architecture

Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods of architecture

2010-07-23T01:43:00.002-07:00

MEIJI, TAISHO, AND SHOWA PERIODS OF ARCHITECTURE

PICTURE IN JAPAN

In the years after 1867, when Emperor Meiji ascended the throne, Japan was once again invaded by new and alien forms of culture. By the early 20th century, European art forms were well introduced and their marriage produced notable buildings like the Tokyo Train Station and the National Diet Building that still exist today. Thus, during prewar period, pseudo-European architecture (Giyōfū architecture) flourished.
In early 1920s, modernists and expressionists emerged and began to form their own groups. Kunio Maekawa and Junzo Sakakura joined Le Corbusier's studio in France, came back to Japan in early 1930s, and designed several buildings. Influence of modernism spread to many company and government buildings. In 1933 Bruno Taut fled to Japan, and his positive opinion of Japanese architecture (especially Katsura Imperial Villa) encouraged Japanese modernists

Edo period of architecture

2010-07-23T01:43:00.001-07:00

built in imitation of Prince Genji's palace, contains a cluster of shoin buildings that combine elements of classic Japanese architecture with innovative restatements. The whole complex is surrounded by a beautiful garden with paths for walking.
The city of Edo was repeatedly struck by fires, leading to the development of a simplified architecture that allowed for easy reconstruction. Because fires were most likely to spread during the dry winters, lumber was stockpiled in nearby towns prior to their onset. Once a fire that had broken out was extinguished, the lumber was sent to Edo, allowing many rows of houses to be quickly rebuilt. Due to the shogun's policy of sankin kotai ("rotation of services"), the daimyo constructed large houses and parks for their guests' (as well as their own) enjoyment. Kōrakuen is a park from that period that still exists and is open to the public for afternoon walks.

Azuchi-Momoyama period of architecture

2010-07-23T01:42:00.001-07:00

Two new forms of architecture were developed in response to the militaristic climate of the times: the castle, a defensive structure built to house a feudal lord and his soldiers in times of trouble; and the shoin, a reception hall and private study area designed to reflect the relationships of lord and vassal within a feudal society. Himeji Castle (built in its present form 1609), popularly known as White Heron Castle, with its gracefully curving roofs and its complex of three subsidiary towers around the main tenshu (or keep), is considered to be one of the most beautiful structures of the Momoyama period. The Ohiroma of Nijo Castle (17th century) in Kyoto is one of the classic examples of the shoin, with its tokonoma (alcove), shoin window (overlooking a carefully landscaped garden), and clearly differentiated areas for the Tokugawa lords and their vassals.

Kamakura and Muromachi period OF architecture

2010-07-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

During the Kamakura period (1185–1333) and Muromachi period (1336–1573), Japanese architecture made technological advances that somewhat diverged from and Chinese counterparts.(Daibutsu-Style and Zen-Style)[4][5][6] In response to native requirements such as earthquake resistance and shelter against heavy rainfall and the summer heat and sun, the master carpenters of this time responded with a unique type of architecture..[7] Unfortunately, the heavy reliance on wood as the primary building material has meant that fires destroyed many of the original structures but some do survive such as Jōdo-ji in Ono (Daibutsu-Style) and Kōzan-ji in Shimonoseki (Zen-Style); or in other cases such as the registered National Treasure of Japan at Shōfuku-ji where the original Kamakura structure was rebuilt shortly after the end of the Kamakura era exactly in the same Kamakura style and clearly illustrates the expertise of the Kamakura era builders.
After the Kamakura period, Japanese political power was dominated by the armed Samurai, such as Seiwa Genji. Their simple and sturdy ideas affected the architecture style, and many samurai houses are a mixture of shinden-zukuri and turrets or trenches.
In the Genpei War (1180–1185), many traditional buildings in Nara and Kyoto were damaged. For example, Kofukuji and Todaiji were burned down by Taira no Shigehira of the Taira clan in 1180. Many of these temples and shrines were rebuilt in the Kamakura period by the Kamakura shogunate to consolidate the shogun's authority. This program was carried out in such an extensive scale that many of the temples and shrines built after the Kamakura period were influenced by this architectural style.
Especially, remarkable event in Muromachi period, another major development of the period was the tea ceremony and the tea house in which it was held. The purpose of the ceremony is to spend time with friends who enjoy the arts, to cleanse the mind of the concerns of daily life, and to receive a bowl of tea served in a gracious and tasteful manner. Zen was the basic philosophy. The rustic style of the rural cottage was adopted for the tea house, emphasizing such natural materials as bark-covered logs and woven straw. In addition, a traditional Japanese style culture such as tatami, shōji, and fusuma was stylized in Muromachi period.

Heian period OF ARCHITECTURE

2010-07-23T01:38:00.000-07:00

In reaction to the growing wealth and power of organized Buddhism in Nara, the priest Kūkai (best known by his posthumous title Kōbō Daishi, 774-835) journeyed to China to study Shingon, a form of Vajrayana Buddhism, which he introduced into Japan in 806. At the core of Shingon worship are the various mandalas, diagrams of the spiritual universe which influenced temple design. Japanese Buddhist architecture also adopted the stupa in its Chinese form of pagoda.
The temples erected for this new sect were built in the mountains, far away from the court and the laity in the capital. The irregular topography of these sites forced Japanese architects to rethink the problems of temple construction, and in so doing to choose more indigenous elements of design. Cypress-bark roofs replaced those of ceramic tile, wood planks were used instead of earthen floors, and a separate worship area for the laity was added in front of the main sanctuary.
In the Fujiwara period, Pure Land Buddhism, which offered easy salvation through belief in Amida (the Buddha of the Western Paradise), became popular. Concurrently, the Kyoto nobility developed a society devoted to elegant aesthetic pursuits. So secure and beautiful was their world that they could not conceive of Paradise as being much different. The Amida hall, blending the secular with the religious, houses one or more Buddha images within a structure resembling the mansions of the nobility.
The Hōō-dō (Phoenix Hall, completed 1053) of the Byōdō-in, a temple in Uji to the southeast of Kyoto, is the exemplar of Fujiwara Amida halls. It consists of a main rectangular structure flanked by two L-shaped wing corridors and a tail corridor, set at the edge of a large artificial pond. Inside, a single golden image of Amida (circa 1053) is installed on a high platform. The Amida sculpture was executed by Jocho, who used a new canon of proportions and a new technique (yosegi), in which multiple pieces of wood are carved out like shells and joined from the inside. Applied to the walls of the hall are small relief carvings of celestials, the host believed to have accompanied Amida when he descended from the Western Paradise to gather the souls of believers at the moment of death and transport them in lotus blossoms to Paradise. Raigo (Descent of the Amida Buddha) paintings on the wooden doors of the Ho-o-do are an early example of Yamato-e, Japanese-style painting, because they contain representations of the scenery around Kyoto

Modern architecture OF japan

2010-07-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

THE MPODERN PICTURE OF ARCHITECTURE
IN JAPAN

The need to rebuild Japan after World War II proved a great stimulus to Japanese architecture, and within a short time, the cities were functioning again. However, the new cities that came to replace the old ones came to look very different. The current look of Japanese cities is the result of and a contributor to 20th and 21st century architectural attitudes. With the introduction of Western building techniques, materials, and styles into Meiji Japan, new steel and concrete structures were built in strong contrast to traditional styles. Like most places, there is a great gap between the appearance of the majority of buildings (generally residences and small businesses) and of landmark buildings. After World War II, the majority of buildings ceased to be built of wood (which is easily flammable in the case of earthquakes and bombing raids), and instead were internally constructed of steel. (Low-rise residential structures, however, are still constructed primarily of wood.) High visibility landmark buildings also changed. Whereas major pre-war buildings, such as the Wako, Tokyo Station, Akasaka Palace, and the Bank of Japan were designed along European classical lines, post-war buildings adopted the "unadorned box" style. Because of earthquakes, bombings, and later redevelopment, and also because of Japan's rapid economic growth from the 1950s until the 1980s, most of the architecture to be found in the cities are from that period, which was the height of Brutalist Modern architecture generally.
However, since around the early 1990s, the situation has slowly started to change. The 1991 completion of the postmodernist Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was perhaps a tipping point in skyscraper design. Hot on its heels was the Yokohama Landmark Tower. In 1996 came the much-loved Tokyo International Forum, which besides a unique design, sported a landscaped area outside for people to relax and chat. More recently, in 2003, Roppongi Hills was opened, which borrowed ideas from previous ground-breaking designs and furthered them. The new area of Shiodome, completely redeveloped since the late 1990s, is an excellent place to see a group of postmodern and European-style buildings, away from the usual jumble of '60s-era anonymous rectangular prisms. Still, despite this slow but continuing trend in contemporary Japanese architecture, the vast majority of suburban areas still exhibit cheap, uninspired designs.
The best-known Japanese architect is Kenzo Tange, whose National Gymnasiums (1964) for the Tokyo Olympics emphasizing the contrast and blending of pillars and walls, and with sweeping roofs reminiscent of the tomoe (an ancient whorl-shaped heraldic symbol) are dramatic statements of form and movement.
Japan played some role in modern skyscraper design, because of its long familiarity with the cantilever principle to support the weight of heavy tiled temple roofs. Frank Lloyd Wright was strongly influenced by Japanese spatial arrangements and the concept of interpenetrating exterior and interior space, long achieved in Japan by opening up walls made of sliding doors. In the late twentieth century, however, only in domestic and religious architecture was Japanese style commonly employed. Cities sprouted modern skyscrapers, epitomized by Tokyo's crowded skyline, reflecting a total assimilation and transformation of modern Western forms.
The widespread urban planning and reconstruction necessitated by the devastation of World War II produced such major architects as Maekawa Kunio and Kenzo Tange. Maekawa, a student of world-famous architect Le Corbusier, produced thoroughly international, functional modern works. Tange, who worked at first for Maekawa, supported this concept early on, but later fell in line with postmodernism, culminating in projects such as the aforementioned Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and the Fuji TV Building. Both architects were notable for infusing Japanese aesthetic ideas into starkly contemporary buildings, returning to the spatial concepts and modular proportions of tatami (woven mats), using textures to enliven the ubiquitous ferroconcrete and steel, and integrating gardens and sculpture into their designs. Tange used the cantilever principle in a pillar and beam system reminiscent of ancient imperial palaces; the pillar—a hallmark of Japanese traditional monumental timber construction—became fundamental to his designs. Fumihiko Maki advanced new city planning ideas based on the principle of layering or cocooning around an inner space (oku), a Japanese spatial concept that was adapted to urban needs. He also advocated the use of empty or open spaces (ma), a Japanese aesthetic principle reflecting Buddhist spatial ideas. Another quintessentially Japanese aesthetic concept was a basis for Maki designs, which focused on openings onto intimate garden views at ground level while cutting off sometimes-ugly skylines. A dominant 1970s architectural concept, the "metabolism" of convertibility, provided for changing the functions of parts of buildings according to use, and remains influential.
A major architect of the 1970s and 1980s was Isozaki Arata, originally a student and associate of Tange's, who also based his style on the Le Corbusier tradition and then turned his attention toward the further exploration of geometric shapes and cubic silhouettes. He synthesized Western high-technology building concepts with peculiarly Japanese spatial, functional, and decorative ideas to create a modern Japanese style. Isozaki's predilection for the cubic grid and trabeated pergola in largescale architecture, for the semicircular vault in domestic-scale buildings, and for extended barrel vaulting in low, elongated buildings led to a number of striking variations. New Wave architects of the 1980s were influenced by his designs, either pushing to extend his balanced style, often into mannerism, or reacting against them.
A number of avant-garde experimental groups were encompassed in the New Wave of the late 1970s and the 1980s. They reexamined and modified the formal geometric structural ideas of modernism by introducing metaphysical concepts, producing some startling fantasy effects in architectural design. In contrast to these innovators, the experimental poetic minimalism of Tadao Ando embodied the postmodernist concerns for a more balanced, humanistic approach than that of structural modernism's rigid formulations. Ando's buildings provided a variety of light sources, including extensive use of glass bricks and opening up spaces to the outside air. He adapted the inner courtyards of traditional Osaka houses to new urban architecture, using open stairways and bridges to lessen the sealed atmosphere of the standard city dwelling. His ideas became ubiquitous in the 1980s, when buildings were commonly planned around open courtyards or plazas, often with stepped and terraced spaces, pedestrian walkways, or bridges connecting building complexes. In 1989 Ando became the third Japanese to receive France's prix de l'académie d'architecture ,an indication of the international strength of the major Japanese architects, all of whom produced important structures abroad during the 1980s. Japanese architects were not only skilled practitioners in the modern idiom but also enriched postmodern designs worldwide with innovative spatial perceptions, subtle surface texturing, unusual use of industrial materials, and a developed awareness of ecological and topographical problems.
The Japanese asset price bubble of the late 1980s fostered a great deal of innovative and experimental architecture, but following the economic crash in the early 1990s, Japanese architecture has tended toward more minimal and humble approaches. This is exemplified by the work of architects such as Kazuyo Sejima and Atelier Bow-Wow

Asuka and Nara Architecture

2010-07-23T01:22:00.000-07:00

ASUKA AND NARA ARCHITECTURE PICTURE

THREE PIC

The earliest structures still extant in Japan, and the oldest surviving wooden buildings in the world are found at the Hōryū-ji to the southwest of Nara. They serve as the core examples of architecture in Asuka period. First built in the early 7th century as the private temple of Crown Prince Shotoku consists of 41 independent buildings; the most important ones, the main worship hall, or Kondo (Golden Hall), and Goju-no-to (Five-story Pagoda), stand in the center of an open area surrounded by a roofed cloister. The Kondo, in the style of Chinese worship halls, is a two-story structure of post-and-beam construction, capped by an irimoya, or hipped-gabled roof of ceramic tiles.
Temple building in the 8th century was focused around the Tōdaiji in Nara. Constructed as the headquarters for a network of temples in each of the provinces, the Tōdaiji is the most ambitious religious complex erected in the early centuries of Buddhist worship in Japan. Appropriately, the 16.2-m (53-ft) Buddha (completed in 752) enshrined in the main hall, or Daibutsuden, is a Rushana Buddha, the figure that represents the essence of Buddhahood, just as the Tōdai-ji represented the center for imperially sponsored Buddhism and its dissemination throughout Japan. Only a few fragments of the original statue survive, and the present hall and central Buddha are reconstructions from the Edo period. Clustered around the Daibutsuden on a gently sloping hillside are a number of secondary halls: the Hokkedo (Lotus Sutra Hall), with its principal image, the Fukukenjaku Kannon (the most popular bodhisattva), crafted of dry lacquer (cloth dipped in lacquer and shaped over a wooden armature); the Kaidanin (Ordination Hall) with its magnificent clay statues of the Four Guardian Kings; and the storehouse, called the Shosoin. This last structure is of great importance as an art-historical cache, because in it are stored the utensils that were used in the temple's dedication ceremony in 752, the eye-opening ritual for the Rushana image, as well as government documents and many secular objects owned by the imperial family.

