HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE – IV

LECTURE 3

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

Lecture Contents :

Introduction to Roman architecture

Roman orders Debadutta Parida
Monumental architecture – Pantheon, Colosseum, Thermae of Caracalla, Pont du Gard in Nimes, Basilica of Trajan Asst. Professor
Domestic architecture – house, villa and apartments BMS SA
Civic spaces – Roman Forum, Triumphal arches, Column of Trajan
• Simplicity of long coast line – contrast to Greece SOCIO-CULTURAL INFLUENCES

• Mountainous region
• Early settlers were Etruscans(750 to 100 B.C.) – trade links with Greeks
• Romans depended upon extension of power, unlike Greeks
• No strong religious feelings – worship was entirely a matter of state policy
• Rome – geographically advantageous position in the Mediterranean
• More attention to public buildings and spaces
• Built empire – conquered many parts of the world
• Road construction – military importance
CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHY • Love for luxury – Thermae, contests etc. in Amphitheaters

• North Italy – Temperate region • Rome started to grow in importance after 509 B.C.
• Central Italy – Sunny • Gradual decline – social chaos and crisis
• South Italy – Tropical • Christianity as a state religion – shift of capital from Rome to Byzantium by
Diversity of architectural features – local modifications Constantine – fall of Rome in 5th century A.D.

Ample iron ore in Etruria – economic exchange

Ample good stone and timber, terracotta and brick
Also used lava from volcanic eruptions, pozzolana – Concrete
Uniformity in style – pronounced and assertive
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

• Etruscans imitated the Greek orders – concept of atriums – no mortar

• Construction of city walls and sewers – draining of marshes
• First construction of a true or radiating arch
• Invented a new order – Tuscan

• Experiments with various construction methods

• Combined use of column, beam and arch – keynote of Roman style
• Arch and Vaults
• Frequently used orders – added a fifth order – Composite Order
• Concrete –Lime Plaster
ARCHES AND VAULTS
CROSS VAULTS
Order Height of Height of Entablature(Greek) Entablature(
column(Greek) column(Roman) Roman)
DORIC 7D 8D 2D 2D
IONIC 9D 9D 2D 2.25 D
CORINTHIAN 10 D 10 D 2.25 D 2.50 D

COMPOSITE - 10 D - 2.50 D
TUSCAN - 7D - 1 1/3 D
ROMAN ORDERS
DORIC
• Taken from Theatre of Marcellus at Rome
• Inspired by Greek Doric
• Base – 16 to 20 flutes
• Intercolumnation – 2 ¾ D
• Shaft ends in a circular moulding – Astragal – for ornamentation
• A1rchitrave – does not project beyond the column
• Triglyphs are not rounded like the Greek Doric
• Older of the Orders but rarely used
ROMAN ORDERS
IONIC
• Taken from the Temple of Fortuna Virilis at Rome
• Intercolumnation is 3 D
• Distinguished by volute capital – ornamentation
• Spiral scrolls are on all four sides of the capital – for symmetrical
treatment
• Frieze – flat with continuous band of sculptures
• Cornice – 7/8 D – cymatium and corona
• Overload of heavy and bold ornament
• Semi circular mouldings are not so refined
ROMAN ORDERS
CORINTHIAN

• Taken from the Temple of Castor

• Intercolumnation – 2 2/3 D
• Capital is the most distinguished feature –
enriched with floral design and central ornament
called rosette
• Entablature – reflects richness of treatment –
over ornamentation
• Favourite order of the Romans – used
extensively in the temples, forums, baths and
basilicas
ROMAN ORDERS
TUSCAN

• Simplified form of Greek Doric

• Circular shaft is unfluted – square abacus
• No ornamentation
• Simple mouldings – straight lines and circular arcs
• Lacks refinement
ROMAN ORDERS
COMPOSITE

• Composed of Ionic and Corinthian orders

• Used mostly in Triumphal arches
• Combination of volutes of Ionic capital and acanthus
leaves of Corinthian capital
• Rich ornamentation in the frieze
ROMAN FORUM

