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Stuart Jacome Arch 211- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post Villa Muller The Villa Muller was designed by famous architect Adolf Loos. The architect was commissioned to do this project by civil engineer and building contractor, Frantisek Muller.  The Villa was built in Prague, in Czech Republic 1928-30. This house is a prime example of early modern architecture and the use of raumplan. Raumplan is a planning method which is based on isolated rooms that are dynamic in section. The method emphasizes the scale each room and often times they are at different levels, therefore steps are required to access them.  The concept of the villa was to express Loos’ ideas of economy and functionality. Raumplan is spatial and clearly shown in Villa Muller through multi-level parts of each room; which hit at their importance, functionality, and symbolism. In contrast to Wright, Loos wanted to keep the public outside and private inside completely separate. Loos believed that the bui...

Stuart Jacome Arch 211- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post Vienna Opera House The opera house was the first major building on the Vienna Ringstrasse commissioned by the Viennese "city expansion fund".  Built in an impressive Neo-Renaissance style to demonstrate the emergence of its art, construction was started in 1861 and was completed in 1869 the plans for this structure were created by architects August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll . T he public was far from satisfied with the design of this focal point of the new Vienna; they believed it to be too grand, even if this is difficult to envision for any modern guest of the opera house. This hostile opinion was at partially due to the fact that the level of the Ringstraße was raised by one meter, giving the building a feel as if it was sinking. Throughout World War One the building remained unharmed, but unfortunately in the second World War due to bombing and fire the auditorium and stage wer...

Stuart Jacome Arch 221- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post TWA Flight Center The TWA Flight Center is located in Jamaica, Queens, USA; Part of John F. Kennedy international airport. Designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1962; this building has a futurist, modern style. Originally commissioned in 1956, this structure is meant to “capture the spirit of flight”. To capture this concept, Saarinen uses curves along the edges of the building which connect in the middle. From a bird's eye view the terminal appears to have two massive wings; imitating wings of a jet plane or a bird in flight. The exterior facade of the building has continuous curvature elements which move inward. So that the ceiling turns into a wall and the wall becomes the ground. There are four volumes which extrude outward from the center creating the wings. The spaces inside the terminal are open; all of the walls and elements are organic with different shapes and curves so that individuals could experienc...

Stuart Jacome Arch. 211 M-11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post St. Peter’s Basilica St. Peter's Basilica is an Italian renaissance church in Vatican City was built according to tradition is above the burial site of St. Peter. The church is one of four major basilicas of rome but St.Peters has the largest dome in the world and is regarded as the greatest building in its age. The basilica was designed as a replacement for the old constantinian church and was commissioned by Pope Julius ll; the construction of the Basilica began on April 18 th 1506 and was completed on November 18 th 1626.Designed principally by Donato Bramante and later Continued by Michelangelo but finished by Giacomo Della Porta.  Saint Peter’s Basilica is built out of travertine stone and is 452 feet high, 730 feet in length, and 500 feet in width and large enough for 60,000 people. This plan was to have the basilica have a long axis that moves attention towards the altar giving it a sense of practicality ...

Stuart Jacome Arch 211- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post The Petit Trianon of Versailles The Chateau was commissioned in 1762, it was finally realized in 1768 by architect Ange- Jacques Gabriel for Louis XV in the middle of the botanical gardens which had been worked on for more than ten years. This residence was large enough to house the king and many of his friends. Gabriel introduced a manifesto for neo- classical movement and was a “perfect example of the ‘Greek Style’. It was also a great example of the transition from the Rococo style from 18th century to a more refined neo- classic style. Gabriel was heavily influenced by the ideals of Greek architecture. The floor plan is square with a flat roof top and the four columns on the facade of the building have corinthian detail. Additionally, the building is predominantly made of Limestone. The Chateau was intended for Madame De Pompadour however, she passed away four years before it was built. Later on when Louis XVI came ...

Stuart Jacome Arch 211- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post Palace of Versailles The palace of versailles is the most famous chateau in France. The palace was built in 1631 in the order of Louis XIII. Since the palace was so large there were a few architects that have worked on this structure over time. These include Louis Le Vau, Jules Hardouin Mansart, Ange- Jacques Gabriel, Claude Perrault, Frederic Nepveu, Robert De Cott, Philibert Le Roy, and Jacques Gabriel. Not only was a palace a place for the royals to reside but it has held numerous other purposes it was originally used as hunting grounds and a private retreat for   Louis XIII which was constructed by Nicolas Huaut . Currently the palace is being used as Museum of French History. When the Chateau was first constructed it was a hunting lodge made up of brick stone and slate.It was then reconstructed in 1631 Louis did not was to be restraint to just a classical design, instead he chose to have classical large stru...

