Basic styles in architecture. Guide to architectural styles (with examples)

Architectural style reflects common features in the design of building facades, plans, shapes, and structures. Architectural styles were formed in certain conditions of economic and social development of society under the influence of religion, government structure, ideology, architectural traditions and national characteristics, climatic conditions, and landscape. The emergence of a new type of architectural style has always been associated with technological progress, changes in ideology and geopolitical structures of society. Let's consider some types of architectural styles that served as the basis for various trends in architecture in different periods of time.

Archaic architecture

Structures erected before the 5th century BC are usually classified as archaic architecture. Stylistically, the buildings of Mesopotamia and Assyria (states of Western Asia) are related to the buildings of Ancient Egypt. They are united by simplicity, monumentality, geometric shapes, and the desire for large sizes. There were also differences: Egyptian buildings are characterized by symmetry, while the architecture of Mesopotamia is characterized by asymmetry. The Egyptian temple consisted of a suite of rooms and was stretched horizontally; in the Mesopotamian temple, the rooms seem to be attached to each other randomly. In addition, one of the parts of the temple had a vertical orientation (ziggurat (sigguratu - peak) - a temple tower, a characteristic feature of the temples of the Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations).

Antique style

Antiquity, as a type of architectural style, dates back to Ancient Greece. Greek buildings were built in the likeness of the “megaron” residential building of the Cretan-Mycenaean era. In the Greek temple, the walls were made thick, massive, without windows, and a hole was made in the roof for light. The construction was based on a modular system, rhythm and symmetry.

Megaron - means “large hall” - a rectangular house with a hearth in the middle (beginning of 4 thousand BC)

The ancient architectural style became the basis for the development of the order system. There were directions in the order system: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian. The Doric order appeared in the 6th century BC, it was distinguished by its severity and massiveness. The lighter and more elegant Ionic order appeared later and was popular in Asia Minor. The Corinthian order appeared in the 5th century. BC. Colonnades became a hallmark of this type of architectural style. The architectural style, the photo of which is located below, is defined as antique, Doric order.

The Romans, who conquered Greece, adopted the architectural style, enriched it with decoration and introduced an order system into the construction of not only temples, but also palaces.

Roman style

Type of architectural style of the 10th-12th centuries. - received its name “Romanesque” only in the 19th century. thanks to art critics. The structures were created as a structure from simple geometric shapes: cylinders, parallelepipeds, cubes. Castles, temples and monasteries with powerful stone walls with battlements were built in this style. In the 12th century towers with loopholes and galleries appeared at castle-fortresses.

The main buildings of that era were the temple, the fortress and the castle. The buildings of this era were simple geometric shapes: cubes, prisms, cylinders; during their construction, vaulted structures were created, the vaults themselves were made cylindrical, cross-rib, cross. In the early Romanesque architectural style, walls were painted, and by the end of the 11th century. Three-dimensional stone reliefs appeared on the facades.

Archaic architecture

Antique style

Megaron - means “large hall” - a rectangular house with a hearth in the middle (beginning of 4 thousand BC)

The Romans, who conquered Greece, adopted the architectural style, enriched it with decoration and introduced an order system into the construction of not only temples, but also palaces.

Roman style

Classification of architectural styles

style name

style characteristic

image

Canonical

4 thousand BC.

Superhuman dimensions, stability, strict symmetry, “quantitativeness”, geometric shapes, grandeur. The architecture perpetuated the deified power of the pharaoh and the belief in the afterlife.

(pyramids at Giza, ensemble of temples at Karnak)

Classical

8th century BC -

This style was developed in Antiquity: Greece, Rome. Light, slender architecture by Dr. Greece carries in its artistic system a different spirit of heroism and human significance. The main achievement of Greek architects was the creation of the order. Harmony, lightness, simplicity, proportionality to the human scale, practicality, rationalism, solemnity.

(Acropolis of Athens, Roman Colosseum)

Romanesque

Massiveness, heaviness, heaviness, serf character, the main means of expression is a stele with narrow openings - a cross-bathing system. Thick walls, narrow windows - loopholes in monasteries and castles.

The main element of the composition isdonjon. Around it were located the rest of the buildings, made up of simple geometric shapes - cubes, prisms, cylinders.

(Cathedral ensemble in Pisa,

Cathedral in Worms)

Gothic

The frame becomes the structural basis, and huge openings appear filled with stained glass windows. Arches and portals stretch out and take on a pointed shape. Lightness, delicacy, weightlessness, upward direction towards the sky, towards God.

(Notre Dame Cathedral,

cathedral in Reims, V Cologne)

Ancient - Russian

Majestic simplicity, festivity, elegance, decorativeness, multi-headedness.

(Church of St. Sophia in Kyiv, Church of the Intercession on the Nerl,

Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir)

Renaissance

Symmetry, harmony, balance, geometric correctness of forms. An important achievement was the creation of a new architectural form - the floor. The windows are interpreted as the eyes of the building, the façade as the face of the building; those. the outside expresses the interior architectural space.

