ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER AND STYLE

The character of a building depends upon its capacity to express a particular function and status.
All aesthetic components, such as unity, composition, contrast and scale together make up the
character of a building to evoke a certain visual and psychological response in the user.

Character also brings out the utility and purpose of a building.

Whether it is a bank or a church or a library, it should possess an appropriate character.

For instance, the structure of the Bank should be such that it should look massive and
represent the countrys financial stability.

Character of a building denotes all those qualities which differentiate it from other
buildings. It is the notable feature of a building and describes the purpose of its existence.

In design, character is obtained not only from the natural or man made elements but
also from aspects like function, materials and technology of construction.

The character of the building is reflected in terms of treatment of openings, scale of

elements, proportion of the smaller to the larger units etc.

Materials based on their intrinsic character or nature is to be used accordingly. Ex: When
stone is used it signifies strength as also long lasting nature. Similarly use of glass
denoted fragile character and one of delicate nature than strength. Materials like wood,
steel or brick when used with their natural finishes can give and enhance the beauty of the
structure.

The architectural style of the building is the individual personality of a building that emerges
from a collective interaction of aesthetics, as they relate to use, construction, time period,
geographical location, etc.;

Style is definite type of architecture distinguished by special characteristics or type of

structure, ornamentation etc. Style is an attribute of all good design, contributing vitally
to a character.

Architectural style constitutes a mode of classifying architecture largely by

morphological characteristics in terms of form, techniques, materials, etc.

Character is the quality. Style is the way or type (a manner in which a character is expressed in a
particular way). Styles may change but character doesnt undergo changes.
Character of a building is achieved willfully. It gives an identity to the building. Character in its
maturity can be called style. The same character when carried over to all buildings at a particular
time and over a same area will be called style.
Architectural character can be divided in to 3 categories:
Functional Character: In architecture it is developed as expressions of a building which is the
manifestation of internal function. The purpose or function of a building gives us the external
appearance of a building. Ex: Design of factory building, industrial workshops, the layout of
which are dictated purely by a functional aspect.
The function can be static or dynamic, horizontal or vertical, compact or sprawling.
A type of classification of functional character includes the: Permanent structures will have
performance of repetitive functions or actions. Hence use of more permanent materials.

Incase of Semi-permanent structure use of materials will be of such a nature which can be
removed and reused like portable cabins, thatch roof, or AC sheet, Polycarbonate sheet etc.

Transient structures are meant to satisfy the immediate need and can be dismantled or removed.
Ex: Exhibition pavilions, film or theatre sets
Also use of domes for large spans and use of columns and beams for medium and smaller spans
reflect the functional character of the structure.

For example:
Designing skylights instead of windows can indicate a museum.
Designing a long wall having numerous windows in a particular order can also indicate a
museum.
Designing tall and wide windows suggest a library.
Designing a symmetrical entrance to a central block having a wide entrance to express balance
and rhythm indicates public buildings.
Associated Character: This character develops from the influence of ideas or impression related
to or growing out of past experience. It is used to recognize a building which has been associated
with particular style.

Ex: Design of a temple out of religious belief or spiritual context, layout of a house based on
vaastu shaastras etc
The character of some buildings is expressed through elements associated with certain
influences. Such influences often go thousands of years back in history and culture. Cultural
aspects play an important role in determining the Associated Character of a particular
structure.
We recognize a building by its features, which we associate with a particular structural style. A
spire on a tower by the side of a spacious building indicates a church. A gopuram depicts a Hindu
Temple whereas a crescent and a white dome is the symbol of a mosque.

PLACES OF WORSHIP
Personal Character or Individual character: Each architect would express certain character
which makes hi/ her own style. Ex: Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Charles Correa. Character
in architecture is comparable with the attributes of an individual. If a building is designed in the
proper spirit, personal characteristics such as grace, dignity and vitality can be expressed as an
integral part of the structure.

RONCHAMP

Influences on Style are:

Geography

Climate

Materials available

Religion and tradition

Construction Techniques

Function

Usually repetition of features like columns, courtyards, ornaments openings etc. is seen. Roof
treatments, faade treatments all are repeated in a similar fashion in a particular area and time.
Types of Style:

Based on place

Based on religion - Dravidian style, Orissan Style, Vijayanagar Style

Based on Structural techniques - Egyptian and Greek: Trabeated system

Egyptian, Roman, Greek etc.

