The Architecture of Conquest

Hello again fellow bloggers,

This week our blog post is directed towards the investigation of the similarities and differences between 2 archaeological sites: The Roman Colonial centre of Thamugadi and The Wari Military Center Pikillacta.

Timgad:

The Roman Colonial centre of Thamugadi, presently known as Timgad is located on a high plateau north of the Aures mountains in North East Algeria. Trajan, the Roman emperor at the time, founded Timgad in AD 100. The colonial centre is quasi military in appearance and is surrounded by fertile lands. The main structures located on the site is the forum, library, theatre, and an extensive number of public baths.

Figure 1: Kleijen, Tore. Timgad: Roman Ruins. http://looklex.com/algeria/timgad.htm

Timgad illustrates Roman urban planning at its height, the square enclosure and orthogonal designed based on the cardo (main street, hub of economic life) and documanus maximus (secondary main street), with the forum located at the intersection of these two streets. The Timgad square enclosure is a complex grid form, with a total of 144 blocks, divided evenly into four parts. This is an example of the new type of Roman empire development, rather than the unplanned organic layout of the Roman Forum, this is a planned grid. This takes into account changes in elevation, proving the Roman's were innovative in their grand planning. This complex grid system and the permanence of this original design and plan, along with the mimicking of this layout system in present day, demonstrates the skill and innovation of the military engineers of the Roman civilization.

The location of this colony on Numidian soil coupled with its strong and prosperous status, represents power and order in built form. The grandeur of the Roman Empire was truly represented, on foreign soil.This Roman military camp modelled excellent town planning through the representation of civil and military architecture and reflects the important establishment of communication of ideas, technology and traditions of central Rome through the colonization of the area. One technological innovation worth mentioning is the water supply system they established. Stored rainwater and irrigated water was transported to the area. Furthermore, the extensive number of public lavatories they established were connected to this irrigation system. The bench like chairs, with a round hole to sit on, operated through the use of this rainwater. The system allowed for rainwater to run through the channel constructed below, flushing human waste away. This water and sewage system was spectacular. 

PIkillacta:

Pikillacta is an enormous Peruvian set of ruins, belonging to the Wari Empire. It is located in the Lucre Basin of Peru, at the east end of the Valley of Cuzco. The layout of Pikillacta is one of somewhat mystery. 

Located on the site is an enormous rectangle enclosure, with hundreds of separate rooms of differing size and ornamentation. The size and format of Pikillacta, still to this day continues to baffle minds of archaeologists. The size of this settlement was much larger than other of the time period as well as the grid pattern is almost a perfectly engineered rectangle. Pikillacta is known as a military outpost, and this grid system implies concepts of hierarchal order in the area. The military structure of protection and power is reproduced in the tight grid system development. The concept of order is forced upon people through the navigation of this development. The narrow lane ways, and complex layout of these lane ways implies that Wari military and empire would like to control movement. In this sense, by controlling people's navigation through the confusing complex, and the fact that Wari members are the only one's who know the layout well, the hierarchal order is reproduced.

Figure 2: Bauer, John. Snapshot in the Family Album. http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/tipon/interesting/

The order and power is also represented in the built form through the engineering of water supply to the area. The area, if it was a thriving city as it is believed to have been, would be in need of a water supply system. It is said that the Wari Empire established hydraulics for water, through use of canals, reservoirs, causeways, and aqueducts. The perplexing element of this is the elevation of 3,250 m above sea level in which the site stands. The innovation of the Wari empire in engineering such a system that would pump water up hill, demonstrates the order and innovation of the empire. 

Figure 3: Going to Machu Picchu Travel Agency. South Valley Circuit. http://goingtomachupicchu.com/tours/south-valley-circuit-en.html

Furthermore, the actual purpose of Pikillacta is unknown but there is much speculation in archaeologists today. McEwan believes the primary purpose was a device used by the Wari empire to control its subjects by controlling the location and context of Wari religious ceremonies. Connecting this theory back to their innovation of water hydraulics, represents the power of the Wari Empire in establishing a colony and religious center, in an area otherwise not fit for habitation during this time period.

