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American ArchitectureBy admin on December 18, 2009 | No Comments
Before you enter a building, stop a minute and take a look at the type of architecture that went into designing that building. When you think about it, it is crazy when you realize just how much time and effort went into that creation. Architecture can take on many forms and styles, so every time you see a new building you are seeing something new that an architect created. For one reason or another, they built this structure to look and function in a specific way. Typically, a building is built in a specific way to serve a practical use. Usually, buildings are meant to protect humans and objects from whatever natural elements are occurring throughout the year in whatever location they are built on.
Since there are so many types of architecture from all over the world since way back when, I will only focus on some specifically American architecture. Just like any other trend or style, American architecture has changed dramatically and quickly over the years based on appeal, practicality, and innovation. The earliest forms of architecture in America were colonial styles. These structures were influenced by the different cultures living in America from the mid 1600’s to the mid 1800’s. For practical reasons, most of these colonial houses had a sloping roof, central chimney, casement windows, and a very basic square floor plan. These houses had to be built like this to protect from the weather since heating and air conditioning did not yet exist.
The next style of architecture you would see in America was the Romantic and Victorian styles. These came around in the late 1700’s through the early 1900’s. These styles were a bit fancier and often had rounded rooms, elaborate door frames, balustrades, Palladian windows, trim, porches, columns, and pointed roofs. Of course, these are not all the features during this time, and any one building would probably not have all of these particular features. However, it is obvious that the architecture during this period was beginning to become a little less practical and a little bit more of an art. No longer were houses being built only to live in but also to look at and admire.
Following the Victorian style of architecture is the modern style. These houses were popular until the late 1900’s and are still around today. The features on modern architecture would often include a low pitched roof, broad eaves, open floor plans, ranch style houses, split-levels, and bungalows. The houses many of us grew up in were most likely modern American architecture. Also, during the modern period apartments began being built and used in order to save space. Often, these large buildings were built out of glass, concrete, or brick.
Today, the newly emerging trend in architecture is postmodern architecture which explores bringing back architecture from the past and merging it with new styles and trends. This type of architecture began in the 1970’s and continues through today. To the postmodern architect, he can do what he wishes. He has no limits with his work. Whenever you see a building that seems different and crazy it is probably postmodern. There is usually and “sleek” look to their buildings while they also incorporate a number of elements from the past.
All of these different styles of architecture have been a part of America’s history and culture and they all came about for a reason and served a specific purpose. So, the next time you walk into a building take a minute and notice all the different styles and features that went into the building of that structure.
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The Best Places to Find Architecture Salvage ItemsBy admin on December 10, 2009 | No Comments
Architecture salvage items can be used for home improvement. These items do not necessarily have to be antique or old. They can be new or used items as well. Besides that, they can also be either reproduction antique works or original works. Some of these items may include floors, sinks, bathroom tubs, tables, fixtures, windows, doors, and other such things. Homeowners, contractors, designers, and collectors are people who often look out for such architecture salvage pieces in order to use them for unique design styles. Following are the four best sources where you can find such items.
Architectural Salvage Yards
One of the best places to purchase unique home pieces is an architecture salvage yard. You can easily locate such yards by using a telephone directory or Internet. However, there are several things that you need to keep in mind while you are shopping for architectural salvage items. Take your time to choose items of interest. Have some patience – there is no need to hurry. Some architecture salvage yards are theme based, such as items with Italian panache or something belonging to the Victorian culture. But, you can also find a yard that offers a much wider array of choices. Items available for sale here may be reproduction, used, or new. Negotiation plays a key role when it comes to getting the best deal. So, do not hesitate to negotiate the price.
