The profession of an architect. Study guide

Historically speaking, architecture has a lengthy and complicated history that rivals the complexity of human history itself. The Neolithic period, roughly 10,000 years ago, could be considered the beginning of architecture, or it could just be the point in time when people stopped living in caves and began designing their homes. It is easy to think of architecture in terms of its visual attractiveness, yet this desire to construct an architectural artefact was fueled by more than just the need for beauty. One of the most intriguing features of architecture is its ability to mirror the spirit of time in a way that may be even more significant than how we see it happen with art. Architecture has proven to be many things: comfortable, elegant, modern, brutal, indexical, vernacular. In order to justify the parallelism between architectural history and human history, there is no better physical evidence of society change than architecture. It is possible to learn about the history of architecture by simply looking at the structures that were built in different locations at different times. Human actions were reflected in architecture, and this was made clearer by the constant effort to preserve some of the constructed history, while deciding to let the rest fade and ruin.

Timeline of Different Architectural Styles

Prehistoric Architecture. Prehistoric builders moved earth and stone into geometric forms, creating our earliest human-made formations. Humans constructed earthen mounds, stone circles, megaliths, and structures.

Ancient Egyptian Architecture (3500 BCE to 900 AD). This architectural style ranges from 3,050 B.C. to 900 B.C. It depicts the prominent period of Egyptian architecture. The Egyptians created the most impressive structures of the ancient world. The period saw the construction of some of the prominent pyramids with several noticeable architectural characteristics. Wood was not widely available in the arid Egyptian landscape. Houses in ancient Egypt were made with blocks of sun-baked mud.

Classical Architecture (850 AD TO 476 AD).

Classical architecture refers to the style and design of buildings in ancient Greece and ancient Rome. Classical architecture shaped our approach to building in Western colonies around the world.

The period between the rise of the Greek Empire and the fall of the Roman Empire has eventually seen the construction of several buildings. The most important architectural feature which highlights this style is the column placed on the façade.

700 to 323 BCE – Greek

323 to 146 BCE – Hellenistic

44 BCE to 476 CE – Roman

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The Early Christian architecture started in two prominent locations centered at Rome and Constantinople.

Early Christian Architecture (373 AD TO 500 AD), renaissance Architecture (1400 AD TO 1600 AD), Baroque Architecture (1600 AD TO 1830 AD), Rococo Architecture (1650 AD TO 1790 AD), American Colonial (1600 AD TO 1780 AD), Art Nouveau (1890 AD TO 1940 AD), NeoGothic (1905 AD TO 1930 AD)/

III. Find the English equivalents for the following words and word combinations in the text.

Хронология различных архитектурных стилей, доисторическая архитектура, древнеегипетская архитектура, классическая архитектура, раннехристианская архитектура, готическая архитектура, архитектура эпохи Возрождения, архитектура в стиле барокко, архитектура в стиле рококо, американский колониальный период, модерн, неоготика.

COMPREHENSION EXERCISES

IV. Read the following statements. Are these statements true or false? If the statement is false, say why it is and correct it.

1.History of architecture is the study of the evolution of architecture through theagesandacross awiderangeofgeographies andculturalcontexts.

2.Architectural history is not a transnational one.

3.Historically speaking, architecture has a lengthy and complicated history that rivals the complexity of human history itself.

4.The Neolithic period, roughly 10,000 years ago, could be considered the point in time when people began living in caves.

5.Architecture is not able to mirror the spirit of time.

6.Architecture has proven to be many things: comfortable, elegant, modern, brutal, indexical, vernacular.

7.Human actions were reflected in architecture.

8.Prehistoric builders moved earth and stone into geometric forms, creating our earliest human-made formations.

9.Humans constructed earthen mounds, stone circles, megaliths, and structures.

10.3,050 B.C. to 900 B.C. depicts the prominent period of Egyptian architecture.

