Architecture Courses | Service-Oriented Architecture

Service-oriented architecture, or SOA, is a hot topic in business today. You may have read about service-oriented architectures and be wondering how they can affect your business as well as how they can be of use to you. By looking at it from both a real-world perspective as well as a technical perspective, you will forge a solid understanding of service-oriented architecture from which you can jump off to implementing this technology within your business.

Defining Service-Oriented Architectures

Essentially, a service is the implementation of some step in one or more business processes, and a service-oriented architecture takes advantage of those services. More importantly, service-oriented architectures have many benefits for businesses, including enabling better alignment of business requirements and technology. Service-oriented architectures also allow services to be easily swapped out or reused for different purposes. And a service-oriented architecture gives your business the ability to leverage existing services easily while also leaving the option to write new services to fulfill specific purposes.

Service-oriented architectures rely heavily on programming in XML, a text-based mark up language that enables developers to define their own specific structure of data. However, one major benefit of setting up a service-oriented architecture is that it doesn't matter which language or protocol is used. Instead, the process can be written to be able to be used across many platforms.

One simple example of service-oriented architecture would be a program that installed on a computer that can organize a user's digital music library. The program may work best if it has access to the Internet and can utilize a service - looking up the name of a CD or song title in a large music database, for example, or giving access to an online store that uses the same database in a different manner. Service-oriented architectures are essentially about giving existing services new functionality.

How Service-Oriented Architectures Can Benefit a Business

When used by businesses, service-oriented architectures can make it possible for the establishment of, for example, a complete online registration process. This process could include a way to send the registrant an email with specific directions to the facility without requiring the person to go to a third-party website for that information. Instead, a program could be written to pull the information directly from the registration application, reference the third-party website, and seamlessly integrate the response into the confirmation email.

The same could hold true for weather information - the program could give the user information about the weather based on both the user's zip code and the zip code for the location of the training. This would enable the business to offer a value-added service in its emails - the weather information would be provided directly, rather than from a third-party site that the end user would have to access independently, and would be personalized. Other items involved in the service-oriented architecture could include scheduling, registration, and credit card processing.

Services could also allow different ways to access a single database. Using a real-world example of service-oriented architecture, a company could make its database of books and music available to outside users as a service, and the users could choose to create processes that pull particular information out of that database. For example, someone could create a process that allows visitors to a website to search an artist name within that larger database, and the results returned would only encompass information relating to compact discs, rather than to book titles that also mentioned the name.

Taking an example of service-oriented architecture from the business world, a database of courses could be utilized as a service to give different individuals access to different aspects of the database in different manners. Trainers, for example, could be given access to a thick client application that enables them to search a complete database, including courses that are not made available to the public. The public, on the other hand, could be given access to a web-based application through which it could search for courses falling on particular dates or covering particular topics. And sales people could be given even a different way to access that database to find out not only when courses are available but in which locations, leading to weather information and driving directions. All of this could be accomplished seamlessly using service-oriented architectures, without needing to create multiple databases for multiple users.

Making Adjustments More Easily with Service-Oriented Architectures

One difference between a service-oriented architecture and a more traditional development mode is that service-oriented architectures allow a company to hand over a more focused set of requirements to its IT team. In addition, while the full establishment of a service-oriented architecture can take an extended period of time, an individual service can be built in a few weeks. This means that there is room for easier adjustments to be made on a service and time for mistakes to be caught earlier in the process, which can further benefit a business.

Conclusion

Essentially, a service-oriented architecture can be a huge benefit for any company that uses Web-based applications. It can provide new functionality for programs written on outdated platforms and it can save developers time in not needing to write new processes when useful ones already are in existence. While service-oriented architectures may be the hot topic of the moment, it seems clear that they will continue to be an important part of business for many years to come.

About the Author

Charlie Fink is the vice president of product development and delivery for WestLake Training and Development. He has been designing and developing leading software solutions for over 15 years and has also developed client training focused on use and support of custom software systems. Prior to joining WestLake, Charlie was the vice president and chief product architect for the Arlington Group, as well as a principal of AEC software. To learn more about information technology training, please visit http://www.westlaketraining.com.

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Architecture Courses | Typical Golf Course Architecture

The vast majority of golf courses today have 18 holes as a staple of their golf course architecture. There are however, a few courses still around that have only nine holes... this usually comes about as a result of the budget available to build the course or the land available at the time the golf course architecture is laid out.

In the beginning seaside golf course architecture was referred to as links type golf courses. This is because these golf courses were the link between the sea and the farmland.

Most typical golf courses are between 5,000 and 7,000 yards long. Of course, there are still a few monster courses out there that are longer, but I would suggest if you're just starting out that you leave those types of courses to the better players... or those monster mash type of fun golf outings.

The architecture of golf courses are set up so that every hole you play will either be par three, par four or a par 5. If you're thinking of a par two, you're thinking of miniature golf... and if you're thinking of a par six, well... there may be a few out there used as gimmicks as part of the golf course architecture; but by and large they are rare.

Par refers to the amount of strokes a reasonably competent player should use in order to get the golf ball from the green to the inside of the cup.

The thing to keep in mind with par is that essentially par is based on two of those strokes being putting strokes... three putts isn't good, and one putting is the goal.

If you stop and think about it for a moment and do the math, in a standard round of golf about half of the strokes allocated, are allocated putts. So, if you have visited my website it's no wonder why I put so much emphasis on practicing your putting.

Here's a quick tip then... if you want to immediately start shaving strokes off of your golf game, then practice your putting. Golf course architecture is laid out to put a premium on putting... part three's equal one full swing and two putts... par fours equal two full swings and two putts... par fives equal three full swings and two putts.

In the United States, most golf course architecture consists of total par being 72 strokes. This consists of 10 par fours, four par threes, and four par fives. Having said this you of course can find golf course architecture with total par being anywhere from 60 to 74... almost anything can go.

So get out there and start improving your golf game and you'll soon not only be enjoying the game more but you'll also be gaining a greater understanding and appreciation for the golf course architecture.

Discover the secrets of getting your golf game to the next level. Whether you're just beginning, need some fine tuning, or just tired of playing bad golf... I can help. Stop by http://www.golf-ology.com and stop wasting time trying to get better on your own... that's not a good plan. I doesn't matter what part of your game needs help, whether you need golf tips your long game, your mid game, or your short game, you'll find the golf tips and golf instruction that will get you off the tee an on the green.

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Architecture Courses | Architectural Rendering Courses

Given the popularity and the numerous benefits that computer-assisted architectural rendering provides, most architects and architecture students want to get the necessary training that they need so that they can do their own rendering. The good news is that there are a number of sources from which they can obtain the training that they need to be able to use computer-assisted architectural rendering.

One of these sources is the Internet, which offers a number of courses in architectural rendering. Among these courses, one of the most popular is training on how to use AutoCAD, which is the software that most people use in architectural rendering. As with other online courses, taking an online course in AutoCAD offers a number of advantages as well as some disadvantages.

Advantages and disadvantages of online courses

One of the advantages in taking an AutoCAD course online is that you can learn the program at your own pace from your own home or office, which makes it very convenient for you. In addition to this, you can still continue with the course even if you are out of town or in another country because all you need is an Internet connection and your laptop. Moreover, the cost of an online course, which is about $700 per course, is cheaper compared to going to a campus because going to campuses involves incurring other costs apart from tuition fees.

