BACK TO BASIC, THE PRIMITIVE HUT FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING, AKTU LUCKNOW M.ARCH 2023-24 SACHIN SAGAR MED 103 TRADITIONAL WISDOM & SUSTAINABILITY CONCEPT Essay on Architecture • Chapter I: General Principles of Architecture – Article I: The Column – Article II: The Entablature – Article III: The Pediment – Article IV: The Different Stories of a Building – Article V: Windows and Doors • Chapter II: The Different Architectural Orders – Article I: What All Orders Have in Common – Article II: The Doric Order – Article III: The Ionic Order – Article IV: The Corinthian Order – Article V: The Different Kinds of Composite – Article VI: How to Enrich the Various Orders – Article VII: On Buildings without any Orders • Chapter III: Observations on the Art of Building – Article I: On the Solidity of Buildings – Article II: On Convenience – Article III: On How to Observe Bienseance in Buildings • • • Chapter IV: On the Style in Which to Build Churches Chapter V: On the Embellishment of Towns – Article I: On Entries of Towns – Article II: On the Layout of Streets – Article III: On the Decoration of Buildings Chapter VI: On the Embellishment of Gardens Chapter I: General Principles of Architecture • Founded on simple nature. indicates its rules. Nature – Example: The Primitive Hut • Tells story of primitive man seeking shelter and building out of necessity. • What this man built became the basis for all architecture • The Hut is made of the following architectural elements: – The column – The entablature – The pediment General Principles of Architecture The Primitive Hut •Architecture nature. was founded on simple •Laugier wanted a "more rigorous" understanding of architecture and ornament: look for precedents for classical architecture at the absolute roots of history. •He searched for absolute beauty, which in his primitive hut came from nature. •Was rooted in functional or structural basis. (This theory was the basis of the socalled Rationalist movement.) •Little basis in archeology or fact, and tangential basis in historical text The Primitive Hut • Like Vitruvius, Laugier places the origins of architectural forms in nature: the first dwelling was built in the forest, with branches and trees. •. This differs from the previous theories of Vitruvius in one important aspect: the hut is an abstract concept as much as it is a material construction • The Primitive Hut represents the first architectural idea. • Shows beginnings of an understanding of column, entablature, and pediments. Future architecture is based on these principles. The Column •Columns must: –Be strictly perpendicular to the ground –Be free-standing, to be expressed in a natural way –Be round, because nature makes nothing square –Be tapered from bottom to top in imitation of plants in nature –Rest directly on the floor •The faults: •“Being engaged in the wall” is a fault because it detracts from the overall beauty and aesthetic nature of columns. •The use of pilasters should strictly be frowned upon especially since in nearly every case columns could be used instead. •Setting columns upon pedestals is “like adding a second set of legs beneath the first pair.” The Entablature •The Entablature must: •Always rest on its columns like a lintel •In its whole length it must not have any corner or projection •The Faults: •Instead of a beam-like structure it becomes an arch •Against nature because: –require massive piers and imposts –They become pilasters –Force columns to give lateral support; columns are meant to give vertical support only. •Not straight, but broken with angles and projections •Why? “Never put anything into a building for which one cannot give a sound reason.” Nature is so, buildings should also be. The Pediment •The Pediment must: –represent the gable of the roof –never be anywhere except across the width of a building. –be above the entablature •The faults: –To erect the pediment on the long side of a building. –To make non-triangular pediments •Should not be curved, broken nor scrolled –To pile pediments on top of each other Chapter II: The Different Architectural Orders • The Doric Order (in columns): – Has the most beautiful base, but is difficult to use: • Doric columns can never be coupled successfully • Interior angles become difficult because of the bases and capitals must penetrate each other • The Ionic Order: – Almost faultless, lighter and more delicate than the Doric • The column suffers because nature dictates that the heaviest part must always be at the bottom, but the Ionic column is heavy at top • The base is ill-formed and could be eliminated – Offends against the true principles of nature • The Corinthian Order: – The greatest, most majestic order • Beautiful, harmonious composition – Architects should stop using anything by the acanthus leaf which “has by nature the contour and curves which suit the leaves of the Corinthian capital.” Observations on the Art of Building (Laugier’s Commodity, Firmness and Delight) • • Article I: On the Solidity of Buildings – Building must be solid for long life, much like the ancients di – Solidity depends on two things: Choice of material and its efficient use Article II: On Convenience – The situation (site) must be considered to include views and ventilation – The planning (exterior and interior) must be suitable, comfortable, have good circulation, and always include a courtyard – The internal communications (servants halls, stairways, etc) must be located for quick access Observations on the Art of Building (Laugier’s Commodity, Firmness and Delight) • Article III: On How to Observe Bienseance in Buildings – A building must be neither more nor less magnificent than is appropriate to its purpose • “Beauty of buildings depends on three things: accuracy of proportions, elegance of forms, and choice and distribution of ornaments.” ARTHUR B GALLION • • • • In “The urban pattern “ he said FROM THE CAVE TO THE VILLAGE Contrary to popular belief, urbanism did not begin when people left the cave. It probably started in the caves themselves, where the people gathered for protection against the elements or for defense against rival tribes. Lewis Mumford states: 1. Early Rituals in Caves - Collective magical ceremonies in caves predate permanent villages. - These rituals have ancient origins. 2. Cave-Based Communities - Some communities lived in caves and hollowed-out rock walls. - These communities were widespread and survived over time. 3. Persistence of Cave Communities - Remarkably, some cave-based communities still exist today. 4. City Origins - The concept of a city, both in form and function, has roots in these ancient assemblages. - These communities contributed to the early development of urban life. 5. Conclusion - Studying cave-based communities provides insights into the evolution of human societies. - These practices are a valuable historical lens for understanding early civilizations.
