Roman construction techniques

During the Roman Empire, new construction techniques were invented resulting in faster and cheaper construction. The method of this technique is to combine concrete with brick or stones which can be identified in 3 types of construction techniques: opus incertum, opus reticaltum, and opus testaceum - chronological order

In opus incertum, regular and uncut stones were placed randomly in a core of concrete material, opus caementicium. Later, the surface was simply flatter because more regular shape stones were selected and less amount of concrete was used.

Temple of Jupiter in Terracina Anxur

Second technique is called opus reticulatum where rocks were cut in diamond shape and placed around the core of the concrete. The pattern of this technique is neater than the opus incertum where rocks line in a diagonal pattern, looking like a net, which rock shapes were placed roughly 45 degree flatting on the surface.

Insula of the Charioteers

Lastly, Opus testaceum, also known as opus latericium, was invented in the first century BCE where it used bricks as the main construction. Opus testaceum was widely used in many large structure and was used throughout the imperial period. Using this technique, the surface is flat by the use of square brick shapes on the exterior where bricks were cut in diamond shape at the back.

Appian Way

Some example of techniques influenced in modern society

- opus incertum inspired

According to Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier was a Swiss - French architect which he was known for being one of the modern architects. He was a master in studying modern design with a better living conditions for the residents.

Towards a New Architecture, by Le Corbusier

First segment under Three Reminders to Architects

First Reminder : Mass

Le Corbusier had mentioned about shapes and forms in this topic. Primary forms had been agreed as great beautiful forms which are cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders, and pyramids. These forms had been involved with architecture for so many years, for example, the pyramids in Egypt. Egyptian, Greek, and Roman architecture are the architecture those primary forms while Gothic architecture used only an expression of simple forms and more on complex geometry of the second order.

Examples of different forms in different architectural approaches

CUBE

Zollverein School of Management and Design, Germany

The building is simply just a cube but what interests people is those tons of small square windows around the building. Those windows help with lighting as well as visual interest.

CONE

Midrand Water Tower, South Africa

It was designed as urban sculpture with a thought of functional and yet aesthetic structure. Capable of holding 6.5 megalitres, Southern hemisphere now have the largest water tower located in Midrand town, South Africa. The cone has 4 meters length in diameter stem with another 10 meters cube concrete base.

SPHERE

Dome of the Rock, Israel

It is the oldest existing Islamic building in the world located in Jerusalem, Israel. It is also known as the third sacred place for Muslims. The dome, or hemisphere, was widely used in Middle East to represent holy structures and as a place for worshipping and religious interactions.

CYLINDER

Faulx Les Tombes Castle, Belgium

The structure was built in 1872 by Hendrik Beyaert in a Gothic style. Big towers' shape is influenced by the primary form of cylindrical shape with an upside down cone on top of them.

PYRAMID

The pyramids of Menkaure, Khafre and Khufu, Egypt

The pyramidal shape was first invented by the Egyptians, as far from research, and mainly was constructed using stones. The shape consists of a square base with four subsided of triangle form, however, the steep of pyramids are vary.

Greek architecture and the three order

Greek architecture was made up with three different orders which also known as their columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Doric was believed to be the first order among these three, however, there is no evidence proving this belief yet..

Doric

Doric columns are the basic columns that were widely used in Greek architecture and also known for being used by the spartans. According to the research, Doric style was originated in wood which then be replaced by stones. Consisting with smooth, round capitals, and plain design make Doric columns are much more simpler comparing to the other two. As well as the style reflected the more martial nature of the Dorian invaders.

Doric order

Example of Doric columns in building

The Parthenon, Athenian Acropolis, Greece

The Parthenon is the most famous surviving building with the Doric order. It was built in the 5th century BCE to honor the Greek goddess Athena.

Ionic

Ionic column style looks more slender than Doric because the shafts are taller and the base are bulged out which made the column looks more straight. Comparing with Doric, Ionic column is more decorative with scrolls added to its capital. Also flutes, line carved on the column"s surface, were added to this style.

Ionic order

Example of Ionic columns in building

The temple of Athena Nike, Athens, Greece

It was he earliest fully ionic temple on the Acropolis where people used to worship the goddess in hope of the long war against the Spartans and their allies.

Corinthian

This style of column has highly ornate and is the most decorative and elegant fully with details, flowers and leaves, at its capital below the scroll. The column is also bulged out at its base making the column looks slender.

Corinthian order

Example of Corinthian columns in building

The Negaunee National Bank, Negaunee, Michigan

The state bank was constructed in 1912 after the old bank was destroyed by fire in the same year. The building hosted the Negaunee State Bank until the bank failed during the Great depression in 1933

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