(Temple of Santa Maria del Fiore, Palazzo Rucellai, Michelangelo Buonarroti. Dome of St. Peter's Cathedral. Rome )

Baroque

Bizarre, dynamic, restless, richly decorated, sculptural, creating parks, ensembles, buildings richly decorated with stucco, painting, sculpture.

(Ensemble of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Tsarskoye Selo Palace, Hermitage Museum, )

Classicism

"Classius" is an example. The style of absolute monarchies, calm grandeur and noble simplicity, strict rhythm, symmetry, elegance, solemnity. rigor of form, clarity of spatial design, geometric interiors, softness of colors and laconicism of external and internal decoration of buildings

(palace ensemble of Versailles , arrows of Vasilyevsky Island, Kazan Cathedral)

Rococo

"Rocaille" - shell. Refinement, mannerism, luxury, whimsical decorativeness, shell-shaped ornament. characterized by a tendency towards asymmetry of compositions, fine detailing of form, a rich and balanced structure of decor in interiors, a combination of bright and pure tones of color with white and gold, a contrast between the severity of the external appearance of buildings and the delicacy of their interior decoration.(Oval Hall of the Soubise Hotel , palace interiors of the Winter Palace, Smolny Cathedral)

Empire style

The style of the empire of the Napoleonic era, dryness, academicism, severity, clarity of lines, cold grandeur. a combination of massive simple geometric shapes with military emblems. passion for the construction of various kinds of triumphal arches, memorial columns, obelisks. Porticoes become important elements of the decorative decoration of buildings. Bronze casting, painting of lampshades and alcoves are often used in interior decoration.

(Chalgrin. Arch of the Star in Paris , the main headquarters building in St. Petersburg, Leper and Gondoin. Vendôme Column in Paris.)

Modern

Asymmetry, softened streamlined shapes, curving lines of the ornament, external decorativeness. use of new technologies (metal, glass).Stair railings, light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, even door handles- everything was carefully designed in the same style

( (1906, architect. ), Victor Orta House of Tassel (1983),Sytin's house, Mansion of S. Ryabushinsky. F. Shekhtel. Moscow.1902

Modern – late XIX - early XX centuries; characterized by various house decorations, roundings, and departure from regular geometric shapes. Use of large glass areas. Facing surfaces are made of decorative bricks, porcelain stoneware, and in some cases - painting (in Moscow architecture - Yaroslavsky station, TSUM, Metropol hotel)

Modern

(constructivism,

organics,

retro)
20th century

The use of new building structures, new building materials, abstraction of geometric shapes, aestheticization of structures.

Constructivism - designing the environment, the possibilities of new technology, its logical, expedient designs, the aesthetic possibilities of materials such as metal, glass, wood. Constructivists sought to contrast ostentatious luxury with the simplicity and emphasized utilitarianism of new object forms, in which they saw the reification of democracy and new relationships between people. ( Moscow Planetarium, architect. M. Barshcha, M. Sinyavsky; Eiffel Tower

G. Eiffel

France)

“organic architecture” - to assert the necessity and pleasantness for the human eye of flexible natural forms, the connection of architectural structures with the natural environment. ( Opera House, Jörn Ustzon,

Australia, Sydney)

Retro style - spacious forms, verandas. The exterior decoration of the house is made of modern materials, but stylized as antique. There is a contrast of dark colors and light ones, broken roofs, valleys, dormer windows, spacious staircases.

"high-tech" ("high-tech") - maximum functionality. No decorative excesses. Active introduction of new technologies into the human environment. Sometimes demonstrative use of technical forms - brightly colored open pipes, air ducts, elements of engineering equipment, metal structures and other surroundings of the “age of technology”

The designs are characterized by: rigor and simplicity, straight lines, simple geometric shapes. The decor is calm. The color scheme is dominated by monotony. Lots of metal and glass. Metal-glass multi-tiered galleries are popular( Rainbow Center in Niagara Falls, USA, 1978 )

Educational visual aids and course presentations

“History of Architecture” (disc, posters, slides)

Architectural styles: Baroque

Victorian style: prestige and elegance

Architecture, popular in the 19th century in Foggy Albion and in the colonies, does not lose ground today. Victorian houses have 2-3 floors, asymmetry, a complex, multifaceted roof, an attic, often a round turret, a spacious porch, trimmed with carved wood or metal, white or beige. However, the Victorian style has many variations, depending on the time and place of its penetration into a specific cultural environment.