However, there are also some disadvantages in taking an online AutoCAD course. One of these is that, given that you can take the course on your own time, there may be times when you will find it hard to find the motivation to learn the course. In addition to this, getting answers to your questions may take some time because your professors may only be able to answer your queries after a period of about 12 to 24 hours.

Given the demand for computer-assisted architectural rendering, there are now a number of sources from which people can access courses to teach them how to use the tools they need for architectural rendering, which includes programs like AutoCAD. However, apart from the advantages that online courses bring, there are also some disadvantages that people need to be aware of so that they can prepare for the responsibility of taking an online course.

Architectural Rendering provides detailed information on Architectural Rendering, 3D Architectural Rendering, Digital Architectural Rendering, Architectural Rendering Software and more. Architectural Rendering is affiliated with CAD Software.

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Architecture Courses | Architecture

Architecture is the designing of buildings within cultural, social and historical constraints prevalent at the time of construction. American architecture experienced an influence of different styles and as a result today is a complex summation of multiple traditions and techniques.

When the first European immigrants entered the new continent, the Native Americans already had their architectural traditions in the forms of tipi, longhouses and pueblos. The immigrants followed with their own building standards of the countries they had come from but by the 18th century the rule of reason and practical planning took over. The mid-19th century saw stylistic Romantic period revivals of Grecian and Gothic forms. This was also the period for rapid urbanization and construction of row houses, multifamily tenements, lodgings, and the architectural innovation of the period: the skyscrapers. The first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1884 and the first modern architect and designer of these early towers was Louis Sullivan. His most talented student was Frank Lloyd Wright, spawning a generation of followers.

By the 1930s, with the emigration of European architects to America before World War II, architecture underwent an oblivious shift to an austere and functional approach referred to as International design. The post war era saw a sudden shift in the reversal of architectural designs, with skyscrapers touching unprecedented heights, buildings displaying new colors and ornamental motifs, and motivating an innovative breed of architects willing to experiment with designs and elements. The architectural design and style of the 21st century has no boundaries, ranging from Mediterranean, French country chateaux, Modern glass and wood designs, Victorian or English Tudor, Florida and Villa estates, castles, Georgian mansions, and skyscrapers. The love of open greens made architecture turn outwards, with landscape architecture concerning itself with the design of outdoor public and private spaces.

Practical experience coupled with architecture courses offered by colleges and schools is helping to open up avenues for the fascinating career of architecture.

Architecture provides detailed information on Architecture, Architecture Designs, Architecture Schools, Landscape Architecture and more. Architecture is affiliated with Residential Architects [http://www.Architects-Web.com].

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Architecture Courses | Landscape Architecture Education

If you are seeking a landscape architecture education then you should know about some of the diverse courses that you will encounter while enrolled in a landscape architecture school.

For starters, candidates who are interested in the field of landscape architecture will need to attain extensive education and training to acquire gainful employment. In most cases, a quality landscape architecture education will lead to a Bachelor's or Master's degree.

In addition to general education, the typical curriculum in a landscape architecture course would include: construction and design of landscape, geology, management, landscape ecology, urban/regional development, agriculture, historical aspects regarding landscape architecture, plant and soil sciences, environmental engineering and other relevant studies.

Since 2004, nearly all states in America require licensure or registration of architects and landscape architects. Upon successful completion of landscape architecture school and applicable work experience, students may obtain their registration when they sit for the Landscape Architect Registration Examination (L.A.R.E.).

A thorough landscape architecture education enables future architects to design buildings, roadways and sidewalks, prominent parks and playgrounds, industrial parks, shopping centers, school campuses, and more. Career prospects are promising, as job growth is anticipated to be faster than average through the coming years.

If you would like to learn more about Landscape Architecture Education or even Online Landscape Architecture Schools , you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Landscape Architecture Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

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Architecture Courses | Architecture Training

Students considering architecture training programs might consider looking into offerings by technical, trade, and vocational schools or community colleges. Enrolling in a trade school, students can earn certificates, diplomas, or Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degrees in Architecture. In just months, students can complete an architecture course and be on their way to a professional career in the building and construction industry.

Architecture schools provide students with courses tailored to learning architectural design, various technologies, and building sciences. Students taking architecture training can anticipate gaining comprehensive skills in the use of Computer Assisted Drafting (CAD) software and three-dimensional visualization technology. Courses in graphic design, design theory, drafting and architecture, building and engineering, and communications can also be expected in architecture training programs of study.

Students who have successfully completed an architecture training program will be prepared for entry-level employment as Architecture Technicians, Assistant Project Managers, Building Materials Salesperson, Construction Assistants, Engineering Technicians, Estimators, and many other related occupations.

By furthering their architecture training at a trade or technical school, the student will be one step closer to fulfilling requisites for a career in architecture design and technology. Upon successful completion of vocational architectural training, the graduate may choose to transfer credits to a college or university and begin an architecture degree program to acquire Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Master of Arts (MA), or Master of Science (MS) degree in Architectural Engineering.

If you would like to learn more about Architecture Training, or even Online Architecture Schools, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Architecture Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

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Architecture Courses | Online Architecture Training

Many architectural schools require specialty on-the-job training and internships at almost every level, which takes three years.

Students who intend to take online accredited architecture training should check to find out whether the training is accredited from a valid institution or not. The process of taking architectural licensing exams becomes a bit easier if a student takes training from an accredited institution. Online architectural training helps students choose their career path in architecture.

There are many online courses available offering two-year, four-year as well as five-year programs. Taking a four-year bachelor degree program is considered to be a good choice, as it helps exploring options before deciding which graduate program in architecture would be suitable to take.

Scope of Online Architecture Training

Online architecture training can help aspiring architects achieve their career goals. It instructs students in the art and science of designing and constructing buildings. There are many busy people who wanted to pursue an architectural degree, but could not manage it due to lack of time. Online architecture training is the ideal choice for them as it is neither very expensive nor time consuming.

You can easily manage your studies while working. Most reputable institutions accredit all online architecture schools. In a number of regions, architects need to have taken an approved degree program to obtain a license.

Students considering online architecture training programs might also consider looking into options related to technical, vocational schools or community colleges offering online training. This offers a better chance for students to get good internships and placements.

If a student enrolls in a trade school, he or she can earn a certificate, diploma or degree as an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science in Architecture. This helps students save a lot of time, complete the architecture course and become independent, thereby making a mark in their chosen specialization.

Online architecture training programs offer students courses tailored to learn architectural design. They also update students on a range of modern technologies and building sciences. Students taking online training can expect a considerable gain in knowledge of comprehensive skills like using Computer Assisted Drafting software and three dimensional visualization technologies. Many online architecture-training programs also include graphic design, drafting, design theory and architecture as well as engineering and communication courses.

Employment Opportunities

Online architecture training programs offers a number of employment opportunities to students who have successfully completed their architecture training. Students are generally prepared for entry-level employment such as Architect Technicians, Building Material salesperson, construction assistants, estimators, engineering technicians and several other related professions.

With this online architecture training, you can work with a company or even start a business of your own, provided you have a working license recognized by the state.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

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Architecture Courses | Build a Dream Career in Architecture

In India, the construction and real estate is seeing a positive boom. The focus has shifted from just basic functionality to aesthetics, comfort, luxury and style. Hence, the demand for good architects is also on the rise. Architecture involves planning and designing of building and structures. A good architect can create marvels that remain as a testimony to his talent for ages. Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, pyramids of Egypt, Hotel Burj Al Arab, and many more like these are masterpieces of ancient and modern architecture. Today, architects need to blend their vision and dreams with materials to come up with structures that are high quality, with good functionality and environmentally friendly too.