V. Answer the questions to the text.

1. What are some of the earliest human-made formations in prehistoric architecture?

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2.How did the availability of wood influence the construction of houses in ancient Egypt?

3.What are some noticeable architectural characteristics of ancient Egyptian pyramids?

4.What are the main architectural periods within Classical architecture, and what are their respective timeframes?

5.What is the most important architectural feature that highlights the Classical architecture style?

6.Where did Early Christian architecture start, and what were the prominent locations for its development?

7.What are the timeframes for the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, American Colonial, Art Nouveau, and Neo-Gothic architectural styles?

8.How did the Renaissance architecture style contribute to the evolution of architectural design?

9.WhataresomedistinguishingfeaturesoftheBaroquearchitecturestyle?

10.How did the Neo-Gothic architectural style differ from its original Gothic counterpart in terms of time period and characteristics?

TRANSLATION

VI. Translate the following sentences into English:

1.История архитектуры – это изучение эволюции архитектуры на протяжении веков в широком диапазоне географических регионов

икультурных контекстов.

2.Исторически сложилось так, что архитектура имеет долгую и сложную историю, которая соперничает по сложности с самой историей человечества.

3.Одной из самых интригующих особенностей архитектуры является ее способность отражать дух времени таким образом, который может быть даже более значительным, чем то, как мы видим это в искусстве.

4.Доисторические строители придавали земле и камню геометрические формы, создавая самые ранние созданные человеком сооружения.

5.Люди возводили земляные насыпи, каменные круги, мегалиты

исооружения.

6.Египтянесоздалисамыевпечатляющиесооружениядревнегомира.

7.В тот период были построены некоторые из выдающихся пирамид с несколькими заметными архитектурными особенностями.

8.Раннехристианская архитектура зародилась в двух выдающихся местах с центрами в Риме и Константинополе.

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9.Классическая архитектура относится к стилю и дизайну зданий в Древней Греции и Древнем Риме.

10.Классическая архитектура сформировала наш подход к строительству в западных колониях по всему миру.

VII. Divide the text into paragraphs. Entitle each of them.

GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT

VIII. Put questions to the words in italics. Make up general, alternative, and disjunctive questions to each sentence.

1.The Neolithic period, roughly 10,000 years ago, could be considered the beginning of architecture.

2.This desire to construct an architectural artefact was fueled by more than just the need for beauty.

3.It is possible to learn about the history of architecture by simply looking at the structures that were built in different locations at different times.

4.Human actions were reflected in architecture.

5.Many fine examples of well-preserved prehistoric architecture are found in southern England.

6.Houses in ancient Egypt were made with blocks of sunbaked mud.

7.The ancient Egyptians didn’t use mortar, so the stones were carefully cut to fit together.

IX. Change the following active sentences into Passive voice.

1.Prehistoric builders moved earth and stone into geometric forms, creating our earliest human-made formations.

2.Humans constructed earthen mounds, stone circles, megaliths, and structures.

3.The Egyptians created the most impressive structures of the ancient

world.

4.The ancient Egyptians didn’t use mortar.

5.Classical architecture refers to the style and design of buildings in an-

cient Greece and ancient Rome.

6.The quarry of the ruins of roman buildings influenced the architectural treatment of the style.

7.During the last phase of the Baroque period, builders constructed graceful white buildings with sweeping curves

Control questions

1. Discuss the following questions.

History of architecture. Different architectural styles

2. Summarize the text.

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UNIT 6. Forms and functions of architecture

ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY

1.art [ɑːt] – изобразительное искусство

2.science [ˈsʌɪəns] – наука

3.requirements [rɪˈkwaɪəmənts] – требования

4.skill [skɪl] – навык

5.appearance[əˈpɪər(ə)ns] – внешний вид, появление

6.expression [ɪkˈsprɛʃ(ə)n] – выражение

7.heritage [ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ] – наследство; наследие