Gothic in architecture: minted mystery

Architectural styles: Gothic

Dutch style: unpretentious peace

Dutch architectural style

Deconstructivism: not like everyone else

The style of deconstructivism leaves no chance for any of the architectural absolutes. It is introduced into any environment with flashy broken shapes and structures that are difficult for visual perception.
Deconstructivism is not called the direction of architecture, but its negation, however, deconstructivists still have a foothold - constructivism and postmodernism.
Architects deliberately distort the principles and compositional motifs of these styles and end up with a dynamic and individual building project.
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Deconstructivist architecture

European Style: Popular Versatility

European style in the exterior

Italian architectural style: refined drama

Italian style in the exterior

Country style house: warmth and soulfulness

This style has many faces and is based on local customs: for example, in France “rural” houses are made of stone, and in Canada they are made of logs. In any case, country style involves traditional and natural raw materials. The distinctive touches of such an exterior are rusticity (cladding the external walls with faceted stones), interspersed hand-made items (this could be forged door handles or a horseshoe at the entrance), the color of the facade, reminiscent of shades of clay, wood, sand. The yard is decorated with appropriate archaic elements: bird nests on poles, flower beds on carts, a model of a mill.

Architectural styles: Country

Classic style in the exterior: imitation of the best

The architecture of such a building is based on classical standards - on ancient canons, on the best examples of the Italian Renaissance, English Georgianism or Russian architecture. Classicism in the exterior is the symmetry of the building (the main entrance is the axis around which the extensions are located), the presence of columns, triangular pediments, porticoes, balustrades, balusters and other accessories of a particular architectural era. Classic-type houses are decorated with pilasters and moldings. The preferred material, of course, is stone, however, nowadays decorative elements are well made from plaster or polyurethane. Classic mansions are often two-story, light in color.

Colonial style in architecture: modest charm

Wealthy immigrants and planters built their households, combining “imported” capital and comfort with local exoticism. This is how the colonial exterior came into being.

Houses in this style are monumental, with two floors. The layout is rectilinear, the entrance is supported by a colonnade. They are built from stone, neutral-colored plaster. The door is massive, wooden. There is almost always a terrace available. The buildings are distinguished by large, panoramic windows that offer views of the garden or wildlife.

Perhaps the most famous subtype of colonial exterior is a bungalow, a one-story or attic mansion, with a spreading veranda along the entire width of the pediment. Its color is traditionally white, reflective, because bungalows were built in the tropics, combining the features of a traditional English cottage, army tents and oriental tents.

Colonial style in the exterior

Loft exterior: fashionable fundamentality

The newest, trendy style. His idea is to transform technological premises, factory floors, garages or hangars into bohemian, luxury apartments.

A loft-style house is a very spacious, tall, distinctly geometric building with a minimal number of internal partitions. An undoubted advantage of such a project is inexpensive building materials: concrete, cement, brick. The loft façade does not require any finishing, nor does it require siding. The roof can be flat or gable, with a metal roof. Be sure to have a large, tall window. A loft home should resemble an industrial building, even if built from scratch.

Modern style house: delightful chic

Minimalism in architecture: freedom and light

German-style houses: fabulous originality

These houses seem to have “jumped out” from the fairy tales of Hoffmann and the Brothers Grimm. They are compact and very neat in appearance. The German style is characterized by economy, productivity, the absence of intricate decoration and the natural color of the facade. Such a dwelling has a square or rectangular shape, the base is covered with stone, and the gable roof is covered with red tiles. A German house is decorated with a balcony or attic, as well as tinted boards - elements of half-timbered wood. An original detail is the windows, separated by lintels and protected by shutters. The door is painted in a color that stands out against the background of the house.

Norwegian style: compact and environmentally friendly

Architecture in the Provence style: rustic romanticism

Why does this style know no boundaries? Because Provence is the embodiment of both brilliance and naivety, and also a symbol of family values. It is believed that the name of the style was given by the French region, but “Provence” means “province”: pastoralism, simplicity, leisurely and measured - these are its main “trump cards”.

In the south of France, houses are mainly built from wild stone, making extensive use of pebbles and slate. In other places they resort to imitation, gypsum panels and slabs. But the roofs are always tiled, often multi-layered, of various levels. The northern wall is necessarily blank. The windows on the lower floor may differ in size from the rest; they are often supplemented with sashes. Natural colors are preferred: milky white, grass, straw. Extensions are welcome - verandas, terraces, kitchens, barns. The door is wooden, weighty, with forged hinges and a viewing window. The yard is covered with paving stones.

Architectural styles: Provence

Ranch style: thriftiness and thoroughness

This exterior is one of the most popular in one-story America. Having absorbed the nuances of other styles, features of bungalows and “prairie buildings,” it finally took shape at the beginning of the last century. Low-rise ranch houses are “spread out” in width, complicated by extensions, plastered and painted with light colors. Feature – sliding glass doors. The appearance of a ranch-style house reminds us that farmers began to build such housing: harsh, unpretentious people who value work, but also good rest.