Architects are required to design a variety of structures such as houses, apartments and colonies, shopping and commercial complexes, offices and industrial complexes, hospitals, hotels, airport terminals, schools etc. They are also required if a building has to be renovated or repaired. Thus, the demand for architects will never dwindle.

All those who are looking to make a career in this field have a few things to keep in mind. Ideally, students good at physics and mathematics are better suited to study architecture. To become an architect, one should have creativity with an interest towards designing. It is beneficial if one can also sketch and draw with a free hand. One should be socially and environmentally aware apart from being technically and mathematically sound to become a good architect. Of course, good communication skills, physical ability to work on the site, high concentration level, flexibility, patience, team spirit, responsibility and accountability can take one a long way in this field.

There are good training courses in architecture offered by institutes across India. To apply for a course, one should have completed higher secondary education with physics, chemistry, mechanical/ engineering drawing and mathematics, with a minimum of 60 percent marks. Most of the schools conduct entrance tests through national and state level entrance examinations. For entry to undergraduate programmes in government and private institutes, national level entrance examination is conducted by the Council of Architecture. However, there are separate state level tests too, such as one conducted by Tamil Nadu. Indian Institutes of Technology also offer architecture programmes. Entrance to these programmes is through the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) held in May each year. Other than theses, one has to appear for an aptitude test to ensure admission.

The degree course B.Arch is a 5 year course. After the graduate course, one can also study architecture at the post graduate course which varies from 18 months to 2 years.
There are various good institutes that offer courses in architecture. School of Planning & Architecture in New Delhi offers two Undergraduate Programmes leading to Bachelor's Degree in Architecture and Planning. The Bachelor of Architecture is a five-year programme. The school also offers the Master's and Doctoral Programmes in Architecture. SPA offers a 4-year programme in Bachelor of Planning.

Chandigarh College of Architecture (CCA) is another good institute. The college conducts a five year course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
The admission is made on the basis of the Common Entrance Test (CET) and Architecture Aptitude Test conducted by the Punjab University.

Based in Mumbai, the Sir J J School of Art conducts a 5-year course in Bachelor Of Architecture (B Arch). and a 3-year Master Of Architecture Degree. The institute also offers short term courses in computer education relevant to architecture after college hours.

Apart from these, there are other good schools like School of Architecture CEPT, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad; Lucknow University, Govt. College of Architecture; Goa University, College of Architecture; Indian Education Society's College of Architecture, Mumbai; Pune University, Marathwada Mitra Mandal College of Architecture; Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, School of Planning & Architecture, Hyderabad; Kerala University, College of Engineering, Thiruvananthpuram; Anna University, School of Architecture & Planning., Chennai; IPS Academy, School of Architecture, Indore; Bengal Engineering College, West Bengal; Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Gurgaon; Vastu Kala Academy, School of Architecture & Interior Designing, New Delhi.

Some architects go in for specialization in India and abroad. The fiels of specialization could be urban designing, regional planning, building engineering and management, architectural conservation, industrial design, landscape arhitecture, naval architecture, architecture concerning traffic and transport planning etc.

There are a lot of avenues to choose from for architects. There are opportunities available in government as well as private sectors. The government organisations include Public Works Department, the Archaeological Department, Ministry of Defence, Departments of Railways, Post and Telegraphs, Public Sector Undertakings, National Building Organisation, Town and Country Planning Organisation, National Institute of Urban Affairs, Housing and Urban Development Corporation, National Building Construction Corporation Ltd., City Development Authorities etc. One can also go or private practice and start own firm and become a successful architect. After all, it requires dreams and good vision to make a mark in this industry.

Geetika Jain writes on behalf of Shiksha.com. Shiksha.com is an education portal that connects education seeker with education provider. Shiksha.com has wide information over Architechture colleges, Professional colleges and courses. Its education forums enable its users to seek opinion of students, alumni and faculty of colleges and schools through College Groups and School Groups.

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Roman Architecture | Shaping the Face of Earth

Architecture is defined as the activity of designing and constructing buildings. It reflects the society and affects the way that society develops. Designing any kind of system is known as architecture. From the time immemorial the profession of architecture plays a key role in the developments of building, town planning, urban design and landscape architecture. It is actually the designing of a total built environment.

The profession of architecture was evolved for purposes like shelter, security, worship and lots more. Ancient people understood the need of buildings and slowly started building with the raw materials like rocks, trees etc. Gradually this turned into a profession of crafts. There were several eminent architects through out the world who gave a new look for the planet. Each country has different varieties of architects to their credits. If you look into the ancient civilizations to modern world there have tremendous changes. It is considered as cultural and political symbol of each country. Architectural works identify each country. Some of the important works are Great Wall of China, pyramids of Egypt, Taj Mahal of India etc which is still preserved as monuments.

Ancient Architectures like Egyptian, Greek, Indian, African, Etruscan, Inca, Maya, Persian, Roman, Sumerian etc are works which are still admired with pride. There are many attractive and wonderful works through out the world. Every architectural works had its own style. Almost all the works of Romans were based on the dome. African architectures resembled ancient Egyptians and by the 19th century European styles were adopted by African architects. Indian architectures are famous with temples, palaces and forts. Indian style of Architecture includes Hindu Temple Architecture, Islamic Architecture, western classical architecture and post modern architecture. But in Chinese architectural more emphasis was given to horizontal axis. Meanwhile European architecture has variety of works ranging from classical to Eclecticism. All the architectural works of all countries shows its culture, political and social set up.

Gradually after Second World War modern architecture became popular. According to some historians modern architecture was developed because of the social and political revolutions. But some others believe that it is because of the technology and engineering developments. The main reason for modern architecture development can be said to be the industrial revolution. New building material like iron, glass, steel and concrete played a key role in the modern architecture growth.

There are many architecture schools and colleges across the globe. Many people are interested to pursue their studies in architecture. With the fast developing world, architects have wide job opportunities. This is a profession where you can explore new ways of living, investigating new technologies, and materials and much more. Architecture is a person who has the power and influence on today's society. Big and small companies in architecture world require manpower that has creativity and skills. If you are person who needs to be a part of the development of the society then this is the right profession.

Find some informative articles and great videos on architecture, which helped humans reshape the face of the world.

Visit http://www.onarchitecture.tv now!

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Roman Architecture | The Influence of Roman Art on Antique Jewellery

Early Roman art was largely influenced by Greek, Etruscan, Native Italic, Egyptian and Middle Eastern people, and probably others as well. Some of the most well known early Roman art includes architecture, sculpture and painting. The Romans also began to create mosaics made of small pieces of tile, frescoes painted on plaster walls, and murals. Roman artists were apparently so impressed by Greek art that Roman artists began to copy the Greek style.

In works of sculpture, the Greeks were more abstract when depicting people. Roman artists worked harder to make the sculptures look more like the individuals they depicted. Although Roman art showed marked improvement after its influence from Greek artisans, the art created by ancient Roman artists may never have matched the quality of that of the Greeks.

The Romans conquered Greece about 146 B.C., after which many Greek artisans moved voluntarily to Rome and began to sell their works of art. The Romans captured other Greek artists and sold them as slaves. Such Greeks artists created artwork while toiling in indentured servitude. The free Greeks in Rome were unsurpassed in creating works of art, so much so that they found a ready and willing market for the sale of their work. Many of the Greek pieces of art made in Rome were original works, but others were simply imitations of then-famous originals.

