The classical orders

Summary

This script explores the language of architecture, focusing on the classical orders that form the foundation of Western architecture. It delves into the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders, detailing their distinctive features, origins, and evolution from ancient Greece to contemporary use. The discussion highlights the significance of post and lintel architecture, the decorative elements of triglyphs and metopes, and the aesthetic refinements like entasis and volutes. The script also touches on the human perception and cultural significance behind these architectural styles.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Architecture is a language that becomes more recognizable as one learns its vocabulary, including different architectural forms.
• 🏛️ The classical orders are the foundational elements of Western architecture, having been used for over 2,500 years.
• 🏛️ The ancient Greeks developed styles for their temples that have continued to influence architecture to the present day.
• 🏛️ Post and lintel architecture, the most basic system, involves vertical posts supporting a horizontal lintel and is still used today.
• 🏛️ The Greeks refined this basic system with sophisticated decorative elements, leading to the development of the classical orders.
• 🏛️ There are five main classical orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite, with Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian being the primary ones discussed.
• 🏛️ The Doric order is the simplest and oldest, characterized by a heavy and masculine appearance, with triglyphs and metopes on the frieze.
• 🏛️ Triglyphs represent an ancient wooden beam structure and are aligned with the columns, while metopes are spaces for sculpture between them.
• 🏛️ The Doric capital is simple with a flare and slab, and the columns have shallow flutes without a decorative foot at the bottom.
• 🏛️ Entasis is a feature of Doric columns where the shafts are slightly wider at the center, giving a sense of elasticity and verticality.
• 🏛️ The Ionic order is more delicate and feminine, with distinguishing features like volutes at the capital and a base for the column.
• 🏛️ The Corinthian order is the most decorative, with capitals resembling acanthus leaves and a complex design that includes both volutes and leaf-like forms.
• 🏛️ The development of these orders was further expanded by the Romans and continues to influence architecture in contemporary times.

Q & A

What is the fundamental concept of architecture discussed in the script?

The script discusses the concept that architecture is a language, and learning new architectural forms allows one to notice them in various places, similar to learning new vocabulary words.

What are the classical orders in architecture?

The classical orders are the building blocks of Western architecture, developed by the ancient Greeks for their temples and used for over 2,500 years. They include the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders, with the Tuscan and Composite being additional variations.

What is the most basic and oldest architectural system mentioned in the script?

The most basic and oldest architectural system mentioned is the post and lintel architecture, which consists of vertical elements (posts) supporting a horizontal element (lintel).

How does the script relate the construction of Greek temples to modern building practices?

The script relates the construction of Greek temples to modern building practices by pointing out that the basic system of post and lintel architecture is still used today, such as when nailing two-by-fours together.

What are the three basic orders of classical architecture?

The three basic orders of classical architecture are the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders.

What is the distinguishing feature of the Doric order?

The Doric order is distinguished by its simplicity, with a frieze decorated with triglyphs and metopes, a simple capital with a flare and a slab, and flutes on the column shaft without a decorative foot at the bottom.

What is a triglyph and how is it used in the Doric order?

A triglyph is a decorative element consisting of three vertical grooves or channels, used in the Doric order to create a pattern across the frieze of the entablature.

What is entasis and why was it used in ancient Greek Doric architecture?

Entasis refers to the slight swelling of a column shaft towards the center, making it wider at about one-third of the way from the base and tapering towards the top. It was used to add a sense of liveliness and elasticity to the columns, as well as to emphasize the verticality of the temple.

How does the Ionic order differ from the Doric order in terms of aesthetics and features?

The Ionic order is more delicate and less massive than the Doric order. It features a capital with scroll-like shapes called volutes, a base for the column, and a slightly different type of fluting. It is also considered more feminine by Vitruvius.

What is the origin story of the Corinthian capital, and how does it reflect in the design?

The origin story of the Corinthian capital involves a basket of a young girl's possessions placed on her grave, with an acanthus plant growing underneath and its leaves growing out the sides due to the weight. The capital design features leaf-like shapes that resemble the acanthus leaves.

How did the Romans and subsequent generations influence and use the classical orders?

The Romans adopted the classical orders developed by the Greeks and further developed them. Subsequent generations looking back to the classical tradition have borrowed from these orders, and their influence is still seen in contemporary architecture.