Brick and stone 12113 The most basic of building materials are those that come from the ground,either found as part of the landscape (such as stone),or sourced from the earth(such as clay, which can then be moulded into bricks).Architecture built from such materials will literally become a part of its surrounding landscape.Other rocks or stones such as granite or marble (which are mined or quarried)can also be incorporated into designs to produce architecture that is strongly connected to its place of origin. Perhaps surprisingly,stone is a versatile material.It can be used for a structure's ground surface,walls and roof (if carefully selected and cut);it can be shaped or sliced into thin slabs or heavy monolithic blocks,and its Title:Entrance of the Natural History Museum physical properties mean that it retains heat in the winter Location:London,UK and remains cool in the summer.Additionally,there is Architects:Alfred Waterhouse a degree of symbolism associated with stone.It is often Dates:1830 used for memorials or to mark a point in the landscape Terracotta tiles were used on the because it has a timeless,indestructible quality,which interior and exterior walls of London's suggests a degree of permanence and solidity. Natural History Museum,serving both decorative and practical Stone and brick structures characteristically highlight functions.The museum's entrance is constructed from a range of different their materials as key building components because they coloured bricks that have been laid form a series of clearly visible pieces that belong to the using many different courses to bigger jigsaw of the architecture.There is a building highlight the horizontality'of the building.Decorative features,also protocol that is specifically associated with brick and constructed from tile and marble. stone architecture.For example,openings in stone walls serve to create a highly adorned and need to be supported with lintels;and in brick walls, three-dimensional effect. an arch is used to support material under compression. Regardless of advances in construction technologies, stone or brick buildings will retain their sense of place within the context of the natural environment.Although it may have been shaped or adjusted by the mason or the craftsman,stone is nature's found'material and brick is the earth moulded-as such it is the closest that the architect can get to nature's grain
12 |13 C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 10/4/08 11:09 AM Page 13 Title: Entrance of the Natural History Museum Location: London, UK Architects: Alfred Waterhouse Dates: 1830 Terracotta tiles were used on the interior and exterior walls of London’s Natural History Museum, serving both decorative and practical functions. The museum’s entrance is constructed from a range of different coloured bricks that have been laid using many different courses to highlight the ‘horizontality’ of the building. Decorative features, also constructed from tile and marble, serve to create a highly adorned and three-dimensional effect. Brick and stone The most basic of building materials are those that come from the ground, either found as part of the landscape (such as stone), or sourced from the earth (such as clay, which can then be moulded into bricks). Architecture built from such materials will literally become a part of its surrounding landscape. Other rocks or stones such as granite or marble (which are mined or quarried) can also be incorporated into designs to produce architecture that is strongly connected to its place of origin. Perhaps surprisingly, stone is a versatile material. It can be used for a structure’s ground surface, walls and roof (if carefully selected and cut); it can be shaped or sliced into thin slabs or heavy monolithic blocks, and its physical properties mean that it retains heat in the winter and remains cool in the summer. Additionally, there is a degree of symbolism associated with stone. It is often used for memorials or to mark a point in the landscape because it has a timeless, indestructible quality, which suggests a degree of permanence and solidity. Stone and brick structures characteristically highlight their materials as key building components because they form a series of clearly visible pieces that belong to the bigger jigsaw of the architecture. There is a building protocol that is specifically associated with brick and stone architecture. For example, openings in stone walls need to be supported with lintels; and in brick walls, an arch is used to support material under compression. Regardless of advances in construction technologies, stone or brick buildings will retain their sense of place within the context of the natural environment. Although it may have been shaped or adjusted by the mason or the craftsman, stone is nature’s ‘found’ material and brick is the earth moulded – as such it is the closest that the architect can get to nature’s grain. Brick and stone › Concrete TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1108-61 / 4239 ~ 3rd Proof C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:46 PM Page 13