Japanese architecture in Prehistoric period

2010-07-23T01:17:00.000-07:00

JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE IN PREHISTORIC PERIOD

japanese architecture has a long history as any other aspect of Japanese culture. Originally heavily influenced by Chinese architecture from the Tang Dynasty [1][2][3] it has also developed many unique differences and aspects indigenous to Japan as a result of dynamic changes throughout its long history.The prehistoric period includes the Jomon and Yayoi cultures and other cultures before the Jomon and Yayoi cultures. There are no extant examples of prehistoric architecture, and the oldest Japanese texts, such as Kojiki and Nihonshoki hardly mention architecture at all. Excavations and researches show these houses had thatched roofs and dirt floors. Houses in areas of high temperature and humidity had wooden floors. With the spread of rice cultivation from China, communities became increasingly larger and more complex, and large scale buildings for the local ruling family or rice storage houses are seen in Sannai-Maruyama site (before 2nd century BC) in Aomori or Yoshinogari site in Saga (before 3rd century BC).
After the 3rd century, a centralized administrative system was developed and many keyhole-shaped Kofun were built in Osaka and Nara for the aristocracy. Among many examples in Nara and Osaka, the most notable is Daisen-kofun, designated as the tomb of Emperor Nintoku. This kofun is approximately 486 by 305 m, rising to a height of 35 m.

Pre-Columbian Architecture

2010-07-23T01:08:00.000-07:00

PIC OF PRE-COLUMBIAN ARCHITECTURE

The oldest structures on the territory that is now known as the United States were made by the Ancient Pueblo People of the four corners region. [2] The Tiwa speaking people have inhabited Taos Pueblo continuously for over 1000 years. [3] The related Chacoan civilization built extensive public architecture in northwestern New Mexico from CE 700 - 1250 until drought forced them to relocate. Another related people, now best known through the Cliff Palace and neighboring structures in Mesa Verde National Park, created distinctive cliff dwellings in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona from the twelfth through to the fourteenth century.

Other Native American architecture is known from traditional structures, such as long houses, wigwams, tipis and hogans. Images of local Algonquian villages Pomeiooc and Secoton in what later became coastal North Carolina that survive from the late sixteenth century. Artist and cartographer John White stayed at the short-lived Roanoke Colony for 13 months and recorded over 70 watercolor images of indigenous people, plants, and animals.
Hawaii's late entry to the United States gives it a substantial history of precolonial architecture. Earlier structures reflect Polynesian heritage. Late nineteenth century Hawaiian architecture shows various foreign influences.

English influence architecture

2010-07-23T01:04:00.000-07:00

The Georgian style appeared during the 18th century and Palladian architecture took hold of Williamsburg, Virginia. The Governor's palace, built in 1706-1720, has a vast gabled entrance at the front, which is adorned by a small lantern hanging from the banister. It respects the principle of symmetry and uses the materials that are found in New England: red brick, white painted wood, and blue slate used for the roof with a double slant. This style is used to build the houses of plantation workers and the rich merchants living on the Atlantic coast (see below "Aristocratic Rural Houses").
In religious architecture, the common design features were brick, stone-like stucco, and a single spire that tops the entrance. They can be seen in Saint Michael's Church in Charleston (1761) or Saint Paul's Chapel of Trinity in New York (1766). The architects of this period were strongly influenced by canons of Old World architecture. Peter Harrison (1716-1755) brought out his European techniques which he applied in the state of Rhode Island. Between 1748 and 1761, he constructed the Redwood library and the Newport market. Boston and Salem were the two main cities where the English style took hold, but in a more uncluttered style, more adapted to the American way of life. The Architect Charles Bulfinch fitted the Massachusetts State House in 1795-1798 with an original gilded dome. He worked on the construction of several houses in the Beacon Hill quarter and Louisburg Square in his home city of Boston.
Excavations at the first permanent English speaking settlement, Jamestown, Virginia (founded 1607) have unearthed part of the triangular James Fort and numerous artifacts from the early 17th century. Nearby Williamsburg was Virginia's colonial capital and is now a tourist attraction as a well preserved eighteenth century town.
The oldest remaining building of Plymouth, Massachusetts is the Harlow House built 1677 and now a museum. The Fairbanks House (ca. 1636) in Dedham, Massachusetts is the oldest remaining wood frame house in North America. Several notable colonial era buildings remain in Boston [1]. Boston's Old North Church, built 1723 in the style of Sir Christopher Wren, became an influential model for later United States church design.

19th to pre-war 20th century of Architecture

2010-07-23T00:57:00.000-07:00

The federal Capitol in the United States is a good example of uniform urbanism: the design of the building was imagined by the Frenchman Pierre Charles L'Enfant. This ideal of the monumental city and neoclassicism is taken up by the supporters of the City Beautiful movement. Several cities wanted to apply this concept, which is part of the Beaux-Arts style, but Washington, D.C. seems the most dedicated of all of them. The White House was constructed after the creation of Washington, D.C. by congressional law in December 1790. After a contest, James Hoban, an Irish American, was chosen and the construction began in October 1792. The building that he had conceived was modeled upon the first and second floors of the Leinster House, a ducal palace in Dublin, Ireland which is now the seat of the Irish Parliament. But during the War of 1812, a large part of the city was burned, and the White House was ravaged. Only the exterior walls remained standing, but it was reconstructed. The walls were painted white to hide the damage caused by the fire. At the beginning of the 20th century, two new wings were added to support the development of the government.
The United States Capitol was constructed in successive stages starting in 1792. Shortly after the completion of its construction, it was partially burned by the British during the War of 1812. Its reconstruction began in 1815 and didn't end until 1830. During the 1850s, the building was greatly expanded by Thomas U. Walter. In 1863, the imposing Statue of Freedom", was placed on the top of the current (new at the time) dome.
The Washington Monument is an Obelisk memorial erected in honor of George Washington, the first American President. It was Robert Mills who had designed it originally in 1838. There is a perceivable color difference towards the bottom of the monument, which is because its construction was put on hiatus for lack of money. At 555.5 feet (169.3 m) high, it was completed in 1884 and opened to the public in 1888.
The Lincoln Memorial (1915-1922) is another monument from the same series: made out of marble and white limestone, the building takes its form from doric order Greek temples without a pediment. Its architect, Henry Bacon, student of the ideas from the Beaux-Arts school, intended the 36 columns of monument to represent each of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death.
Finally, the Jefferson Memorial is the last great monument constructed in the Beaux-Arts tradition, in the 1940s. Its architect, John Russell Pope, wanted to bring to light Jefferson's taste for Roman buildings. This is why he decided to imitate the Pantheon in Rome and grace the building with a similar type dome. It was severely criticized by the proponents of the International

Skyscrapers in architecture

2010-07-23T00:52:00.000-07:00

The most notable United States architectural innovation has been the skyscraper. Several technical advances made this possible. In 1853 Elisha Otis invented the first safety elevator which prevented a car from falling down the shaft if the suspending cable broke.

Elevators allowed buildings to rise above the four or five stories that people were willing to climb by stairs for normal occupancy. An 1868 competition decided the design of New York City's six story Equitable Life Building, which would become the first commercial building to use an elevator. Construction commenced in 1873. Other structures followed such as the Auditorium Building, Chicago in 1885 by Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan. This adopted Italian palazzo design details to give the appearance of a structured whole: for several decades American skyscrapers would blend conservative decorative elements with technical innovation.

Soon skyscrapers encountered a new technological challenge. Load bearing stone walls become impractical as a structure gains height, reaching a technical limit at about 20 stories. Professional engineer William LeBaron Jenney solved the problem with a steel support frame in Chicago's 10 story Home Insurance Building, 1885. Arguably this is the first true skyscraper. The use of a thin curtain wall in place of a load bearing wall reduced the building's overall weight by two thirds.
Another feature that was to become familiar in twentieth century skyscrapers first appeared in Chicago's Reliance Building, designed by Charles B. Atwood and E.C. Shankland, Chicago, 1890 - 1895. Because outer walls no longer bore the weight of a building it was possible to increase window size. This became the first skyscraper to have plate glass windows take up a majority of its outer surface area.

One culturally significant early skyscraper was New York City's Woolworth Building designed by architect Cass Gilbert, 1913. Raising previous technological advances to new heights, 792 ft (241 m), it was the world's tallest building until 1930. Frank Woolworth was fond of gothic cathedrals. Cass Gilbert constructed the office building as a cathedral of commerce and incorporated many Gothic revival decorative elements. The main entrance and lobby contain numerous allegories of thrift, including an acorn growing into an oak tree and a man losing his shirt. Security concerns following the attack on the nearby World Trade Center have closed the lobby to public viewing. The popularity of the new Woolworth Building inspired many Gothic revival imitations among skyscrapers and remained a popular design theme until the art deco era. Other public concerns emerged following the building's introduction. The Woolworth Building blocked a significant amount of sunlight to the neighborhood. This inspired the New York City setback law that remained in effect until 1960. Basically the law allowed a structure to rise to any height as long as it reduced the area of each tower floor to one quarter of the structure's ground floor area.

Architecture in usa Suburbs

2010-07-23T00:47:00.000-07:00

pic of architecture of subrubs

The 1944 G. I. Bill of Rights was another federal government decision that changed the architectural landscape. Government-backed loans made home ownership affordable for many more citizens. Affordable automobiles and popular preference for single family detached homes led to the rise of suburbs. Simultaneously praised for their quality of life and condemned for architectural monotony, these have become a familiar feature of the United States landscape

Twentieth century architecture

2010-07-23T00:38:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of the 20th century a new form of design, arts and crafts became popular. The architectural form of this style, which had evolved from the 19th century designs of such architects as Charles Rennie Mackintosh and George Devey, was championed by Edwin Lutyens. Arts and crafts in architecture is symbolized by an informal, non symmetrical form, often with mullioned or lattice windows, multiple gables and tall chimneys. In the 1930s the Art Deco style influenced domestic architecture and some public buildings, for example the Hoover Building. These styles continued to evolve until World War II.
Public buildings and commercial buildings were often executed in the neo-classical style until the late 1950s. Lutyens designed new civic buildings in this style as did Herbert Baker, Reginald Blomfield, Bradshaw Gass & Hope, Edward Maufe, Albert Richardson and Percy Thomas. A notable example of the style is Manchester Central Library by Vincent Harris. With the exception of Lutyens, the reputations of these architects suffered in the later twentieth century. Some architects responded to modernism, and economic circumstances, by producing stripped down versions of traditional styles; the work of Giles Gilbert Scott illustrates this well.
Following the Second World War reconstruction went through a variety of phases, but was heavily influenced by the late work of Le Corbusier, especially from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. Significant movements in this era included the British 'New Brutalist' style such as the Economist Building by Alison and Peter Smithson, the Hayward Gallery, the Barbican Arts Centre and Denys Lasdun's Royal National Theatre . Many Modernist-inspired town centres considered unappealing by some, are today in the process of being redeveloped, Bracknell town centre being a case in point.

Lloyd's Building, City of London. Designed by Richard Rogers. Late 20th century
However, in the immediate post-War years many thousands (perhaps hundreds of thousands) of council houses in mock-vernacular style were built, giving working class people their first experience of private gardens and indoor sanitation.
Postmodern architecture that started in the 1970s was especially fashionable in the 1980s when many shopping malls and office complexes for example Broadgate used this style, notable practitioners were James Stirling and Terry Farrell (architect), although Farrell returned modernism in the 1990s.
Modernism remained a significant force in English architecture, although its influence was felt predominantly in non-domestic buildings. The two most prominent proponents were Lord Rogers of Riverside and Lord Foster of Thames Bank. Rogers' iconic London buildings are probably Lloyd's Building and the Millennium Dome, while Foster created the Swiss Re Buildings (nicknamed The Gherkin) and the Greater London Authority H.Q. Their respective influence continues past the millennium, into the current century.
Traditional styles were never fully abandoned in the late twentieth century. In the 1980s, Prince Charles controversially made known his preference for traditional architecture and put his ideas into practice at his Poundbury development in Dorset. Architects like Raymond Erith, Francis Johnson and Quinlan Terry continued to practice in the Classical style; many of their buildings were new country houses for private clients.