Death masks were a Roman custom. Roman artists used such masks to create faces on the busts of deceased persons. Such busts were usually made of terra-cotta or bronze. Originally, the busts attempted simply to portray the image of the deceased person. However, the purpose in creating the busts changed over time. It become stylish to ally the image of the person depicted in the bust to service to the government. Later, the art form began to capture and combine the Roman zest for realism with Greek abstraction of form. At about the time of Tiberius, portrait busts began to show an increase not only in visual refinement, but also in psychological penetration.

The Eastern provinces of the Romans began a marked increase in influence. Middle Eastern influence appeared about 98 A.D. when artistic systems of continuous narration gained headway into Roman art.

Other influences over Roman art include the design and use of columns, equestrian statues, and the Oriental abstraction. The Christian influence on art in Rome included the use of fewer scenes of bloody battles, and more depictions of people looking upward toward heaven. Such Christian-created art usually had less emphasis on proper body proportions.

In Roman art, architecture began to change from simple to ornate, with the design overshadowing construction. Paintings found in Pompeii reveal that artwork contained large areas of plain colors, punctuated with scenes of brilliant colors. Often artwork emphasized sumptuousness or ornamentation, and golden jewelry and cameos became extremely popular.

To find out more about Antique Jewelry and Vineet Kaura visit Antique Jewelery Revealed

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Roman Architecture | Architectural Columns

Architectural columns are found on all types of buildings, such as magnificent homes, spectacular churches, resorts, and luxurious hotels. The reasons why they are still such popular elements are not hard to recognize: these elements bestow beauty, elegance, and an appearance of strength wherever they are found. But when was the column first invented? How have architectural columns changed in terms of how they are manufactured and used over the millennia. This article will provide a brief overview of the history and current status of the architectural feature known as the column.

The First Columns

The Greeks and Romans are often credited with inventing architectural columns, but it was actually the Egyptians that first crafted them. Working with stone, the Ancient Egyptians crafted massive columns that had the appearance of bundled reeds in approximately 2600 BC. The embellishments found on these elements suggest that, even back then, the craftsmen who built them were concerned with function and aesthetics. The columns later crafted by the Persians were even more elaborate, featuring capitals that depicted a variety of animals.

The Development of the Classical Column Orders

The reason why architectural columns are so often associated with the societies of Ancient Greece and Rome is that it was these civilizations that developed the designs that would eventually become known as the classical orders. Columns found on Greek and Roman buildings could be fluted, often included bases and meticulously carved capitals, and were frequently crowned with grand entablatures. Stone was the most frequently used column material, so these elements were obviously exceptionally heavy and difficult to transport and install. The architectural columns of the Greeks and Romans provided essential support to buildings, and had to be crafted to be capable of supporting an extraordinary amount of weight.

Architectural Columns Today

Some of the columns seen on buildings today are structural, but many are considered decorative, added to building exteriors and interiors for their aesthetic value. There are a few points with respect to these modern features that are worth noting here. The first is that, in recent decades, more lightweight materials have been invented. GFRP columns and GFRC columns, for instance, weigh much less than those crafted from stone. This has made the transportation and installation of columns easier than it was in the past. These materials are also moldable, which has made many more designs possible. Another important fact to note is that columns are now used in a larger number of applications. Once usually found on the outside of massive buildings, GFRP columns are now used to partition indoor areas, surround gazebos, and even mark the front doors of private homes.

Stromberg Architectural is the world's leading producer of architectural columns. The company also crafted the world's largest architectural columns for Caesers Palace in Las Vegas. Visit Stromberg Architectural Columns for more information.

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Roman Architecture | Norman Architecture

Norman Architecture, named so due to its roots in Normandy, arose in the Middle Ages. It began in the early 11th century and ended by the 12th century, following the Saxon architectural movement and preceding the Gothic movement. Norman architecture is a form of the prevailing Romanesque Architecture that was propagated by the Normans (or Vikings) who conquered England. Its development gave rise to large and impenetrable cathedrals, fortresses, castles, and fortifications.

The archetypal monastery building arose during this movement, with its squat buildings that were either rectangular or circular. For instance, the renowned abbey Mont-Saint-Michel was built in the Norman era. In fact, the majority of Norman Architecture is religious structures, from village churches to royal cathedrals. A hallmark of Norman churches is their cross-like shape, deriving from the Roman basilica pattern. These churches also had bell towers, or campaniles, which were built nearby the main church buildings.

The quintessential medieval castles are also a distinctly Norman innovation. They arose not only in England but also in Scotland, Ireland, Normandy, and even Italy. In Italy, however, Norman features were combined with Byzantine and Arabic styles, which made for less gloominess.

Norman Architecture is actually an outgrowth of Romanesque Architecture, which began in Lombardy, Italy. Romanesque derives much of its architecture from classic Roman styles, such as arches, vaults, columns, and arcades. It greatly utilized the rounded arch, a Roman invention. It also used a great variety of vault styles. The prevailing type was the barrel vault, a curved vault used widely in cloisters.

The building materials used in Norman Architecture mainly included stones, so as to give the buildings greater stability. These stones were uncut because there were no real architectural jobs, such as mason jobs, in the Norman era. Therefore, buildings were made up of large, irregularly shaped stones that contributed to their bulky look.

Norman roofs were vaulted, like their Roman predecessors. Vaults allowed for more balanced weight distribution across the roof. Norman buildings' adornment was minimal, though some architects used their chisels to carve a series of arches into walls. These were not actual arches, but carvings giving a trompe de l'oeil effect. Moreover, some architects carved moldings onto stone surfaces. A minority of architects even became so adroit with their chisel that they sculpted animals onto reliefs over doorways, or tympanums. Arches and columns were also minimally decorated elements. As the Norman movement reached its peak in the 12th century, however, it gave rise to more ornamentation. This ornamentation gradually culminated in the first stained glass windows in the 12th century, directly before the Gothic Architecture took hold.

Norman Architecture is additionally distinguished by very small windows. Before the Gothic movement, architects avoided installing large windows because it increased the chances of building collapse. Therefore, people who resided in Norman buildings were in extremely dim surroundings, using candles as their only source of light. It wasn't until the Gothic period that architects safely installed huge windows to let in an enormous quantity of light, giving cathedrals their celestial quality.

Yet, Romanesque and Norman Architecture also blazed new trails by installing much taller buildings, such as castles and cathedrals, which were the largest structures in Europe at that point. These buildings were usually square and inhabited by guards who worked as night watchmen, scanning the surrounding landscape for intruders.

With these taller buildings came much denser walls to give the needed support to these great heights. Inside these buildings, there were also large columns that bolstered structural support. These walls would become much thinner with the advent of flying buttresses, which arose in the Gothic movement.

One of England's first pieces of Norman Architecture was London's Westminster Abbey. Though this structure is now largely Gothic, it began as a Norman construction. Many Gothic structures, in fact, began as Norman buildings that were later elaborated on by Gothic architects. Many central towers (keeps) on castle and cathedral grounds were also Norman. These square, dense-walled structures were used as dungeons as well as defense fortresses. The Tower of London (also called the White Tower), which served as the royal dungeon, is another penultimate example of Norman Architecture. Like all Romanesque buildings, it was tall in its day, reaching about 90 feet high. It also contained extremely thick walls, spanning about 15 feet wide, to support that height. It is, like many Romanesque buildings, a fortress-like building.

While Gothic Architecture produced extremely tall, magnificent structures, these structures were essentially continuations of Norman Architecture. Gothic Architecture utilized pointed arches rather than Norman rounded arches, along with ribbed vaults that were combinations of Norman barrel vaults. Therefore, Gothic Architecture as we know it may not have taken place without its grounding in Norman Architecture.