Antique Stores
If you are looking for architecture salvage pieces that are hard to find, you should look no further than antique stores. These stores can be good sources to purchase home improvement accessories, antique fixtures, and other decorative items. The best thing about the antique stores is that most of them sell original works. However, in order to make sure that you are buying original pieces, it is very important for you to be diligent when you appraise the items.Home Restoration Shops
You may also like to visit home restoration shops to purchase architecture salvage items. These stores are different from architectural salvage yards and antique shops in a way that they perform restorations on different architectural pieces. Therefore, if you are looking for a certain design or look, you must visit these architecture restoration shops. The artists at these stores can make a new items look like a valuable antique work, as if they belong to a very old period.Publications
There are also several home improvement publications and designer magazines that publish a list of architecture salvage businesses. You can refer to this list and find out a suitable store in your area. However, if you are specifically looking for stores that specialize in selling antique salvage items, you had better consult antique magazines.Besides that, you can always use the Internet to find the best architecture salvage stores. The best thing about using the Internet is that you can find a suitable store from the comfort and convenience of your home. Some websites also give the option to make online purchases, which further add to your convenience. Still, it is always better to buy architecture salvage items from a local store after close appraisal of the same.
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Architecture Basics
To put it simply, architecture is the science of construction. A good structure should have three qualities. It should be durable, have high utility value, and appeal to aesthetics. Every piece of architecture that is created has a story to tell. In fact, history is based on them. Ancient civilizations have been researched with the help of the classical architecture that were stumbled upon. A lot of perception of a country is made on the basis of the structures or the planning of the same. A city with higher buildings for example, screams that the lack of space is a major issue.
However, as one travels to witness the architecture in the suburbs of any city, the trend seems to be the opposite. Structures begin to get lower height wise. Structure of a mall within the heart of a city and the regular shopping area would definitely be different even though the culture of the users is the same. An airport or the terminal stations will always be constructed on the outskirts of any place. A residential area will be starkly different from a commercial one. Even within the parameter of residential areas, there will be distinct difference between a poor, middle class, and posh locality architecture .Again, all it takes is one look at the structures. One can perceive about the cultures also looking at them. The colors used on the buildings talk about the characteristics of the inhabitants. One truth of life that cannot be avoided is we live to own a home that will hold our stories forever.
Ancestral properties and dispute over them are the most common cases that go to court almost every day round the world. So here is one aspect of life that attracts attention in every step of life, whether consciously or not.
Architecture Of North America
American architecture is known for its diversity. Being a young nation, modernity is the underlying design with sky scrapers being a typical sign. Settlers having moved in from world over, it has been influenced by many cultures like Spanish, English and Greek, just to name a few.The skyscraper is an American innovation that has become the order of the day across the globe. Traditional works of architecture like long houses, wigwams, tipis, and hogans belong to the era of Native American dating back to the late sixteenth century. Post that, a lot of Polynesian heritage evolved leading to the beginning of the era of European structures with Hawaiian architecture coming in.
The 1862 Homestead Act made a huge impact to the settlement of the country. The law, offering a farm to any adult male who agreed to cultivate it for five years and then build his property on it, brought in the growth of homesteads of a particular rural pattern.
A steady evolution through the times and many more influences brings us to the latest innovation known as the skyscraper. This is a blend of conventional decorative elements coupled with the latest technology. In modern architecture , one can increase the heights as long as the area of each tower floor is reduced to one fourth of the ground floor area of the building.
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The Beauty of ArchitectureBy admin on December 10, 2009 | No Comments
In the identification of cultures one of the most visual differences lies in the design and construction of their buildings. Have you ever wondered why buildings in Russia look so different from those found in China and England Well, the reason behind this lies in the varying styles and architectural influences. As Walter Gropius, a German born US architect, once famously said, Architecture ends where engineering begins.
True Words
During the construction of a building, engineers are responsible for the manipulations of materials into the required design. However architects are responsible for planning, designing, and reviewing the building constriction. Architects are also responsible for the overseeing of such important factors such as the analysis of cost and the technology require achieving the desired end.While designing a building, there are certain architectural factors which the architect needs to take into consideration. It is required that a building be-
Durable- The great pyramids of Egypt and the Taj Mahal bare witness to how long a building can survive with effective architectural designs. With good architectural designs a building will be provided with guaranteed durability.