Similar to the Greek Agora

Situated in the intersection of two main streets – law courts and
public buildings were placed around it
Open air assembly – market place – political discussions
Planned space
Clearly indicates high civic life – well laid out planning
Initially started with irregular shape – later on became formal and
systematic.
ROMAN FORUM

Oldest and most important in the city

Valley between Rome’s famous hills
Constant change – originally all-purpose – later on only the
chief public buildings functioned
TRIUMPHAL ARCHES

• To commemorate victorious campaigns

• Either one or three openings
• Piers were ornamented with Corinthian or Composite pilasters or slightly
detached columns

• Arch of Titus – single entry

• Commemorates capture of Jerusalem
• Some of the earliest examples of use of fully developed Corinthian column
 Market
COLUMN OF TRAJAN Basilica Ulpia

Column of Trajan

Temple of Trajan

• Triumphal columns built after Trajan’s victory in the Dacian wars

• Constructed under the supervision of the architect Apollodorus of Damascus
• 30 metres (98 feet) in height, 35 metres (115 feet) including its large pedestal, shaft is
made from a series of 20 colossal Carrara marble, diameter of 3.7 metres
• Inside the shaft, a spiral staircase of 185 steps provides access to a viewing platform
at the top
ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE

Built up in level site

Seats were supported on radiating walls and concrete vaulting
Super imposed Doric and Ionic Orders

Unknown to the Greeks – good components of character and lifestyle of Romans

Mortal combats – gladiatorial, human sacrifices
Elliptical usually – rising tiers of seats – compound of two theaters – central arena
Also used for naval exhibitions – water pipes for flooding some arenas
COLOSSEUM

Also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre

Elliptical plan – 80 arcaded openings on each storey
Entrance – ground floor
Arena – oval shaped – Podium for senators, officers of state etc.
Amphitheatre – for 50000 spectators
Seats in four main divisions –
Two lower divisions – Equestrian ranks and Roman citizens
Top two tiers – for slaves and general public
Skilful combination of materials
Solid foundations – Lava
Supporting walls – Tufa and brick
Vaults – Pumice stones
Façade – Travertine blocks without mortar but held by metal clamps
Columns, seats and ornamentation - marble
Supporting mass is one-sixth of area of the building
Downward sloping concrete vaults – difficult to destroy

Architectural Features
i. Massive piers supporting the three tiers
ii. Decorative use of Orders – superimposition
iii. Grand horizontal sweeping lines of the entablature
iv. Doric columns – 9.5 D high and Corinthian columns – 8.5 D high

Massive role of concrete as the main structural element

Complex appearance – columns with piers, columns on columns, arches above
arches etc.
Constant repetition in external design of the facade
THERMAE OF CARACALLA, ROME

Thermos – Hot
Palatial public baths of Imperial Rome
Derived from Greek Gymnasia
Show love of the Romans towards customs of pleasure
Modern Club – luxurious bathing, news and gossip – social life
Usually charged entry – later on became free to increase popularity

Three main parts –

Main building – symmetry – central hall – tepidarium, calidarium,
frigidarium, palaestra(for physical exercise), attendant rooms etc.
Large Open Space – park like enclosure, landscape features – mini
stadium
Outer ring of apartments – lecture rooms for philosophers, poets - slaves
Accomodation for 1600 people
Stood on a platform, and underneath were store chambers
Opposite side – Vaulted Reservoir – water supplied by Marcian aqueduct
Brightly coloured mosaics – flooring
Calidarium had a dome similar to Pantheon
PANTHEON