Stuart Jacome Arch 211- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post Darwin Martin House “Organic architecture seeks superior sense of use and finer sense of comfort, expressed in organic simplicity”- Frank Lloyd Wright. The Darwin Martin House was built in 1960 is located in Buffalo, NY. It is considered one of the largest and most significant commission for Wright. Wright referred to the scheme of this house as a “domestic symphony”. This is because every aspect of the house’s design is unified. The house has a T-shaped plan which is reinforced by the geometry of the leaded glass windows, and custom made furniture. Additionally, there are piers that cover a large portion of the rooms on the first floor which also allow for more windows along the perimeter of the house. The piers not only serve as support, but also combine aesthetic elements. Such as room dividers, furniture that increases radiators, light fixtures, shelving, and bookcases.   The Martin House is a total 14,978 s...

Stuart Jacome Arch 162. History of Architecture II Feb. 13, 2018 Building Blog Prof. Khorsandi Belvedere Castle Belvedere Castle is located in Central Park, NYC. Belvedere means “beautiful view” in Italian; the castle sits on Vista Rock and is the second highest elevation in Central Park, providing great views of other parts in the park.  Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1865, the castle was completed in 1869. Belvedere Castle was meant to be a Victorian Folly. A folly is a structure whose main function is to be ornamental, a place of “playfulness a fantasy building” that serves no practical use. It’s architectural style is Romanesque and Gothic. Romanesque architecture comes from a combination of Roman and Gothic styles which can be characterized by round arches, vaults, and large columns. Gothic architecture style contains stone structures, clustered columns, pointed spires, complex sculptures, vaults, and flying buttresses. One of their main...

Stuart Jacome Arch 211- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post Barcelona Pavilion The Barcelona Pavilion commonly referred to as the German Pavilion is located in Barcelona, Spain. The pavilion was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1928-29 for the 1929 Barcelona international exhibition. The purpose of the pavilion was to accommodate the King Alphonso XII of Spain as well as other German authorities. The structure was also used for the opening of the German exhibition. This building is a great example of modernist twentieth- century architecture. The pavilion consists of an open-plan space, exact proportions, minimalist design, and symmetry. The original concept of this building is to represent a new Germany. Georg von Schnitzler who commissioned the building said it should give "voice to the spirit of a new era". The concept was executed through a “Free plan” and “Floating room”. Free plan insisted that there should not be any load-bearing walls dividing the inter...

Stuart Jacome Arch. 211 M-11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post St. Peter’s Basilica St. Peter's Basilica is an Italian renaissance church in Vatican City. The construction of the Basilica began on April 18 th 1506 and was completed on November 18 th 1626. Saint Peter’s Basilica is 452 feet high, 730 feet in length, and 500 feet in width and large enough for 60,000 people. Designed principally by Donato Bramante and later Continued by Michelangelo but finished by Giacomo Della Porta. This plan was in the form of an enormous Greek cross with a dome inspired with a dome inspired by that huge circular roman temple, the pantheon as well as four rows of columns, a nave with two aisles on either side. Bramante had envisioned that the central dome would be surrounded by four lower domes at the diagonal axes. Michelangelo designed a massive dome, made almost entirely of heave masonry, that would sit in the middle of the cross above the altar. Carlo Maderno designed and built the atri...

Stuart Jacome Arch 211- M11 Prof. Khorsandi Blog Post Palace of Versailles Before becoming a home for three of france’s kings, versailles was a hunting pavilion constructed by Nicolas Huaut. The Palace also came with a royal garden where the court of france would spend time. Since the palace was so large there were a few architects that have worked on this structure over time. These include Louis Le Vau, Jules Hardouin Mansart, Ange- Jacques Gabriel, Claude Perrault, Frederic Nepveu, Robert De Cott, Philibert Le Roy, and Jacques Gabriel. Louis did not was to be restraint to just a classical design, instead he chose to have classical/ large structural elements that contained a highly decorated and luxurious Baroque style. Louis XIV’s palace was finished twenty- one years after it begun construction in 1661. The palace contained 700 rooms, 2,153 windows, and each floor takes up to 67,000 square meters. This palace was designed to revolve around the king himself and emphasize...