Structural Design Of Domical Architecture During The Imperial Roman Era

One of the more inspiring and brilliantly conceived and constructed dome structures in the world is the Pantheon of Rome. This example imposes a magnificent strength of ingenuity and dominance over their surrounding landscape, and the Pantheon deserves to be researched and admired for its architecturally innovative and bold design of its time. The building was accommodated with serious technical impediments that required a thorough and scrutinizing attention to detail in order to overcome. It is because of the prevailed obstacles by the various designers, architects and builders of this building that captures the consideration of those interested in the development of building technology and progress throughout the

The Roman Empire is credited with the development of many great achievements. These achievements can still be seen in Rome and throughout the world. The Romans are well known for their aqueduct system and huge colosseum that are still standing today. These monumental building feats would not have been created without the use and knowledge of many different techniques. The use of cement was one of the technologies employed to build these large structures. The utilization of arches was another. Many people associate the idea of arches with the Romans. However, they were not the first people to utilize arches. This paper will concentrate on why the Romans were credited with developing the arch; what they did to improve previous cultures use of arches; and how the Romans used arches to create massive structures that are still standing today.

“Once the colosseum had been built it seems to have become the model for many, if not most, of those that followed” (Hopkins and Beard 2005, 24). The Colosseum stands proudly upon the villainous Emperor Nero’s once grand Valley of the Golden House, projecting the munificence of Imperial Roman Architecture of the Flavian period. Its ultimate design could be said to be formed through purpose or function. However, this does not do justice to the importance of architecture within Roman society (Thornton and Thornton in Lyes 1999, 2). The functions whether it be religious or otherwise, of the Colosseum were irrelevant to the

This paper offers a discussion about how ancient Rome developed and utilized arches and concrete to further expand their civilization. The importance of these technologies will be covered, along with the benefits to Rome. Concrete was a Roman invention which was composed of materials that were plentiful. One of the base materials used in Roman concrete was pozzolana, a volcanic soil.

In my studies, I decided to research Brunelleschi’s Dome in Florence, Italy, its beginning and inspiration, and how it was constructed. I was amazed by the building of this structure and how the idea of such a structure came about. It all started in 1418 when the Florentine Fathers noticed that their Cathedral had been an open to the sky throughout its existence. They decided to cover this big hole but had no idea how to do it. They were inspired by the Parthenon and its infrastructure, and wanted to build a dome to represent their power and spiritual aspiration. They didn’t know if their cathedral could hold the weight of a dome (since the Parthenon was made of concrete), and it it would have to have major support. None of them knew where to start, so they had a contest to see who could come up with the best plan and idea to execute

Stamper, The Architecture of Roman Temples, 106. Stamper, The Architecture of Roman Temples, 106. Stamper, The Architecture of Roman Temples, 106. Stamper, The Architecture of Roman Temples, 109 Frank Sear. Roman Architecture (London: BT Batsford Ltd, 1989), 59. Darryl A. Phillips, “The Temple of Divius Julius and the Restoration of Legislative Assemblies under Augustus”, Phoenix 65 (2011): 382 Stamper, The Architecture of Roman Temples, 130 Sear, Roman Architecture, 58 Sear,

Compare and contrast Hadrian’s Pantheon with Justinian’s Hagia Sophia. Both structures use domes to create spectacular spaces and both try to combine right angled rectangular or square forms with circles. But how do they differ in their plans, details, and solutions to the problems of how to create these forms, as well as in their purpose and function?

The construction of the Florentine Cathedral was one of much drama and scientific ingenuity. The Cathedral- one of the many proud aspects of Florence- was one with one obscure problem- the iconic dome had a great hole in the center: exposing the inside of the cathedral to the elements. The Government of Florence decided to have a contest to redesign the dome. Ultimately, after thousands of ideas were presented, one idea stood out due to its superior ideas and concepts. Indeed, the creator, Filippo Brunelleschi, was a genius who had studied the methods of architecture, math, science, and even the very methods of art. He spent his life in the pursuit of knowledge. His idea for the construction of the dome was unique. He had the idea that there

