Forms and Functions of Architecture

THEME: Forms and Functions of Architecture

“Architecture, of all arts, is the one which acts the most slowly,

but  most surely on the soul.”

                                                                             Ernest Dimnet

Read, write and learn the following words and word combinations:

aesthetic quality естетична якість

to evolve розвиватися

to house забезпечувати житлом

inherent притаманний, властивий

skills навички, вміння

generation покоління

to exist існувати

in fair number у достатній кількості

appearance зовнішній вигляд

contemporary сучасний

heritage спадщина

triple потрійний

consequently отже, як наслідок

interrelated  взаємопов'язані

simultaneously одночасно

inventive engineer інженер-винахідник

 Read and translate the text.

Architecture is the science of designing and building structures or ensembles according to aesthetic and functional criteria. Structures built in accordance with such principles are also architecture. Architecture is the art and the science of building. Without consideration or 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 beginnings of architecture many skills, systems and theories have been evolved for the construction of the buildings that have housed nations and generations of men in all their essential activities, 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 and aims to guide the architect is the work of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, written in the first century В. C.

Architecture – is an art, its contemporary expression must be creative and consequently new. The heritage of the past cannot be ignored, but it must be ехpressed in contemporary terminology. The paradox of the coexistence of change and survival is evident in all phases of the human story. 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. It is impossible for the true architect to think of one of them without almost automatically considering the other two as well. 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. The architect must always study each detail from the viewpoints of both use and appearance as well as from that of construction, he must continuously see it not as an isolated detail but as an individual note in a great composition.

The architect has the task of being an artist as well as an inventive engineer. The triple nature of architectural design (convenience, strength, beauty) is one of the reasons why architecture is a difficult art; for it takes a special type of imagination as well as long years of training and experience to produce a designer capable of making the requisite in the light of these three factors – use, construction, and aesthetic effect – simultaneously. The designer must have a sufficient knowledge of engineering and of building materials to enable him to create economically  strong as well as practical structure and, in addition, 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.

Choose the correct variant.

1. In his book the Roman architect Vitruvius wrote about …

a) the principles of designing  buildings

b) the principles of constructing the best structures

c)  the principles of housing nations and generations of men in all their essential activities

2. Such factor in architecture as  strength is …

a) primary

b) not primary

c) less important than beauty

3. Any building exists for …

a) human use

b) definite human activities

c) some particular purposes

4. Planning may control the environment by the  design of architectural forms that may … the effects of natural forces.

a) foresee

b) modify

c) require

5. The architects must foresee destructive potentialities such as fire, earthquake, flood to make buildings …

a) beautiful

b) useful

c) habitable

6. A … house has separate areas for cooking, eating, storage, sleeping and recreation.

a) primitive

b) modern

c) ancient

Fill in the gaps using the words below. There is one choice you don’t need to use.

   true   appearance  science   study   admit    beauty   separate

1. Books on the aesthetic … of buildings exist in fair number.

2. There are windows to … light and air.

3. Architecture is the art and the ... of building.

4. The architect must always … each detail from the viewpoints of use, appearance and construction.

5. The value of … architecture lies in the direct effect of the structure itself and of the actual elements of which it is constructed.

6. Three basic factors in architecture are convenience, strength and … .

Match the words with  their definitions.

1. architecture                

2. town planning             

3. built environment         

4. pedestrian 

5. environment

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

b) the style and design of a building or buildings

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

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

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