8.coexistence [ˌkəʊ.ɪɡˈzɪst ] – сосуществование

9.convenience [kənˈviːnɪəns] – удобсвто

10.strength[strɛŋθ] – сила; прочность

11.beauty [ˈbjuːti] – красота

12.exist [ɪɡˈzɪst] – существовать

13.entail [ɪnˈteɪl] – влечь за собой

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

I.Match the words in the left column with their synonyms in the right:

II. Match each of the following words with the correct definition:

Consideration, principle, convenience, strength, beauty, paradox, repetition

a)careful thought;

b)a moral rule or standard;

c)the quality or state of being strong;

d)the quality of being pleasing and attractive; e)a logically self-contradictory statement;

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f) the fact of something being easy to do;

g)the act of repeating, or doing, saying, or writing something again.

Read the text for obtaining information

Architecture is the art and the science of building. Without consideration of structural principles, materials, and social and economic requirements a building cannot take form, but unless aesthetic quality also is inherent in its form the building cannot be considered as a work of architecture.

From the very beginning of architecture many skills, systems and theories have been evolved for the construction of the buildings, and writing on architecture is almost as old as writing itself. Books on the theory of architecture, on the art of building, and on the aesthetic appearance of buildings exist in fair number. The oldest book we have that sets forth the principles upon which buildings should be designed is the work of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, written in the first century B. C.

Architecture is an art; its contemporary expression must be creative and consequently new. The heritage of the past cannot be ignored. The paradox of the coexistence of change and survival is evident in all phases of the human story. The philosophers, and historians have taken great pains to explain it. This paradox of change and repetition is clearly illustrated in any architectural style.

Nearly two thousand years ago the Roman architect Vitruvius listed three basic factors in architecture – convenience, strength and beauty. These three factors are always present and are always interrelated in the best structures. Thus, architectural design entails not only the study of solutions for convenience, for structure, and for appearance as three separate processes but also a consideration of the constant interaction of these factors.

This triple nature of architectural design is one of the reasons why architecture is a difficult art. The designer must have a sufficient knowledge of engineering and of building materials, must possess the creative imagination, which will enable him to integrate the plan and the construction into one harmonious whole. The architect’s feeling of satisfaction in achieving such an integration is one of his greatest rewards.

III. Find the English equivalents for the following words and word

combinations in the text.

Наука о строительстве, структурные принципы, экономические требования, строительство зданий, эстетичный внешний вид, современное выражение, наследие прошлого, архитектурный стиль, архитектурный дизайн, достаточные знания, строительные материалы, творческое воображение, гармоничное целое, чувство удовлетворения.

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COMPREHENSION EXERCISES

VI. Read the following statements. Are these statements true or false? If the statement is false, say why it is and correct it.

Architecture is the art and the science of building.

The building can be considered as a work of architecture with considerationof structuralprinciples, materials,andsocialand economicrequirements.

Writing on architecture is almost as old as writing itself.

The Roman architect Vitruvius listed two basic factors in architecture – convenience and beauty.

The triple nature of architectural design is one of the reasons why architecture is a difficult art.

The designer must have a sufficient knowledge of engineering and of building materials, must possess the creative imagination, which will enable him to integrate the plan and the construction into one harmonious whole.

V. Answer the questions to the text.

1.What are the essential factors that Vitruvius listed in architecture nearly two thousand years ago?

2.Why is architecture considered both an art and a science?

3.How does the text describe the coexistence of change and survival in architecture?

4.What are the challenges faced by architects in integrating convenience, strength, and beauty in their designs?

5.How does the text describe the role of creativity in contemporary architectural expression?

6.Why is it important for architects to consider social and economic requirements in building design?

7.What is the significance of aesthetic quality in architecture?

8.How does the text describe the interaction of convenience, strength, and beauty in architectural design?

9.What are some of the skills, systems, and theories that have been evolved for the construction of buildings?

10.According to the text, what are some of the rewards for architects in achieving integration in their designs?