The Roman colony of Timgad and Wari Empire colony of Pikillacta evidently demonstrate similarities and differences. One similarity is the size and scale of these two developments. Timgad is of lesser geographical size at 0.2 kilometers square, but the population is known to have been 15,000 people. Pikillacta on the other hand is of grandeur geographical size at  2 square kilometers, but the population is unknown. The ability for these expanding empires to overcome development issues such as water supply and far reaching geographical location and successfully establish large scaling colonies is the key element to their success in conceiving power and order in the built form. Another similarity, as previously described, are the complicated irrigation water and sewage systems in place. The ability for these ancient civilizations to establish hygienic flourishing colonies, further represents order and power of these empires through the built form, on foreign lands.

Thats all for now friends, See you next week!

My "Visit" To Rome

The guidebook I used for my virtual visit to Rome is the Frommer's suggested one day itinerary. The itinerary consists of 10 different stops, beginning with The Piazza del Campidoglio in the morning and ending with the Fontana dei Trevi in the evening.

As I open up google maps, I anxiously anticipate the interesting tour I am about to take of Rome, from my living room at school.

Beginning my day with the Piazza del Campidoglio, I walk down Via Monte Tarpeo to the entrance of the Piazza, standing on the summit of Capitoline Hill. The guidebook describes the Piazza as the most sacred of ancient Rome, where triumphant generals made sacrifices to the gods for giving them victories. When I first arrive at the destination, I instantly notice the design of the piazza ground. The grey and white stone laying brings the piazza together, in an elegant, captivating fashion. The guidebook specifically points out the equestrian statue of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. This statue is copy of the original that stands in the Capitoline museum standing to my left. The museum Capitoline architecture is not described in the guidebook. Critically speaking I think this is a mistake, as the building is captivating and beautiful. Specifically the detailed layout of columns along the corridors at ground level, lining each window, and represented in the gate like feature at the top of the building brings an elegant symmetry.










Figure 1: Postle, Bruno. Hugin Tutorial- Perspective Correction. July, 2005. http://hugin.sourceforge.net/tutorials/perspective/en.shtml

The book then points out the Palace of the Conservatory, outlining the architectural plan of the palace crediting Michelangelo as the planner. Otherwise there is no more information provided. When I critically assess the palace I notice the cascading staircase leading from the main entrance, running down to both ends of the building. This I thought could potentially be of use for the spectacle of culture and pageantry. I also notice the clock tower standing on top of the building. The architecture of the palace mimics that of the Capitoline museum with the columns. The use of columns paired with the clock tower brings a grand presence of the piazza and leads the eye up to the sky.








Figure 2: Capitolini, Museo. Musei Capitolini. 2012. http://www.in-roma.com/place/musei-capitolini/

Finally the book outlines the third building, enclosing the piazza is the Senatorium (town council building). This is of the same architectural design of the palace and the museum, tying in the elegant notion of the piazza.
Overall, critically speaking, the guidebook did a good job of describing what to visit, but not much background information of the architecture/ what specific elements to look for.
After visiting the piazza, I am able to decipher the beautiful architectural features of the buildings, along with the stonework of the piazza itself, but for someone who has not taken an architecture course before visiting the area, the book would not be of much use.

The second stop of the day is the Fori Imperiali (Imperial Forums).  My initial impression of the forum is one of surprise. I was not anticipating it to encompass such a large area. The guidebook outlines the Trajan's column, looking to the east of the column I see the Basilica Ulpia and see the large marble columns rise to the sky. Moving from here to the East is  Forum of Julius Caesar, and continuing from there I pass the Forum of Augustus on my left and on my right is the Forum of Nerva. From Nerva, I look again to my east and see Forum of Vespasian, and following it is the Temple of Venus and Roma. The book best describes the Trajan's column of all the forum monuments in my opinion. It describes its intricate base relief sculpture depicting Trajan's victorious campaign against Dacia at the dawn of the 2nd century.
The guide provides a detailed guide, directionally of what to see, that was easy to follow on Google maps.

Figure 3: Apiphile. Trojan's Column. 2012.http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/trajan's%20column

Conveniently, Trajan's column is the element of the forums that I found the most beautiful. The detail of the column, one of the only elements of the previously standing forum, is in great condition. The statue that stands on the top of the column brings the eye up to the sky again, representing Trajan in a very positive light.

The rugged look of the whole forum, with the green grass growing where ancient buildings used to stand, provides a very captivating view. The decaying of the forums brings even more significance to Trajan's column and its detailed condition it is in.

The book continues to provide a full day of itinerary with my next stop is the Arch of Constantine, then to the Coliseum.

Now having arrived at the entrance of the Coliseum, I am reminded of the feeling I had when I saw the Coliseum in person this past summer. Google maps provides a decent image, but it lacks the detail the building demonstrates when in person. The guide provides some background information on the Coliseum in regards to building materials, structure size and suggests taking an hour and a half to explore it. When I visited the Coliseum this summer, I took a walking tour that consisted of that amount of time, and proved to be very enjoyable.

The guide directs attention to the Arch of Constantine next. Then to have lunch and proceed to the Roman Forum.

The guide does not provide directions to the Roman Forum, in this case google maps was helpful in locating it. The write up on the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Palastine Museum is quick. Basic background information is provided and rather than providing descriptions of the monuments, the guide provides direction of where to direct your attention to. Again in the case of Palatine Hill, the guide suggests to take three hours to tour and investigate the area.

The guide then gives bus routes to take to the last 5 stops, The Pantheon, Caffe Sant’Eustachio, Scala di Spagna, Piazza Navona, ending at the Trevi Fountain.

Overall, I think this exercise is helpful and I will use google maps before going on touring vacations. The use of the maps allows you to get acquainted with the area, and get a feel of what monuments will interest you, therefore providing a basis for your travel itinerary. This can also help in the future with decisions on what travel guide to use. Personally I found that Frommer’s provided a good guide of what parts of Rome to see. When comparing back to my visit to Rome this summer, the guide encompasses all the monuments I personally saw.

In terms of architecture and urbanism, if going to visit Rome to critically analyze the architecture, perhaps a guidebook more directed to the architectural concepts would be more suitable.

My visit to Rome proved very interesting, and I would definitely like to return again!

That's all for now, can't wait to see what next week has coming for me!

- Ali

Starting with the Building Blocks

Hello Fellow Classmates/ Bloggers, my name is Ali Fieder.

Growing up with Urban Development and Commercial Real Estate as a general theme of many family dinner conversations, it was only natural that I study those subjects at university. I am currently enrolled in 3rd Honours Specialization Urban Development. Given my extensive knowledge of the subject from an economic and geographical perspective, I cannot express my interest enough in this subject through the visual arts history perspective. I anticipate urbanism will be delineated through different examples of architecture throughout history, and am eager to know if the outcome of this course reflects that.

Architecture has always been of interest to me, as I am an art student outside of the university. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many parts of North America, Central America and Europe, experiencing some of the largest buildings constituting beautiful forms of art. 

In the summer of my graduating year of high school I travelled to London, England. While visiting I was the most captivated with the large scale and extremely intricate architecture of the London Parliament buildings. This explains my use of this building, as the back drop for my blog.

This past summer I travelled through the South of France and Italy. Since then, two examples of extravagant architecture have remained in the forefront of my mind. The first is the town of Orvieto, Umbria, Italy. The town was picturesque, situated on the top of a mountain. The sight of such a well planned and well preserved ancient city is one I hope all can experience.

Figure 1: Riservati, Tutti I Diritti. Orvieto Wines: Wine Tasting and Wine Tour. 2013. http://www.orvietowines.com/

The second example of architecture that remains in my mind is the Duomo in Florence, Italy. The large scale of the building along with the intricate details that one can only see when very up close, I will never forget. I also found the use of colour, rather than the usual brick or stone to be very interesting and captivating. 

Figure 2: eTravelPhotos.com. Florence Cathedral (Duomo). 2008. http://www.etravelphotos.com/photo.php?pid=11467

It is obvious that architecture and urbanism is something that is prevalent in my everyday life, and a highlight of my travels.

I look forward to posting more on this blog as I am exposed to history and information in regards to architecture and urbanism, that I otherwise would not know.