Architecture Culture & History I

Architecture Culture & History I [ARC60103] is a module that introduces a basic architecture history and theory from the beginning of time to the Enlightenment. Throughout this module, students will be able to classify the sequence of historical periods and how are they presented architecturally.

PROJECT: PRECEDENT STUDY & ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION:

This project focuses on investigating historical works to enrich architectural design and ideas. Through the study of existing buildings, students are able to communicate and expand their own architectural vocabulary and develop design concepts. In a group of 4, students are required to conduct precedent study analysis on specific building through drawing, model-making, on-line forum discussion and verbal presentations. This precedent study analysis should help clarify the research question of “why” that specific building is historically, culturally and architecturally importance; and “how” the design concepts derived from that particular building can be developed and expanded to be creatively and innovatively integrated into their Studio 1 design project.

In a group of 5, I am required to conduct a precedent study and analysis with my group members on a specific building from a Byzantine period, which is the Hagia Sophia.

PART A: ONLINE GROUP FORUM

Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox patriarchal basilica which functioned as a church, later an imperial mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. During the date of its construction in 537 till 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, except between the year 1204 and 1261, it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was functioned as a mosque when Istanbul (previously known as Constantinople) fell to the Ottomans from 29 May 1453 until 1931. In 1935, the founders of Turkey's secular republic then transformed Hagia Sophia into a museum. Since then, it serves as a museum to visitors, telling the story of İstanbul, reminding others of both its Christian and its Muslim heritage.

Hagia Sophia marks the beginning of Byzantine architecture. It summed up everthing that was the Orthodox religion. For Greeks, it symbolized the center of their world. Its very structure was a microcosm of heaven, a metaphor for the divine mysteries of the Orthodox Christianity. It also was the mother church that symbolized the everlastingness of Constantinople and the Empire.

handwritten notes:

REFLECTION:

-I learned to examine and recognize architecture history through a chronological survey, looking at the intellectual, aesthetic, technological, political and economic factors which have influenced the architectural design of Hagia Sophia.
-I picked up appropriate verbal architectural vocabulary when referring to building types, styles and periods, such as niches, arches, or apse. 
-I produced building analysis which documents intentions, concepts, building massing that includes, geometry, materials and structure.

PART B: ANALYSIS PRESENTATION BOARD

On the other hand, I am required to produced a hand drawn individual analysis presentation board which include, orthographical drawings and analytical diagrams.

REFLECTION:

I have first time produced an in depth analysis on the building I have chosen, learned to use diagrams to show the information i found.

PART C: 3D ABSTRACTION MODEL

REFLECTION:

- I learned to build model to communicate the information I wanted to express during presentation.

- I learned to handle balsa timber to construct a detailed and delicate building model which is presentable.

- I learned to prepare proper and organized verbal presentation using architectural terms to explain what my model is about and the architectural elements of it.