Timeline:brick and stone 3100-2500BC c.2560BC c.1530BC Skara Brae,Scotland Great Pyramid of Giza,Egypt Hypostyle Hall,Egypt This Neolithic village is located Built by the Ancient Egyptians as The Hypostyle Hall is part of in Orkney (off the north coast of tombs for their Pharaohs,the pyramids a complex of buildings situated Scotland).It comprises a series of at Giza were constructed from huge in Karnak,near Luxor,Egypt. living spaces that are lined with stone limestone blocks that were brought to The complex comprises a number and covered with earth.Within the the site along the River Nile.A rough of temples built over a period of living spaces there are shelves, limestone was used for the main core 1300 years.The Hypostyle Hall is an seating areas and evidence of tables of the pyramids and a finer,white impressive 28-metre-high structure all made from stone.Skara Brae limestone with a polished finish was containing a seres of papyrus is one of the earliest examples of used as the outer stone. columns made from sandstone, a complete stone settlement. which would have originally supported a stone roof. 1420 1514-1737 1566-1571 Cupola (of the Basilica di Santa Hampton Court Palace,England Villa Rotunda,Italy Maria del Fiore),Italy Various architects Andrea Palladio Filippo Brunelleschi Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi,the Successive monarchs from the early Andrea Palladio's Villa Rotunda cupola of the Basilica di Santa Maria 16th century have developed this has a completely symmetrical plan del Fiore in Florence,Italy,consists palace.It comprises a series of and a circular hall roofed with of a double-walled dome made of houses,courtyards and surrounding a dome.This Renaissance-style several million bricks,with large formal gardens that were expanded building was made from stone and stones supporting the main structure. to accommodate bishops (at first) heavily influenced by Greek and The base of the dome is held in and then royalty and their families Roman temples in terms of its tension with iron chains. and servants.The buildings are materiality and proportion. pue made of brick,with stone and brick structures added over successive generations
C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 10/4/08 12:47 PM Page 14 Timeline: brick and stone Brick and stone c.2560 BC Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt Built by the Ancient Egyptians as tombs for their Pharaohs, the pyramids at Giza were constructed from huge limestone blocks that were brought to the site along the River Nile. A rough limestone was used for the main core of the pyramids and a finer, white limestone with a polished finish was used as the outer stone. c.1530 BC Hypostyle Hall, Egypt The Hypostyle Hall is part of a complex of buildings situated in Karnak, near Luxor, Egypt. The complex comprises a number of temples built over a period of 1300 years. The Hypostyle Hall is an impressive 28-metre-high structure containing a series of papyrus columns made from sandstone, which would have originally supported a stone roof. 1420 Cupola (of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore), Italy Filippo Brunelleschi Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the cupola of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, Italy, consists of a double-walled dome made of several million bricks, with large stones supporting the main structure. The base of the dome is held in tension with iron chains. 1514–1737 Hampton Court Palace, England Various architects Successive monarchs from the early 16th century have developed this palace. It comprises a series of houses, courtyards and surrounding formal gardens that were expanded to accommodate bishops (at first) and then royalty and their families and servants. The buildings are made of brick, with stone and brick structures added over successive generations. 1566–1571 Villa Rotunda, Italy Andrea Palladio Andrea Palladio’s Villa Rotunda has a completely symmetrical plan and a circular hall roofed with a dome. This Renaissance-style building was made from stone and heavily influenced by Greek and Roman temples in terms of its materiality and proportion. 3100–2500 BC Skara Brae, Scotland This Neolithic village is located in Orkney (off the north coast of Scotland). It comprises a series of living spaces that are lined with stone and covered with earth. Within the living spaces there are shelves, seating areas and evidence of tables, all made from stone. Skara Brae is one of the earliest examples of a complete stone settlement. TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-172 / 3173 ~ 2nd Proof C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:46 PM Page 14