Victorian architecture

2010-07-23T00:34:00.000-07:00

THE VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE

In the early 19th century the romantic medieval gothic style appeared as a backlash to the symmetry of Palladianism, and such buildings as Fonthill Abbey were built. By the middle of the 19th century, as a result of new technology, construction was able to develop incorporating steel as a building component; one of the greatest exponents of this was Joseph Paxton, architect of the Crystal Palace. Paxton also continued to build such houses as Mentmore Towers, in the still popular retrospective Renaissance styles. In this era of prosperity and development English architecture embraced many new methods of construction, but ironically in style, such architects as Augustus Pugin ensured it remained firmly in the past.
In Canada, Alexander Thomson was a pioneer in the use of cast iron and steel for commercial buildings, blending neo-classical conventionality with Egyptian and oriental themes to produce many truly original structures.
In the 18th century a few English architects had emigrated to the colonies, but as the British Empire became firmly established in the 19th century many architects at the start of their careers made the decision to emigrate, several chose the USA but most went to Canada, Australia or New Zealand, as opportunities arose to meet the growing demand for buildings in these countries. Normally they adopted the style of architecture fashionable when they left England, though by the latter half of the century, improving transport and communications meant that even quite remote parts of the Empire had access to many publications, such as The Builder magazine. This enabled colonial architects to stay abreast of current fashion. Thus the influence of English architecture spread across the world. Several prominent 19th century architects produced designs that were executed by architects in the various colonies. For example Sir George Gilbert Scott designed Bombay University (University of Mumbai) & William Butterfield designed.

Stuart architecture

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The Civil War 1642—49 proved to be the last time in British history that houses had to survive a siege. Corfe Castle was destroyed following an attack by Oliver Cromwell's army, but Compton Wynyates survived a similar event. After this date houses were built purely for living, and design and appearance were for ever more important than defence.
Just prior to the Civil War, Inigo Jones, who is regarded as the first significant British architect, came to prominence. He was responsible for importing the Palladian manner of architecture from Italy; the Queen's House at Greenwich is perhaps his best surviving work.

The dome of St. Paul's cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren
Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 and the Great Fire of London in 1666 an opportunity was missed in London to create a new metropolitan city, featuring modern architectural styles. Although one of the best known British architects, Sir Christopher Wren, was employed to design and rebuild many of the ruined ancient churches of London, his master plan for rebuilding London as a whole was rejected. It was in this period that he designed the building that he is perhaps best known for, St Paul's Cathedral.
In the early 18th century baroque architecture, a style exemplified by heavy embellishment and mass, popular in Europe, was introduced, the first baroque house in England was Chatsworth House by William Talman in the 1690. However, it is usually Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor who are considered the masters of English Baroque. Castle Howard of 1699 is arguably first truly baroque house in England, dominated by it cylindrical domed drum tower it would not be in out of place in Dresden or Würzburg. Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor then evolved the style to suit the more solid English taste at Blenheim Palace, Seaton Delaval Hall and Easton Neston.

Pre-Roman architecture

2010-07-23T00:30:00.000-07:00

The earliest known examples of architecture in England are the many neolithic monuments such as those at Stonehenge and Avebury. Very few examples of pre-Roman architecture remain extant and are limited to defensive earthworks such as Maiden Castle and Cadbury Castle but archaeological evidence suggests that British Iron Age domestic architecture had a tendency to circular forms over the rectangular forms more common in comparable European Iron Age architecture The earliest domestic architecture is that bequeathed to the country by the Romans, who occupied Britain from 43 until 406. The Romans built the first cities and towns, which included Chester, St. Albans, London and Bath. Many fine examples of Roman architecture remain: of special note are the ruins of the Roman Baths in Bath, Hadrian's Wall near the Scotland-England border, Fishbourne Roman Palace in West Sussex and the London Wall. Following the Roman's departure architecture seems to have regressed and little remains of the period immediately after the Roman

Gothic architecture

2010-07-23T00:23:00.000-07:00

Whilst the Crown busied itself with the construction of defensive structures, the clergy, and indeed most of society, was dedicated to the glorification of God through the erection of Gothic cathedrals Vernacular architecture

Very little survives of the vernacular architecture of the early medieval period due to these buildings being constructed from wood, wattle and daub, clay or turf [4]. As early as the 12th century, the cruck frame was introduced, increasing the size of timber framed vernacular buildings [4]. Typically, houses of this period were based around a great hall open from floor to roof. One bay at each end was split into two storeys and used for service rooms and private rooms for the owner[5]. Buildings surviving this period included moated manor houses of which Ightham Mote is a notable late medieval example, and Wealden hall houses such as Alfriston Clergy House

Norman architecture in england

2010-07-23T00:17:00.000-07:00

Norman architecture, or "English Romanesque", arrived with the Norman invasion of 1066, and was prevalent until the end of the 12th Century when Gothic architecture arrived[1]. The Norman invasion brought with it more consistent forms of design. William I and his law lords built numerous motte-and-bailey castles and garrisons to uphold their authority. Often these were built initially of wood, speed of erection being of greater concern than design or appearance; the best-known of these is the Tower of London. However during the following two centuries of the Norman period many of these were rebuilt with stone keeps and defensive walls. Further even larger castles such as Caernarfon Castle in Wales and Carrickfergus Castle in Ireland were built to suppress the natives. Many castles remain from these medieval times.
City walls were erected in place of the earlier wooden pallisades of the motte-and-bailey castle. In some cities these followed the line of earlier Roman defenses, for example at York [2], and others such as London wall incorporate Roman brickwork. City walls continued to be maintained throughout the medieval period.
In most towns and villages the parish church is an indication of the age of the settlement, built as it was from stone rather than the traditional wattle and daub. The Normans also built many cathedrals. Many of these were rebuilt in Gothic style over the centuries, although some still preserve Norman features (e.g. Durham Cathedral, Ely Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral, Peterborough Cathedral, St Alban's cathedral
There are also a very small number of domestic Norman buildings still standing, for example Jew's House, Lincoln; manor houses at Saltford and Boothby Pagnall; and fortified manor houses such as Oakham Castle

Great modern architecture in Germany

2010-07-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

The German Tourist Office has collected a group of exceptional building exhibiting some or the world’s most dramatic pieces of modern architecture. From futuristic phantasy to repurposed mill buildings, these structures — both inside and out — stand as spectacular contemporary architectural structures.
Architectural diversity is the main feature of Germany’s cities. Many internationally acclaimed star-architects left their mark there with fascinating buildings from museums, shopping centers to famous German brand headquarters. Zaha Hadid, David Chipperfield and Richard Meier are just a few of the bright international stars shining in Germany.
The London based star architect Zaha Hadid is known for pushing boundaries with her imaginative works. Most famous in Germany is her design for the phaeno science landscape in Wolfsburg (above) right across the Autostadt Volkswagen center and factory. The phaneo was finished in 2005 and is a one of a kind experience: An interactive, event driven science exhibition, where visitors can literally touch lightning, experience a fire tornado or run through walls. All this is taking place in Hadid’s futuristic design of the exhibition space that rests on conic supports and hovers over a constructional wonderland shaped by craters, caverns, terraces and plateaus.

100 Years of architecture Pursuing the Architectural Trail

2010-07-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

Conclusion

When we look into the pages of a magazine we tend to see only the best of the crowd. The sites and structures featured in the above pages show us the richness, the meaning and the diversity of architecture in Nepal. But one may not draw conclusions based on the ‘cream of the crop’. Even so, referring to the ‘cream’ featured here, we can see that much of our architecture and heritage is based in the Kathmandu Valley alone, and even after centuries we have not been able to break down the barriers that limit us to the valley. Consequently, the valley has also faced much degradation, owing to our limitations and concentration. In a survey conducted in December 2006, ranking the liveability of a city, Kathmandu was ranked the 5th most non-liveable city, amongst the 132 cities ranked! (Economist.com rankings)The overwhelming congestion faced by the capital has resulted in the unforeseen degradation of our heritage. Previously the major cause of destruction of buildings, especially monuments, were fire and earthquake; neglect or wear and tear did not bring about the drastic destruction that we commonly find today. The reason behind this is simple. In the ancient times, monuments were not merely constructed but their welfare was taken into account by the creation of funded ‘Guthis’ or groups of caretakers. These Guthis were responsible for the timely maintenance of these buildings. Many of these Guthis were later dissolved and a government body – ‘Guthi Sansthan’ was created in their place. This Guthi Sansthan is located at the extension of the terrace of ‘Char Khal Adda’, a Rana time building, and the lack of effective execution in their part is evident by the fact that the very building that houses them is in ruins! With the entrance of modernism, Nepal entered into a whole new architectural era. Materials and ideas which were alien to the country were imported and widely used, mostly due to the ease in construction and maintenance assured by them. The times have changed drastically, from the times of the rulers who built imposing structures in brick and timber, to the introduction of foreign architecture by the Ranas, to the construction of the first building in concrete and today the realization of the global need of energy efficiency conceived in Nepali buildings. With changes like these comes the never ending debate between traditionalism and modernism which we are living today, and the most important question that arises in this debate is ‘Which direction, are we headed towards now?’

The Great Lotus Stupa IN LUMBANI NEPAL

2010-07-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

GREAT LOTUS STUPA IN LUMBANI IN NEPAL

At the end of the 1970’s, Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) was founded to implement a vision: developing Lumbini as an international pilgrimage site. The government allotted about three square miles of land to the trust which is divided into three zones: The Sacred Garden Zone, The Monastic Zone and The Educational and Culture Zone including the research zone. The Monastic Zone, further divided into the East and West zones, is the area where Buddhists from all over the world can build temples of their respective tradition. The east zone comprises mainly of temples built by the followers of Theravat Buddhism (Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India etc.) and the west zone comprises of temples of Mahayana Buddhism ( Vietnam, Kampuchea, Bhutan, Japan etc.) and Tibetan Buddhism (Drigung Kagyud Sect).Many Asian countries have built monasteries in Lumbini, but the first western country to do so was Germany. According to the German director, Ferdinand Rinchen Phuntsok, the motivation to construct ‘The Great Lotus Stupa’ was derived in 1999, and with the suggestion of his teacher, Venerable Drubpon Sonam Jhorphel Rinpoche, the spiritual director of Drigung Kagyud Dharmaraja Foundation, Lumbini was selected as the ideal location, and plot WB4 (120m X 120m) was leased for 99 years. The construction of the complex started in May 2000 and was inaugurated on 27th February 2004.The design of the Great Lotus Stupa is based on Buddha’s teachings. The measurements and style are in accordance with the principles dating back thousands of years, perhaps right up to the time of Buddha, and, as recorded in the writings of the great Tibetan scholar Rigzin Choskyi Drakpa. The complex consists of the ‘Great Lotus Stupa’, a religious monument combining the Gompa and the Stupa. Vividly painted as per the Drigung Kagyud tradition, the stupa is clad with Italian marble and decorated using brass ornamentations. A gold plated pinnacle rests on a column free colourful meditation hall. Careful consideration is given to circumstances like earthquake; storm and fire, the only inflammable material used in construction are the woodcarvings at the entrance.The accommodation facilities are located in the north, east and west wings, with kitchen block at the north east. All the buildings are single storied and are designed in a Newari style with a touch of modern architecture.

JANAKI MANDIR ARCHITECTURE IN JANAKPUR NEPAL

2010-07-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

JANAKI MANDIR IN KATHMANDU NEPAL

Janakpur, a kingdom ruled by the Janaka Dynasty, is an important historic and pilgrimage site in the eastern terai of Nepal. At the time of the Upanishads, Janakpur enjoyed its position as a centre of Vedic activities, and was later an important site for the Vaishnavite Hindu cult. But, it is as the birth place of Sita or Janaki, the consort of Lord Rama, King of Ayodhya and the legendary hero of the epic Ramayana, that Janakpur has earned its respect in the Hindu World. The Janaki Mandir is the most famous centre of worship in Janakpur, and also one of the two nucleuses around which the town is established (the other one being the Ram Mandir). After the rise of Buddhism in the subcontinent, it is said that Janakpur remained in oblivion for nearly two millennia until its discovery by Vaishnava saints in the late medieval era. During this time, it is said that Mahatma Surakishore, a Vaishnava saint arrived from India, seeking shelter due to hostile environment created by the then rulers. He discovered an idol of Goddess Janaki (Kishoriji or Sita) under a tree, and this idol is currently established in this famous Temple.The Janaki Temple is popularly called ‘Naulakha’ and is said to be built at the spot where Mahatma Surakishore found the idol of Sita. The present structure is an elaborate 3 storied stone and marble temple highly influenced by Islamic and Neo-classical architecture. This structure is said to be built by Rani Brishbhana Kunwar of Tikamgarh in central India in 1968 B.S. (1911 A.D.). The temple houses 60 rooms all decorated with coloured glass, engravings, paintings and beautiful lattice windows. The building is also composed of multiple turrets raising the height of the structure up to 50 meters. In the temple complex a Vivah Mandap is also built in commemoration of the marriage of Rama and Sita, a historic and religious event in the history of Janakpura.