Utility- Every building has a specific function. A stadium is designed to host a sports team, its training area and rooms, and efficient seating for its fans. An apartment complex on the other hand is designed to attend to the needs of residents seeking accommodation. For each building, the rules of architecture are there to ensure that the best results and services can be gotten from its use. You do not want a hospital built like an opera house and vice versa.
Beauty- While the first two factors are well in the realms of architecture, it is usually this that receives more attention by the public. Beautiful buildings are a source of visual delight for the people around it. Then there are buildings like the Sydney Opera House the buildings of such kind are built so that it should delight people and raise their spirits. The Taj Mahal, Burj al Arab, and Sydney opera house are popular examples of exhilarating architecture .
There are many instances where all three of these architectural factors are effectively combined. Skyscrapers like the Taipei 101, Chrysler building and the Petronas towers are major examples of feats in architecture where beauty is married with utility and durability.
There have been many innovations in the design and trends in architecture .
For example the ancient trend in structural design was changed with the new age. During this period, renaissance structural design as well as Baroque architecture witnessed a boom in use among architects. Toward the end of this period Neo classical architecture had slowly begun.
The evolution of the skyscraper signaled the dawn of modern architecture .
With the interest in skyscrapers on the rise, it was important for new architectural methods to be introduced. For instance, the use of reinforced concrete was invented and the importance of external lifts was discovered.
Already, as it is, the future of architecture is already being defined.Architects all over the world are seeking to build structures that are not only appealing, they are also more self sufficient with green energy. These buildings are also aimed at being less harmful to the planet.
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Architecture is a Great Career OptionBy admin on December 10, 2009 | No Comments
Architecture has been an integral part of various civilization. When one studies the history of a civilization or society, the architectural aspects are always studied. Architectural aspects provide great insights into how people lived and they also reflect their thoughts during a particular time.
Architecture has always been an important and respected career option. Architects were greatly valued for their knowledge and services in the past, and to our surprise, the case is not different today.
The job of an architect is to design buildings and other structures. It is also their job to ensure that they are safe, functional, and economical. It is the job of an architect to focus on the design, feasibility, esthetics, and ergonomics of a building.
Career Options
Today the architecture field offers great career options to aspirants. Some of the career options that one can find in this field include• Architectural historian
• Journalist specializing in architect
• Marine architectural expert
• Building contractor
• Interior designer
• Landscape designerCareer options in architecture are fulfilling not only in monetary terms but also creative term. Most interns start with a salary of 28,000 USD. With experience one can start his or her own architectural firm or become a partner in one. Those with their own architecture firms or those who are partners in a firm earn millions of dollars.
Skills Required
Quantitative, analytical, organizational, designing, budgeting, communication, and problem solving are some of the skills required in architectural field. There are three types of degrees offered in the architectural field. One can go for a five year Bachelor of Architecture program. This is right for those who want to study architect right after high school.Degree Programs To Become An Architect
Those who already have an undergraduate degree in architect or related areas can further specialize in a 2 year master architect program. Those who have degrees in other fields, but now want to pursue a career in architect can opt for a 3 or 4 year master programs in architecture .License
In order to practice architect in USA, one needs to be licensed. In order to earn your license, you would first need to earn a professional degree in architecture . Most states require you to earn your professional degree from a university or college accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board NAAB. Then you would need to complete your internship. Then you need to pass all the relevant Architect Registration Examination ARE. Most states require you to renew your license after a certain period of time.Upon completing an architecture degree, one can take up a job in an architectural firm or join a government agency. One can also work as a freelance architect. With experience, a licensed architect can gain managing position in an architecture firm. They will then be given the duty of managing and designing an entire project. Many architects go on to establish their own firms or become partners in a major firm.
However, you wish to advance your architectural career, there are always lots of options available to you. With a career in architecture you will be well off money wise and also have creative satisfaction.