14115 c.70-80 1163-1250 c.1300 Coliseum,Italy Notre Dame de Paris,France Piazza della Signoria,Italy Maurice de Sully This amphitheatre was built as an Built on an island in the River Seine. The Piazza della Signoria is an arena for public spectacles and Notre Dame de Paris is widely L-shaped square in front of the gladiator contests.The exterior was considered one of the finest Palazzo Vecchio in Florence,Italy. made of travertine stone and the examples of French Gothic The piazza originally had a surface interior areas were later built from architecture in the world.The made of ancient brick and the brick.Originally,the building had cathedral has two towers at its front buildings that surround it are made wooden floors and temporary and also a distinctive rose window. of marble.This square has become structures built within it. It is built of cut stone and uses flying an open-air museum with a range buttresses (a type of external framing of statues and art works on display. system),to support the exterior walls 1859 1906-1910 1960 Red House,England Casa Mila,Spain The Salk Institute,USA Philip Webb Antonio Gaudi Louis Kahn pue Philip Webb designed this house, Constructed almost entirely from Kahn used baked brick in the 6 which is located in Kent,England, locally-sourced stone,Casa Mila building of this Califomian college for William Morris.Webb specified was a residential building designed campus.The campus contains a the use of local materials and by Antonio Gaudi.The walls are series of buildings for teaching and craftsmen (as part of the arts and sculpted in a distinctive,biomorphic accommodation that have been crafts tradition)to realise the building. fashion and suggest an almost constructed using traditional building pue which referenced a local style of wave-like form.The building's roof techniques.The modemist complex architecture.The house is made is also of note:its chimneys appear consists of two symmetrical buildings from brick with arched openings and as abstract pieces of sculpture with a stream of water flowing in the a clay-tiled roof. producing a surreal landscape on middle of a courtyard that separates the Barcelona skyline. the two
14 |15 C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 10/4/08 12:47 PM Page 15 Timeline: brick and stone › Origins and chronology 1163–1250 Notre Dame de Paris, France Maurice de Sully Built on an island in the River Seine, Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world. The cathedral has two towers at its front and also a distinctive rose window. It is built of cut stone and uses flying buttresses (a type of external framing system), to support the exterior walls. c.1300 Piazza della Signoria, Italy The Piazza della Signoria is an L-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The piazza originally had a surface made of ancient brick and the buildings that surround it are made of marble. This square has become an open-air museum with a range of statues and art works on display. 1859 Red House, England Philip Webb Philip Webb designed this house, which is located in Kent, England, for William Morris. Webb specified the use of local materials and craftsmen (as part of the arts and crafts tradition) to realise the building, which referenced a local style of architecture. The house is made from brick with arched openings and a clay-tiled roof. 1906–1910 Casa Mila, Spain Antonio Gaudí Constructed almost entirely from locally-sourced stone, Casa Mila was a residential building designed by Antonio Gaudí. The walls are sculpted in a distinctive, biomorphic fashion and suggest an almost wave-like form. The building’s roof is also of note: its chimneys appear as abstract pieces of sculpture producing a surreal landscape on the Barcelona skyline. 1960 The Salk Institute, USA Louis Kahn Kahn used baked brick in the building of this Californian college campus. The campus contains a series of buildings for teaching and accommodation that have been constructed using traditional building techniques. The modernist complex consists of two symmetrical buildings with a stream of water flowing in the middle of a courtyard that separates the two. c.70–80 Coliseum, Italy This amphitheatre was built as an arena for public spectacles and gladiator contests. The exterior was made of travertine stone and the interior areas were later built from brick. Originally, the building had wooden floors and temporary structures built within it. TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-10 / 3173 ~ 1st Proof C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:46 PM Page 15
Origins and chronology Some of the earliest settlements and architectural structures that survive are made of stone.The Skara Brae site in Orkney,Scotland,is Europe's most complete example of a Neolithic village;it dates back to around 3100 BC and consists of approximately ten stone-built dwellings.Found stone was lifted,stacked,sized and carved to create the walls,roof and even the furniture within the dwellings. Brick Traditionally,bricks were manufactured by placing mud in simple wooden frames and allowing these to 'bake'in the sun.In many countries this method of manufacture is still used.One of the earliest examples(c.7050 BC)of the use of such shaped bricks was found in a Neolithic settlement in southern Turkey.Kiln-fired bricks are believed to have arisen in the Middle East several thousand years later. Fired bricks were further developed by the Romans