Singha Durbar IN Architecture in ktm

2010-07-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

SINGHA DURBAR IN KATHMANDU NEPAL

The biggest and the most luxurious palace in Asia in 1904 and the largest government secretariat in Asia until 1973 - these historic records belong to the palace in question: Singha Durbar. The story goes that once while Maharaja Chandra Sumsher Jung Bahadur Rana was enjoying the view of Kathmandu with his queen, he caught sight of a beautiful palace complex and asked his queen regarding it. She explained that the palace was ‘Bagh Durbar’ at which point he declared that his palace would be even more grand and will be called ‘Singha Durbar’, literally meaning ‘The Lion’s Palace’. Consequently, the palace complex was completed in 1903 A.D. at an expense of 5 million Nepali Rupees. Spread over an area of 50 hectares, the palace complex was surprisingly completed in a short span of 3 years. After living in the palace for a few years, Chandra Sumsher declared the palace to be the official residence of all prime ministers of Nepal, and sold the palace for 20 million Nepali Rupees. With the profit he made, he built nine more palaces in Kathmandu for his sons!Until 1951, Singha Durbar was occupied by successive prime ministers, at which point it was converted to the government secretariat. It housed every ministry within the same compound till July 4th 1974, when it was engulfed in a devastating fire, damaging most of the complex. Singha Durbar lies in an axial configuration with Dharahara (Bhimsen Stambha). With its play of light and shade through the columns, opulent use of ornamentation in stucco and marble, and the external facade characterized by a dramatic central projection, the architecture corresponds well with the Italian baroque style. Built around 7 courtyards with 1700 rooms, Singha Durbar was designed by Kumar Narsingh Rana and Kishore Narsingh Rana. The buildings, though monumental, have properly proportioned archways and Corinthian columns, with green painted louvered windows adding sensuality to the scenario. In its hey-day, Singha Durbar contained numerous gardens with exotic plants, a deer park, a polo ground, playing field, tennis courts, neo-Grecian statutory, streams, fountains and vast verdure with finely spaced trees. Within this complex, the ‘State Hall’ is the largest and most ornate, with Italian marble floors, coloured mirrors from Belgium, crystal chandeliers from Murano and stained glass doors from England, boasting of rare crystal clock and exquisite water fountain. It was in this hall that King Mahendra threw a great banquet in honour of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip during their 1961 visit to Nepal. It took 3 years to renovate the palace after the damage from the 1973 fire, the front portion was conserved and renovated, but however all the 7 courtyards were not recreated. Around 1998, structural renovation was carried out strengthening the battens and also with change of roofing. Today the Corinthian columns seem to have lost their splendour as the flowers and flutes have disappeared with frequent lime washings. Renovation works have certainly been carried out in many parts of the palace, but in order to preserve the true essence of Singh Durbar, prior 1973, much work is still needed.

Bouddhanath Stupa IN Architecture in ktm

2010-07-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

BOUDDHANATH STUPA IN KATHMANDU NEPAL

An important Buddhist site, the Bouddhanath Stupa is about twice the size of the Sanchi Stupa (Sanchi stupa was built by emperor Ashoka, and is often regarded as a benchmark in Buddhist stupa construction), and is erected over a special mandala called the Shree Yantra or Bhupur Yantra. The Bouddhanath Stupa, unlike Swoyambhu which is wrapped around the hill, has a distinct three tired plinth (Bhupur Yantra), with small chaityas at the terraces. Atop the plinth is the white washed dome, crowned by a Harmika and finished by a square thirteen level gilt finial and a gilt gajur. The Bouddhanath Stupa does not have any alcoves or chapels housing the Tathagatas or Taras, but there are small niches at the base of the stupa with different images of Buddha. Also present in the brick wall around the stupa are 147 niches each having 4 to 5 prayer wheels, with the immortal inscription ‘om mani padme hum’. There are many legends regarding the construction of the Stupa. Some claim that the Lichhavi King Mandev, when he was the Crown Prince, killed his father, and in penance built the stupa. Others claim that the stupa was erected with the relics of a lama from Tibet who died during pilgrimage to Nepal. Nonetheless, the local belief is that the stupa was constructed sometime during the Lichhavi era and that it took 12 years for completion. Another notable aspect of the stupa is the fact that there is a very heavy influence of Tibetan Buddhism in Bouddhanath, with the all around presence of prayer wheels, decorations, and flags.

Pashupatinath Temple IN Architecture in ktm

2010-07-21T22:51:00.000-07:00

PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE IN KATHMANDU IN ARCHITETURE

Located at the banks of the river Bagmati on the eastern part of Kathmandu, the Pashupatinath Temple is one of the holiest of all Hindu sites. Regarded as the most sacred temple of Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath stands as a symbol of faith, religion, culture and tradition for all Hindus. It is said that the temple was constructed sometime during the 3rd century B.C. under the patronage of the Somadeva Dynasty. The gilt roof was added in 1297 A.D and the temple was further renovated in 1754 by King Bhupalendra Malla. The temple has undergone countless renovations and developments since the Licchavi period.Pashupatinath is an elaborate two tiered temple with a golden gajur (pinnacle), gilt roofs and its four doors entirely covered by silver. In fact, all the elements of a Nepali tiered temple are lavishly present here. The temple houses a chaturmukha (four faced) linga as its main deity, worshipped from the four cardinal directions. To the western door of the temple is a large gilt image of Nandi, the vahana of Lord Shiva. This sacred site is a listed monument zone in the world heritage sites list.Since the 1980’s, due to growing urbanization and pollution, the environment in and around Pashupatinath gradually degraded. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) was hence established in 1990 to oversee its maintenance and development. Without a proper implementation plan, it was subject to illegal encroachment and vandalism, resulting in the heritage and cultural value of the area being neglected in favour of commercialization. Hence a development plan was created based on the historic condition of the area, having nine gates, nine gods, nine goddesses, nine tap-systems, nine lakes, nine courtyards, nine roads and nine fields. Coincidently this community also comprises of nine ethnic groups! The Pashupati Area Development Master Plan was finally approved by the government in 1999 introducing clear guidelines for the development and conservation of the area. The conservation of Pashupatinath temple is not merely the conservation of an architectural and historic site but rather a conservation of the faith and belief of the people. It affects the sentiments and devotion of the worshippers and the intangible culture and tradition of Nepal as well as entire Hinduism.

Swoyambhunath Stupa IN Architecture

2010-07-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

SWOYAMBHUNATH STUPA IN KTM

Literally meaning the ‘Self Created’ or the ‘Self Existent’, Swoyambhu is believed to have existed as jyotirupa, or in the form of light, inside a bejewelled lotus in the ancient lake of Kathmandu, the Kalihrada or Nagavasa. Legend has it that when Bodhisattva Manjushree visited Nepal Mandala (Kathmandu Valley), he drained out the lake and made the valley habitable for the sole purpose of making the Jyotirupa Swoyambhu accessible.One of the most venerable and sacred sites of the valley, and one that relates to the existence of the town itself, the stupa we see today is the product of building and rebuilding since pre-historic times by many kings, devotees and donors. Situated at the top of the Singum or the Cow-Tail hill, the stupa is believed to have been first erected by the king turned bhikshu, Santikaracharya and later renovated and enlarged time and again, relating, with each renovation, to the then existing doctrinal development.The stupa consists of a hemispherical white mound with nine golden chapels for the five Tathagatas and four Taras (the Shakti of a Dhyani Buddha), one niche as the shrine of Vajradhateshwori (Shakti of Vairochana), a cubical Harmika as the location of Lokapalash, thirteen staged circular gilt finial with gilt gajur, and pentagonal toranas with the five Dhyani Buddhas. At the eastern entrance, is the largest Vajra in the valley over a Dharmadhatu Mandala. Also present are numerous religious sites and stupa courts scattered in and around the hillock. The Swoyambhu stupa and its surrounding area are included in the World Heritage Monument Zone list

Architecture in janakpur in Nepal

2010-07-21T22:41:00.000-07:00

RAMJANAKI MARRIED PLACE JAJANKPUR IN MITHILA

One of the most prominent and recurring questions in human life is the one regarding our identity, and as we ask ourselves who we are, we unmistakably reflect back into our past. Today, as we stand in the crossroads between tradition and modernism, the identity of Nepali architecture too faces similar questions. The following pages, is hence an attempt to identify and divulge into our architectural history, identifying sites, structures and people that have played a prominent role in shaping the architectural scene of Nepal.

our description of it is always as a country of diversity, and it is one too! But often we mistake the diversity of Nepal with the diversity of Kathmandu Valley. Perhaps this is triggered by the fact that the Kathmandu Valley was the ‘Nepal Mandala’ of ancient times, and even today is the most prominent cultural, political and business centre of Nepal. Yet, we cannot neglect the fact that the heritage of other parts of Nepal dates back further than that of the valley, and is perhaps more important in understanding the ancient civilizations of our country. For example the cave dwellings of Mustang dates back to c. 4000 B.C. and we understand that the Shakya and Koli towns of Kapilvastu and their architecture existed before the birth of Buddha (6th or 7th century B.C.).

Another prominent site in the development of art and architecture in Nepal is Janakpur, the ancient capital of the Mithila rulers, who pioneered the Mithila arts. Similarly there are many other sites in Nepal, with much architectural as well as archaeological heritage. As we move to the history of Nepal Valley (present day Kathmandu), we can find that much of it is traced in myths and stories, which in itself is an interesting way to pass down the history of a civilization. So it is only becoming that we initiate this journey of understanding our architectural history with the stupa of Swoyambhunath which relates to the creation myth of the valley.Other means by which the rich history of the valley is studied are based on inscriptions, chronology and archaeological remains.

There were five prominent ruling classes in the valley, initially the Kirats, followed by Lichchhavis, who in turn were followed by the Mallas, and finally the combined and separate Rana / Shah reign. Much of the architectural heritage that we see today is from the Malla era, when the three prominent kingdoms, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Patan were in constant competition in terms of building extraordinary structures. This enriched the valley architecture by three folds and luckily the trend of expansion continued towards the Shah reign as well.

Singapore’s Modern Architecture: Municipal Buildings

2010-07-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

Denied the chance to increase it’s exposure through the construction of the “world’s tallest building”, Singapore has tried to find other ways to distinguish itself and increase people's awareness of the city through its architecture. City officials knew this could be achieved by creating an iconic landmark building, an Eiffel Tower or a Sydney Opera House, which would become synonymous with the city's prosperity.
Since the beginning of the millennium three extremely high quality municipal buildings designed by internationally famous architects have been constructed in the city. First Michael Wilford and DP Architects’ Esplanade Theatre in 2002, followed by T.R. Hamzah & Yeang’s National Library of Singapore in 2005, and most recently Stirling Prize winner Norman Foster’s Supreme Law Court of Singapore in 2006. All three are examples of excellent modern architecture that Singapore can be proud of.
These buildings, and the recently completed Singapore Flyer, (which like the London Eye has become a major attraction) have drawn business and tourists to the city, however, although each building is a striking and successful addition to the city none has become the iconic symbol of SingaporeRead more at Suite101: Modern Architecture in Singapore: New Buildings In Asia's Most Affluent City

Singapore’s Modern Architecture: Skyscrapers

2010-07-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

Singaporean architecture has dual personality. Its modern buildings can throw challenge to skycrapers from any part of the world. Colonial and modern Singapore buildings are fully capable of competing with the buildings of other nations
In the late seventies and eighties Singapore’s businesses and hotels drew attention to themselves by constructing high-quality skyscrapers. The city became synonymous with the high-rise as buildings by some of the world’s leading architects, including winners, I.M. Pei and Kenzo Tange, rose in the city. In 1986 Singapore was the focus of the world’s attention, as the 280-meter Overseas Union Bank Centre became the tallest building outside of North America. This building would start a trend as Asian cities constructed higher and higher buildings.
First Kuala Lumpur (Petronas Towers), then Taipei (Taipei 101) and most recently Dubai (Burj Dubai) have all constructed visually interesting "world’s tallest", skyscrapers that have focused the world's attention on the host city. However, Singapore's could not follow this route due to a height restriction imposed by the downtown's proximity to the airport.Read more at Suite101: Modern Architecture in Singapore: New Buildings In Asia's Most Affluent City

Attractive Singaporean Architecture

2010-07-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

singapore motivate tourist pic

Singaporean architecture can broadly be segregated in two parts - Colonial and Modern. Conforming with Singaporean feature of being a multi-faceted city, the colonial Singapore buildings present unique blend of the European and the indigenous style. The modern buildings can compete with their counterparts in any part of the world. ColonialSingapore under the British came under colonial influence and the effects are obvious in the structures and places like Lua Pa Sat Festival Market, Emerald Hill Historical District, various Chinese buildings in Melaka, the Cavanagh Bridge, various Chinatown shop houses, as well as temples, mosques, shrines and churches built during the colonial era.Most buildings built in this era are classical in style but demonstrate multiple influences in their design, including the Roman Classical, ornate Victorian Renaissance, and even Gothic. Traditional Singaporean style had mainly Chinese and Malay touch.