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History and Evolution of ArchitectureBy admin on December 10, 2009 | No Comments
The professional service rendered by architects is known as architecture . It is basically the science and art of conceptualizing, designing, and constructing buildings and other structures either for human shelter or for other purposes such as storage, production, entertainment, or exhibition. In the wider sense, the scope of architecture ranges from the planning and design of the entire building environment of a place or town to the detailed designing and entire construction details of a single structure even to the minutest detail. Often, famous works of architecture have been identified as cultural symbols and also as works of art. Many historical civilizations have also been made famous due to their architectural uniqueness.
Origin And History
The earliest known form of architecture evolved from the interaction between the basic survival needs and the available resources. Through the process of trial and error and gradual technological evolution and progress with the help of improvisation and replication, architecture took the form of a craft. This formed the basis of vernacular manner that can be witnessed even today. The gradual progress from rural living to the urban arena saw the magnificence of architecture as in Catal Huyuk in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro in undivided India.The early civilizations saw the splendid architecture of the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Persians, Greek, and Romans, each with its own distinct style. In Asia, architecture , sometimes, was developed along religious lines with different characteristics. The Roman Colosseum and the Egyptian Pyramids are examples of their cultural symbols.
The medieval period saw the emergence of Islamic architecture which also influenced European styles of that period. The Renaissance period emphasized on the individual and humanity instead of religion and buildings were dedicated to the architects such as Michelangelo, Palladio, Alberti, and Brunelleschi. The early modern and the industrial age saw the emergence of new materials and technology and the architects started to get formal education and training starting from the drawing board. The industrial revolution at this stage helped the production of better quality materials for construction purposes.
The modern age viewed structural design as a convenient blend of art, craft, and technology. Emphasis shifted from historical styles, which were reminiscent of the declining aristocratic order, to a new style that focused on the aspirations of the middle and working classes. The modernist architects reduced buildings to pure form with functionalist details based on everyday needs of people and creating a livable environment. Architecture in the modern times has become more multi-disciplinary, and it needs a team of specialists with the architect as the leader of the team. In the past three decades, specialization has split up the architectural field into design and project arenas. The concept of environmental sustainability has now pervaded architectural thought and most modern architects like Ian McHarg of US and Brenda and Robert Vale of the UK and New Zealand have pioneered the integration of green building sustainable design principles into their architectural projects. The Dynamic Tower is an example of a green building that will have wind turbines and solar panels for its power needs.
The famous architects from the nineteenth century till date include Adolf Loos, Albert Kahn, Aldo Rossi, Alvaro Sizza, Carlo Scarpa, Frank Gehri, Henry Hobson, Charles Eames, James Stirling, ario BottaRichard Meier, Paolo Soleri, and Tadao Ando among many more.
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A Visual Dictionary of ArchitectureBy admin on November 6, 2009 | 6 Comments
- ISBN13: 9780471288213
- Condition: USED – VERY GOOD
- Notes:
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Product Description
This book defines over 5,000 terms relating to architectural design, history, and technology. It is the only dictionary that provides concise, accurate definitions illustrated with finely detailed, hand-rendered drawings, each executed in Mr. Ching’s signature style.A Visual Dictionary of Architecture
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Architecture: Form, Space, & OrderBy admin on November 6, 2009 | 5 Comments
- ISBN13: 9780471752165
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Product Description
A superb visual reference to the principles of architectureNow including interactive CD-ROM!
For more than thirty years, the beautifully illustrated Architecture: Form, Space, and Order has been the classic introduction to the basic vocabulary of architectural design. The updated Third Edition features expanded sections on circulation, light, views, and site context, along with new considerations of environmental factors, building codes, and contemporary examples of form, space, and order.
This classic visual reference helps both students and practicing architects understand the basic vocabulary of architectural design by examining how form and space are ordered in the built environment.? Using his trademark meticulous drawing, Professor Ching shows the relationship between fundamental elements of architecture through the ages and across cultural boundaries. By looking at these seminal ideas, Architecture: Form, Space, and Order encourages the reader to look critically at the built environment and promotes a more evocative understanding of architecture.