Rococo in architecture: unbridled luxury

Such houses were preferred by French aristocrats. The classical order system on the basis of which they were erected is almost invisible due to the abundant, ornate decor. The walls of the Rococo house are literally drowning in through patterns and lace details - curls, rocailles, cartouches. Playful arches, slender colonnades, graceful cornices and railings add idleness to the premises and a pleasant lightness to life. Artistry and mannerism permeate the Rococo building like the sun through a crystal shard. Traditional colors are soft pastel colors.

Architectural styles: Rococo

Romanesque style in architecture: my home is my fortress

The origins of the exterior lie in the Middle Ages, when citadel castles arose everywhere. Their characteristic features are a primitive silhouette, massiveness and brutality, because protection and shelter were the main task of such abodes.

The stone, of course, reigned. The construction of apses, towers with domes and arched vaults was diversified. The window openings were narrow, like loopholes.

Of course, in the modern version, the Romanesque mansion does not look as trivial and rude as in ancient engravings. The windows have become significantly larger, and the wild stone has been replaced by elegant stylization. But the principle remained unshakable: Romanesque-style mansions should be large, bulky and inaccessible in appearance.

Russian architectural style: toy house

Exterior design in the Russian style is not as monotonous as it might seem. These include houses typical of Slavic wooden architecture, mansions in the style of Russian merchants, and noble estates.

Wood, of course, rules the roost. A dwelling in the Russian genre rarely exceeds two floors, the roof is gable, the windows are small, covered with platbands, and a covered porch is highly desirable. Balconies, staircases, and turrets will give the mansion a resemblance to a fairy-tale hut, and sophisticated carved decoration and an open veranda on figured supports will resemble boyar mansions.

Scandinavian style in the exterior: Nordic character

Clear contours, natural building materials, a minimum of decor, but maximum amenities - houses with such properties are called Scandinavian.

Among the features of this home are glass doors, huge windows (or an entire transparent wall), which is dictated by the lack of sunlight. Scandinavian houses are covered with either white plaster or wooden paneling, which also fulfills an aesthetic mission: doors and windows are edged with dark wood, walls are sheathed with light wood, or vice versa. The roof can be either flat or gable. Scandinavian mansions are “stuffed” with energy-saving technologies and are often equipped with solar panels.

Scandinavian style in the exterior

Mediterranean style house: glamor and bliss

Residences that could only be admired on the warm coast were also included in the design encyclopedia.

Their peculiarity is their light and joyful color (white, cream, pink); flat, tiled roof; half-open verandas covered with greenery; spacious balconies and rotundas; the presence of a swimming pool and, of course, a patio. The building may consist of several parts flowing into each other. Windows and doorways are often horseshoe-shaped. Preference is given to natural stone, ceramics, and wood.

Mediterranean style in the exterior

Modern style in architecture: freedom of choice

Its value lies in democracy. This design accepts any building materials, including the latest ones. The house is distinguished by its simplicity – both externally and in its operation. It does not need decoration or any stylistic tricks. A gable roof, sufficient space and panoramic glazing are perhaps all that is required.

Tudor style: noble heritage

The Tudor house is the material embodiment of truly English character. He is imposing and a little old-fashioned, like a 100% gentleman.

Formed in the 16th century, combining touches of Gothic and Renaissance, Flemish and Italian motifs, the Tudor style still remains in demand.

Its attributes are thick walls, high chimneys, turrets, lancet openings. And, of course, the half-timbered structure is the outer frame. In the old days, such houses were built from stone and wood, but today they use aerated concrete, panels and blocks. Beams, cornices and shutters, as before, are highlighted in a dark color. The main facade almost always contains a bay window, sometimes in the form of a turret. It is impossible not to mention the roofing: Tudor roofs are complex, with long hips and high gables, with small dormers. The entrance is in the form of an arch, lined with stone and decorated with the family coat of arms. The area around the house is decorated with stone sidewalks, paved paths, wrought-iron fences and, of course, an English lawn.

Half-timbered houses: ancient flavor

Glimpses of this style appeared in the 15th century in Germany. Several centuries later, half-timbered wood “captured” the whole of Western Europe. They still turn to him today.

In essence, the half-timbered technique is a frame construction method. Its basis is fastenings made of wooden beams, racks, crossbars, and braces. They were once made of oak, intricately joined together with “secret” notches and wooden pins. The voids between the beams were compacted with clay, pebbles, and straw. The walls were plastered, whitewashed, and the frame was painted brown, cherry or black. It served as an ornament to the façade, dividing it into clear segments. Houses lined with wooden patterns are still called half-timbered.

Architectural styles: Half-timbered

Farmhouse style: maximum air

Farm houses are often one-story, light in color, with unobtrusive decor. A notable feature is a large porch or open veranda, which, if space allows, can stretch along the perimeter of the house. For finishing, either wood or materials that imitate it are chosen. The windows are large, with a good view, the door is often also glass.