Today, most people immediately associate Norman and Romanesque architectural styles with the fairy-tale medieval period. Architects have learned that these castles and cathedrals were not so much royal residences as densely armed fortifications. In truth, most Norman structures have been the sites of much bloodshed and suffering. The "Dark Ages," by which the Middle Ages was alternately known, may have been due in part to the dimness of Norman buildings, as a result of their extremely small windows.

Today's architects are not rebuilding Norman Architecture, except for historical reproduction purposes. Church builders, moreover, take more inspiration from the Gothic period than any other architectural period. However, most architects certainly regard the Norman movement as an architectural watershed. Norman Architecture realized unsurpassed heights and first renewed the magnificence of classical styles. Though taking place in a dark period, it manifested the collective desire to reawaken human greatness, as people perceived it in classical architecture. Part of Norman Architecture's legacy was to have passed on this desire in large measure to the succeeding Renaissance era.

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Harrison has worked for the United States Department of Justice, a federal district judge and the law firms of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges and Dewey Ballantine. After three years of practice, Harrison founded Juriscape, under which he developed a collection of industry-specific job-search websites that revolutionized the way job seekers access employment postings from around the world. Harrison and his companies began serving the legal industry with BCG Attorney Search and LawCrossing. Following on the success of those endeavors, the company soon broadened its range to include the 90+ EmploymentCrossing websites, each specific to a particular industry or field. Juriscape changed its name to EmploymentScape in 2007 to reflect the company's broadening focus.

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Roman Architecture | Architectural Pillars Trace Back to Roman Times

Architectural pillars utilized in our ultramodern day owe an amazing amount of the ideas to the Roman architects. See the Romans were actually the first culture to use the columns and they did it so much that they actually made architectural columns recognized across the globe. The main intention of the Roman columns used in the Empire were used for both practical and functional reasons but, they were also used for aesthetic reasons as well. The Romans like the aristocrats were really concerned with things that were beautiful.

Obviously looking back on things like The Colosseum, Aqueduct of Segovia and the Roman Arenas these places are all places of beauty even if they weren't used for things OF beauty. As we all know the arenas were usually a place of blood-shed. But when you actually look at the arenas that were available the architectural is just stunning. I mean it still makes me wonder how the Colosseum was built in 72 A.D and yet it looks like it was built now.

Seriously innovative and advanced beyond their time! A Roman basilica, a roofed hall with a large central area called a nave, flanked by side rooms, would often use architectural columns. The first basilicas were used for business meetings and legal proceedings. This kind of construction was later conformed by the Christians and became a standard blueprint for church edifices many of which are still used today. The main center of Rome was the forum and this was true for all of the other Roman cities as well.

This was often an open area surrounded by stores and it was the primary meeting place of each town. They also had the Senate, Office, Roman Basilica, Sacred Buildings and Civic buildings. Of course if Rome was the place of birth for columns and pillars you would also suspect that these buildings would also use the same pillars and you are correct. In fact, it became almost a "rule" of sorts. The Roman influence was frequently seen throughout the Middle Ages in places such as Palaces and cathedrals in churches. A lot of these incredible buildings have survived since the modern times (as has The Colosseum) and still stand to this day!

To see the influence the architectural columns of Roman times have had on us today simply take a walk around the grounds of any university that is more than fifty years old. At the very least the administration building, and probably most all of the classroom buildings will employ architectural pillars as well. The Roman influence on our architecture is the same now, and always has been apparent if you only take the time to look!

This author is a HUGE fan of Architecture

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Roman Architecture | Romans in the Decadence of the Empire

French artiste Thomas Couture (1815-1879) was a popular 'History' & 'Classical' painter of 'Realist' flavor, portraitist, and the teacher of the nineteenth century. 'History Painting,' considered the 'grand genre' for a long time, dates back to the 'Renaissance' era. Couture's most famous painting "Romans in the Decadence of the Empire" belonged to this style of art. Apart from illustrating the historical events of the recent past, 'History Painting' pertains to the technique of capturing the scenes from Christian History, Classical History, and mythology. The paintings belonging to the historical genre are often based on religious, allegorical, or literary subjects, and usually carry a moral or an intellectual interpretation of life. Some of the most iconographic historical events have been depicted in these paintings. In addition, sometimes, artists took great liberties with the historical facts by creating even those events on canvas, which had not ever actually occurred.

Thomas Couture painted his most famous painting "Romans in the Decadence of the Empire" in the year 1847. This splendid work portrays on a monumental canvas, an orgy, which was interpreted as sarcasm or satire on the debauched regime of the July Monarchy under the French King Louis Philippe, during 1830 to 1848. "Romans in the Decadence of the Empire" conveys the moral corruption synonymous to the then Roman society. The scene takes place in an enormous hall, surrounded by tall marble pillars and beautiful statues. In the center of the hall, is a platform on which there are semi-naked men and women lying everywhere, completely engrossed in the frenzy of physical pleasure. They all seem inebriated or drunk, and a few of them are even shown dancing under the effect of intoxication. Outside, the clear blue sky shines bright, offering a striking contrast to the drunken madness inside the palace. Right in the front of the platform, a couple of well-sculpted urns are shown. Thomas' respect and love for classical culture comes alive with his pulchritudinous display of Roman sculptures and architecture in "Romans in the Decadence of the Empire."

The Roman Empire and civilization had an indelible influence on the cultures of almost all European nations. While under 'Neoclassicism,' the Roman architecture, art, and lifestyles were all borrowed by these nations, even the Roman decadence did not go unnoticed on that front. It brought about a time when people developed greater interest in the decline of the Roman Empire than in its grandeur. Thomas Couture also tried to express his version of social criticism through "Romans in the Decadence of the Empire," which effectively criticized his contemporary French society. The painting, which won immense appreciation and accolades, now adorns the walls of Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.

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Roman Architecture | A Roman Town in Extremadura

420 kilometres north of the Costa del Sol, in Extremadura, is the small town of Merida. It is too far for a day trip from the Costa del Sol and in any case there is far too much to see in one day so try for one of the special offers at the Medea Melia Tryp which is about 20 minutes walk from the centre of the town. Merida is remarkable in that its history dates back to Roman times and being in a remote, less well-known part of Spain, has not been developed to any great extent. Consequently there are still many traces of what was once one of the most important Roman and Islamic cities in the peninsula.

Augusta Emerita was founded in 25 BC for retired Italian soldiers who had fought in the Cantabrian war. It was also intended to be the capital of the recently (27 BC) created province of Lusitania. Its location made it a communications centre where roads from Lisbon (Olisipo), Astorga (Asturica), Toledo (Toletum), Cordoba (Corduba) and Seville (Hispalis) all met.

The Medea Hotel is an excellent place to start an exploration of Augusta Emerita. Even the hotel itself is built in a 'Roman amphitheatre' style and is alongside one of the main Roman roads that led to the city allowing us to march smartly down to the Roman bridge. Recently pedestrianized, the bridge has been in constant use for over 2000 years. Repairs over the years have been in keeping with the original style and the majority of it is original. It is one of the finest examples of Roman architecture in the peninsular. Sixty arches carry the bridge across the river to the south gate into the city. On the right of the gate are the original walls. Those to the left have been demolished. It is easy to imagine the legionnaires breathing a sigh of relief after marching from Portugal with their destination in sight.

Once in the city the choice of destinations is daunting. To cover the Roman period a visit to the amphitheatre and theatre is a must. The theatre is the best example of its kind in western Europe. Next to the theatre is the amphitheatre. Built in 8 BC it is also an excellent example with many of the passages below the seating still in their original form. The pit in the floor was where gladiators and wild animals were kept prior to their 'performance'. Many people are confused by the words theatre and amphitheatre, expecting the latter to be a semi circle and the former to be round. During the early part of the Roman Empire gladiatorial games to the death and pitting man against beast were popular entertainments. These took place in the round amphitheatre. Later, during the Imperial period, plays and music became popular and for these purposes the semi circular theatres were built.

A visit to the Museum of Roman Art near the theatre is also a must. Here you can see the usual glass, coins, statues and other artefacts found during excavations but the two highlights are the fine mosaics, and the examples of Roman water technology. Some of the mosaics are huge and extremely well preserved. Romans were as class conscious as any other people and mosaics were used to impress friends and neighbours. The smaller each individual tile in the mosaic the more detail can be achieved with consequential increases in cost.

It is the technology that really impresses. Huge bronze valves used to isolate sections of water piping for maintenance, valves to control the rate of flow of water and one-way valves. A detailed video, also available for sale, shows how the Romans understood and used water pressure to move water vertically as well as horizontally. Given a few more years they could easily have invented the steam engine. It is easy to realise how the uneducated Visigoths, who replaced the Romans, found the technology incomprehensible and thus failed to maintain it.

When wandering around Merida it is impossible not to notice other examples of Roman architecture. There is an arch, still in use, monumental aqueducts, bath houses unearthed beneath demolished buildings from a later era and many examples of original walls still used in current buildings.

Breathtaking it may be but you still have to keep body and soul together. Fortunately there is no shortage of watering holes. Menu del Dia is definitely the way to go here and if you get the chance try the ham. Extremadurans claim their ham is superior to Serrano, and they are right.

A favourite form of entertainment during Roman times took place at the Hippodrome or circus. The one at Merida is one of only three known in Spain, the other two are at Toledo and Tarragona. Built in an oval shape, over 400 metres long and 150 metres wide, the Merida circus could seat 30,000 people, almost the entire population. They were treated to chariot races, seven laps with no rules other than the winner was the first across the finishing line. Champions were venerated, there were no prizes for coming second and accidents were common. The chariots were as light as possible and pulled by two or four horses. They entered the ring at the start of the race via starting gates situated in a line at one end of the circus, very similar to the start of a modern horse race today, and thundered around the central platform that was called a spina. On occasion the entire circus could be flooded to enable re-enactments of naval battles.

The huge amount of water required to flood the arena would have come from the aqueduct that passes the western end of the circus. This is the Acueducto de San Lazaro and it is impossible to miss it. The arches supporting the water channel march off for well over a kilometre towards the hills north of the city. Notice how at the circus end modern buildings abut the aqueduct. There are not many houses with a finer arch at the end of the drive than the one here at Merida. Recently excavated beneath the aqueduct is the site of a public baths area and a sports area, a Roman desportivos.

Walking back into town you will next arrive at the Casa del Anfiteatro that is a whole site in its own right. The south section of the aqueduct emerges here and there is a water tower with a house alongside. Inside the house you will find some wonderful mosaics.

From there it is a short walk to the south end of town, near the bullring. You will come to a site called Columbarios, which is a Roman cemetery. Two of the vaults have been identified as belonging to the Julius family and the Voconius family. The cemetery would have been situated outside the city walls as was customary at the time. The epigraphs and portraits have survived. Leaving the cemetery you will arrive at the Casa del Mitro. This was a large villa also situated outside the city walls. Some wall decorations and mosaics have survived along with the foundations, an extensive bath house and a huge underground water cistern.

To really take away an idea of what life was like around the 1st century AD then a visit to Moreria is essential. This is a 12,000 square metre site behind the city wall alongside the river north of the Roman bridge. Originally it was an urban area, the houses, large and small are there to see, with a section of the east west main road through the town. It is easy to imagine this bustling street with covered arcades on each side housing shops and taverns. Four minor roads lead off and penetrate the city walls to give access to the river. This site is particularly important for revealing a continuous history of occupation from Roman, through Visigoth to Moors and then Christians, each leaving their layer for us to find.

Nick Nutter is the editor of a successful magazine, Andalucia Life, in southern Spain. He writes articles about the places he visits. The web site http://www.andalucia-life.com is updated every month with new articles, days out, places to go, news from the Costa del Sol and more.

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Roman Architecture | Arches, Gates and Forts in Roman Architecture

Among the most solidly preserved of all Roman architectural inventions are the monumental arches, buildings of a type devised purely for display. This conversion to monumental form of the temporary structures created for the occasion of military triumphs in Rome is yet another instance of rapid evolution in Augustan architecture. The main arch passage, and any side passages, as on Trajan's Arch at Timgad and that of Septimius Severus in Rome, was flanked by columns, usually in pairs. The intervening spaces might contain aediculae or relief sculpture relevant to the arch's commemorative purpose, as on Trajan's Arch at Benevento and the Arch at Orange. That purpose was made explicit by a prominent inscription on the attic storey above the archway. The whole was surmounted by groups of sculpture, usually in bronze.

The arched gate through a city wall might take much the same form, but its function required that it should have guard chambers at the sides, often contained in projecting towers, and a gallery above, to allow passage across the gateway. The window openings in the gallery might be given additional architectural distinction by schemes of engaged pilasters or columns, with pediments, as on the Porta dei Borsari at Verona, or with a continuous entablature, as on the gates of Nimes and Autun.

Hadrian's Arch at Athens, which led from the old city to the new quarter, is unusual in the combination of its decorative elements. The columns and pilasters of its upper storey do not continue the vertical lines of the pilasters which flanked the archway below, which were taken up by the statuary which stood in the openings of the upper storey. Some second-century and later arches and gates were highly elaborate, with a façade architecture of niched figures framed by luxuriantly decorated pilasters, as on the Porte Noir at Besançon and the London Arch. In contrast, the Porta Nigra at Trier, with quadruple tiers of regularly-spaced columns framing arched openings, is reminiscent of the exteriors of theatres and amphitheatres. The Porta Aurea of Diocletian's Palace at Split, with arcaded entablatures above the entrance, owed more to the traditions of the East, as is emphasized by the great arcades and the Syrian pediment of the ceremonial courtyard within.

There is a clear military influence in the Palace's massive four-square walls, external towers, and the T-Junction formed by its colonnaded streets. Colonnades, and the peristyles of officers' houses in military forts, were derived from what was familiar in civilian building. The plan of the headquarters, with its courtyard and basilican hall, evolved in parallel with the north Italian and Gaulish forum which it so much resembles. The decoration of the most important buildings in some legionary fortresses, like Neuss and Lambaesis, gave them some architectural distinction. Hadrian's Wall, by contrast, had the solid unembellished serviceability which characterized much military building.

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Roman Architecture | Roman Architectures

Roman architecture is a fusion of traditional Greek and the Etruscan elements, where arches were developed and horizontal beams were supported by columns. Later, three dimensional counterpart of the arch, namely the dome was introduced. Apart from this, Roman architects found their inspiration from the Greek architecture at large.

The basic building materials of the Roman architecture are stones, developed concrete, and highly expensive marble. The idea behind mosaic, a decoration of colorful chips of stone inset into cement, was brought from Greece. Roman homes joined the well known mural decorating floors, walls, and grottoes in geometric and pictorial designs.

