Architectural Styles

When most people think of architecture they think of classical or formal architecture styles. However, architecture has many different architectural styles. For instance, an architecture style is simply a family of architectural styles that all share some aspects. For instance, N-tier is an architecture style where the architecture shares few similarities. Microservice architectures, however, have begun to gain more favor in recent years.

Traditional

Traditional architecture, sometimes called classical architecture, is the most well-known style of architecture throughout most of the world. In Western Europe, it can be seen in the French architecture tradition and in Italian architecture. The traditional architecture styles include the Classical style, the Baroque style, and the Gothic style. In addition, in Western Europe, the Classic architecture styles include the Greek architecture, theRomanian revival architecture, and French cathedrals.

Gothic

Another prominent type of architecture is the Gothic architecture style. Gothic architecture is characterized by rectangles and concentric circles. The main geometric feature of Gothic architecture is the use of arches. Arches are a common feature found in Gothic architecture, such as those found in the Roman Catholic Church. Gothic architecture styles are sometimes characterized by thick, pointed forms and the use of many decorative ironwork elements. Unlike the traditional architecture styles, Gothic arches are not normally straight, but are usually slightly arched.

 

A relatively modern style of architecture is the baroque style. Baroque architecture styles take after the French architecture style, which was introduced to Western Europe in the late 18th century. Unlike classic and Gothic architecture styles, baroque architecture does not emphasize a single central focus, as in the Gothic style. However, many common design features of baroque architecture are found in both classic and Gothic styles, including the use of thick doorways and staircases.

 

Another architecture styles that may be considered as authentic are the Classical architecture styles, which existed in Western Europe during the period of the Middle Ages. These styles are similar to the Roman Empire in its early days, as they were also developed from the same architecture styles that were used by the Romans. An approximate time period for Classical architecture can be placed at roughly between the 3rd and 7th centuries, based on the writings of the classical scholars.

 

One of the most common forms of architecture styles in Europe today is the art nouveau style. This style is typified by smaller constructions, such as those seen in buildings constructed during the French Renaissance. Due to the popularity of this type of building, it can be estimated that the art nouveau style was developed during the golden age of European architecture during the later half of the th century.

 

The age of industrial revolution prompted changes in architecture styles throughout Europe. A new style emerged during this period, known as the Neoclassicism architecture style. Neoclassicism was the most popular choice among the industrial revolution, and was typified by an increased use of metal in the construction of structures. Neoclassicism is commonly referred to as the “school of Rome”, due to the fact that many famous works of the Italian master builders were influenced by the works of this architectural style.

 

Other architectural styles included in this discussion include the Baroque and the Post-Reformation styles. The Baroque style was introduced as a reaction to the excesses of the romans in architecture, and their stylized depictions of nature. The Post-Reformation architecture styles were founded on the idea of proportional, rather than absolute proportion, and their greatest influence came from the papacy.

Baroque

The main characteristic of the Baroque style is the use of an abundance of ornamentation. Buildings of this style were characterized by overhanging roofs, which were intended to catch sunlight in order to keep them warm during cold winter nights. The craftsman often placed skylights on the roofs to allow natural light into the house, and to keep the inside cool. Baroque houses often had chimneys and other venting systems built into them for the same reason.

 

The third of the major European architectural styles was the rustic. This style emphasized simple, natural materials, such as stone, wood and ceramics. Although this architecture style was very attractive to the eyes, it was also prone to theft, since many of the carpenters who created these homes for the lower classes were poor themselves. Rustic architecture became very popular as a result of the rise and popularity of the Reformed religion, which it was believed would one day eradicate its old corrupt superstitions.

Functional

The final among the major four architectural styles was the service-oriented architecture. This style was characterized by simple, functional designs, such as flat roofs and single-story homes with more space for the individuals in the workforce. Service-oriented architecture was created as an alternative to the grandeur of European buildings and caters to the needs of the working class. However, the stylized nature of service-oriented architecture often clashes with the more intricate design patterns found in the ancient works of the great masters. These design patterns eventually became the modern code base for all American architectural styles, including the Craftsman style.