Architecture design is a scientific and artistic concept of building structures and understanding various building materials and forms. Generally the architect works in coordination with the internal and external environment of the structure, but when designs go against human tastes and cultural preferences the result is disastrous. An example of this are the drab and indistinguishable cities lined with uniform box structures – such as identical houses, office complexes and high rises.
Design in architectural language means the sum total of plan of building, the elevation, section, figure, proportion, ground, scale, ratio to external unit measure and grids. Even though we regard architecture as an art form, an indispensable principal in architectural design is a keen mathematical and analytical understanding of forms. Without mathematical hypothesis to guide us, we would have skewed designs and patterns.
Beginning with Romanesque architecture, design was defined in strong, simple, massive forms graduating into the ribs and piers of the 11th century and on to the perfect form of 13th-century Gothic architecture. With each century the concepts and designs changed, ranging from Baroque (17th century), Georgian (18th century), Classical and Gothic revival (19th century) to expressions of technology and modernistic art (20th century), giving credence to Victor Hugo’s prophecy of doom that ‘the word will kill stone’.
The reason for these strong words was that before the popularity of visual media it was art and architecture that gave expression to our creative sensibilities. The history of a city or country could be gleamed from the structures and buildings. With World War II the ground rules were being regulated by omnipresent media, mobility and economic wealth, making us witness architecture designs ranging from burlesque to grandiose to just plain simple. The environmental degradation of natural resources turned our focus to environmentally-sensitive or sustainable designs even as architects turned towards eco-friendly material. Architecture designs became case-sensitive – appealing to nature as a metaphor for cities, buildings or residential complexes.
By: Kristy Annely
Queen Anne style homes are often easy to spot, but hard to define. It’s partially that elusivity combined with distinctness that makes the style so attractive to buyers and preservationists across the nation. Queen Anne homes are often referred to as the most ornate buildings of the Victorian era, and combine a variety of aesthetics and building methods from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
One of the reasons Queen Anne architecture looks so different from other styles is that it was generally only used on houses. While other styles like Gothic Revival and Federal were being adapted for commercial buildings, churches, and public institutions, Queen Anne architecture was specifically made for upscale houses and mansions, using the latest materials and methods of the machine age. Another developmental difference between Queen Anne and other styles is that it didn’t tend to draw on past eras, but instead produced a new building school that helped set the stage for 20th century homes.
The defining characteristics of the Queen Anne style are many and not always consistent, but there are a few key elements. In general, Queen Anne homes use high-pitched, irregular roofs, spindles and lookouts, decorative structure elements such as columns, and covered balconies. Many Queen Anne homes also employ stained glass, turrets, half timbering in the gables similar to the Tudor style, and patterned masonry. Different sub-styles of the Queen Anne movement include Spindled, Free Classic, Half-Timbered, and Patterned Masonry.
While generally very attractive, Queen Anne homes are often derided as being excessive, or “ginger-bread” like. It’s true that Queen Anne architecture was the product of a rapidly changing era, and many of the homes included features never seen before, so the criticism holds some weight.
The name for the Queen Anne style is often attributed to an 1852 novel by William Makepeace Thackeray entitled “The History of Henry Esmond, Esq., A Colonel in the Service of Her Majesty Queen Anne,” which was popular for decades in the English speaking world. By contrast, stylish and modern furnishings from the historical reign of England’s Queen Anne, came to be classified in a style known as “William and Mary.”
By: Gary Ashton
If you’re a big architecture fan, you’re probably always on the lookout for incredible buildings that, for many of them, it’s a real task to work out just how construction workers managed to put them up. The UK has some of the most astounding examples of architecture dotted all across the country, with Manchester being a fine example of just what British architects can do.
From Victorian structures straight through to the ultra modern, Manchester has many different buildings set to wow visitors, as well as to provide ample opportunities for taking some fantastic holiday snaps – so which buildings are most worth visiting?
A good starting point is always the middle of town – and what better place to begin your exploration of Manchester architecture than by visiting Manchester Town Hall? This stunning building is an excellent example of the Gothic revival that occurred during Victorian times and you’ll discover that the interior is just as imposing as the exterior. With murals by the esteemed artist Ford Madox Brown staring down at you inside the building, it’s not hard to immediately glean the Gothic sentiment the building has – or snap a few pictures of some awe-inspiring architecture. Complete with its own clock tower, Manchester Town Hall is well worth a visit and is a Grade I listed building, a title it has held for nearly 60 years.
While you’re looking at Grade I listed buildings, a trip to medieval church Manchester Cathedral is another excellent opportunity to take in some excellent examples of artistic building work. Built over a period of 600 years, it’s fascinating to observe the discrepancies in style of the building, though its overall style is that of Perpendicular Gothic, where a building’s height is as important as any other aspect.
The height of buildings in Manchester is one thing you’re bound to notice about them, because the city is packed with many skyscrapers. Many were constructed during the skyscraper boom of the 60s and 70s, though a revival in this interest has just begun recently. Notable new skyscrapers include Beetham Tower and the upcoming Piccadilly tower, a massive 58 storey skyscraper that will sit alongside Manchester’s Piccadilly Station.
There are vast amounts of buildings of architectural interest in Manchester – including many Manchester hotels – so, if you’re a big building fan, the capital of the north makes for an excellent opportunity to take some of this in.
By: Adam Singleton