Architecture of the Romans was always eclectic and was characterized by varying styles attributed to different regional tastes and diverse preferences of a wide range of patrons. In general, Roman monuments were designed to serve the needs of their patrons rather than to express the artistic ability of their makers.

Roman architecture was also considered to be an exact copy of the Greek building style. But, the Romans have also contributed to the classical architectural styles. The two developments of Roman buildings styles are the tuscan and composite orders. Tuscan is a shortened, simplified variant on the doric order of the Greek style. Composite is a tall order with the floral decoration of the Corinthian and the scrolls of the ionic building style of the Greeks.

The Roman Colosseum is the best-known amphitheatre in the world, which is more correctly termed the Amphitheatrum Flavium, after the Flavian dynasty that built it. The Pantheon is a building in Rome, which was originally built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets of the Roman state religion. Since 7th century, it has been a Christian church. The Colosseum and the Pantheon are some of the buildings built during this period.

Roman contribution to the architecture of the modern world is the development of concrete for building purposes. And the other contribution is the Empire's style of architecture that can be still seen throughout Europe and North America in the arches and domes of many governmental and religious buildings.

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House Architecture | Architecture and Language

In modernity there are no more steady rules of connections. Connections are elliptical and changing. Syntax and grammar are relational; however, they are not whatever. Modernity is about the freedom of connections which are not reducible to pure logic or rationalism. Modernity is dreaming new languages which are beyond representation. Language is tied to dreaming freedom. Whoever destroys language destroys himself or herself.

Language is a second body. Delaunays' paintings, their "window to the city", the surrealist novel, the nouveau roman all explore language as a second body. It is the materialized soul. With Novalis the body becomes the stream, the night, the day, the cosmos. His "liquid girls" are the secret of language. To know that "milk is black" is also one of the many secrets of language linking us directly to the cosmos. Language is a secret naming.

Language is that which closes itself over the void. Mallarmé and Duchamp show us, that if the universe is language,-its face is empty. Their works are trajectories in search of meaning. Doing Architecture is a love for language. It is like going to the desert and absorbing the lessons of the stream. It is being alone: the horizon and earth meeting, vastness, emptiness, movement, change and space. It is the courage to be able to face the "empty face" of the universe that allows for new possibilities of languages and forms of life.

Language is always somewhat ahead of our thoughts, just like writing or drawing. Surrealist writing, the drawing or sketch in Architecture, are the flow of language, it is a form of swimming, diving into something which is already there, like the city with all its superimpositions. As with the superimpositions found in Cezanne or Schindler's work, the superimposition and layering of space, volumes and colors. Language is ahead of our thoughts. It is more than just a matter of the brain. The heart, the soul, emotions and the body make for the corporeality of language. Language has an intimate connection to experience. It is a part of an intricate weave, like the air we breathe.

This is why language, writing and drawing have a deep and secret power to promote being. The imagination hungers for images. Drawing is not a depiction but a way of thought of expression; it is a figurative language like a form of writing. Scarpa says: " I draw because I want to see." It is a seeing and knowing in the mind. Scarpa's work doesn't so much take place in an arena of visual perception as in the vicinity of a linguistic competence. He never fell into historical styles because his interests were of a relational nature: " A Transparency of relations". According to Octavio Paz "Light is time thinking of itself." Scarpa works the light critically; it is a criticism in the romantic sense, not one of exclusion, but of inclusion of the object and work of art. The work of art becomes aware of itself.
Language is a place; there is a desire in language to orient and to have a standpoint. The language of Architecture is like the eye of language, it is about another kind of seeing. Language is like a plan or a section, it is generative, and it is a relational instrument. Architecture like language is polysemous, polyphonic and polysemantic. Architecture is about giving time and space for the articulation of different visions, voices and their multiple interconnectedness. Architecture and language are, like paintings, in the words of Clemenceau: "A way of looking deep into the eyes of the world."

Questioning and doubt are internal to language and architecture. In Chinese "but" is the radical root of the ideogramme "mouth" and "who" is the radical root of the ideogramme "language". Questioning lies at the heart of language. Words, like walls, planes, light and space, desire to enwrap and to show themselves; to traverse their own space. The issue perhaps is less to just let "words run loose", as to keep them within reach of their possibilities and within reach of their suggestive powers. The desire for words to show themselves also speaks of the strong relationship between language and joy. Words, like materials, space and light are the heaviness of emptiness. Language is that which closes itself over the void.

Language and Architecture are a kind of writing into the void, into the black, the dark and the shadow. It is in this black or shadow where words and architectural elements meet. The darkness of language is like a protection from too much self-reflection.

Language is more than just communication or understanding. It is about being alone and about taking risks. When I enter a building, it is like entering language with all its nuances, shades and inflections; and just like poetry, it likes to have a voice, it likes to be read, to be experienced and it likes to be a challenge.

To hear one word as if it were thousands of words is about the superimposition inherent in language. Language and Architecture exist as superimpositions. There is a presence and absence of language. The passivity of language is a kind of center which allows language to exist, and we should allow a word, like a house, the possibility to open itself unto all possible worlds or experiences which live in it. Writing is a kind of forgetfulness; it is the subconscious of language. Matisse's figures in blue are a kind of writing with the scissors into color. Similarly Yves Klein's body paintings, it is always the whole body which is involved in language and in architecture.

Language is another way of seeing and imagining. It is language which thinks and suffers, just as it is also the imagination which thinks and suffers. There is a subversive power in language, a magic beyond communication. Brancusi's Endless Column has a magical rhythm with which we can catch a glimpse of infinity. The Endless Column is like a revelation. Naming, the innermost nature of language is about naming the unnamable it is about doing the impossible. Herein lays the heart of architecture.
Language is a place and like writing it is about a return to the Zero Point. It is like writing on a blank page. It is about changing the world. Architecture has a memory of this desire for wanting to transform the world. The banal memory is like a dam against creative memory. Banal memory secures against loss, when, on the contrary, loss is a necessary part of memory. Memory is possible because of repetition. It is repetition of metaphors, symbols, words, myth and figures that give to language, to architecture and to the city the space and time to remember.

Language is a promise.

This text has been inspired by Paola Iacucci's
Three Houses and other Buildings by Gangemi
Publishers

Gabrielle is an architect, artist and writer. She completed her studies at Columbia and Princeton Universities in the USA. She currently lives in Switzerland where she has her own architectural practice. Her websites are: http://www.gabriellevonbernstorff.com and http://www.gabriellevonbernstorff.ch.

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House Architecture | Facts About China Architecture and Chinese Buildings Art

China's distinctive architecture makes up an important part of China's splendid civilization. Together with Western and Muslim architecture, the three styles comprise the world's major architectural systems.

In the Paleolithic Age, Chinese ancestors lived on fishery and hunting, and were sheltered in trees and caves. In the Neolithic Age, Chinese ancestors engaged in raising animals and farming, and settled down by digging caves and by building simple houses with twigs and lumber, thus commencing their architectural activities.During the 3,000 years of the feudalist society, Chinese ancient architecture formulated gradually its unique system, coupled with a considerable progress in urban planning, garden designing, and house construction technique. In 221 B.C., the First Emperor of the Qin Empire mobilized the resources of the country to do construction works on a massive scale, including A' Fang Palace, the Emperor's Mausoleum, the Great Wall and the Dujiangyan Water-Conservancy Project. In the Later dynasties, many more massive construction works of lasting fame were carried out.