Roman: Arcuated system

Gothic: Flying buttress
Early Christian: Pendentives

1. BASED ON PLACE:

Egyptian:

The two predominant building materials used in ancient Egypt were sun-baked mud
brick and stone. Most buildings contain flat roofs supported by external walls and columns.
Walls were immensely thick. Columns were confined to the halls and inner courts.
The massive sloping exterior walls, containing only a few small openings, columns and piers
were covered with hieroglyphic and pictorial carvings in brilliant colors. Many motifs of
Egyptian ornament are symbolic, such as the scarab, or sacred beetle, the solar disk, and the
vulture. From natural objects, such as palm leaves, the papyrus plant, and the buds and flowers of
the lotus, they developed conventionalized motifs.
The belief in existence beyond death resulted in sepulchral architecture of utmost
impressiveness, permanence and scale.

GREAT PYRAMID

Greek:

Greek architecture is important because of its logic and order. They planned their temples
according to a coded scheme of parts, based on function. Mathematics determined the symmetry,
the harmony, the eye's pleasure.
Greek designers used precise mathematical calculations to determine the height, width and other
characteristics of architectural elements. These proportions might be changed slightly, and
certain individual elements (columns, capitals, base platform), might be tapered or curved, in
order to create the optimum visual effect, as if the building was a piece of sculpture. The Greeks
also invented the classical "orders": namely, the Doric Order, the Ionic Order and the Corinthian
Order - according to the type of column, capital and entablature used.

PARTHENON

Roman:

Roman culture has been a powerful force in shaping the styles and history of Europe and beyond.
These Roman Architecture included

Basilicas used as administrative centers.

Aqueducts, which were used to carry water for many miles to overcrowded cities.

Amphitheaters created to provide entertainment.

Temples created to placate the gods.

Triumphal arches and columns used to tell the stories of great battles.

Bathhouses, which served as meeting places as well as a place to get clean in warm water.

Certain features such as the arch, dome and concrete, are considered central to any understanding
of Roman building techniques.

COLOSSEUM
2. BASED ON RELIGION:

Dravidian style:

Dravidian architecture emerged in the Southern part of the Indian subcontinent. It consists
primarily of temples with pyramid shaped towers constructed of sandstone, soapstone or granite.
The gateways or Gopuras, Pillared Halls are Mandapas and the Sanctum Sanctorium or Garba
griha.

DRAVIDIAN STYLE

Orissan style:

The Orissan temple architecture ranging from 7th to 13th century A.D. referred to as Kalingan
Style of temple architecture. Though broadly they come under the Northern style or Nagara style,
they have certain special features which are unique of their own. The Orissan temples are of
three types - Khakhara Deula, Rekha Deula, Pidha or Bhadra Deula
These mark the culmination of a distinct style of architecture called the Kalinga style remarkable
in its plan elevation and details of decoration. In the simplest form, a temple of this style consists
of a structural duel, the main temple or shrine and the frontal porch. While the main temple,
called Vimana or Deula, is the sanctum enshrining the deity the porch or assembly hall called
Jagamohana is the place for the congregation of devotees. Although the two temples are
architecturally different, they are constructed in axial alignment and interconnected so as to form
an integral pattern.

ORISSAN TEMPLE

Vijayanagar style:

Vijayanagara architecture can be broadly classified into religious, courtly and civic architecture,
as can the associated sculptures and paintings. The Vijayanagara style is a combination of
the Chalukya, Hoysala, Pandya and Chola styles.
The most popular material for temple construction was chloritic schist or soapstone. This was
good for sculpture as soapstone is soft and easily carved. While the use of granite reduced
the density of sculptured works, granite was a more durable material for the temple structure.

VIJAYANAGARA STYLE
3. BASED ON STRUCTURAL TECHNIQUES:

Trabeated system

A trabeated system has a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontal member over a building
void supported at its ends by two vertical columns, pillars, or posts. Eg. Greek and Egyptian style

STONE HENGE

Arcuated system

While other cultures had made limited use of semi-circular arches, the Romans were the first to
take wide advantage of them through the creation of buildings and infrastructure.
The way arches distribute weight are what made them so popular. Arches direct the weight so
that it is concentrated on the upright supports. This means fewer columns are needed and larger
open spaces can be spanned.

Roman aqueduct supported by arches

Flying Buttress

A flying buttress is a specific form of buttressing most strongly associated with Gothic church
architecture. The purpose of any buttress is to resist the lateral forces pushing a wall outwards by
redirecting them to the ground.

FLYING BUTTRESS

Pendentives

A pendentive is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square
room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room. The pendentives, which are triangular
segments of a sphere, taper to points at the bottom and spread at the top to establish the
continuous circular or elliptical base needed for the dome.

PENDENTIVE