Can you think of any examples of architecture that were built over a long period of time by many people?
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ftp901 (
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December 2nd, 2010
Most architecture of the 20th century is designed by one or a small group of architects or starchitects. (e.g. Frank Gehry, Mies van der Rohe)
Can you think of any examples of architecture that were built over time by a large group or collective of people or an entire culture? From anywhere in the world in any time period? Especially one that was built in an unplanned way (i.e. there wasn’t one master plan behind it all)?
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Besides the pyramids?
Some of the early, especially Romanesque cathedrals were built that way.
Even the National Cathedral in Washington DC was built over a long period of time and involved many people. The gargoyle carvers came from Italy.
The longest-running construction project in Washington, D.C., history officially began on September 29, 1907, when workmen laid the Cathedral’s foundation stone. President Theodore Roosevelt and the Bishop of London spoke to a crowd of ten thousand. The stone itself came from a field near Bethlehem and was set into a larger piece of American granite. On it was the inscription: “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).
1990 – The completion of the west towers marked the end of 83 years of construction.
okay, that’s a good one. I’m trying to think more of examples where it wasn’t designed ahead of time (with the pyramids, everyone must have known what shape they were building in order to work in unison). Are there any examples where a structure evolved over time and many people adding their own impromptu design to it or the design just revealed itself without any premeditation.
The City of the Dead evolved over many years as people built structures among the tombs of their ancestors.
City of the Dead is a four mile long cemetery from northern to southern part of Cairo, Egypt. To the people of Cairo and other Egyptians, it is simply el’arafa which means “the cemetery”. It is a bustling grid of tombs and mausoleums where people live and work amongst their dead and ancestors. Many residents live here to be near their loved ones
I’ll throw out, without research, the Great Wall of China.
What constitutes an “example of architecture” for purposes of this question?
A planned example would be the Roman fort model. Ancient Roman homes tended to be similarly designed as well, with an atrium, central courtyard, etc. Motte & Bailey forts were pretty similar and widespread in Iron Age Europe. Ancient Greek architecture is relatively distinct and recognizable, though there are variations from place to place.
Medieval cathedrals. For example (from Wikipedia):
The designations of styles in French Gothic architecture are as follows:
Early Gothic
High Gothic
Rayonnant
Late Gothic or Flamboyant style
These divisions are effective, but still set grounds for debate. Because the lengthy construction of Gothic cathedrals could span multiple architectural periods, and builders in each period did not always follow wishes of previous periods, dominant architectural style often changes throughout a particular building. Consequently, it is often difficult to declare one building as a member of a certain era of Gothic architecture. It is more useful to use the terms to describe specific elements within a structure, rather than applying them to the building as a whole.
Traditional Tibetan architecture including homes, stupas, monasteries etc seem to have been adhered too, for centuries.
How about the Sagrada Familia? They started building it in 1882, and they’re still not finished!
Look at the old houses in Mystic CT. Many were built in the early 1800’s Italianate style. Over the years sections were added with using the contemporary styles and materials of the day. Each renovator added what they needed at the time with the materials they had on hand. Many of the homes are mixtures of generations of styles. Recently old homes were declared historic and any renovations must be made in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. What would that be? Early American Hodgepodge?
And I disagree that most 20th century architecture was built by a small group. Sure the few famous architecture examples are. But every building and structure you see standing was designed by an architect. There are over 200,000 architects in the US designing everything from nuclear power plants to wind turbine towers, churches to outhouses.
(My partner is an “archy” and he has more work than he can handle.)
The construction of the cathedral in Cologne took more than 600 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kölner_Dom
“Construction of Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, until 1880 to complete.”
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