Farm style

Finnish style: scent of wood

Another type of wooden exterior. For façade cladding, Finns use timber, clapboard or plank. During construction, walls are lined with insulation, for example, mineral wool. The height is one and a half to two floors, the roof is gable, ceramic tile, there is often a terrace in front of the house, and above it a glazed balcony. The color of the facade ranges from white to wooden shades. The highlight of a Finnish home is, of course, the sauna.

Fusion style: harmony of contradictions

This amazing style sweeps away laws and rules. The architect and designer are free to use any materials, shapes, textures... And even principles. Unlike eclecticism, which interweaves individual details of similar exteriors into a whole, fusion is a daring attempt to combine diametrically opposed things. For example, industrial design (loft) and baroque fragments. Or gothic with ethno. In addition, the style involves the use of a complex color scheme, a variety of decor... And, of course, a subtle artistic flair that will not allow you to slide into architectural cacophony and design heresy.

Architectural styles: Fusion

High-tech in architecture: on the verge of fantasy

These houses are a challenge to tradition and a demonstration of scientific achievements. High-tech real estate is noticeable from afar thanks to wind generators and solar panels. The layout assumes significant home sizes and cubic shapes. The walls are absolutely flat, the structure is smooth, the materials are concrete, glass, metal and plastic. Color scheme – white, black, silver, shades of various metals. Houses are also distinguished by their maximum glass area: often one of the facades is glazed. The terrace may be open, but the central door is also glass and sliding. The roofs are flat, in the form of level platforms, which are easy to adapt for recreation. The facades are equipped with lighting. External engineering communications serve as decorative items.

Czech style: a secluded place

The design of Czech cottages echoes German and pan-European architectural traditions. Czech mansions are distinguished by their regular geometry, squatness, high and multifaceted tiled roofs, and stone foundations. However, instead of tiles, they are sometimes covered with straw, which harmonizes with the rural landscape. Windows and doors have a streamlined, rounded shape.

Czech architectural style

Chalet style houses: reliable protection

It's hard to believe that in the past, the chalet was just a shepherd's house at the foot of the mountains. Cut off from civilization, this shelter had to be resilient, invulnerable, and have the necessary level of comfort. The foundation and first floor were built of stone, the attic was built of logs. The roof of Alpine houses is gable, flat, with significant projections turning into awnings. The main facade faces east, living rooms to the south. The chalet has at least one spacious balcony. The decoration is made of wood carvings.

The chalet in its modern form is not only stone and wood, but also brick and concrete, as well as panoramic windows and a large veranda. A logical addition to such a home would be an alpine slide, coniferous trees, a grill or a barbecue.

Chateau style house: noble nest

Actually, this was the name given to the country estates of French nobles, consisting of a castle, a park and, often, a winery. The famous Versailles is essentially a chateau.

The style of this exterior is determined by classic proportions, a large number of lancet windows decorated with frames, a multi-pitched roof, elegant gables, wide terraces, spacious balconies with forged, filigree railings and bay windows. The walls can be finished with rusticated stone, brick, or decorated with stucco. The base is usually made of natural stone, and the roof is made of tiles. The chateau-style façade is a proud sign of family nobility.

Architectural styles: Chateau

Swedish style: sweet naturalness

Part of the Scandinavian style, Swedish domestic architecture continues the tradition of dramatic simplicity. The peculiarity of the Swedish cottage is its contrasting color: its walls are painted red, and the corners, window frames and doors are highlighted in relief with white. The buildings are often wooden, with large windows, because sunlight is especially valued in these parts.

Swedish style

Ethnic style: from tower to wigwam

National style is the soul of ethnic style. This could be a house resembling a Russian log house, built using timber and topped with a ridge on the roof. Or a mansion with an oriental “accent” in the form of Arabic ornaments, Persian grilles and tiles. In other words, there are as many cultures and building traditions as there are sources that feed the diverse ethno-exterior.

Japanese style in architecture: laconicism and lightness

Japanese country houses can be seen not only in the Land of the Rising Sun. This is because Japanese style is incredibly organic. Its strengths are clarity, perfection, and unpretentious lines. The materials are stone, glass and wood, the palette is restrained. Sliding doors in such a house are on each side; the central entrance is often complemented by a stepped deck, reminiscent of a porch and bridge. The house can have a covered veranda with a wide view, and an open terrace. The continuation of the Japanese home is an authentic landscape: a mini-pond, several picturesque boulders and a couple of dwarf pine trees will turn even an ordinary home into a philosopher’s refuge.
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Architectural styles.

Gothic is one of the most prominent styles of architecture, causing anyone to feel awkward and awe. Terrifyingly majestic structures amaze everyone who sees them.

Gothic architecture began to develop in the Middle Ages based on Romanesque architecture. Gothic buildings, which are mostly cathedrals and temples, are characterized by huge arches with a pointed top, decoration of the facade with various carved details, high towers, narrow columns and, of course, beautiful stained glass windows.