Architecture of Singapore vol 3

2010-07-21T22:16:00.000-07:00

picture of singapore slide show

Singapore offers one of the most modern and breathtaking skylines in SouthEast Asia. The architecture of Singapore essentially dates back to the British style. It is the Architecture, which was prevalent in the city centre when the British founded modern Singapore in 1819. Now, Singapore Architecture is dominated by completely modern styles of buildings, mainly the 'brutalist' style that is present in the many high rise flats of public housing as well as many old commercial and government linked buildings like Singapore Land Tower, Temasek Tower, DBS Building and the OCBC Centre.
Changing trends soon gave way to newer architectural styles dominated by the postmodernist trend. Both the government and the private sector came up with neoclassical buildings and modern methods in the public housing architecture in Singapore. Singapore is the home to some of the most significant architectural legacies of the world such as the Parliament House, Victoria Theatre, Singapore Cricket Club, Supreme Court and the City Hall, The Fullerton Hotel and the Raffles Hotel on Beach Road. Another distinctive feature that marks the Architecture in Singapore is the way the water elements such as fountains are incorporated, examples of which is seen at the Bugis Junction and the Suntec City.
There is a Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), which is a national organization that represents the architects in Singapore. Some of the tallest buildings in Singapore are the UOPB Plaza One, Republic Plaza and the OUB Centre.
The marvelous and innovative architecture in Singapore sure keeps the visitor glued to her beautiful skyline.

Monuments & Architecture in Singapore

2010-07-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

Monuments and architecture in singapore
Singapore has evolved today as one of the most popular destinations of the world as far as the vacations are concerned. The chief attractions of this nation are the sky-high buildings, the Singapore River that adds to the beauty of this nation and the historical as well as the architectural buildings that deserve our appreciation and applause.
Regarding the monuments and architecture of Singapore it could be said that there remain a few evidences that prove the fact that there existed most probably during the 1330's buildings or structures that were man made.
If you visit Singapore at present, you would find that it has been graced with numerous buildings, the construction of which dates back to the year 1819, the year or the period, when Sir Stamford Raffles founded the modern Singapore. The modern day buildings that adorn this nation reflects the modern style that has been used to built these buildings or it could be said that it reflects the modern architecture of this flourishing nation. The architectures took the help of the brutalist style to create some of the magnificent buildings of this nation.
The brutalist style (a style that dominated the years from 1950 to 1970) has been primarily used for the construction of the flats that touch the skyline of Singapore. The other buildings that reflect this style are the DBS building, the Temasek Tower, the CPF building, the OCBC Centre (the headquarters of the OCBC bank of this nation), the Singapore Land Tower and a few others.In the late 1980's,Singapore witnessed an emergence of the 'sterile as well as 'stoic' architecture. The Neoclassic buildings also succeeded in arresting the attention of the locals as well as the tourists, such as the Parkview Square (a commercial building situated in the downtown area) as well as the Parliament House.

Historical Sites in Singapore of architecture

2010-07-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

Singapore might be just a small island but despite that it provides an extensive and vast variety of options for sightseeing. The rich ethnic and religious diversity of this place ensures that there is a wide range of places and activities to amuse the travelers in Singapore. For history buffs and otherwise one can find several fascinating historical sites in Singapore dating back to the days of the early settlers and colonial rule by the British. Some of the best examples of British architecture during the colonial times are found in Singapore. Moreover there are several other monuments and memorials dedicated to the heroes of World War II. Thus people who are interested in the historical sites in Singapore would have a great choice to choose from. Here are some of the most renowned and famous historical sites in Singapore.

Architecture of Singapore

2010-07-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

The architecture of Singapore displays a range of influences and styles from different places and periods. These range from the eclectic styles and hybrid forms of the colonial period to the tendency of more contemporary architecture to incorporate trends from around the world. In both aesthetic and technological terms, Singapore architecture may be divided into the more traditional pre-World War II colonial period, and the largely modern post-war and post-colonial period.
Traditional architecture in Singapore includes vernacular Malay houses, local hybrid shophouses and black and white bungalows, a range of places of worship reflecting the ethnic and religious diversity of the city-state as well as colonial civic and commercial architecture in European Neoclassical, gothic, palladian and renaissance styles.
Modern architecture in Singapore began with the transitional Art Deco style and the arrival of reinforced concrete as a popular building material. International Style modern architecture was popular from the 1950s to the 1970s, especially in the public housing apartment blocks. The Brutalist style of architecture was also popular in the 1970s. These styles coincided with the great urban renewal and building boom periods in Singapore history, and consequently these are the most common architectural styles seen on the island. Some of the more architecturally significant works of this period include Pearl Bank Apartments by Tan Cheng Siong, and the People's Park Complex and Golden Mile Complex by Design Partnership.
Post-modern architecture experiments, in both the 'historicist' and deconstructivist modes made an appearance in the 1980s, though the style was relatively muted in its expression. Another architectural trend has been the rediscovery of Singapore's architectural heritage, leading to an active conservation programme as well as a booming industry in the restoration of historic buildings, often adapting them to new uses. A recent example is the National Museum of Singapore.
An important area of local innovation has involved seeking to develop a form of modern architecture appropriate to Singapore's tropical climate. This climatically sensitive approach to architecture traces its roots back to the vernacular Malay houses and through to experiments by British colonial architects and early local nationalist architects to devise an authentically local architecture using modern construction methods. In the 1980s and especially from the late 1990s, this has led to a proliferation of what might be called 'modern tropical' architecture, or neo-tropical architecture. It involves a return to clean and simple rectilinear modernist forms, coupled with an emphasis of lush landscaping and sleek sun-shading in the form of metal or wood louvres, instead of the modernist glass curtain wall, which admits and traps solar heat. These architectural efforts have taken on a new relevance and urgency due to concerns about global warming, climate change and environmental sustainability, especially given that air conditioning in buildings is one of the largest consumers of electricity in Singapore, which is mostly generated by fossil fuels.
From the late 1990s, like many other global cities and aspiring global cities, the Singapore government consciously launched a drive to develop 'iconic' landmarks in the city, as a means to strengthening the Singapore brand identity as well as to attract foreign tourists, skilled immigrants, investements and buzz. Several such landmark projects have since been developed, sometimes through open or closed architectural design competitions. These include the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay arts centre, the Supreme Court of Singapore, the new National Library, Singapore, the upcoming Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and the Singapore Flyer.

Pre-colonial architecture

2010-07-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Main article: Malay houses
Prior to the British establishment of a settlement in 1819, architecture followed the pattern of the surrounding region. Vernacular architecture comprised village (or 'kampong') houses built in the Malay tradition. Malay kampong houses were built on stilts and raised above the ground (or water, depending on their location). The house was erected around a skeletal structure of tropical hardwood posts and beams, usually cengai. Medium hardwoods, like meranti, were used as floor boards, roof rafters and door and window frames. The roof itself was made of layers of palm frond thatch, while the walls were either made of woven bamboo strips or meranti planks. The basic form of the house was simple, but additional rooms could be added according to the requirements and wealth of the family. Likewise, the architectural ornament, in the form of carved wood fascia boards, screens and panels, could be quite elaborate.
Apart from this domestic rural architecture, there is evidence that more classical type buildings may have been built on the island. A nearby example of similar classical Hindu-Buddhist Malay architecture is Candi Muara Takus in the Riau province of Sumatra. Like the Singapore example, it also featured the use of sandstone as well as terraces. Stone foundations on Fort Canning Hill were discovered by the British soon after they arrived. Although they have since been destroyed and removed, the officials who discovered them speculated they were part of Hindu or Buddhist temples and/or a royal palace. The superstructure of these buildings would have been timber (as suggested by holes found in the foundations). However, these had long since disappeared by the time the foundations were discovered in 1819. Apart from some archaeological fragments, like jewellery, porcelain, coins and an inscribed stone, there few material artifacts from the pre-colonial period, and no buildings or even ruins remaining today.

architecture in Colonial civic buildings in singapore

2010-07-21T21:53:00.000-07:00

Another important group of historic buildings were those built by the colonial government. These were often built in one or another European architectural style, which was in fashion at the time, such as the Palladian, Renaissance, or Neoclassical styles. Some of the more important buildings included the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, the Fullerton Building, old Supreme Court Building, City Hall, Singapore, National Museum of Singapore, old Hill Street Police Station, Central Fire Station, old Raffles Institution buildings, Changi Prison, old NCO club and numerous other schools, post offices, military camps and police stations around the island.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
Major commercial buildings, often erected by European businesses as well as mission schools and other civic groups, also adopted these styles, such as the Raffles Hotel, Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (now CHIJMES), old St Joseph's Institution and old Tao Nan School. Often the approach to matters of style was highly eclectic, and builders combined a variety of stylistic elements from various European, and some non-European, sources in the same building. Many colonial-era buildings are still found in the city, as a result of aggressive conservation efforts of Singapore's built heritage since the 1980s

Art Deco architecture in singapore

2010-07-21T21:52:00.001-07:00

Singapore has a wealth of Art Deco architecture, dating mainly from the 1920s and 1930s. The style was especially popular in commercial architecture, like factories and offices. Often, Art Deco style ornaments and elements were applied onto otherwise typical shophouses or bungalows. In other cases, Art Deco was applied to newly emergent types of buildings, like Kallang Airport (by the Public Works Department), the Ford Factory (by Emile Brizay) or Singapore's first skyscrapers, the Cathay Building (by Frank Brewer) and the Asia Insurance Building (by Ng Keng Siang). Features of this style in the local context included a penchant for inscribing the date of the erection of the building prominently on its facade, the use of projecting horizontal fins as sun shading devices over windows and the use of flagpoles. Quite apart from the aesthetics of this style, the Art Deco period also marked the introduction of modern construction technologies like reinforced concrete in Singapore.

Modern architecture in singapore

2010-07-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

Following the Neoclassical and Art Deco phases, Singaporean architecture moved in a decidedly modern direction after the war. Post-war austerity encouraged the use of clean, stark and simple modernist forms and surfaces devoid of ornament. Modern architecture was also preferred for the many 'cookie-cutter' or standardised design public buildings being built at the time, such as schools, clinics, factories and especially public housing.
The most prominent example of their pre-war efforts was the Tiong Bahru estate, where many low-rise, four-storey Art Deco style apartment blocks, shops, markets and other amenities were built on the city fringe. This programme continued after the war, with the Art Deco style exchanged for a simple modern aesthetic. Although the estate was popular and praised for spacious and green communal areas as well as attractively designed blocks, the rate of construction was slow in relation to the scale of the housing shortage in Singapore

Public housing architecture in singapore

2010-07-21T21:42:00.000-07:00

Public housing architecture in Singapore dates back to the 1930s with the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), a colonial government agency, embarked on a building programme to address a shortage of affordable housing in Singapore. Initially, the SIT focussed on housing middle and lower-middle class Asians. The most prominent example of their pre-war efforts was the Tiong Bahru estate, where many low-rise, four-storey Art Deco style apartment blocks, shops, markets and other amenities were built on the city fringe. This programme continued after the war, with the Art Deco style exchanged for a simple modern aesthetic. Although the estate was popular and praised for spacious and green communal areas as well as attractively designed blocks, the rate of construction was slow in relation to the scale of the housing shortage in Singapore.
After the People's Action Party came to power in 1959, it embarked on a massive public housing programme, which was one of its signature campaign promises. It replaced the SIT with the Housing and Development Board (HDB). The HDB was given the legal tools and financial resources needed to make great progress in speeding up the building of public housing. Architecturally, this resulted in a relatively homogenous suburban landscape, where satellite new towns (modelled after the British), were built with seemingly endless stacks of slab blocks housing tens of thousands of peoples in small two and three bedroom flats.

Architecture: Remains in the Western Terai Region of Nepal

2010-07-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

Terai region of Lumbini Zone situated between Narayani and Rapti rivers is an important site for the Buddhist as well as Archaeologist. This region was associated with the Sakyas and Koliya at Kapilvastu and Ramagrama (Devadaha) respectively in ancient period. Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, Kapilvastu, capital town of Sakyas, Ramagrama (Devadaha), maternal house of Buddha, and other ancient archaeological sites are located in this region. This book throws light on history, archaeological sites, identification of ancient Buddhist sites, especially Lumbini, Kapilvastu and Ramagrama, art, architecture and touristic importance of the region. The book contains geography and history of the region in brief and excavated and explored sites from where a number of art-remains has been obtained in course of archaeological activities. In the fourth chapter various Buddhist texts, excavated reports, versions of eminent scholars and Chinese account have been discussed to identify the ancient capital town of Kapilvastu. The evidences suggested that this region along with some portion of North-India, including Ganawaria and Piparahawa, had been a part of the ancient Kapilvastu. In the fifth chapter, the art-remains, viz. stone sculptures, other stone objects, humans and animals terracotta figurines, other terracotta objects, seals and sealings, coins, potteries etc. are incorporated. The result of the analysis of terracotta figurines has been incorporated here, highlighting the origin, typology and stylistic evolution of the principal forms, their techniques and contexts. This helps us to place the changing art forms and style from the pre-Mauryan to Pala-Sena periods in proper perspective. The earliest figurines are related to the female group. Terracotta trading and industries associated with them were similar to the contemporaneous sites in North-India, specially Hastinapur, Ahichchhatra, Kausambi, Taxila, Sohagaura and Arikamedu. On the basis of these sites relative dating has been adopted in the region. Pottery of various traditions, e.g. P.G.W., N.B.P. and Red wares were also discovered which helped us in fixing the chronology."The book goes into a deep study of archaeological sites and art-remains which helps for preservation and conservation to the authorities in future. Photographs, drawings and maps have been included to make the volume more authentic, informative and attractive."

Difference between an architect and an engineer

2010-07-21T21:32:00.000-07:00

An Architect has the sole responsibility in a particular construction, from its inception to its completion. An architect acts as a mediator between the clients, contractors and the other involving professionals such as engineers, interior designers etc. Normally in an architectural firm, first the architect conceptualizes the design, in terms of aesthetic and structure of the building, and then co-ordinates with the engineer for technical aspects. In this sense, an architect is an artist first then a mathematician, whereas an engineer deals with the technical issues that are involved in the construction.are eligible to apply for the courses.

