Classical Architecture: A Guide to Classical Architecture

Classical architecture derives from fifth-century Greek architecture and third-century Roman architecture Classical buildings are most often defined by the style and ornamentations of their columns and pediments. The most prominent examples of classical architecture are displayed in the ancient temples of Greece and Rome, but elements of classicism are also found in ancient homes and public buildings.

Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius, who stated that all buildings should have firmitas, utilitas, and venustas (strength, utility, and beauty), established the foundational principles of classical design. These principles were combined with the design philosophy of the ancient Greeks, who believed that architecture should follow logic and order with perfect symmetry and proportions. These design principles continue to influence architecture globally today.

Classical architectural history begins in ancient Greece and Rome, and extends across the world and into the modern era:

• Ancient Greece (700–480 BCE): The Greeks began building temples with columns that had no base and no adornments. The architecture of ancient Greece introduced the frieze, a horizontal band of space for sculptures or decorations above columns.
• The Hellenistic period (323–31 BCE): During this era, Greek temples, public buildings, and homes were built in the classical style but with more slender columns. Columns also had more ornate designs and decorations.
• The Roman Empire (27 BCE–476 CE): The Romans drew from Greek architectural style and introduced more ornamentation. They invented concrete, which was lighter than stone and allowed them to build arches and vaulted ceilings.
• The Byzantine period (330–476 CE): The Roman capital was moved to Byzantium, where domes and mosaics were introduced, and materials like brick and stone were used.
• The Romanesque period (1000–1150 CE): Classical architecture spread across Europe with the growth of the Roman empire, and new elements such as rounded arches, thicker walls, and tall piers and steeples were introduced.
• The Gothic period (1100–1450 CE): More efficient construction methods and materials allowed for taller buildings and new styles, including ribbed vaulting, pointed arches, flying buttresses, stained glass, and sculptures such as gargoyles.
• The Italian Renaissance (1400–1600 CE): A classical revival in Italy had architects rediscovering the foundational principles of classical architecture and applying them to public buildings and private homes.
• The Baroque and Rococo periods (1600–1830 CE): The Baroque architecture style combined classical elements with extravagant styling and irregular and dramatic shapes. Later in this period, the Rococo style added white and muted color palettes, simplistic geometry, and ornamentations with scrolls, vines, and shells.
• The Neoclassical period (1730–1925): Extravagance became less popular in the nineteenth century with the popularization of the more restrained and intellectual style of neoclassical architecture. Buildings returned to classical shapes and the mathematical principles of antiquity.
• The Modern era (the 1900s to the present time): Modernism saw a focus on utility and mathematical design, and postmodernism introduced buildings that had surprising and unexpected shapes. But while styles today change drastically, modern architecture is still deeply rooted in the principles of classical architecture.

One of the most important elements of classical architecture is the column. Most classical buildings are categorized into classical orders based on the design motifs of the columns:

• The Doric order: Doric columns have no base and very little decoration on the column itself. The frieze, which is the horizontal band of space above the columns, is ornamented with triglyphs (vertical grooves) and metopes (a small square space for decorative elements).
• The Ionic order: The Ionic order features taller, narrower columns with a circular base and volutes—scroll-like ornamentation at the top of each column.
• The Corinthian order: Columns have an ornate capital (the topmost part of a column) that are bell-shaped and feature carvings of leaves and other natural elements.
• The Composite order: Columns feature a combination of the Ionic volutes and the Corinthian capital decorations.
• The Tuscan order: Tuscan columns are simple and plain with little to no ornamentation, and even the frieze is left plain.

Other general elements of the classical period of architecture include:

1. 1. Symmetry and proportions: Classical architecture followed the philosophy that all of the elements of a structure should have mathematically perfect proportions and harmonious symmetry.
2. 2. Facades and pediments: The front facade of a structure prominently feature columns and ornamentation, and the upper portion might have a triangular, arch-shaped structure called pediments that are sometimes decorated.
3. 3. Building materials: Classical structures are built with sturdy and durable materials, such as stone, brick, marble, and concrete.

Many of the ancient structures built in Greece and Rome are still standing today:

• The Parthenon: The Greeks built the Parthenon in Athens in the fifth century BCE. It features classic architecture in the Doric order with simple and unadorned columns. Although damaged over time, the Parthenon has been repaired by modern architects and can be visited today.
• The Erechtheion: The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple built to house the statue of Athena. It features ornate statues and columns of the Ionic order. It has suffered heavy damage after centuries of weathering, but much of the foundational structure is still standing.
• The Pantheon: The Pantheon, one of ancient Rome’s best-preserved monuments, was built during the Roman Empire and features ornamented columns of the Corinthian order and a large concrete dome. Many believe it was an ancient Roman temple, though its specific purpose is unclear.

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