IV. Divide the text into paragraphs. Entitle each of them.

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GRAMMAR IN CONTEXT

V. Put the verbs in the brackets into the Present Perfect or Past Simple Tense.

The Hellenic people____ (use) to build temples in a completely different architectural manner and styles.

The society of ancient Greece____ (to be) the one to introduce the concept of public spaces.

They_____ (to be) the first ones to notice the incapability of our eyes to perceive objects as they truly are.

The curvature, paradoxically, ______(help) the human eye see the temple as if it were straight.

Our architects already______(start) working on the project.

They_____ (organize) three meetings this month.

The Romans_____ (introduce) quite a few immense innovations themselves.

The Renaissance_____ (introduce) new ways of looking at reality.

Mr. Jones____ (to be) with our company since 1998

Many important things____ (happen) on the verge of the 19th century.

VI.Look at exercise V.Put the sentences in interrogative and nega-

tive form.

VII. Render the following sentences into English.

•Эллины строили храмы в совершенно иной архитектурной манере

истилях.

•Общество Древней Греции ввело концепцию общественных пространств.

•Они были первыми, кто заметил неспособность наших глаз воспринимать объекты такими, какие они есть на самом деле.

•Кривизна, как ни парадоксально, помогла человеческому глазу видеть храм так, как если бы он был прямым.

•Наши архитекторы уже приступили к работе над проектом.

•В этом месяце они организовали три встречи.

•Римляне сами ввели немало огромных нововведений.

•Эпоха Возрождения представила новые способы взгляда на реальность.

•Мистер. Джонс работает в нашей компании с 1998 года.

•Много важных событий произошло на рубеже 19 века.

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Control questions

1. Discuss the following questions.

1. Structural principles, materials, and social and economic requirements and aesthetic quality in architecture.

2. Writing on architecture.

3. The heritage of the past.

4. Three basic factors in architecture.

2. Comment on the following topic:

Forms and Functions of Architecture.

UNIT 7. Architectural planning (planning the environment, orientation, architectural forms, colour, materials and techniques)

ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY

1.environment [ɪnˈvʌɪrənm(ə)nt] – среда

2.hindrance [ˈhɪndr(ə)ns] – помеха, препятствие

3.heat [hiːt] – тепло

4.cold [kəʊld] – холод

5.light [lʌɪt] – свет

6.air[eə] – воздух

7.moisture [ˈmɔɪsʧə] – влага

8.fire [ˈfaɪə] – огонь

9.earthquake [ˈəːθkweɪk] – землетрясение

10.flood [flʌd] – наводнение

11.disease [dɪˈziːz] – болезнь

12.axis [ˈæksɪs] – ось

13.placement [ˈpleɪsmənt] – размещение

14.pigments [ˈpɪgmənts] – пигменты

15.reflect [rɪˈflɛkt] – отражать

16.influence [rɪˈflɛkt] – влиять

17.modify [ˈmɒdɪfaɪ] – изменять, модифицировать

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VOCABULARY PRACTICE

I.Match the words in the left column with their synonyms in the right:

II. Match each of the following words with the correct definition:

Solution, conductivity, advantage, possibility, circulation, absorption, device

a)a means of solving a problem; b)likelihood;

c)orderly movement through a circuit;

d)a measure of the ability to pass an electrical current;

e)a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable or superior position;

f) means that a substance captures and transforms energy;

g)an object or machine that has been invented for a particular purpose.

Read the text for obtaining information

The architect usually begins to work when the site type and cost of a building have been determined.

Planning the environment. The natural environment is at once hindrance and a help, and the architect seeks both to invite its aid and to repel its attacks. To make building habitable and comfortable, he must control the effects of heat, cold, light, air, moisture, and dryness and foresee destructive potentialities such as fire, earthquake, flood, and disease. The placement and form of buildings in relation to their sites, the distribution of spaces within buildings, and other planning devices discussed below are fundamental elements in the aesthetics of architecture.

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