Architecture 

(Latin architectura, from the Greek ἀρχιτέκτων – arkhitekton, from ἀρχι- "chief" and τέκτων "builder, carpenter")

can mean:

 The art and science of designing and erecting buildings and other physical structures.

 The practice of an architect, where architecture means to offer or render professional services in connection with

the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings,

that have as their principal purpose human occupancy or use.[1]

 A general term to describe buildings and other structures.

 A style and method of design and construction of buildings and other physical structures.
THE ARCHITECH

Architects plan, design and review the construction of buildings and structures for the use of people. Architects also
coordinate and integrate engineering design, which has as its primary objective the creative manipulation of materials and
forms using mathematical and scientific principles.

Historic treatises

Architectural drawings of details of the Palace ofPersepolis, Persia (Iran)

The earliest surviving written work on the subject of architecture is De architectura, by the Roman architect Vitruvius in the

early 1st century CE.[2] According to Vitruvius, a good building should satisfy the three principles of firmitatis utilitatis

venustatis,[3][4] which translates roughly as -

 Durability - it should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.

 Utility - it should be useful and function well for the people using it.

 Beauty - it should delight people and raise their spirits.

CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE
Greek architecture

The Parthenon.

Greek architecture arose on the shores of the Aegean Sea and flourished in the ancient world. The most
important works of Greek architecture were produced between 700 BC and 146 BC. Architects
Callicrates, Mnesicles, and Ictinus flourished, and theParthenon (Its most famous monument) and other
great works were produced. The Parthenon was built using the golden proportion (0.618 : 1) by Ictinus,
Callicrates and Phidias, ca. 440 BC.; there is a replica of it at Nashville, Tennessee. Another piece of
Greek architecture was the magnificent Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of theSeven Wonders of the
Ancient World; Paeonius and Demetrios were the architects of this temple in ca. 250 BC. The Temple
of Nike by Callicrates, ca. 420 BC., was the earliest Ionic building on the Acropolis.

Greek architecture has a strong influence on Western Culture even today.