ARCHITECTS AND ARCHITECTURE

ТЕМА: Architect and Architecture

Vocabulary:

craftsmanship майстерність

landscape пейзаж

scope масштаб, розмах, сфера

cornice карниз

gable фронтон

border кромка

Read and translate the following text:

ARCHITECTURE

Architecture (in Greek αρχή = first and τέχνη = craftsmanship) is the art and science of designing buildings and structures. A wider definition would include within its scope the design of the total built environment, from the macro level of town planning, urban design, and landscape architecture to the micro level of furniture.

According to the very earliest surviving work on the subject, Vitruvius' De Architectura, good building should have Beauty (Venustas), Firmness (Firmitas) and Utility (Utilitas); architecture can be said to be a balance and coordination among these three elements, with none overpowering the others. A modern day definition sees architecture as addressing aesthetic, structural and functional considerations.

However, looked at another way, function itself is seen as encompassing all criteria, including aesthetic and psychological ones. Architecture is a multi-disciplinary field, including within its fold mathematics, science, art, technology, social sciences, politics, history, philosophy, and so on. In Vitruvius' words, "Architecture is a science, arising out of many other sciences, and adorned with much and varied learning: by the help of which a judgement is formed of those works which are the result of other arts". He adds that an architect should be well versed in fields such as music, astronomy, etc. Philosophy is a particular favourite; in fact one frequently refers to the philosophy of each architect when one means the approach. Rationalism, empiricism, structuralism, poststructuralism, and phenomenology are some directions from philosophy influencing architecture.

Architecture is also the art of designing the human built environment. Buildings, landscaping, and street designs may be used to impart both functional as well as aesthetic character to a project. Siding and roofing materials and colors may be used to enhance or blend buildings with the environment. Building features such as cornices, gables, entrances, and window treatments and borders may be used to soften or enhance portions of a building. Landscaping may be used to create privacy and block direct views from or to a site and enhance buildings with colorful plants and trees. Street side features such as decorative lighting, benches, meandering walkways, and bicycle lanes may either enhance or degrade the experience of a project site for passersby, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Match words with definitions.

1. architecture a) someone who is walking, especially along a street or other place used by cars

2. town planning b) the style and design of a building or buildings

3. built environment c) the air, water, and land on Earth, which can be harmed by man's activities

4. pedestrian d) places where there are buildings and roads, and not the countryside

5. environment e) the study of the way towns work, so that roads, houses, services etc can be provided as effectively as possible

Fill in the gaps using words below.

privacy , architect, including, designing, professional, science

Architecture is the art and 1)____________ of designing buildings and structures. Architecture is a multi-disciplinary field, 2)____________ mathematics, science, art, technology, social sciences, politics, history, philosophy, and so on. An 3) __________ should be an expert in music, astronomy and philosophy. Architecture is also the art of 4)___________ the human built environment. Landscaping may be used to create 5)_________ and block direct views from or to a site and add to buildings colourful plants and trees.