визуальный

to concentrate (3) коммуна

to transform (4) сосредоточить

visible (4) протекция

трансформировать

сочетание

общество

концентрировать

защита

комбинация

первоначальный

2. Put the sentences in the right order according to the text.

1 City designed for protection and sanctuary.

2 A true community is a living organism.

3 City designed for expression and extension of power in every form.

4 Planning of communities is the form of architectural planning.

5 City's change is a symptom of its life.

6 Uncritical imitation of Baroque principles.

3. Complete the table using the following sentences

The medieval town	the Baroque city

 

1. The town was a combination of camp, market, and sanctuary.

2. The city demands flat sites, straight continuous streets, and uniform building lines.

3. The necessity for protection led to the erection of walls separating the town from

the country.

4. The city is organized for show.

5.The city was formulated in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

6. The focus of this plan is no longer the church, but the palace, the seat of despotic

power.

7. It was actually built in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

8. It might be called the parade city.

9. Its plan left a deep imprint on later generations; it became standard throughout

Western civilization.

10. It was built for armies and wheeled vehicles.

11. The social functions were concentrated in a square.

12. The square was dominated variously by a church, a town hall, and later by a

market hall.

4. Complete the sentences:

1. Someone must... (plan, be planned) where streets are to......... (run, be run),

parks are to.........(lay out, be laid out), and industrial facilities are to.........

(furnish, be furnished).

2. The medieval city......... (designed, was designed) for pedestrians.

3. Down to our days these cores......... (have continued, have been continued) to

have a powerful influence on new plans.

4. The social functions of the medieval town......... (concentrated, were

concentrated) in a square.

5. Certain urban lay-outs which......... (have repeated, have been repeated)

automatically......... (still look upon, are still looked upon) as standard forms.

6. Where the topography......... (supplies, is supplied) differences of level, the

architecture enhances the vertical dimension.

7. The necessity for protection......... (dictated, was dictated) the use of a defensive

site on hillside.

8. The Baroque city......... (formulated, was formulated) in the seventeenth century.

9. The city......... (organizes, is organized) for show.

10. Where verticality is absent, the architecture......... (makes up, is made up) for it.

11. The typical Baroque form might......... (call, be called) the parade city.

12. The old medieval market square......... (transforms, is transformed) into a traffic circle.

13. The baroque plan......... (left, was left) a deep imprint on later generations.

Before you start

Work in groups and discuss the questions.

What is automobile production?

What are the qualities of a good car?