HSTARC2: Reaction Blog (American Architecture & Pre-Colonial Architecture)

After weeks long of waiting for the next session report, I was forced to make my own review about, I think, probably the broadest topic here in History of Architecture 2.

American Architecture and Pre-Colonial Architecture, holds branches of its different kinds of Architecture. I would like to start it with:

Inca Architecture:
I searched on YouTube about Inca Architecture, since I didn't want to rely too much on Wikipedia. Then I saw the Matsu Pitsu. I would like to compare it to the Acropolis of Athens. It's a hidden city located at a tophill part of the forests. It's an abandoned city where in people would question on why it was built there. Somewhere water can rarely be seen. I also knew that this is the only Pre-Colonial structures that the Spaniards weren't able to find.

It's characteristic; walls made by bricks, geometrical proportions of the structures.

Maya Architecture:
I'd say that the Inca Architecture was very similar to the Pre-Historic Architecture, but Maya Architecture is very similar to Egyptian Architecture.

Maya culture was very critical interms of religion. Just like the Egyptians, they also have their own "pharaohs", which are called the deities. Their shrine are on the top of the house-step like structures. At first sight, you would thought that what you see is the Egypt's Ziggurat, because they almost have very familiar characteristics. I also sensed that they really like pyramid-like shapes on their structures. It has a large base but as it goes all the way up, it gets smaller and smaller. Another thing that I notice was, THEY REALLY LOVE STAIRS. Interiors; they have perfectly carved ornaments on their walls, the columns are in uniform.
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New England Colonial (1600's - 1740)
Ha, New England Colonial Architecture reminds of a childhood cartoon series that I used to watch, Heidi. Its characteristics are just like the usual things that we drew during our pre-school days. Cube/rectangular base with a triangular roof and a chimney in the middle. It has a little ornamentation in its interiors. The back part of the roof protrudes lower until the 2nd storey's floor. You wont be able to see much of this kind of Architecture these days because it was made of wood, it's not as durable like the normal houses that we see today.


Colonial Cape Cod (1600's - 1950's)
Colonial Cape Cods were famous during the last stretch of its existence. 1930's - 1950's, Cape Cods were very famous this time. It's frequently found in the Northeastern parts of the United States (Cleveland, Boston, New York). It is made up of wood, colored in white. Its windows also have shingles (just like New England Colonies)

It has smaller chimneys compared to the previous one. It sports a small chimney but connects to every room of the house. It has a vertical axis emphasis, meaning, it is very uniform, if you cut the house in half, you'd see the same thing you'd see on the other half. Doors are always at center during this era. It also has little ornamentation in its interior.

Spanish Colonial (1600's - 1900's)
Different types of Architecture started here. There was no specific characteristic on this Architectural Era. But one thing that differentiates this era to the previous ones is the use of arched openings on their facades, use of columns and more complicated shape, and not just an ordinary rectangular box




German Colonial (1600's - 1800's)
Just like the first two types (New England Colonial and Cape Cod), it brings back to the original characteristic of American Architecture which is a rectangular base with a flat roof. They only differ in the use of materials. Bricks was often used for their massive 2 feet thick walls. It should also have arched stone on top of the door and the windows of the 1st floor.

Dutch Colonial (1625 - mid 1800's)
It started as a neighborhood in New York, but spread out on parts of Netherlands. The first Architectural type that had 2 chimneys on both ends of the roof. Used Dutch doors, upper half and the lower half can be opened independently. Stone and bricks were the primary materials.

If we search the Google about pictures of Dutch Colonial Architectural types, it would only show the 20th century-type or the Dutch Colonial Revival which is completely different from the original ones.

Georgian Colonial House Style (1690's - 1830)
It adopted the Dutch Colonial's 2-chimney roof. Normally has 9 small windows on its facade. It also has flattened columns beside the door. Structures are very symmetrical and square. It also has a pediment-like decoration on top of its door.

Georgian Colonial Houses now has protruded columns, some of it only has one chimney on its roof. The 9 square windows, used of bricks/stones, and the symmetrical arrangement is still there though.

French Colonial (1700 - 1860)
French Colonial houses were built for the hot weathered countries. It's the most different one among the American Architectural types. It has a lot of columns, wood-made columns. The second floor that we see in the picture, those porch openings were made as a hallway for a person to transfer to another room. It has not interior hallways.

Here in the Philippines, I see it like a cottage at some resort because it has too many rooms.

Federal Houses Style (1780 - 1830)
If you're going to look at the facade of a Federal House Style, you'd instantly think that, that house is owned by a wealthy family. It owns a flat roof with balustrade. Just like the Georgian Colonial, windows are arranged symmetrically around the door. Robert Adam, the owner of the largest Architectural practice in Britain, went abroad to study Italian Architecture and Roman empires and when he came back, he brought back what he learned and applied it. The picture at right was said to be designed after the Roman classicism. Bricks were the primary materials here. Stairs are curved with iron railings that leads to the main entrace.

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HSTARC2 Blog update:

Romanesque

Gothic

Renaissance

Baroque/Rococco

American Architecture

Growth of European States

Industrial Revolution

Arts & Crafts

Art Nouveau

Beaux Arts + Neo Gothic

Art Deco

Bauhaus

International Architecture

Louis Sullivan

Frank Lloyd Wright

Le Corbusier

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe