Classicisms of Color: Transatlantic Exchanges in African and American Traditional Architecture

The beautiful city of Charleston, South Carolina, was built by enslaved Africans, and the painful historical connections between classical architecture and slavery have encouraged some critics to see classicism as racist. Contemporary black artist Jonathan Green, however, proposed a new way of viewing Charleston’s buildings: as a testament to black creativity and resilience that fused African architectural traditions, such as colonnaded porches and metalwork, with European ones. Following Green, this essay traces a number of trans-Atlantic architectural connections forged during the age of empires. Many different African nations, from Ethiopia to Ghana, developed great classical architectures that traveled to Europe and America through the migration of people or the publication of books. African-American designs also returned to Africa, sometimes with European accents, and found compatibility with indigenous traditions. As Green asserted, a beautiful truth emerges from this study: traditional architecture is bigger than racism. It is African, American, and human.

Three Points of View for the Drawing Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci

This contribution to the literature presents an in-depth analysis of the scene drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the preparatory drawing, Adoration of the Magi, dated 1481, that is now housed at the Département des Arts Graphiques du Musée du Louvre in Paris, France. This analysis focuses on the architectural elements and highlights how the drawing discloses three distinct vanishing points/centers of vision: one for the classical architecture to the left of the scene, one for the Nativity hut, and one for the structure with stairs. If we consider the structures as belonging to the same 2D projected space, at least two must be depicted out of square; conversely, if we consider them as straight, standard structures, they cannot belong to the same 2D projected space. Given this assumption, we propose, on the one hand, some variations of the scene where the structures are straightened and projected according to only one of the viewpoints at a time; on the other hand, a set of variants of the scene are presented, considering the out-of-square structures. The scenes are generated by applying inverse perspective projections. These results prompt a discussion on possible reasons why Leonardo made these conscious or unconscious “formal errors”.

SHAPE GRAMMAR LIBRARIES OF EUROPEAN CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS FOR HISTORIC BIM

This paper proposes a design for libraries of European Classical architectural elements based on shape grammars. This design is based on a workflow which develops library objects from 3D CAD primitives using architectural rules to construct parametric representations of architectural elements. In the case of Classical architecture, the design and detail for the parametric objects are based on manuscripts ranging from Vitruvius to Palladio to the architectural pattern books of the eighteenth century. The generation of 3D objects for virtual reconstruction necessitates the application of computer algorithms and rules introduced by the user to generate objects, buildings and spaces from a grammar and vocabulary of shapes. Both the use of graphicly constructed and coded parametric libraries in formal and open-source platforms will be considered here.

Applications of 3D Image Using Internet of Things in the Exhibition of Classical Architecture Art Style

Classical architecture is an architectural, cultural heritage with specific historical value. It is also a city with historical and cultural heritage and even a testimony of the profound historical culture of a country. Therefore, urbanization is unavoidable, and it directly influences historical buildings. This study aims to combine the three-dimensional image techniques and the Internet of Things (IoT) technology to research the development of classical architectural artistic style. This article presents the acquisition equipment, methods, precautions, and data processing of real-life 3D image data of the classical architectural heritage. We realized the online publishing of real-world 3D services of classical architectural heritage through the real-world 3D display system developed through the Internet of Things and mobile terminals. The model was verified through simulation tests. The combination of image processing techniques and analysis methods such as simulated annealing improved the accuracy of the prediction model. The proposed model can provide data support for policy formulation, technical intervention, and targeted field investigation on architectural heritage by screening research objects.

The Aesthetics of ‘Speaking Objects’ in Aniki-Bóbó’s Anthropo-cosmo-morphic Material

The surface of the things which make up the pro-filmic constitutes the shell/ signifier chosen to shape the soul of the filmic world or its anthropo-cosmo-morphic image rendered by the techniques of film language. The result is the creation of a complex and multi-layered “possible world”, consisting of discursive parts that speak through the dramaturgy and aesthetics of the film, a socio-semantics which transfigures the matter of bodies and objects through the mechanisms of filmic re-signification. Amongst these, the intellectual montage as well as all the graphic and audio signs that appear on the scene can be identified. These signs stand out because of their metaphorical-discursive capacity, as will be analysed in the film Aniki-Bóbó (1942) by Manoel de Oliveira: the written words that serve to give voice to inanimate matter (Carlitos’ bag); the modelled forms which reproduce material allegories or doubles of the human body (the doll); the fragile materials that refer to the children’s fragility itself; the steel and iron of mechanised infrastructures showing the modernisation of the country; the classical architecture, the nature of the place and the free, open-air spaces of games, as opposed to closed spaces that recall underdeveloped pedagogical institutions; and among the latter, the liminal place par excellence, symbolised by the ‘Shop of Temptations’. In the filmic whole, bodies, places and objects are thus configured as interconnected parts of a single compact world, in which the cosmos is reflected in the anthropo, and the anthropo in the cosmos, in order to transfigure, in a metaphorical key, the immaterial culture referring to the changes in national identity. This allegorical fable of Portuguese pedagogical culture ultimately proposes the possibility of a social (and political) change, projected into a ‘just’ future without dictatorship (victory of good over evil).

