3. ORIGINS OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
As with sculpture, the Romans
borrowed heavily from two
cultures that they conquered –
the Etruscans and the Greeks.
The Romans were indebted to
their Etruscan neighbors and
forefathers who supplied them
with a wealth of knowledge
essential for future architectural
solutions, such
as hydraulics and in
the construction of arches.
Later they absorbed Greek and
Phoenician influence, apparent
in many aspects closely related
to
MODEL OF AN ETRUSCAN TEMPLE
A ROMAN TEMPLE, FORTUNA VIRILIS
4. Elements of Roman architecture show very significant
Greek influence.
However, Roman functional needs sometimes differed,
resulting in interesting innovations.
The Romans were less attached to “ideal” forms and
extended Greek ideas to make them more functional
ROMAN PHILOSOPHY
"We believe that lightning is caused by clouds colliding,
whereas they believe that clouds collide in order to
create
lightning. Since they attribute everything to gods, they
are
led to believe not that events have a meaning because
they have happened, but that they happen in order to
ORIGINS OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
7. Something new under the sun …
Roman ARCHitecture
Arches – strength
through
compression
8. Romans needed
interior space for
worship, whereas
the Greeks
worshipped
outside.
Their solution was
to extend the walls
outward, creating
engaged columns,
while maintaining
the same basic
shape.
ORIGINS OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
THE MAISON CAREE @
NIMES
9. ROMAN INNOVATIONS
To the original Greek orders, the
Romans added two.
TUSCAN
SIMPLIFIED DORIC HAVING UNFLUTED
COLUMN AND A PLAIN BASE, CAPITAL AND
SHAFT HAVING NO DECORATION OTHER THAN
MOLDINGS
COMPOSITE
IT COMBINED ELEMENTS OF BOTH THE
IONIC AND CORINTHIAN ORDERS.
CORINTHIAN ORDER IS MODIFIED BY
SUPERIMPOSING FOUR DIAGONALLY SET
IONIC VOULTS ON A BELL OF CORINTHIAN
ACANTHUS LEAVES.
1. COLUMNS
10. K The discovery of slow-drying concrete,
made with pozzolana sand created a
revolution in architectural design.
K This allowed not only bases, but also walls to
be constructed of mainly concrete or
concrete and rubble.
K Facings could be made of more expensive
stone or inexpensive brick.
K The result was strong structures that could
be formed in any desirable shape
2. CONCRETE
USE OF BRICK ON OUTER
FACING AND FILLING OF
CONCRETE RUBBLE
DOME OF THE
PANTHEON
11. 3. ARCH & VAULT
The Romans first adopted the arch from the Greeks, and
implemented it in their own building.
An arch is a very strong shape as no single spot holds all
the
weight and is still used in architecture today.
The Romans used arches to support the things they built.
They built victory arches, buildings and aqueducts.
12. Barrel or
“Tunnel” Vault
K A vault having semicircular cross-
section
K Windows can be placed at any point.
K These vaults require buttressing to
counter-act the downward thrust of
weight.
13. Groin vault
K Also called a cross vault.
K A compound vault formed by by the
perpendicular intersection of two vaults
forming arched diagonal arrises called
groins.
K Needs less buttressing.
BASILICA NOVA
14. Multi Groin Vaults
K A series of groin vaults can have open
lateral arches that form Clerestories.
K Windows that allow light into the interior
of churches.
K These concrete windows
were fireproof
15. K A dome is a vaulted
structure having a
circular plan and
usually the form of a
portion of a sphere, so
constructed as to exert
an equal thrust in all
directions
K Romans used domes to
span and cover very
large open spaces.
K They used it in many
public buildings like
basilicas, the pantheon
4. dome
16. CYLINDRICAL DOME
K With the dome, the
Romans could
surpass earlier
cultures by their
ability to span
space.
K Light enters through
the oculus on top.
17. Roman buildings
Massive Building – THE TEMPLE OF FORTUNA
PRIMIGENIA
The Temple of
Fortuna Primigenia
was a massive
structure, made
possible by
concrete
construction.
18. Massive Building – BATHS OF CARACALLA
Roman baths were
the recreation
centers of Roman
cities, incorporating
pools, exercise
facilities and even
libraries.
They could serve
hundreds or
thousands at a time.
Roman buildings
19. Roman buildings
Public entertainment – THE ROMAN COLOSSEUM
Brings together the violence and
the achievements of Roman
society
Home of gladiatorial
contests…man vs. man, man vs.
animal, animal vs. animal
Seating designed for comfort
with
an expandable covering over the
top
Plumbing which could wash
away
the blood or create an ‘inland
20. The Colosseum- a blend of Greek and
Roman architecture
The arches are
supported by central
columns.
The columns on the
first floor are Doric.
The columns on the
second floor are
Ionic.
The columns on the
third floor are
Corinthian.
21. plan
Section
A special fact about the Coliseum
is that it was originally built with a
huge removable canopy to protect
the spectators from the elements.
22.
23. Roman buildings
Public entertainment – AMPHITHEATRE AT NIMES
SEATS ABOUT 20,000
Theatres and arenas were built to hold
multiple thousands of people and were
engineered so as to allow quick and
effective entry and exit.
24. Roman buildings
WORSHIP – THE PANTHEON
The temple to the
Roman gods built
in 126 AD was
called
The Pantheon.
28. The magnificent interior space of the
Pantheon was achieved by:
Employing a dome over a drum.
Coffering the dome to reduce weight.
Placing an occulus to allow light to enter
29. later used as
church
Missing pedimental
sculpture
(would have been like
Parthenon)
Tuscan order of
columns (with
corinthian capitals)
30.
31. Roman buildings
Public water supply – THE AQUEDUCTS
There wasn’t enough water in
the
city of Rome.
The Romans brought water in
from the surrounding
countryside.
The water was brought in by
tubes called aqueducts.
Cities themselves were
plumbed,
providing private water for the
rich and for baths and
communal
supplies for poorer
PONT DU GARD, FRANCE
PIPES AND
PLUMBING
32. Where did the water go?
The water was transported in concrete
tunnels.
The water flowed in a tube on the top of the
aqueduct called a water channel.
The arches supported the water channel.
The water flowed through a
rectangular channel.
The channel was lined with
concrete.
The Romans invented concrete.
33. Roman buildings
PUBLIC BUILDINGS – THE BASILICA
Basilica were first built to house
audience facilities for government
officials.
When Christianity became the state
religion, this kind of building was
adapted to Christian worship.
A large nave is flanked by side aisles
behind a row of supporting piers.
An Apse draws attention in the
direction
of the altar.
34. Roman innovation
Transport system – THE ROADS
The need to move
legions and trade
goods in all weather
led to the
development of the
best roads in the
world (to the 19th
century).