Art and Architecture

2010-07-21T21:31:00.000-07:00

Unlike most degree courses, Architecture opens up a new horizon into various other fields that might not be related to mainstream architecture. One can get into interesting options like product design, interior design, advertisement, mass media, computers so on and so forth. Since all these fields require certain creativity and a design sense, an architect can easily fit into them. The starting salary, in mainstream Architecture after a Bachelor's degree, in Kathmandu, varies between Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 8,000. Umesh Kaji Tamrakar is an architect currently working with Astra Development Network (ADN) at Tripureshwor and adding a few words he says, "Like in any other profession, the field of architecture also requires hard-work, commitment, sincerity, and most importantly creativity, to become successful. Kai Weise, Nepal born Swiss, with more than 8 years of experience, concluded our discussion by saying, "It is extremely important that the profession as an architect should be defined clearly and everyone including the government should accept the differentiation between an architect and an engineer, then only can architects of Nepal work properly.

architecture in Portrait of Nepal

2010-07-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

These portraits, taken with a 3x5 view camera, evoke both the formal, reflective dignity of their subjects portraiture; indeed the mutual awareness and respect between the photographer and his subjects make these portraits among the most revealing to emerge from a changing, yet still deeply mystical, Nepal.
Burbriski's detailed captions tell the stories of the individuals in each portrait, while his introduction to each region depicts the historic traditions, as well as the modern realities of their daily lives.
A moving introduction by Arthur Ollman, Director of the Museum of Photographic Arts and a leading voice in the study of contemporary photography, provides further insight into the cultural and spiritual wealth of Nepal.
Vivid and passionate, Portrait of Nepal will delight photographers and armchair travelers as well as those who wish not only to discover the heart of this fascinating country but to cherish the enduring spirit of its people.
"An extraordinary collection of large-format photographs that does for Nepal's indigenous peoples what E S Curtis's photography did for Native Americans. With great subtlety and dignity, Bubriski has documented cultures and lifestyles that are passing within our generation. A

Sacred Art of Nepal: Nepalese Paubha Painting Past and Present

2010-07-21T21:27:00.001-07:00

is one of the several projects of Handicraft Association of Nepalfor the promotion of Nepalese arts and crafts of Nepal. The sacred artssuch as paubha painting, scroll painting, and miniature ritual paintingshave occupied a significant place in the religious life of Nepal. Thepurpose of this monograph is to arouse a global awareness of the fact thatthe Newar paubha is the precursor of Tibetan thanka painting. The Nepalesepaubha presented in this collection are, along with the Tibetan tankas, aninseparable part of Nepalese life. This book is believed to satisfy thelong felt need of the exporter community dealing in paubha paintings and toenable them to describe it effectively and precisely. This book isdedicated to His Majesty the King of Nepal, Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev,on the occasion of His Majesty's Fifty Fifth Anniversary.

Traditional Arts and Crafts of Japan and Nepal

2010-07-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

Though Nepal and Japan are quite far apart, there are a number of similarities in the traditional arts and crafts of both countries - handmade rice paper, pottery, dyeing and printing, bambooware, metalware, woodwork and textiles.This comparative study of the income-generating traditional arts and crafts of Japan and Nepal studies each of these arts and crafts in detail. It finds that these arts and crafts have traditionally provided great job opportunities in both countries but that their survival is now threatened by cheaper machine-made goods. In Japan the public and private sector has responded with incentives for artisans and craftsmen to remain active and preserve the glory of the past, whereas in Nepal no such incentives are found. The Japanese have adapted the traditional arts and crafts without deforming their character; the Nepalese, however, are still practising their arts and crafts with only minor modifications. For those interested in the survival of the wonderful traditional arts and crafts in modern Nepal

architecture in Art of Mithila

2010-07-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

Of all the art styles of the Indian subcontinent, the art of Mithila (indigenous to the cross border area of Bihar, India and Nepal) is one of the most popular and endearing -- with its distinctive and individualised cartoonish figures. The art of Mithila has enjoyed a recent revival and many Maithili women have been encouraged to express in this medium which traditionally adorns their stucco homes. The Art of Mithila by Dr Srivastava is a comprehensive study on the Mithila art from the earliest times from a historic and cultural perspective. The book is devoted exclusively to the analysis in detail of different aspects of the art of Mithila and its position in Indian art. There is also a selected bibliography and a useful index. The Art of Mithila should be of interest to anyone -- layman or art student -- who appreciates Maithili art and would like to gain a further insight

architecture in Art and Meditation

2010-07-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

In Art and Meditation Lama Anagarika Govinda has shared his profound insights into an artist's creative process and has explored the similarities between true art and true religion. His main interest is in the artist who works from the basis of his enlightenment and sees the world around him with changed eyes. For the author mediation is an art while art is a kind of meditation which transcends purely aesthetic values and points to lofty moral and religious ideals. "Complete ending of the self," says the author, "is the ultimate aim of both art and meditation.""Anagorika Govinda has profound insights into the workings of the human soul--its beauty and significance."--J R SantiagoLama Anagorika B Govinda was an artist, monk, traveller and writer, whose works include The Way of the White Clouds, Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism and Insights of a Himalayan Pilgrim. Born in Germany, he described himself as "an Indian national of European descent and Buddhist faith belonging to a Tibetan Order and believing in the Brotherhood of Man." His search for spiritual knowledge began at an early age. He spent years in study and meditation at his Himalayan ashram and is widely recognised as a great spiritual teacher.

architecture in Jewelry of Nepal

2010-07-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

In many parts of Asia, folk jewelry, the most dazzling expression of material culture has disappeared in the wake of modernization. In Nepal, however, where the Himalayas have formed a barrier to outsiders for centuries, native jewelry traditions have endured. Jewelry in Nepal is worn for decorative, talismanic and investment purposes, with lavish pieces donned to celebrate marriage or promote fertility and amulets worn to ward off negative influences. God and silver is freely used, as are beads of glass, coral, turquoise, amber and agate.Illustrated with hundreds of beautiful color photographs, this is the most comprehensive study of the subject available. In sixteen trips to Nepal's most inaccessible areas, goldsmith and jewelry designer Hannelore Gabriel has documented the local jewelry worn for both daily and ceremonial use. She discusses the function and history of jewelry in Nepal, its materials, symbolism and connection with religion. The central portion of the book introduces, item by item, the important jewelry of the shamans. A comprehensive reference section includes important tips on collecting and preserving both new and antique pieces, as well as a glossary and extensive bibliography.

Nepalese religious architecture

2010-07-21T21:15:00.000-07:00

Nepalese religious architecture is another art medium that is an important part of the country's cultural heritage. There are three broad styles - the Pagoda style, the Stupa style and the Shikhara style.The Pagoda Style : This style refers to multi-roofed structures with wide eaves supported by carved wooden struts. Windows, either latticed or grilled, are usually projecting, while triangular spires enclosing and inverted bell of stucco or burnished gold generally top off the roof. The pagoda style shows the architectural genius of Nepal.A young architect-sculptor-painter named baibhau (or Arniko as the Chinese call him), led a delegation of 80 Nepalese artists to Tibet during the late thirteenth century at the invitation of the Chinese Emperor Kublai KhanThe Pagoda style was soon adopted in China and from there spread to other Asian Countries. The best example of the pagoda style in the Kathmandu Valley is Kasthamandap, a wooden pagoda built in the Malla period and from which the name of the capital city is said to be derived. The nine-storey Basantpur Palace built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah is another outstanding pagoda specimen. The Pashupati, Taleju and Changu Narayan temples are also notable examples

Art & Architecture Of Nepal

2010-07-21T21:10:00.000-07:00

An art form that traces Nepalese culture from its early beginnings right up to modern times is sculpture. As previously mentioned, many carved artifacts have been found in the Terai region of the country, providing an insight into the religion of the country of early times. As with painting, nearly all-Nepalese sculpturesAn art form that traces Nepalese culture from its early beginnings right up to modern times is sculpture. As previously mentioned, many carved artifacts have been found in the Terai region of the country, providing an insight into the religion of the country of early times. As with painting, nearly all-Nepalese sculptures are of a religious character. It seems that the artists themselves were greatly imbued with a feeling of religious devotion.

Architecture in nepal stupa style

2010-07-21T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Swayambhu and Baudhanath Shrines are Nepal's first examples of stupa or Chaitya style. This style is purely Buddhist in concept and execution. The outstanding feature of stupas is a hemispherical mound topped by a square base supporting a seried of thirteen circular rings. Narrowing towards the top these are crowned by parasol. The four sides of the square base or the harmika, as it is called, are painted with pairs of mystic "all-seeing eyes." The stupas in Patan, said to have been built by King Ashoka, are considered to be the most ancient stupas of Nepal.

Architecture The Pagoda Style

2010-07-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

This style refers to multi-roofed structures with wide eaves supported by carved wooden struts. Windows, either latticed or grilled, are usually projecting, while the roof is generally topped off by triangular spires enclosing an inverted bell of stucco or burnished gold. The pagoda style shows the finest specimens of the architectural genius of Nepal. The style was later adopted in China and from there spread to other Asian countries. For this, the tribute goes to a young architect-sculptor-painter named Balbahu, (or Ar-ni-ko as the Chinese call him), who led a delegation of eighty Nepalese artists to Tibet during the late 13th century at the invitation of the Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan. The best example of the pagoda style in the Katmandu Valley is Kasthamandap a wooden pagoda built in the Malla period; this is also the structure from which the capital city is derived. The nine-storied Basantpur Palace built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah is another outstanding pagoda specimen. The Pashupati, Taleju and Changu Narayan temples are also

Architecture of Nepal

2010-07-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

Nepalese architecture is another art that has become an important part of the country's cultural heritage. Stylistically, it may be divided into three broad groups-the pagoda style, the stupa style, and the shikhara style. The Shikhara style forms yet another architectural design found in Nepal. The super-structure of this style is a tall curvilinear or pyramidal tower whose surface is broken up vertically into five or nine sections. The final section consists of a bell-shaped part at the top. The Krishna temple in Patan, consecrated by Kind Siddhi Narasingh Malla is the finest specimen of the relatively less popular Shikhara style.

News stylist architecture

2010-07-21T20:57:00.000-07:00

While the notion that structural and aesthetic considerations should be entirely subject to functionality was met with both popularity and skepticism, it had the effect of introducing the concept of "function" in place of Vitruvius' "utility". "Function" came to be seen as encompassing all criteria of the use, perception and enjoyment of a building, not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural.Nunzia Rondanini stated, "Through its aesthetic dimension architecture goes beyond the functional aspects that it has in common with other human sciences. Through its own particular way of expressing values, architecture can stimulate and influence social life without presuming that, in and of itself, it will promote social development.'new

Information architecture

2010-07-02T01:54:00.000-07:00

is the art of expressing a model or concept of information used in activities that require explicit details of complex systems. Among these activities are library systems, Content Management Systems, web development, user interactions, database development, programming, technical writing, enterprise architecture, and critical system software design. Information architecture has somewhat different meanings in these different branches of IS or IT architecture. Most definitions have common qualities: a structural design of shared environments, methods of organizing and labeling websites, intranets, and online communities, and ways of bringing the principles of design and architecture to the digital landscape.
Historically the term "information architect" is attributed to Richard Saul Wurman. Wurman sees architecture as "used in the words architect of foreign policy. I mean architect as in the creating of systemic, structural, and orderly principles to make something work--the thoughtful making of either artifact, or idea, or policy that informs because it is clear.

history of architecture

2010-07-02T01:52:00.000-07:00

entertainment and much more, and is designed to put users in control of their digital lives.
That was about 9 months ago. Last month, we got Microsoft Hailstorm. That white paper says:
People are not in control of the technology that surrounds them....HailStorm makes the technology in your life work together on your behalf and under your control.
Oh, good, so now the high tech halogen light in my apartment will stop blinking randomly.
Microsoft is not alone. Here's a quote from a Sun Jini whitepaper:
These three facts (you are the new sys admin, computers are nowhere, the one computer is everywhere) should combine to improve the world of using computers as computers -- by making the boundaries of computers disappear, by making the computer be everywhere, and by making the details of working with the computer as simple as putting a DVD into your home theater system.
And don't even remind me of the fertilizer George Gilder spread about Java:
A fundamental break in the history of technology...
That's one sure tip-off to the fact that you're being assaulted by an Architecture Astronaut: the incredible amount of bombast; the heroic, utopian grandiloquence; the boastfulness; the complete lack of reality. And people buy it! The business press goes wild!
Why the hell are people so impressed by boring architectures that often amount to nothing more than a new format on the wire for RPC, or a new virtual machine? These things might be good architectures, they will certainly benefit the developers that use them, but they are not, I repeat, not, a good substitute for the messiah riding his white ass into Jerusalem, or world peace. No, Microsoft, computers are not suddenly going to start reading our minds and doing what we want automatically just because everyone in the world has to have a Passport account. No, Sun, we're not going to be able to analyze our corporate sales data "as simply as putting a DVD into your home theatre system."

Astronauts Scare You

2010-07-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

These are the people I call Architecture Astronauts. It's very hard to get them to write code or design programs, because they won't stop thinking about Architecture. They're astronauts because they are above the oxygen level, I don't know how they're breathing. They tend to work for really big companies that can afford to have lots of unproductive people with really advanced degrees that don't contribute to the bottom line.
A recent example illustrates this. Your typical architecture astronaut will take a fact like "Napster is a peer-to-peer service for downloading music" and ignore everything but the architecture, thinking it's interesting because it's peer to peer, completely missing the point that it's interesting because you can type the name of a song and listen to it right away.

Don't Let Architecture Astronauts Scare You

2010-07-02T01:39:00.000-07:00

When great thinkers think about problems, they start to see patterns. They look at the problem of people sending each other word-processor files, and then they look at the problem of people sending each other spreadsheets, and they realize that there's a general pattern: sending files. That's one level of abstraction already. Then they go up one more level: people send files, but web browsers also "send" requests for web pages. And when you think about it, calling a method on an object is like sending a message to an object! It's the same thing again! Those are all sending operations, so our clever thinker invents a new, higher, broader abstraction called messaging, but now it's getting really vague and nobody really knows what they're talking about any more. Blah.

Architecture today

2010-07-02T01:21:00.000-07:00

Main article: Contemporary architecture

Postmodern design at Gare do Oriente, Lisbon, Portugal, by Santiago Calatrava.
Part of the architectural profession, and also some non-architects, responded to Modernism and Postmodernism by going to what they considered the root of the problem. They felt that architecture was not a personal philosophical or aesthetic pursuit by individualists; rather it had to consider everyday needs of people and use technology to give a livable environment.
The Design Methodology Movement involving people such as Christopher Alexander started searching for more people-oriented designs. Extensive studies on areas such as behavioral, environmental, and social sciences were done and started informing the design pro

Modernism and reaction of architecture

2010-07-02T01:20:00.000-07:00

The dissatisfaction with such a general situation at the turn of the twentieth century gave rise to many new lines of thought that served as precursors to Modern Architecture. Notable among these is the Deutscher Werkbund, formed in 1907 to produce better quality machine made objects. The rise of the profession of industrial design is usually placed here.
Following this lead, the Bauhaus school, founded in Weimar, Germany in 1919, redefined the architectural bounds prior set throughout history, viewing the creation of a building as the ultimate synthesis—the apex—of art, craft, and technology.
When Modern architecture was first practiced, it was an avant-garde movement with moral, philosophical, and aesthetic underpinnings. Immediately after World War I, pioneering modernist architects sought to develop a completely new style appropriate for a new post-war social and economic order, focused on meeting the needs of the middle and working classes. They rejected the architectural practice of the academic refinement

Early modern and the industrial age

2010-07-02T01:19:00.000-07:00

With the emerging knowledge in scientific fields and the rise of new materials and technology, architecture and engineering began to separate, and the architect began to concentrate on aesthetics and the humanist aspects, There was also the rise of the "gentleman architect" who usually dealt with wealthy clients and concentrated predominantly on visual qualities derived usually from historical prototypes, typified by the many country houses of Great Britain that were created in the Neo Gothic or Scottish Baronial styles.
Formal architectural training in the 19th century, for example at Ecole des Beaux Arts in France, gave much emphasis to the production of beautiful drawings and little to context and feasibility. Effective architects generally received their training in the offices of other architects, graduating to the role from draughtsmen or clerksoften at the expense of technical aspects of building design.

Renaissance and the architect

2010-07-02T01:18:00.000-07:00

With the Renaissance and its emphasis on the individual and humanity rather than religion, and with all its attendant progress and achievements, a new chapter began. Buildings were ascribed to specific architects - Brunelleschi, Alberti, Michelangelo, Palladio - and the cult of the individual had begun.
There was still no dividing line between artist, architect and engineer, or any of the related vocations, and the appellation was often one of regional preference. At this stage, it was still possible for an artist to design a bridge as the level of structural calculations involved was within the scope

The medieval builder

2010-07-02T01:16:00.000-07:00

began in the 7th century CE, developing from a blend of architectural forms from the ancient Middle East and from Byzantium but also developing features to suit the religious and social needs of the society. Examples can be found throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Spain, and were to become a significant stylistic influence on European architecture during the Medieval period.

Origins and the ancient world

2010-07-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

Architecture first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills). As human cultures developed and knowledge began to be formalized through oral traditions and practices, architecture became a craft.
Here there is a process of trial and error, and later improvisation or replication of a successful trial. What is termed Vernacular architecture continues to be produced in many parts of the world. Indeed, vernacular buildings make up most of the built world that people experience every day.

Angkor, Cambodia.
Early human settlements were mostly rural. Due to a surplus in production the economy began to expand resulting in urbanization thus creating urban areas which grew and evolved very rapidly in some cases, such as that of Çatal Höyük in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro in the Indian Subcontinent.

Contemporary concepts of architecture

2010-07-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

While the notion that structural and aesthetic considerations should be entirely subject to functionality was met with both popularity and skepticism, it had the effect of introducing the concept of "function" in place of Vitruvius' "utility". "Function" came to be seen as encompassing all criteria of the use, perception and enjoyment of a building, not only practical but also aesthetic, psychological and cultural.

Sydney Opera House, Australia designed by Utzon.
Nunzia Rondanini stated, "Through its aesthetic dimension architecture goes beyond the functional aspects that it has in common with other human sciences. Through its own particular way of expressing values, architecture can stimulate and influence social life without presuming that, in and

Theory of architecture

2010-07-02T01:09:00.000-07:00

The earliest surviving written work on the subject of architecture is De architectura, by the Roman architect Vitruvius in the early 1st century CE.[2] According to Vitruvius, a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitatis utilitatis venustatis,[3][4] which translates roughly as -
Durability - it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.
Utility - it should be useful and function well for the people using it.
Beauty - it should delight people and raise their spirits.
According to Vitruvius, the architect should strive to fulfill each of these three attributes as well as possible. Leone Battista Alberti, who elaborates on the ideas of Vitruvius in his treatise, De Re Aedificatoria, saw beauty primarily as a matter of proportion, although ornament also played a part. For Alberti, the rules of proportion were those that governed the idealised human figure, the Golden mean. The most important aspect of beauty was therefore an inherent part of an object, rather than something applied superficially; and was based on universal, recognisable truths. The notion of style in the arts was not developed until the 16th century, with the writing of Vasari.[5] The treatises, by the 18th century, had been translated into Italian, French, Spanish and English.

The Parthenon, Athens, Greece, "the supreme example among architectural sites." (Fletcher).[6]
In the

Casa Viguet od Ndc Arquitectura

2010-07-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

Casa Viguet v Pilar v Buenos Aires je obklopená prírodzeným priestorom pozostávajúcim z krajiny domov. Jeho centrálna pozícia na 1500 metroch štvorcových pozemku vytvára niekoľko záhrad práve tam, kde sa pozerajú druhé domy. Casa Viquet je minimálny jednoizbový dom ,kde dochádza hlavne k prepojeniu iteriéru s exteriérom. Konštrukcia je určená funkciou a estetikou, základom sú betónové elementy. Povrch slúži ako ochranná stena,ako svetlo a tiež sa nadúva, čo umožňuje hru svetla a tieňa, transparenciu a nepriesvitnosť v rôznom čase nielen počas dňa ale aj behom ročných období.

Threefoot Tower in Mississippi

2010-07-02T01:04:00.000-07:00

The 16-story Threefoot Building in downtown Meridian, Mississippi, was the tallest building in the state upon its completion in 1929. Decked in multicolored terra cotta, the red-brick art deco building was designed by Claude H. Lindsley and Frank Fort, and named for the Threefoots, whose family name had been anglicized from "Dreyfuss."
The Threefoot family lost the building in the Great Depression, but the landmark remained in use until 2000, and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Since its closure due to deterioration and a high vacancy rate, the structure has suffered substantial decline. Terra-cotta tiles have fallen off the facade and portions of the masonry are at risk of falling into traffic. Water is infiltrating in several locations, and the windows are in poor condition

U.S. Historic Sites in Peril

2010-07-02T01:02:00.000-07:00

An art deco highrise in eastern Mississippi continues to deteriorate, as does one of the last remaining Negro League baseball stadiums, in New Jersey. A 1,300-year-old cultural site in Guam is threatened by U.S. Navy construction plans, and the character of Connecticut's scenic Merritt Parkway is at risk.
These sites are among those recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" for 2010. The annual list highlights examples of our architectural, cultural, and natural heritage at risk due to damaging development, funding failures, and other threats. Many of this year's buildings are already listed on the National Register of Historic Places — a designation that honors their value but provides no direct protection

kevin-rudds-architecture-for-the-asia-pacific

2010-07-02T00:42:00.000-07:00

Australian critics of Prime Minister Rudd’s Asia Pacific Community initiative have got it wrong about the idea not being well thought out. Kevin Rudd’s initiative should be seen as an invitation to other leaders, policy makers, and thinkers in the region to join…in a serious discussion about how best the Asia Pacific region could be organized. If Rudd had come up with a fully-baked proposal, the exercise could be self-defeating. Evolving regionalism in Asia Pacific requires that all parties concerned should have an active part in the process, especially in the shaping of a new vision for the region… Indonesia should support Rudd’s initiative and the process of deliberations that will follow from it.
The new architecture can be built two main pillars. The one pillar is that of a revitalized APEC with a strong ASEAN Plus Three (APT) as its core in East Asia. This forms the economic pillar of the regional architecture. The immediate question is how to involve India in this process. The other, political security, pillar is that of a transformed East Asia Summit (EAS) that is supported by the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) at the working level. . . The EAS is already proclaimed as a leaders-led forum to discuss strategic issues. Indonesia needs to make sure that the EAS functions as such. My full piece is below
In his address to the Asia Society AustralAsia Centre on 4 June, It’s Time to Build an Asia Pacific Community, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd proposed a regional architecture for the wider Asia Pacific region. He argued that there is a need for strong and effective regional institutions to “underpin an open, peaceful, stable, prosperous and sustainable region.” He stressed the importance of regional institutions in addressing collective challenges that no country can address alone.
Rudd’s vision for an Asia Pacific Community embraces “a regional institution which spans the entire Asia Pacific region – including the United States, Japan, China, India, Indonesia and the other states of the region” and “a regional institution which is able to engage in the full spectrum of dialogue, cooperation and action on economic and political matters and future challenges related to security.”
Critics in Australia, not only from the Opposition but also former Prime Ministers Hawke and Keating, have been quick in pointing out that Rudd’s vision has not been well thought out. But such criticisms may be misplaced. Kevin Rudd’s initiative should be seen as an invitation to other leaders, policy makers, and thinkers in the region to join him in a serious discussion about how best the Asia Pacific region could be organized. If Rudd had come up with a fully baked proposal, the exercise could be self-defeating. The evolving regionalism in Asia Pacific requires that all parties concerned should have an active part in the process, especially in the shaping of a new vision for the region. Rudd’s proposal is also not the first one. Since 2006 the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) has embarked on a study on the Regional Institutional Architecture (RIA) for the Asia Pacific and has begun discussing this in a number of regional forums. It is significant that Rudd’s initiative will help elevate the discussion to the highest level of policy making in the region.
It is also significant that Rudd is prepared to organize a process towards a new consensus in the region, to further advance the one that was reached in 1989 with the creation of APEC. He has appointed an accomplished diplomat, Richard Woolcott, former Ambassador to Indonesia and the Philippines, to visit the capitals of the wider region to discuss his proposal. This, he said, might lead to a high-level conference of government and non-government representatives to advance the proposal. Woolcott was instrumental in crafting the 1989 consensus. In Rudd’s words, Woolcott is to continue and hopefully complete the work he began on Prime Minister Hawke’s behalf 20 years ago. Rudd himself is likely to begin with the high level exchanges on his proposal when he visits Indonesia and Japan in the next few days.
Let us examine the main ideas in Rudd’s proposal. His first premise is that global economic and strategic weight is shifting to Asia. With this, the changes and challenges for Asia will also be great. The challenges as he described them include: enhancing a sense of security community; developing a capacity to deal with terrorism, natural disasters and disease; enhancing non-discriminatory and open trading regimes across the region in support of global institutions; and providing long-term energy, resource and food security. The second premise is that none of the existing regional mechanisms (APEC, the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Plus Three, and the East Asia Summit) “as currently configured are capable of achieving these purposes.” Hence, there is a need for new regional architecture.
Rudd believes that the existing regional mechanisms may continue in their own right or embody the building blocks of an Asia Pacific Community. However, he has identified two additional building blocks. First is the Six Party Talks, which could be transformed into a wider regional body to discuss confidence and security building measures in North East Asia and beyond. Second is the development of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). Here is where Rudd could stumble. The Six Party Talks are tailor-made for resolving the problem on the Korean Peninsula, and as the name indicates they only involve six countries. Expanding the members would duplicate the existing multilateral ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). What could be done is to strengthen this multilateral forum and to turn it into a full-fledged regional forum that is no longer ASEAN driven. The FTAAP could be the kiss of death for the Asia Pacific Community albeit having strong proponents in certain quarters. This discriminatory arrangement is a totally misguided proposal as it goes against the grain of regionalism in Asia Pacific, which Rudd himself proclaimed “must be an open region.”
It is hard to imagine that all these potential building blocks could become elements of a new single “regional institution” for the Asia Pacific. An EU-type process may be attractive, but cannot be created in the Asia Pacific. Instead, we may continue to have an Asia Pacific regional architecture that consists of several institutions. What needs to be attempted is to reform and restructure the existing mechanisms so that they become key elements of a more coherent and consolidated regional process. It needs a high-level understanding, readiness and decision to be able to reform and restructure those mechanisms.
Indonesia should support Rudd’s initiative and the process of deliberations that will follow from it. The new architecture could be built two main pillars. The one pillar is that of a revitalized APEC with a strong ASEAN Plus Three (APT) as its core in East Asia. This forms the economic pillar of the regional architecture. The immediate question is how to involve India in this process. The other, political security, pillar is that of a transformed East Asia Summit (EAS) that is supported by the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) at the working level. As a member of ASEAN, Indonesia should be prepared to take the lead in reforming and restructuring the ARF that indeed has become a “tired process.” The EAS is already proclaimed as a leaders-led forum to discuss strategic issues. Indonesia needs to make sure that the EAS functions as such. The immediate question is how to involve the United States and also Russia in this process.
To be sure, the shaping of the new architecture for the Asia Pacific region is not simply by adding India to the APEC process and by adding the United States to the EAS process. It will take much more than that, and should begin with the restructuring of the existing processes. APEC has begun with this but undertaken it only half-heartedly. It is worth to save APEC as it has the main ingredients as a strong pillar of the regional architecture. The EAS continues to be groping with how best it could serve the region, and as it is still in its formative stage it can easily be redirected. The region already has some of the ingredients for creating a meaningful regional architecture, but it needs progressive thinking and purposeful actions to capitalize on them.