• Belongs to two different periods

• Preceded by a temple in 25 B.C, by Agrippa, son-in-law of Augustus – Etruscan type
• Rotunda was created by emperor Hadrian – north facing – higher level
• Restoration - 202 A.D.
• Frieze of Agrippa’s temple still remains
• Unfluted columns + Corinthian orders
• Circular Rotunda – internal dia. 43.43m
• Eight recesses – exedrae
• Inner surface of the dome – coffered in five ranges – skilful variation of composition of concrete
• Lighting – through Oculus – 8.23m dia. - circular unglazed opening with bronze cornice
• Still devoted for service of religion
BASILICA OF TRAJAN

Halls of justice and commercial exchanges

Basilikos – kingly, royal etc.
Emphasis on importance of law and business in Old Rome
Link between Classic and Christian architecture
Nave roof was raised to accommodate windows
Knowledge of roof truss
PONT DU GARD

Highest of all elevated Roman aqueducts

Part of the Nîmes aqueduct, a 50-kilometre (31 mi) system built in

1st cent. A.D.

Because of the uneven terrain between the two points, the mostly
underground aqueduct followed a long, winding route that called
for a bridge across the gorge of the Gardon River

The bridge has three tiers of arches, stands 48.8 m (160 ft) high,
and descends a mere 2.5 centimetres (1 in) – a gradient of only 1
in 18,241

The whole aqueduct descends in height by only 17 m (56 ft) over

its entire length, which is indicative of the great precision
that Roman engineers were able to achieve
DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

HOUSE - DOMUS

House was an important part of the dynamics of daily life and the
socio-economy of the Roman world.

The house type referred to as the domus (Latin for ―house‖) is

taken to mean a structure designed for either a nuclear
or extended family and located in a city or town.

Atrium was focus of the entire house plan

Well decorated – used as waiting room or

business appointments

Plan of a typical Roman domus (house)

Plans Tuscan(Tetrastyle) atrium, left and Corinthian atrium, right

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

HOUSE – DOMUS

Larger, elaborate courtyards

With changes in political structure of the Romans, the

organization changed

De-emphasis of the atrium as the key element in

planning

The outer Peristyle Garden of the Getty Villa Roman gardens

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

APARTMENTS - INSULA

Insula - means ―island‖ and the term has been

connected to the high-rise apartment dwellings of the
Roman world

Provided housing for the bulk of the urban populace.

The plebs—defined as ordinary people of lower- or

middle-class status—tended to inhabit insulae.

Phenomenon of urban housing – did not manifest until

the Industrial Revolution

Median area of a Roman apartment – 239 smt.

Insula of Diana, Ostia Antica

APARTMENTS - INSULA

Multi-dwelling apartments – bottom floors were of the highest quality

The entire structure centres on an open courtyard which also serves as a light well for
the lower floors.

The spaces fronting on the street itself were often used for mercantile functions.

Giardino – garden houses – luxury apartments – later converted into commercial

buildings

Frequent fires in dense colonies

The concept shows pragmatism and innovation of Roman architects.

From left to right: Caseggiato del Serapide (House of Serapides),

Ostia: Plan of Regio III – Insula IX – Case a Giardino (Garden Houses)
Terme dei Sette Sapienti (Baths of the Seven Sages), Cas. degli
Aurighi (House of the Charioteers)
DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE

LUXURIOUS RETREATS - VILLA

Luxurious retreats in countryside or seashore

Earlier examples – known as Villa rustica(country villa)

– farmhouse and grapevines

Feature common to all villas – extra-urban setting –

they are always in a rural or suburban setting

As with domus architecture, villas often focus internally

around courtyards and atrium spaces.

Elite villas tend to be sprawling affairs, with many

rooms for entertainment and dining, in addition to
specialized facilities including heated baths (balnea).
VILLA - Typology

Luxurious villa – evolved from palatial architecture from

central Italy
Imperial villa – built in urban areas/suburbs by the kings
Hadrian’s Villa

Mixture of landscaped gardens, wilderness areas and cultivated

farmlands

The complex contains over 30 buildings, covering an area of at least 1

square kilometre (c. 250 acres (100 ha)) of which much is still
unexcavated.

Site was chosen due to its abundant waters and readily available
aqueducts
thank you