China's wood frameworks are unique in the world. They reflect the values, aesthetic and ethical standard of the Chinese people. Chinese architecture is rooted in cultural tradition and features several characteristics. It highlights absolute imperial power and strict social status. The best examples of this can be found in the palaces and forbidden cities. Chinese architecture also stresses overall beauty and its axial layout pattern is widely used in buildings. The Chinese style also incorporates elements of nature and emphasizes a graceful, reserved and easy-going beauty. Apart from the Han ethnic group, architecture in the ethnic minorities is also diversified and distinct.

Chinese architecture can be categorized into imperial palaces, religious temples, ancient gardens, tombs group and ordinary ethnic residences.

The online website of the China travel agency - China Fact Tours has fruitful information regarding facts about China and China Architecture [http://www.chinafacttours.com/facts/a], as well as a great deal of practical China travel information and travel resources be of help before you plan a trip to China!

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House Architecture | Historical Architecture and the NRHP

Polo, Illinois is a small city of about 2,500 in Ogle County, a county whose largest settlement has less than 10,000 people. The rural communities in Ogle County are astounding and filled with history, art and architecture, if you know where to look. Armed with a list of sites in Polo from the National Register of Historic Places, I started looking at the Polo Public Library - a building that is one of five in Polo that share that status.

The Polo Library is a Carnegie Library that was constructed in 1903-04. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The librarians were friendly, giving me contact information for Polo citizens affiliated with historic preservation, and, most importantly, providing me with directions to an elusive lime kiln nearby. The woman I spoke with chased me down in the cold of January several blocks from the library because she had given me the wrong email address by mistake. Very kind.

Also in Polo is a cluster of architecturally important houses, all near each other, and all listed on the National Register, two of them the work of Joseph Lyman Silsbee (wiki) one of which reminds me of the important, earlier Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Winslow House.

Silsbee was an influential and very important American architect. He served as an early mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright and was very influential on the young architect and other architects of the Prairie School. While the house is pretty obviously Classically influenced, some of the trademarks of Prairie style that Frank Lloyd Wright would later make famous are clearly visible, including leaded art glass and a low pitched roof. The building was constructed from 1899-1901 and added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1993.

Behind the Bryant and Lucie Barber House is another Silsbee work, this one older. The 1891 Henry D. Barber House is more Classically obvious than its neighbor but still not what I would call a high-style example of Classical Revival. It's an important work by an important architect, one that can be compared and contrasted with his other work, next door, from eight years later. The Henry Barber House was listed on the NRHP in 1974.

The other house listed on the National Register in Polo is across Mason Street from the two Silsbee works. It's an ornate Queen Anne style mansion known as the John McGrath House. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) hasn't made the NRHP nomination forms available online (despite their assurance to me that they were available) for any of the listed buildings in Polo so I don't know much about the McGrath House. I submitted a request to the National Park Service, and the IHPA but haven't heard back from either of them.

What I do know about the McGrath House is that it was designed by someone named George W. McBride. Unfortunately, the only George W. McBride I know of served as a United States Senator from Oregon. Though the senator was alive in 1896 when the house was built, he was not an architect and had no affiliation with Illinois anywhere I can find. I can only conclude that it is someone different. The McGrath House was listed on the NRHP in 1996.

Online Resources

*Buffalo Township Public Library: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Property Information Report

*Joseph Lyman Silsbee: Biographies:

*Bryant and Lucie Barber House: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Property Information Report

*Bryant and Lucie Barber House: NRHP

*Henry D. Barber House: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Property Information Report

*John McGrath House: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Property Information Report

*John McGrath House: NRHP

There are three non-residential sites in Polo listed on the National Register.

Article written by Andy McMurray a freelance writer and photographer based in DeKalb, Illinois. He has worked at DeKalb's Daily Chronicle, The Midweek, and the Northern Illinois University newspaper, the Northern Star. Known variously around the Internet as Dr. Gonzo or IvoShandor, Andy's wide ranging interests and knowledge in history, architecture, historic preservation, art and science have allowed McMurray to excel in penning both fiction and non-fiction pieces. In addition to pursuing a fiction career Andy has written and photographed extensively for English Wikipedia. http://www.AndyMcMurray.com

Article edited for EzineArticles and submitted by Bart Richardson, aka The Insatiable Insomniac who rants about what he fancy's. View some of his strange and entertaining ideas at http://www.FunWithInsomnia.com That is all.

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House Architecture | Architectural Characteristics of Style Houses

Spanish style homes are a sub-style of the Mediterranean design philosophy. In this article, we'll present an overview of Spanish style houses for UK buyers who are seeking to purchase an authentic example of this rich and complex architecture.

What Is The Mediterranean Style?

First, let's look at some background about the Mediterranean region. Because of its location linking Europe, Asia and Africa, the Mediterranean region is home to an amazing diversity of peoples and cultures. Add to that the Moorish occupation of Spain for hundreds of years and the result is an eclectic architectural style that dominates Spanish style homes. The robust trade, migration patterns and even warfare and conquest have all contributed to the rich and varied history and culture of the Mediterranean region. The design of houses in Spain reflects the country's "melting pot" heritage.

Typical Features of Mediterranean Homes

What has come to be termed "Mediterranean architecture" has its roots in a melange of lifestyle, culture, historical building styles, climate and topography (surface features) of the region. The Spanish style house always seeks to exploit location and views, especially sea views. You'll see Spanish houses tucked away on rocky hillsides that tower above the sea or are proudly situated on glorious white sand beaches. Roof terraces are common, again to take advantage of the view.

More Mediterranean Architecture Features

Since sites for Spanish style homes are often hilly, rocky and uneven, the architecture tends toward low-slung and boxy designs with flat roofs. Windows are situated to take maximum advantage of both the view and the whole house seems to just blend into its surroundings. A typical Spanish style house has thick walls faced with white or light colored stucco to help keep the interior cool. Classical Roman features like columns and porticos firmly anchor the Spanish style home in a vibrant historical context. Red clay tile roofs are typical and there are usually no overhanging eaves. Arches are integral design features and often appear above windows, doors, entryways and porches.

Mediterranean Architecture Brings the Outdoors Inside

Spanish house styles tend to be asymmetrical in shape with multiple wings. Hip roofs are common. Details like carved doors and carved stonework, spiral columns and tiled walls and floors are also highly characteristic of Mediterranean architecture. Courtyards are prevalent and often function as outdoor rooms, making for easy transitions between outdoor and indoor spaces. Fountains and water features grace the courtyards, providing a refreshing counterpoint to the arid climate. Wrought iron ornamentation is typical. Spanish style houses give an overall impression of oneness with their surroundings.

Spanish style homes continue to be popular with residents of the UK who own holiday homes there. These homes are authentic buildings that reflect the best of Mediterranean architecture, culture and character.

Morris Simpson is an independent real estate property advisor and writer in Spain. His interest in real estate is a passion and his technical expertise stems from both his education and experience. He is a real estate professional with Spanish property shop online - a specialized website for buying and selling villas, apartments, homes and houses in Spain. Spanish property shop online also offers you the finest opportunity in finding the most luxurious and affordable Spanish style houses

Spanish Property Shop Online provides you with the most comprehensive selection of Spanish Property available, which is designed to make the job of finding your property in Spain a much easier and less stressful event. Spanish Property Online Shop also specializes in bringing you the best deals available in Spain. You will find a delightful collection of apartments, villas, country cottages (in fact all types of property) in coastal and rural settings. Feel free to get in touch with us at http://www.spanishpropertyshoponline.com/houses-in-spain

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