The most famous monuments of Gothic architecture

St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is considered one of the most monumental buildings. Construction of the cathedral began at the beginning of the 12th century, but a fire in 1258 destroyed the cathedral almost to the ground. It was only in 1511 that St. Stephen's Cathedral was completed thanks to the efforts of Anton Pilgram.

Lincoln Cathedral was rebuilt from a Norman cathedral. The construction of the cathedral took more than a hundred years; some parts of the cathedral still retain the features of the original building. After the earthquake of 1185, the cathedral was rebuilt.

The cathedral in Cologne was founded in 1248. The cathedral was built incredibly slowly, and in 1450 its construction was stopped altogether. Only in 1842 was it decided to resume construction, which was completed in 1880. It is worth noting that the cathedral can hardly be called completely finished; it is still being completed. This is largely due to an unusual legend. The architect of the Cologne Cathedral, realizing that he was unable to complete such a monumental structure, invited the devil to help. The devil agreed to help the architect, but when the cathedral is completed and the last stone falls into place, the end of the world will come. To avoid the threat being carried out, the cathedral is constantly being remodeled.

The first stone was laid in 1221, but the construction of the Gothic architectural monument was completed only in the 19th century. The cathedral is a mighty ship topped with stone lace.

The cathedral in Toledo is one of the largest in Europe. Built between 1226 and 1493, the cathedral became the center of the Catholic faith in Spain. This is largely why the cathedral lost some features of the Gothic style, but acquired many unusual elements from other architectural styles.

The Milan Cathedral is considered one of the most significant works of Gothic architecture. The first stone was laid in 1386, the construction of the cathedral was completed in the 19th century. It is interesting that the cathedral was built from the most valuable Kandolian marble, and not from the usual red brick.

Notre Dame Cathedral is considered one of the most famous monuments of Gothic architecture, glorified by Hugo himself. Construction of the cathedral began in 1163 and ended in the middle of the 14th century. The cathedral houses one of the greatest relics of Christianity - the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ. The cathedral was built with money from the king, bishops, ordinary citizens and even prostitutes, who promised that their gift would remain secret.

Reims Cathedral can easily be called the pinnacle of French Gothic architecture. The beautifully preserved cathedral proudly displays its original decoration and magnificent stained glass windows to visitors.

Construction of the Gothic cathedral began in 1344 and was completed in the 20th century. The first temple on the site of the cathedral was built back in 925; a small church was dedicated to St. Vitus.

