History of Architecture

Architecture is the art of organizing space. It is the science of planning elegant, beautiful, and comfortable buildings for human purposes. The history of architecture is a record of man’s effort to build beautifully. The erection of structure devoid of beauty, just for a utilitarian purpose, is merely a building, a trade, and not an art. Only when the idea of beauty is added, the structures take their place among works of architecture.

1. The Architecture of Prehistoric Times

Before recorded history, humans constructed earthen mounds, stone circles, and megaliths which have vanished with time.

2. Ancient Egypt (3050 BC to 900 BC)

In ancient Egypt, powerful rulers constructed monumental pyramids, temples, and shrines. Enormous structures such as the pyramid of Giza were feats of engineering capable of reaching great heights.

3. Classical (850 BC to 476 AD)

Buildings were constructed as per precise rules called the Classical Orders which defined column styles and entablature designs.

4. Byzantine (527 AD to 565 AD)

After the capital of the Roman Empire was moved to Byzantium in 330AD, Roman Architecture evolved into a graceful, classically inspired style that used bricks instead of stones, a domed roof, elaborate mosaics, and classical form.

5. Romanesque (800 to 1200 AD)

As Rome Spread across Europe Romanesque architecture with rounded arches, thick walls and heavy piers emerged.

Vernacular Architectures

Vernacular Architecture It is a term used to order techniques for developments that utilize locally accessible assets and conventions to address neighborhood needs. The vernacular design will in general develop over the long haul to mirror the natural, social, and recorded setting where it exists. It has regularly been excused as rough and crude, yet in addition, has advocates who feature its significance in the current plan. A structure planned by a novice with no preparation in the plan; the individual will have been guided by a progression of shows developed in his territory, giving little consideration to what exactly might be in vogue. The capacity of the structure would be the prevailing variable, tasteful contemplations, however, present to some little degree, being very insignificant. Nearby materials would be utilized, as usual, different materials being picked and imported especially. It tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural, and historical context. Primarily, climate and culture influence vernacular architecture.

Contemporary World Architecture

Modern architecture can be described by simplified and unornamented building styles of the late 19thand 20th centuries. In this style, the form of the building was determined by functional requirements and materials to be used; all unnecessary details were banished. Materials like glass, steel, iron, concrete were widely used in construction. It is an exhaustive study of worldwide design at the defining moment of another century. Focusing on current structure types and the powers that shape them, it offers a basic investigation of in excess of 600 structures by key designers around the world. Breaking down thirteen separate structure classifications, it follows the pluralist ways of design thinking from the seventies to the beginning of the new millennium.

Contemporary Nepalese Architecture

Modern Architecture started in 1950 with a few aspiring foreign architects who practiced in Nepal. Robert Weise was one of them who designed Hotel Annapurna at Durbar Marg in 1965. It started with the small stone temples of Kirats and the golden tired temples of the Lichchhavis. Traditional Architecture flourished in the Malla period. Neoclassical style was introduced in the Rana period (western style, borrowed from greek and roman style). It was the initial move towards advanced engineering. Simply after the Rana period, graduate draftsmen began to develop in Nepal. Gangadhar Bhatta Bed PrashadLohani, Bibhuti Man Singh, Biresh Shah, Chandra LekhaKayastha, JyotiSerchan, and so forth had a significant commitment. Specialists like Sankar Nath Rimal, Gauri Nath Rimal came later on unfamiliar planners like Carl Purscha, Robert Waise, GotzHagmuller additionally made section to Nepal.

Traditional Architecture of Nepal

The earliest epigraphic records of Nepal are the Lumbini pillar inscriptions by Emperor Ashoka back to 257 BC. The real recorded history of Nepalese architecture starts in kirantsDynastry (500 to 900 AD). The Changu Narayan Temple in the fringes of Kathmandu is cried as one of the heritage sites by UNESCO. Its architecture illustrates artistic achievement and skills. Another ancient religious complex of the Lichhavi Period is Swayambhunath. It is a Stupa consisting of a dome at the base, above which is a cubical structure painted with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions.

The Architecture of Kathmandu Valley

The initial buildings in Kathmandu valley developed from what is called “Pakwocha”, simple temporary huts built up of mud, sun-dried brick, and wood structures and used for guarding crops, gathering of farmers at the field for eating, and even storehouse for firewood. The architecture of the Pakwocha is believed to be the beginning from which the traditional Newari dwelling later transformed. The traditional residential buildings in Kathmandu valley are three to four-storied high, 1.8 to 2.4m tall story connected by a narrow and steep wooden staircase.