The Roman Pantheon is a monumental building that has clearly influenced many forms of architecture throughout history. The entire building has been constructed of concrete and at the time in history, is an extraordinary feat to accomplish with its dome form with no real interior structural support. Although the Pantheon has influenced many buildings, it is not particularly an eye pleasing building to view compared to the pavilion in an English Garden from the 18th Century. For example, the exterior of the Pantheon consists of an octastyle portico, backed against a tall, square attic block connecting the cylindrical walls and the portico. This combination of different forms and shapes coming together does not create a pleasing connection or

Some of the buildings constructed by the architects of the Roman Empire that still stand tall today, are living testament of the sheer architectural calibre or thought behind any construction. The Coliseum of example speaks volumes of the architectural brilliance. The arena is designed in a way that every member of the audience would get full view of the bloody games they had come to watch. The inner chambers and cages are designed to house the warriors’ entertainers (Strayer, 2012).

Initial observations of the Roman Pantheon from the front appear to be similar to the ruins of the Greek Parthenon, but really both structures are somewhat unique in their composition, purpose, design, and fate. Constructed over half of a millennium after the Parthenon was built, the Pantheon, built in 27 B.C., exhibits some of the architectural styles and characteristics of its predecessor. However, the Romans refined Greek building techniques, thereby developing a unique and more advanced architectural style.

Very similar in shape to the epic Colosseum which is oval, but different in its purpose. The Colosseum also boasts greater heights than the Pantheon, but that does not make it any less impressive. The Pantheon is a major Roman monument that showcases simplistic structural design but is amazing in the sense of its dimensions. With columns garnering 12 meters in height, and weighing 50 tons, made of solid granite; it is incredible that they were able to transport them in one piece from such great distances. Atop of the columns were lintels made of marble weighing 30 tons. However the greatest example of the Roman’s advancement in their use of materials is seen in the coffered dome of the Pantheon, which is made entirely of concrete; 5000 tons of it. Nothing larger than the dome of the Pantheon was built until the 20th century. The inside diameter of the dome is almost 44 meters wide, half the length of a football field. The concrete in the dome has no steel reinforcements, which is something that would not be attempted today. To admit light and ventilation throughout the building, a 29 foot oculus (eye) is left open to the sky at the top. That just shows how bold and ingenious the Romans really were because the dome itself is a perfect hemisphere. It is astounding the achievement that Romans have made with the Pantheon, having to come up with an original device, and experiment with building materials, in order to construct such magnificent dimensions. It would not have been possible to do this without the Roman’s invention of

Agrippa, Augustus’ right-hand man, constructed this building as a temple to all the gods; however, a fire destroyed this temple in 80 CE and so Domitian built the reconstruction. The Pantheon we are familiar with has a significantly different design than the original one, and this is why this specific temple is so dislike to the rest of the Roman temples. Before it was burnt, the Pantheon stood in a podium at the end of a large rectangular court. The surroundings of this temple have changed in order to provide a unique experience to its visitors. For example, the temple has en enormous dome with a 27-foot oculus that opens to the sky. This oculus lets a shaft of light come through creating an emphasis wherever the reflection is. Visitors were driven nowhere but to the light at the center of the dome. This building was built for greeting foreign embassies, adjudicating disputes and hold court (Janson). Moreover, the Pantheon is extraordinary because of the potential and strength of concrete. Some other materials used in the process of building the temple include travertine, tufa, brick, and pumice. These materials varied in order to reduce its weight. The colored marble on the wall symbolized imperial authority. The sphere is though to symbolize eternity and perfection and the bronze panels symbolized a starry night sky.

Historical buildings play an important role in describing the social and cultural beliefs and values of a place of its establishment. People visiting the historic buildings are able to develop a proper insight into the community beliefs and practices that exist at the time of construction of a building (DuTemple, 2003). In this context, the present essay examines and evaluates the way in which the architectural building of ‘The Colosseum’ describes the societal and cultural values of Rome. In addition to this, the essay also demonstrates the technical and spatial features of the buildings and illustrates the way through the building is able to develop a language of classical architecture in Rome. The thesis statement of the present essay can be stated as ‘The extent to which the architectural building of ‘The Colosseum’ in Rome depicts the cultural and societal values and principles practiced in Ancient Roman Society’.

The genius by Roman architects and engineers of the arch, vault and dome, improved their evolution of concrete, as well as working out probable problems of grand architecture, which is to bridge space (Roman architecture [sa]). Roofing a