Brief description of the main architectural styles

Architectural style can be defined as a set of basic features and characteristics of architecture of a certain time and place, manifested in the features of its functional, constructive and artistic aspects (purpose of buildings, building materials and structures, techniques of architectural composition).
It is customary to distinguish architectural styles of global significance:
Prehistoric architecture
· Antique architecture. VIII century BC e. - V century n. e.
· Roman style. X - XII centuries
· Gothic. XII - XV centuries
· Revival. Beginning XV - beginning XVII century
· Baroque. Con. XVI century - end. XVIII century
· Rococo. Beginning XVIII - con. XVIII century
· Classicism, incl. Palladianism, Empire style, neo-Greek. Ser. XVIII - XIX centuries
· Eclecticism. 1830s - 1890s
· Modern. 1890s - 1910s
· Modernism. Beginning 1900s - 1980s
· Constructivism. 1920s - early 1930s
· Postmodernism. From ser. XX century
· High tech. From the end 1970s
· Deconstructivism. From the end 1980s
In fact, there are practically no pure styles in architecture; they all exist simultaneously, complementing and enriching each other. Styles do not mechanically replace one another, they do not become obsolete, do not appear out of nowhere and do not disappear without a trace. In any architectural style there is something of the previous and future style. When attributing a building to a certain architectural style, we must understand that this is a conditional characteristic, since each work of architecture is unique and inimitable in its own way. In order to attribute a building to a specific style, we need to choose the main, in our opinion, feature. It is clear that such a classification will always be approximate and imprecise.
Antique (Greek) style is the architecture of ancient Rome and Greece. This style appeared on the lands of the Aegean Sea for so long that it was considered the progenitor and even in some way for such movements as Classicism, Neoclassicism, and Renaissance. Because the Romans were students of the Greeks, they immediately adopted the ancient style, supplementing it with their own elements (dome, arched order cell).
Roman style. X-XII centuries (in some countries XIII century) (with elements of Roman antique culture). Medieval Western European art of the time of complete dominance of feudal-religious ideology. The main role in the Romanesque style was given to harsh, fortress-like architecture: monastery complexes, churches, and castles were located on elevated places, dominating the area. Churches were decorated with paintings and reliefs, in conventional, expressive forms, expressing the frightening power of the deities. The Romanesque era is characterized by nobility and austere beauty.
The Gothic style mainly manifested itself in the architecture of temples, cathedrals, churches, and monasteries. In contrast to the Romanesque style, with its round arches, massive walls and small windows, the Gothic style is characterized by pointed arches, narrow and tall towers and columns, a richly decorated facade with carved details (vimpergi, tympanums, archivolts) and multi-colored stained glass lancet windows . All style elements emphasize verticality. In Gothic architecture, there are 3 stages of development: early, mature (high Gothic) and late (flaming Gothic). The church of the Saint-Denis monastery, designed by Abbot Suger, is considered the first Gothic architectural structure. During its construction, many supports and internal walls were removed, and the church acquired a more graceful appearance compared to the Romanesque “fortresses of God.”
Renaissance (Renaissance). (French Renaissance), a period in the cultural and ideological development of Western countries. and Central Europe (in Italy XIV-XVI centuries, in other countries the end of the XV-XVI centuries), transitional from medieval culture to the culture of modern times. In architecture, secular buildings began to play a leading role - public buildings, palaces, city houses. Using the order division of walls, arched galleries, colonnades, vaults, domes, architects (Brunelleschi, Alberti, Bramante, Palladio in Italy, Lescaut, Delorme in France) gave their buildings majesty, clarity, harmony and proportionality to man. Particular importance in this direction is attached to the forms of ancient architecture: symmetry, proportion, geometry and the order of its component parts, as clearly evidenced by surviving examples of Roman architecture. The complex proportions of medieval buildings are replaced by an orderly arrangement of columns, pilasters and lintels; asymmetrical outlines are replaced by a semicircle of an arch, a hemisphere of a dome, niches, and aedicules.
Baroque (Italian barocco - “vicious”, “loose”, “prone to excess”, port. perola barroca - “pearl of irregular shape” (literally “pearl with vice”); - a characteristic of European culture of the 17th-18th centuries, the center of which was Italy. Baroque art is characterized by grandiosity, pomp and dynamics, pathetic elation, intensity of feelings, a passion for spectacular spectacles, a combination of the illusory and the real, strong contrasts of scales and rhythms, materials and textures, light and shadow. Baroque palaces and churches thanks to the luxurious, the bizarre plasticity of the facades, the restless play of chiaroscuro, complex curvilinear plans and outlines acquired picturesqueness and dynamism and seemed to flow into the surrounding space. The ceremonial interiors of Baroque buildings were decorated with multi-color sculpture, modeling, carvings; mirrors and paintings illusorily expanded the space, and the painting of lampshades created the illusion of open Baroque architecture (L. Bernini, F. Borromini in Italy, V.V. Rastrelli in Russia) is characterized by spatial scope, unity, and fluidity of complex, usually curvilinear forms. There are various national versions of baroque (for example, “Moscow”, “Naryshkin” baroque in Russia).
Ukrainian or Cossack Baroque is a variation of the Baroque style common in the Left Bank and Dnieper Ukraine in the 17th-18th centuries, which is characterized by a combination of decorative and plastic solutions of Western European Baroque and Renaissance with creative processing of the heritage of Orthodox temple architecture and Old Russian architecture.
Rococo (French Rococo, from rocaille - a decorative motif in the form of a shell), a style movement in European art of the 1st half of the 18th century. Rococo, associated with the crisis of absolutism, is characterized by a departure from life into the world of fantasy, theatrical play, mythical and pastoral plots, and erotic situations. Rococo art is dominated by a graceful, whimsical ornamental rhythm. The characteristic features of Rococo are sophistication, great decorative loading of interiors and compositions, graceful ornamental rhythm, great attention to mythology, erotic situations, and personal comfort.
Classicism (French classicisme, from Latin classicus - exemplary) is an architectural style and aesthetic direction in European art of the late 17th - early 19th centuries. The main feature of the architecture of classicism was the appeal to the forms of ancient architecture as a standard of harmony, simplicity, rigor, logical clarity and monumentality. The architecture of classicism as a whole is characterized by regularity of layout and clarity of volumetric form. The basis of the architectural language of classicism was the order, in proportions and forms close to antiquity. Classicism is characterized by symmetrical axial compositions, restraint of decorative decoration, and a regular system of city planning.
Empire (from the French empire - “empire”) is the style of late (high) classicism in architecture and applied art. Originated in France during the reign of Emperor Napoleon I; developed during the first three decades of the 19th century; was replaced by eclectic movements. The Empire style is a unique reflection of Roman classics combined with Egyptian motifs. Empire architecture is characterized by monumentality, geometric regularity of volumes and integrity (triumphal arches, columns, palaces). The Empire style, through numerous attributes and symbols, affirmed the idea of imperial greatness. The creator of the St. Petersburg Empire style is considered to be the “Russian Italian” K. Rossi. Another prominent architect of the same style was V. Stasov.

