Italian architect Vitruvius believed that an ideal building has three elements: solid, practical, and beautiful. As people's economic conditions and cultural literacy improve, they have a higher desire for added value in living quality, art, and aesthetics. They carefully plan European-style buildings with dome roofs and exquisite carvings to create a noble and elegant atmosphere. This article takes you through the common features of European-style architecture and gives you a glimpse of its historical and cultural beauty. Don't just marvel at "so beautiful"!
1. Ancient Greek architecture - simple elegance showing solemnity and harmony
Ancient Greece is the birthplace of European culture and has deeply influenced the architectural trends of future generations. The development period was about the 8th to 1st century BC, and the revolution from wooden architecture to stone architecture was realized. Due to the widespread prevalence of faith during this period, various types of temples became the most common and most commendable in ancient Greek architecture, and the most famous among them were columns. Not only were the capitals different, but the length and slenderness ratios of the column bodies were also different. The following are the classifications of three mature styles of columns:
Doric column style: Generally built on a step base, the ratio of column height to column diameter is about 5.5:1, and the capital is an inverted cone with a simple and steady shape. The column body has 20 grooves, and its strong and powerful appearance symbolizes the beauty of male strength, so the Doric column is also called the man's column. The famous Parthenon adopts the Doric column style.
Ionic: Usually erected on a base, the height of the column is 8-9 times its diameter. The capital has a pair of downward soft scroll decorations, and the column body has 24 grooves. Because its appearance is more slender and beautiful than the Doric column, and full of curves, it is also called the woman's column. The Temple of Victory in the Acropolis of Athens uses the Ionic column.
Corinthian: The proportions are more slender than the Ionic column, and the capital evolved from the Ionic style, decorated with buttercup leaf patterns. Compared with the Ionic scroll pattern, it is more like a basket full of flowers and plants. Although it is more decorative, it is not widely used. Well-known buildings using it include the Temple of Zeus in Athens.
2. Romanesque architecture - the beauty of thick and majestic vaults
The ancient Roman architectural style is a continuation of the ancient Greek architectural style. It reached its peak from the first to the third century AD, reaching the peak of ancient Western architecture. In addition to continuing the Greek style and creating new column styles, the achievements of this period were nothing more than the invention of concrete mixed with volcanic ash, lime and water, and arches that made breakthroughs in the field of architectural mechanics. The new building materials and structural methods changed the appearance of the building and created an unprecedented spacious interior space, affecting the lifestyle of residents and contributing a lot to the construction technology of future generations.
Arch: The biggest feature of Roman architecture, it converts tensile stress into compressive stress. The development of the cross arch and arch balance system requires only pillars at the four corners of the building, without continuous load-bearing walls, overcoming the problem that beam-column structures cannot create wide internal spaces. This technology is widely used in large buildings and projects such as tombs, bridges, city gates, and aqueducts. From then on, large arches and large domes can be independent, realizing many of Rome's magnificent buildings, such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, etc.
3. Baroque architecture - magnificent and mysterious
Baroque architecture originated in Italy in the 17th century. It is an architectural style that emerged from the Renaissance. It is very decorative and dramatic, focusing on color, light and shadow, and sculpture. The exterior has gorgeous and exaggerated decorations and sculptures, showing off the wealth and power of the Catholic Church. This style opposes rigid classical forms, pursues freedom and unrestrained expression of secular tastes, etc., and has a great influence on urban squares, garden art, and literary art. Representative buildings include the Church of Jesus in Rome and St. Paul's Cathedral. Its characteristics are:
Dramatic use of light, strong light and shadow contrast, and chiaroscuro effects
Like to use twisted and varied winding lines to create complex decorations in pursuit of a strong sense of rhythm
Often use of decorations such as gilding, silver and mirrors
The building facade usually has a central protruding part
Surrounded by squares, gardens, fountains, statues, etc.
