A comparison among English
Spanish and Italian Architecture
English Architecture in a nutshell
Prehistoric architecture
The earliest known examples
of architecture in England are
the megalithic tombs of the
Neolithic.
The
Neolithic
henges of Avebury and
Stonehenge are two of the
largest and most famous
megalithic monuments in the
world.
Although
their
purpose is unknown with any
certainty, suggestions include
ceremonial
use
and
interpreting the cosmos.
Roman architecture
The Roman period brought the
construction of the first large-scale
buildings in Britain, but very little
survives above ground besides
fortifications.
These
include
sections of Hadrian's Wall. In most
cases, only foundations, floors and
the bases of walls attest to the
structure of former buildings. The
more substantial buildings of the
Roman period adhered closely to
the style of Roman structures
elsewhere, although traditional
Iron
Age
building
methods
remained in general use for
humbler dwellings, especially in
rural areas
Norman architecture
After 1066, The Normans
destroyed a large proportion of
England's churches and built
Romanesque replacements, a
process which encompassed all of
England's cathedrals. Most of the
latter were later partially or
wholly rebuilt in Gothic style, and
although many still preserve
substantial Romanesque portions,
only Durham Cathedral remains a
predominantly
Romanesque
structure (along with St Alban's
and Southwell, abbey churches in
the medieval period)
Gothic architecture
The Gothic architectural tradition
originated in France in the mid-12th
century and spread rapidly to
England, where it remained the
prevailing style for well over 300
years. Certain features were
distinctive
to
English
Gothic
churches, particularly cathedrals or
abbeys such as Bath Abbey,
throughout their development. They
tended to be longer than continental
equivalents but also lower and
narrower, a fact which facilitated the
construction of grand, structurally
ambitious towers over the crossing,
an almost ubiquitous feature of
English cathedrals but virtually
unknown elsewhere
Italian Architecture in a nutshell
Ancient Greece and the Etruscans
Etruscan buildings were made
from brick and wood. The
Etruscans strongly influenced
Roman architecture, as they too
used to build temples, fora, public
streets and acqueducts. The
heavy pillars and porches created
by the Etruscans, and their city
gates were also a significant
influence on Roman architecture.
A relevant example is the remains
of Agrigento, Sicily, which are
currently UNESCO World Heritage
Sites.
Tempio di Giunone 
Ancient Rome
The Romans were inspired by
Etruscans who supplied them
with a wealth of knowledge
essential
for
future
architectural solutions, such as
hydraulics
and
in
the
construction of arches. The
use of vaults and arches
together with a sound
knowledge
of
building
materials,
for
example,
enabled them to achieve
unprecedented successes in
the construction of imposing
structures for public use
Gothic Architecture
The Gothic architecture appeared in
Italy in the 12th century. Italian
Gothic always maintained peculiar
characteristic which differentiated its
evolution from that in France where
it had originated and in other
European countries. In particular, the
architectural innovative solutions
and technical innovations of the
French Gothic cathedrals never
appeared: Italian architects preferred
to keep the construction tradition
established in the previous countries.
Aesthetically, in Italy the vertical
development was rarely important.
The most famous example is the
Milan Cathedral dating back to the
late Gothic period
English Housing
The main types of houses in England are:
•Detached
•Semi-detached (two houses joined together)
•Terrace (several houses joined together)
•Flats (apartments)
•A bungalow is a house which is only on one floor, no stairs. It
may be joined to another bungalow or might stand alone. The
bungalow pictured below is made from white wooden planks.
It is called a weatherboarded bungalow
•Oast house: Oast Houses were not originally a building
where people lived. They were part of farm buildings and
were where hops (a plant from which beer is made) were
layed out and dried
Detached House
This is a house not joined to another house
Semi-detached House
In this case two houses are joined together
Terrace House
Several houses are joined together
Flats
Block of apartments
Bungalow
It is only on one floor, no stairs. It may be joined to
another bungalow or might stand alone. The bungalow
pictured above is made from white wooden planks
Oast House
They were not originally a building where people lived. They
were part of farm buildings and were where hops (a plant
from which beer is made) were layed out and dried
Survey
• Almost half of London's households are flats,
maisonettes or apartments.
• The report undertaken by the Centre for Economics &
Business Research for Bradford & Bingley compares the
UK property market to Germany, France, Italy and
Spain. It reveals British living space per home is 12
percent smaller than the average Spanish home, 14
percent smaller than in Germany and 16 percent
smaller than in France.
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/interactive/2
011/sep/10/inside-home-architecture
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiCtbuVYon0 (NZ)
Italian Housing
Villas
The villa is a home made for
country life or for a retreat from
life in the city. These houses were
traditionally built for the wealthy
and members of the upper class.
Contemporary villas, however, no
longer adhere to this rule. Villas
were
first
influenced
by
traditional Spanish architecture:
the roofs are usually flat or
gabled,
there
are
hood
ornaments and the windows are
tall and arched. The property
surrounding the villa usually has a
garden and grass.
Chalet
Chalet style is a popular type of
house in Italy's mountainous
regions. These houses are made
of wood with exposed beams on
the outside and the houses are
surrounded
by
artistically
designed rails. In the interior, you
can expect to find a high ceiling
and a spacious open floor. A
chalet is built to weather the cold
and trap heat. While typically
used for winter snow vacations,
chalets are also used for urban
getaways and residential homes
Mediterranean Style
Mediterranean style housing
has transcended its Italian
roots to become popular
worldwide.
Stucco
walls,
arches and enclosed patios are
the
most
common
characteristics. The roofs are
typically made of red tile and
clay and are most known for
absorbing heat, reducing the
temperature
inside.
Mediterranean style housing is
popular
in
warmer
environments
because
it
naturally cuts electricity costs