2010-06-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Perfect Architecture Of Minnesota Landscape Design

2010-06-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

The city of Minneapolis can certainly be proud of many things. They are attached to St. Paul, which is home to the largest mall in the United States. It is a beautiful city, with lots of charm and Midwest hospitality. Hotels are reasonably priced and have all the amenities you could ever want nearby. One of the things Minneapolis can be proud of is the fact that when population density is used as a marker, the city boasts the most park square footage per person than anywhere else. In fact, 17% of the city is made up of park and park lands. This is not a feature that happens by accident. The city made it a priority. It had plenty of funding and support for its landscape architects, one of whom was Horace Cleveland, one of the foremost landscape architects of his time, and is responsible for many of the most beautifully preserved historical areas in the northeastern United States.

Japanese Bridges – Eclectic Blend Of Tradition And Architecture

2010-06-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

Japanese Bridges do accentuate the garden very well. There are many traditional Japanese bridges and designs you could choose from which give the garden a stylish and elegant look. Popular Japanese Bridge designs are Covered Japanese garden bridge, Moon Bridge or Drum Bridge, Strolling Pond Bridge, Stone Slab Bridge and Eight fold BridgeOn the other hand Moon Bridges are highly arched bridges which when viewed from a distance look like a complete circle. Also when you glance down into the reflection in the water below, you will see a complete circle. The bridge is made out of carefully cut stripes of wood which give it a well curved shape. Log Bridges are primarily made with logs. Since the environment is damp all around, you should go for well treated logs which are placed across 2 long logs permitted the people to go across the stream or river. If log bridges are made across rivers it is imperative that they will develop moss and algae on them which makes it essential to remove them on regular basis.

Finding A Career In Architecture

2010-06-17T19:36:00.000-07:00

As a photographer, architecture offers many different challenges, especially for the new photographer. Technically, buildings can be very demanding to photograph, but the key in solving this and attaining good images is understanding image distortion and finding the best time to capture the building at its most glamorous moment.Image distortion: When we look at a standard building, we see lines running horizontal and vertical. These lines often appear distorted and will make your image look warped. Image distortion occurs when we choose the wrong point to take our picture or use the wrong equipment. With most SLR cameras a certain amount of image distortion will occur. Shooting directly in front of the building will limit your options but will limit the amount of distortion in your image.

Finding A Career In Architecture

2010-06-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

Anyone who is talented in design, imagining how a house or building could be constructed or who likes to draw may have the talent to find a successful career in architecture. An architect is responsible for designing and planning the interior workings and foundation of a home or building. Architects are responsible for drawing up plans and blueprints for towering city buildings, small country homes and luxurious mansions. A successful architect must be versatile and imaginative while maintaining respect for the customer’s wishes.

Voip Solutions Architecture

2010-06-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Voice service is critical to the operation of the business, so no one wants to implement a technology that will compromise call quality or reliability in any way. Thus, the selection of an enterprise VoIP solutions Architecture is a major decision.
google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_haOn the other hand, the cost savings and value-added functionality available with VoIP makes it a compelling investment. So VoIP buyers must select a VoIP Solutions Architecture that maximizes business benefits while minimizing potential technology ownership headaches.The design of IP voice solutions should address the following service-level requirements: Open and standards-based VoIP solutions architecture : Enable the IP voice solutions with the flexibility of a comprehensive solution portfolio that interoperates with existing TDM technologies and systems, while protecting existing investment. The design of IP voice solutions should address the following service-level requirements: Open and standards-based VoIP solutions architecture : Enable the IP voice solutions with the flexibility of a comprehensive solution portfolio that interoperates with existing TDM technologies and systems, while protecting existing investment. ndleError, google_render_ad);

Cuba Architecture Guide – The Capitolio

2010-06-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Capitol building in Havana City is considered one of the six important palaces globally speaking, and experts assure that this building is an almost perfect engineering masterpiece, completed during the first decades of the 20th century. Luxurious and majestic, the Capitol is a must-see place for both nationals and foreigners while in Havana City. It is classic to take a picture with one of the very old cameras that surround the building in high quantities. Today, it is the national headquarters of the Science Academy of Cuba and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA, acronym in Spanish).The Capitol was inaugurated on May 20, 1929. The area is around 338 thousand square meters and was built in three years and 50 days, beginning on April 1, 1926, with an approximate cost of 17 million Cuban pesos, which at that time were equivalent to U.S dollars and a fortune to many. The history of Architecture has not witnessed many such instances where a monument of that greatness was built in such a brief period of time. The Louvre in Paris, the Basilica of Saint Peter and many others took hundreds of years before being finally built; the Escorial in Spain was finally constructed after 22 years under the reign of Phillip XI, just to give examples. The name of this building was the final result of a public survey promoted in order to put an end to the debate between Congress Palace and Capitol.

Business Architecture - Lean Six Sigma's (un)natural Bedfellow

2010-06-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

Cats and dogs living in harmony, bright sunshine the weekend of the big BBQ and used car salesmen standing behind their guarantees. These are just a few of the unnatural events that some say also includes business architects and their business blueprints cooperating with lean-six-sigma black belts and their value stream maps.Despite the misgivings of some business architecture 'priests' who see themselves as at the pinnacle of the value-add pile. And those of the lean-six-sigma 'zealots' who KNOW that everything but what they are doing (AND how they are doing it) is a waste of time. They in fact very often need one another and are very complementary to one another.The key to understanding this assertion is in the respective histories of the two camps.

Barcelona Cruise Passengers – Planning A Modern Architecture Tour

2010-06-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

Luckily for those passengers docking into Barcelona for the day, most of the Modernista architecture can be viewed within a day. Barcelona is a very accessible city, with public transport being both cheap and easy to use. The easiest way to head into the heart of the Modernista’s paradise is hopping on the green line metro, line 3, a short stroll from the cruise terminal to the bottom of Las Ramblas – the old town’s main thoroughfare. From here, take just 4 stops up to Diagonal metro stop and walk outside onto Passieg de Gracia. Eixample is also home to what has become known as the “manzana de discordia” or the block of discord, so called as it has the most diverse examples of Modernista architecture in such a small radius – an Eixample block. Casa Battlo is included in this fine list, as well as Casa Amatller designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch and Lluis Domenech i Montaner’s Casa Lleò Morera. Domenech at the time was much more famous than Gaudi, who has undoubtedly taken the limelight since his death, and is also responsible for two of the other nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites the city has to offer – the Palau de la Musica Catalana in the old town, and Hospital Sant Pau, which is close to Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia.

Business Architecture Solutions

2010-06-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

To compete the changing business organizations, it has become very much important for a business entity to implement new strategies to push up the over all productivity status. However improving business productivity is not so easy. It is a complete process that includes a series of activities that mainly include business unit consolidation, exploring new market, launching new product and needed service deployment, and so many other kinds of actions. In done properly, these services can actually help in better infrastructure management and re-establishes technology deployment Business Architecture: A Complete IT processBusiness architecture is a broad process that needs to be done very tactfully. The process includes a lot of IT works as well and address so many advance requirements. To cater the advanced business needs, it is important to address different problems of an organization, be it IT or business deployment, every aspect of a business process should need separate attention. It also requires visualization paradigms and supporting instruments. Hence, special solutions and tools need to be designed and created to support any kind of need. Business managers are trying their best to incorporate better business architecture tools and facilitating the visualization and alignment of the entire business structure

Architecture Degrees: Program Details,

2010-06-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

Maybe you love a particular school of architecture. Or maybe you just love the feeling of standing beside a structure and realizing another person—someone not so different from you—designed it from the ground up. If you’re reading this article chances are this architect was like you in every way except one: they had an architecture degree, and you do not.
google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_aBecoming an architect is an involved process, which makes sense if you consider the immense responsibilities given to the architect or team or architects who build a structure. Though a bachelor’s degree can provide an entry into the profession, more and more architecture companies and firms are requiring their new hires to have master’s degrees as well.d", google_handleError, google_render_ad);

Historic Cape Town Architecture

2010-06-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

Cape Town's old buildings tell a story of the city's diverse cultural roots and the influences that have helped to make it one of the world's most cosmopolitan destinations. They also reveal the superb design talents of three leading architects who, in the 18th and 19th centuries, came together in the Cape to transform the landscape of the inner city.Today, the influences of these world-class draughtsmen, as well the architectural styles throughout the centuries, are strongly felt throughout the city centre and further afield. Dutch, French, Victorian, German Baroque and French neo-classicism are some of the most enduring styles still found throughout Cape Town, and many old buildings have been carefully maintained and restored to preserve the intricate designs.Take a stroll through the heart of Cape Town, or travel into the scenic Cape Winelands, to discover the ornate architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the influence of the Dutch, French and British settlers to the Cape.

The History Of Glass In Architecture

2010-06-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

Glass was discovered, seemingly by accident, nearly 4000 years ago and has since evolved into one of our most used and most revered materials. It was only 2000 years ago that the manufacturing of glass progressed to being able to create sheets strong enough to be used as windows and architectural features. Today glass is used in everything from revolving doors to skywalks and interior partitions and is one of our most striking architectural materials with a fascinating history. When glass was first used in architecture and construction, the limitations of masonry and weaker building materials meant that its prominence was restricted to small windows. With developments in construction, this began to change and by the Medieval Era glass started to be used as more of a decorative feature than simply a way to let light in. The trend for tall, stone Gothic churches facilitated the use of elaborate glass windows made up from fragments of coloured glass and depicting striking biblical scenes. These windows related the stories of the bible to an illiterate populace and spurned the architectural trend of searching for transparency, luminosity and weightlessness through glass.

Lebbeus Woods Architectural Woodwork

2010-06-15T20:15:00.000-07:00

Architecture is war. War is architecture. I am at war with my time, with history, with all authority that resides in fixed and frightened forms.Lebbeus Woods dedicated his manifesto pamphlet War and Architecture, Rat I Arhitektura to the Bosnian capital in 1993. To read it is to immerse yourself in an ethic which is also a poetics of Romanticism: an architect, a constructor of worlds, a sensualist who worships the flesh, the melody, a silhouette against the darkening sky. Sarajevo, 1992, "architecture resisting change, even as it flows from it, struggling to crystallize and be eternal, even as it is broken and scattered...".The American architect and critic's idea is that the physical and existential remains of the destruction in Sarajevo should be preserved as a habitat for new organisms that will live among the ruins of a war which so many people - Westerners, do-gooders, hard-liners - have been forgotten, avoided or erased from memory. These organisms will inhabit the scars of war like parasites, leave wounds open, courageously accept the pain of the present, the recent past, the dead.The forms he imagines are anything but attractive. He designs huge insects, uses the words of animal life and of sickness: the scar, the scab. Acceptance of the scar is an acceptance of existence. Lebbeus Woods was a war correspondent in Bosnia for the Japanese architecture magazine a+u, a voluntary architect-on-the-spot.

Architecture Jobs: High Demand For Professionals

2010-06-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

Summary: Architecture is a fascinating career option for students who wish to use their creativity and imaginative skills in building a wonderful structure. There are many good opportunities in terms of jobs for the students pursuing architecture studies in related fields like structural engineering and interior designing as well.

Business Architecture Solutions

2010-06-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Glass Houses – Architecture In Glass

2010-06-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

Investing in a glass house to grow plants, fruit and vegetables can save money in the long run. It needs to be warm enough to allow the plants to grown and be able to protect them from the elements.Apropos create bespoke aluminium glass houses to suit all needs. They are double glazed as standard with the option of triple glazing. Their glass houses can be designed to match existing glass structures and properties. Apropos glass houses can be built as individual structures, as part of a house or as a glass house extension/ replacement.Alternative use for a glass houseFor those of you who don’t have the green fingered gift do not despair, glass houses can be used as an inside/ outside seating area. You can entertain guests without being sat outside in the British weather. Apropos offer a variety of glazing and door options to suit your glass house needs.When deciding on your glass house, Apropos designers are here to help. They can make suggestions about which glazing is best in your glass house as well as location advice and suggestions on possible uses. All Apropos glass houses are bespoke so they can be designed to suit you and your needs.

Architecture

2010-06-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

Architecture is most important for a create and decorate our home ,temple ,office and anymore things.architecture is motivation for our country.without this our home country is like a very simple and dicolour.its motivate a tourist and visitor.architecture help us for drawing for map and home map.if such a place is not draw by architecture really look likes a dirty place.
architecture is very good gor one drawing map and other things.