to allow them to engineer structures such as aqueducts,which required arches to be built within the structure.As they are much more resistant to cold and moist weather conditions, fired bricks enabled the construction of permanent buildings in regions where harsher climates had precluded the use of Project:The Great Wall Location:Shanhaiguan (east) mud bricks.Bricks have the added benefit of slowly storing to Lop Nur (west),China heat energy from the sun during the day and continuing to Date:From the fifth century BC release heat for several hours after sunset. to the 16th century During the 15th and 17th centuries in much European The Great Wall was constructed over a vast geographical area and the architecture brick was usually covered by plaster. materials used were locally sourced. It was not until the late 18th century,with the start of the Quarried limestone block was used Industrial Revolution,that brick was once again used in the areas of wall near Beijing: other sites saw quaried granite and expressively in construction. fired brick used as key building materials.In particularly remote Modern architecture increasingly uses concrete-and steel- areas that had a lack of locally frame structures to achieve ever larger and taller buildings; available materials,rammed earth however,brick remains a popular and frequently used was used for construction. material for small-scale buildings such as domestic houses
C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 10/4/08 11:09 AM Page 16 Origins and chronology Brick and stone Some of the earliest settlements and architectural structures that survive are made of stone. The Skara Brae site in Orkney, Scotland, is Europe’s most complete example of a Neolithic village; it dates back to around 3100 BC and consists of approximately ten stone-built dwellings. Found stone was lifted, stacked, sized and carved to create the walls, roof and even the furniture within the dwellings. Brick Traditionally, bricks were manufactured by placing mud in simple wooden frames and allowing these to ‘bake’ in the sun. In many countries this method of manufacture is still used. One of the earliest examples (c.7050 BC) of the use of such shaped bricks was found in a Neolithic settlement in southern Turkey. Kiln-fired bricks are believed to have arisen in the Middle East several thousand years later. Fired bricks were further developed by the Romans to allow them to engineer structures such as aqueducts, which required arches to be built within the structure. As they are much more resistant to cold and moist weather conditions, fired bricks enabled the construction of permanent buildings in regions where harsher climates had precluded the use of mud bricks. Bricks have the added benefit of slowly storing heat energy from the sun during the day and continuing to release heat for several hours after sunset. During the 15th and 17th centuries in much European architecture brick was usually covered by plaster. It was not until the late 18th century, with the start of the Industrial Revolution, that brick was once again used expressively in construction. Modern architecture increasingly uses concrete- and steelframe structures to achieve ever larger and taller buildings; however, brick remains a popular and frequently used material for small-scale buildings such as domestic houses. Project: The Great Wall Location: Shanhaiguan (east) to Lop Nur (west), China Date: From the fifth century BC to the 16th century The Great Wall was constructed over a vast geographical area and the materials used were locally sourced. Quarried limestone block was used in the areas of wall near Beijing; other sites saw quarried granite and fired brick used as key building materials. In particularly remote areas that had a lack of locally available materials, rammed earth was used for construction. TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-172 / 3173 ~ 2nd Proof C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:46 PM Page 16
16117 Stone The earliest stone structures were defensive structures. Stone is solid,heavy and creates a sense of safety and security.Structures such as the Great Wall of China(parts of which date back to the fifth century BC)still remain as powerful divisions in the landscape.In some areas,the Great Wall was constructed using rammed earth that was dressed in local stone.It was both practical(defining boundaries and territories)and symbolic
16 |17 C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 10/4/08 11:09 AM Page 17 Stone The earliest stone structures were defensive structures. Stone is solid, heavy and creates a sense of safety and security. Structures such as the Great Wall of China (parts of which date back to the fifth century BC) still remain as powerful divisions in the landscape. In some areas, the Great Wall was constructed using rammed earth that was dressed in local stone. It was both practical (defining boundaries and territories) and symbolic. TEXT BLACK (AVA): Basics Architecture C + M CD1008-10 / 3173 ~ 1st Proof C+M chapter 1 (12-39)_.qxd 3/11/09 5:46 PM Page 17