Eclecticism (eclecticism) (from the Greek eklektikos - choosing), a mechanical combination of heterogeneous, often opposing principles, views, theories, artistic elements, etc.; in architecture and fine arts, a combination of heterogeneous stylistic elements or an arbitrary choice of stylistic design for buildings or artistic products that have a qualitatively different meaning and purpose.
Art Nouveau architecture is an architectural style that became widespread in Europe in the 1890s-1910s as part of the Art Nouveau art movement. Modern architecture is distinguished by its rejection of straight lines and angles in favor of more natural, “natural” lines, and the use of new technologies (metal, glass). Like a number of other styles, modern architecture is also distinguished by the desire to create both aesthetically beautiful and functional buildings. Much attention was paid not only to the appearance of the buildings, but also to the interior, which was carefully worked out. All structural elements: stairs, doors, pillars, balconies were artistically processed. Modern architecture has a number of characteristic features, for example, the rejection of mandatory symmetrical forms. New forms appear in it, such as “shop windows,” that is, wide ones designed to act as shop windows. During this period, the type of residential apartment building finally takes shape. Multi-storey construction is being developed.
Constructivism, a movement in modern art of the 1920s, which put forward the task of designing the material environment surrounding humans. Constructivism sought to use new technology to create simple, logical, functionally justified forms, expedient structures (architectural projects of the brothers A.A., V.A. and L.A. Vesnin, M.Ya. Ginzburg, I.I. Leonidov).
Hi-tech (English hi-tech, from high technology - high technology) is a style in architecture and design that originated in the depths of postmodern architecture in the 1970s and found widespread use in the 1980s. It is characterized by pragmatism, the idea of the architect as an elite professional, the provision of services by architecture, complex simplicity, sculptural form, hyperbole, manufacturability, structure and design as an ornament, anti-historicity, monumentality.
Deconstructivism is a trend in modern architecture that emerged as an independent movement in the late 1980s in America and Europe and then spread in one form or another throughout the world.

The appearance of buildings has changed significantly over the centuries due to technological progress, the needs of society and changing fashion. Here are the signs by which you can learn to distinguish main types of architectural styles.

Architectural styles - new and old

The appearance of a building is not always a reliable indicator of its age: architectural styles tend to be revived. It is of interest to identify the styles that influenced the architecture of buildings of later times. Thus, in the architecture of the White House in Washington, borrowings from the era of classicism are visible, and the Parliament buildings in London are the personification of Gothic fantasies.

Antiquity and Renaissance - architectural styles

A characteristic feature of the architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome was the use of a system of orders, most recognizable by the style of the columns (see picture below). During the Renaissance, architecture, like all arts, turned to the principles of ancient Greece and Rome. Interest in classical proportions was revived, and the five orders came back into practice. Ancient ideas were embodied in new elements based on more advanced technologies, such as a high dome (unknown to the ancient Greeks). Architects, in particular Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), borrowed the idea of an ancient temple with columns to design the facades of buildings. Both of these ideas were used by Christopher Wren (1632-1723) in the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in London.

The most striking features of medieval architecture are manifested in the design of windows. For example, if a cathedral has small, rounded windows at the top, pierced in thick walls - in continuation of the Roman traditions - then it is built in the Romanesque style. These windows are the first attempt to let more light into massive buildings without compromising their structural integrity.

The Romanesque style smoothly transitions into Gothic. In early Gothic, the windows have a lancet shape, reminiscent of the bow of a ship. Later, this design was improved: the size of the windows increased, they were decorated with openwork carvings, similar to exquisite lace woven from stone and glass. The same airy fragility can be found in other elements of buildings in the mature Gothic style: high roofs and graceful buttresses, like protruding ribs, as if only one frame remained of the building.

The Gothic style again became popular in the 18th-19th centuries, its influence is especially evident in the architecture of public buildings, in particular museums and churches. This so-called neo-Gothic style originated in Great Britain and then spread throughout the world.

Baroque and Rococo

The simple classical lines of the Renaissance gradually gave way to the more bombastic and decorative style of the Baroque, culminating in the frivolous and frivolous Rococo style. The first Baroque buildings were commissioned by the Catholic Church at the end of the 16th century in Italy. Church and secular buildings were built in this style, including the royal palace of Versailles near Paris and the royal Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. An excellent example of the late Baroque is the Protestant church of the Frauenkirche in Dresden, Germany (photo below). It was built in 1726, destroyed by bombing in 1945, and restored and reopened in 2005.

Art Nouveau (Art Nouveau)

This style originated in architecture at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The most notable feature is the fascination with stylized plant forms both outside and inside buildings: wrought iron balconies in the form of tangled stems of ivy, undulating staircases and balustrades curving like roots or branches with leaves, walls with curves as if growing from the ground, and not built according to strict drawings. The Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926) decorated Barcelona with similar buildings, including the unfinished Sagrada Familia cathedral.

Art Deco

The Art Deco style emerged in the early 20s of the 20th century. Its distinctive features are functional, streamlined mechanical forms and strictly geometric patterns (think of the Empire State Building in New York). Art Deco architecture is characterized by the use of overtly industrial materials, such as gleaming chrome, smooth, shiny enamel and extensive glass surfaces.