Standards of Classical Architecture Criticism: Between Mathematics and Philosophy

Criticism is an intellectual process that primarily searches for beauty aspects in the works of art, including architecture. This article explores the mathematical and philosophical principles of classical architectural criticism. It is hypothesized that design criteria during the Classic period were clear and specific. The research presents theories of classical art that focus on the process of beauty interpretation. It also assesses the mathematical evaluation of architectural art and beauty through “The Golden Ratio” and “The “Fibonacci Sequence.” Classical philosophy, and its perception of beauty, is discussed as an essential basis in any artistic critical activity. The research asserts that the science of aesthetics is both objective and subjective, which explains the difference in aesthetic evaluation across eras. Objectivity stems from conditions of proportionality that must be met for an architectural art to be aesthetically judged as beautiful. Subjectivity lies in the time and place of the architectural work, whereby tendencies, tastes, and needs related to the human and geographical environment can affect the standards of beauty. This makes the evaluation of beauty in classical architecture a delicate and complex process in which many aspects must be considered to have an objective, fair, and correct judgment.

A STUDY OF ARCHITECTURE IN GUJARAT FROM PAST TO PRESENT

This research aims to focus upon the architecture of Gujarat from past till present times, here the researcher will give the combined information regarding traditional architectural forms of constructing the buildings, palaces, markets, schools and other important places where local people lived in ancient era. The phases of development from past to present times, in which creativity, imagination and culture mattered equally as climate and materials used. Different monuments such as Rani Ki Vav, Sun temple, Jhulta Minarets, Sidi Saiyyed mosque and others are discussed from past, while Sabarmati Riverfront, Statue of Unity, modern materials and homes are elaborated by the researcher. In the 20th century the classical architecture was replaced by modern and contemporary architecture. One while talking about the modern architecture of Ahmedabad the capital of Gujarat can never do without mentioning the works of Ar. B.V. Doshi the father of modern architecture.

Architecture and philosophy of antiquity: The formation of classical architecture

The classical architecture is being constantly developed in time, and, consequently, is relevant nowadays. The paper deals with the development of classical architectural in antiquity up to the present time. This is necessary for further study of modern architecture. The aim of this work is to identify the most stable formation of the classical antique architecture. Scientific novelty lies in the systematic approach to the studying the evolution of ancient architectural theory, taking into account a variety of external factors and based on ancient philosophy. The main level of scientific knowledge is a theoretical (historical) method, which involves a study of graphic and textual information covering the era as well as a systematic analysis of the material for the identification of basic principles of the antique architecture. It is shown that the main principles of the antique architecture are being developed in a close connection with philosophy, and determine the further development of the classical direction in architecture.

The Ruins of Baalbek

First published in the 1750s, The Ruins of Palmyra and The Ruins of Baalbek are a remarkable record of an expedition to the Levant by three antiquarians - Robert Wood, John Bouverie and James Dawkins - along with a draftsman, Giovanni Battista Borra. With over 100 engravings of the classical architecture of the two ancient cities of Palmyra and Baalbek, the volumes represent the earliest-known examples of monographs on archaeological sites. They were unique in providing systematic discussion of the sites’ physical and human geography alongside two kinds of pictorial evidence: views of the ancient sites in their then-present state and detailed plans, with measurements, of architectural features. This new approach was immediately copied by antiquarians in the later 18th century and also had great influence upon Neoclassical architecture in Britain, Europe and North America. This new edition features reproductions of all the engravings from the original publications and includes a new introduction by noted scholar, Benjamin Anderson (Cornell University, USA).

THE PRACTICE OF USING THE GOLDEN SECTION IN ARCHITECTURE IN THE CITY OF RYAZAN

Introduction: At present, the preservation of unique architectural ensembles is one of the most urgent problems of sustainable development in historical settlements. In the context of transforming the settlement’s environment while minimizing the discordant impact of new construction, it is important to study the development sites that will be used as the basis for modern planning. Method: The article applies the method of geometric analysis to the historical buildings of the city of Ryazan, which exhibit classical architecture traits and were designed by the 19th- and 20th-century architects, in order to assess their compliance with the rules of classical composition, specifically the use of golden section proportions. We also talk about the golden section in general, reviewing its history and the rules of its application in architecture. Results: We emphasize the inseparable link between architecture and geometry. Our study proves that the golden section principles were used by architects during different historical periods. In the context of the invariably high interest towards the creative heritage of architects from the 19th and 20th centuries and the need to build upon their historical experience, it is highly relevant to approach the modern architectural practice from the standpoint of using the canon of Neoclassical architecture.