In addition to updates to content and many of the illustrations, this new edition includes a companion CD-ROM that brings the book’s architectural concepts to life through three-dimensional models and animations created by Professor Ching.
Architecture: Form, Space, & Order
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101 Things I Learned in Architecture SchoolBy admin on October 7, 2009 | 5 Comments
- ISBN13: 9780262062664
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Product Description
2008 Silver Award Winner, Architecture Category, Independent Publisher Book Awards. and Winning entry, General Trade Illustrated Category, in the 2008 New England Book Show sponsored by Bookbuilders of Boston.This is a book that students of architecture will want to keep in the studio and in their backpacks. It is also a book they may want to keep out of view of their professors, for it expresses in clear and simple language things that tend to be murky and abstruse in the classroom. These 101 concise lessons in design, drawing, the creative process, and presentation—from the basics of “How to Draw a Line” to the complexities of color theory—provide a much-needed primer in architectural literacy, making concrete what too often is left nebulous or open-ended in the architecture curriculum. Each lesson utilizes a two-page format, with a brief explanation and an illustration that can range from diagrammatic to whimsical. The lesson on “How to Draw a Line” is illustrated by examples of good and bad lines; a lesson on the dangers of awkward floor level changes shows the television actor Dick Van Dyke in the midst of a pratfall; a discussion of the proportional differences between traditional and modern buildings features a drawing of a building split neatly in half between the two. Written by an architect and instructor who remembers well the fog of his own student days, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School provides valuable guideposts for navigating the design studio and other classes in the architecture curriculum. Architecture graduates—from young designers to experienced practitioners—will turn to the book as well, for inspiration and a guide back to basics when solving a complex design problem.
101 Things I Learned in Architecture School
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The Power of Architecture
If you are planning to build or buy a new home, then you should never neglect to pay an ample amount of attention to its architecture . Indeed, the visual appearance of your home is going to make a powerful statement about the sort of person you are. This, of course, is not to say that all of your friends and neighbors are shallow. Very much to the contrary, they are simply going to expect for you to pick a home that serves as an extension of yourself. Architecture, here, is going to be incredibly powerful.
If you are looking to buy a home that creates a very welcoming vibe, then you are going to want to choose one that has a lot of open architecture . Open, here, refers to the absence of tight, restricting corridors and rooms that do not have any windows. Indeed, one of the best ways to make people feel comfortable in your new home is to have large, prominent windows. Taller ceilings are also going to serve to create a welcoming atmosphere, as they are going to endow your guests with a sense of freedom. If at all possible, you may consider building a home that does not hold itself to any sort of traditional room architecture . Having a dining room that bleeds into the living room, or a living room that bleeds into the kitchen, can make your guests feel very comfortable. Removing the walls, in this architecture aesthetic, offers your guests a full view of your entire home, leaving them with the distinct feeling that you do not have anything to hide. While it may seem like a stretch, even the most subtle changes in the architecture of your home can have a powerful impact on your guests.
Of course, your architecture is not going to make much of a difference if the outside of your home is not inviting as well. If you have decided to build or buy a home that has large, prominent windows, then you are going to want to be sure that you compliment your architecture with, quite simply, things that are pretty to look at. Be sure that you maintain your lawn well, and that you have some sort of garden, however simple it may be. Likewise, be sure that you do not align your most prominent windows along an east west axis, as this is only going to create severe, oft irritating glares and starkly contrasting shadows.
Setting out to find the perfect style of architecture can be a major chore, but not one that comes without its rewards. Indeed, by putting forth the time and effort to find the perfect architecture , you can guarantee that all of your friends, family, and guests are going to enjoy their stay at your home. Moreover, you can rest assured that you are not creating the wrong impression when you invite people into your home. The aesthetic of your home will match your self image, and none of your guests will be misled.
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