ROMAN

ARCHITECTURE
510BC - 400 AD

1. Pre-History
2. Egyptian Architecture
3. Mesopotamian Architecture
4. Minoan and Greek Architecture
5. Roman Architecture
6. Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture
7. Romanesque Architecture
8. Gothic Architecture
9. Renaissance Architecture
10. Baroque and Rococo Architecture
cement, Arch, Vault
Temple(pantheon)
Basilicas,Amphitheatre,theatre,circus,baths,triumphal
arch,columns
aquaducts,bridges
City planning/forum

Greeks were more into aesthetics//romans were more into

functional space..Romans produced a wide range of bldgs
that had never been built
City of rome was founded in 753 bc as a small village near
tiber river. Ancient Rome was the center of one of the
largest and most powerful empires in history.
The roman empire conquered the whole Mediterranean region and spread its influence to
the Middle East, Northern Africa, Western and Central Europe
REGAL(Monarchial(etruscans)-seven kings//
republican>dictator(typically one who has obtained control by force.)autocratic-Julius ceaser//
/Imperial>emperor-Augustus and beginning with him
emperors built far more monumental structures, which transformed the city of Rome (golden age of arch witnessed in
imperial period )
Constantine became the emperor in 324 AD.
converted to Christianity and rome becomes Christian empire(holy
roan)prior Christians werer persecuted
While Constantinopole flourished, Rome and its provinces disintegrated
due to the constant attacks by barbarians.
 Roman constantly in contact with diff people and
places>exposed to diff ideas and adapt these for their
use.
outstanding transportation network of the ancient
Mediterranean world

The Roman Road Network

Remains of the Roman road

an organized nation-wide network of quality roads that

allowed rapid movement of troops (and goods) to the
farthest reaches of the empire.
4 layers as deep as 8 ft
Remains of the Roman road

large stone slabs

Gravel ,Sand and cement

Smaller stones, pebbles cement

Big stones
Historical background

Social Life
• Roman society had an active social life.
• FORUM-center of social life-very similar to the greek agora
(place for social,political,recreational and religious activities)
• Romans participated in lot of entertainment activities-
• activities include spectator sports such as drama, chariot racing
and gladiatorial contest
• Also had unique social activities-recreational bathing-engaged
in both intellectual and physical interaction
Historical background

Religious belief
• Most of the romans religious beliefs were borrowed from the
GREEKS.

polytheistic
Like greeks they also believed in number of gods
Historical background

Roman architecture
Roman architecture was inspired from the Etruscans and the
Greeks.(temple,gladiatorial combat)
Building material-marble not found in rome as in Greece
Used stone,burnt bricks,timber-wooden truss
First to discover concrete(bonding material) Roman concrete was a mixture of lime,
sand, water and aggregate. Later they learned how to use pozzolana, a local volcanic ash, which provided a mortar of tremendous strength

new const system based on arch and dome

This enabled them to construct great blds with large interior
spaces
To the Romans space was as important as the supporting
mass

It was hybrid of these two culture. Concrete-different from

our present day conc. Greeks also knew about the arch
BUT ROMANS FULLY EXPLOITED IT .
greeks >form
Romans>space
Roman Architecture

Early influence-the Etruscans

• The Etruscans ruled over Italy before the
Romans.
• They existed in the northern part of what
is now Italy,
• During the 700s BC, the etruscans
developed in to a series of city-
states:ROME was a part of these states.
• They brought eastern and greek culture to
the region
Roman Engineering

• Romans created what can be refereed

as STRUCTURAL REVOLUTION

• ARCH AND VAULT SPAN LARGE OPENINGS CEMENT CONCRETE

• Construct structures like BRIDGES

AQUADUCTS
Roman Engineering

Structural innovation
ARCHES a curved member that is used to span an
opening and to support loads from above.

• a typically curved structural

member spanning an opening and
serving as a support (as for the wall
or other weight above the opening)
• Was known by GREEKS but ROMAN
fully exploited it.
• Useful over doors and openings-
ARCHES
• Roman arches have several
elements. One of these is the
keystone. Keystones are the
center piece at the top of the
arch that holds the arch
together.
• Other components include the
columns on the side of the arch
and the voussoirs, the other
stones at the top of the arch that
press against the keystone and
the columns.
VAULTS • VAULTS USED
TO COVER AREA
AS ROOF.

• Capable of
BARREL VAULT spanning large
distances-railways-
church

CROSS(GROIN) VAULT
• Weight is Vault developed from arch. a structural member usually
concentrated at forming a ceiling or roof..
corners simplest of vault is barrel vault.semicircular in crosssection.
disadvantage is to light space-only ends.
• 4 direction opening
GROIN-created by intersecting 2 barrel vault at right angle-to
overcome light spaces-
limited to spquar plan
DOME
• Rotating arch
around its
vertical axis

Dome –another structure used in roman arch.used true

dome –fully rounded perfection
 CONCRETE

• With concrete,it was

possible to construct
monolithic vaults and
arches.
• Conc blds were normally
faced with other mat to
hide the ugly look
• Firebrick/stone/tiles was
used

. concrete(bonding material) Roman

concrete was a mixture of lime,
sand, water and aggregate. Later
they learned how to use pozzolana, cavity between them filled with concrete
a local volcanic ash, which provided
a mortar of tremendous strength
Type of masonary walls
Roman Engineering
Because of structural
innovations like arch,vault
Engineering Structures and discovery of cement,the
romans were able to create
Aquaducts latin for waterway large structures
The Roman aqueducts(arcuated stone, brick, and volcanic
structures) supplied fresh, clean water for cement,-50 to 60 miles from
baths, fountains, and drinking water for springs or rivers-
ordinary citizens-sanitary system to take
away waste water-healthy.
Tallest and best preserved one-MAGNIFICENT-3 tiers of
arches-Limestone-160 ft) high. UNESCO world heritage
site. river Gardon TO NIMES

Pont du Gard,France,1st century BC

Aqueduct of Segovia
 Aqueduct of Segovia
tallest of all Roman aqueduct bridges, as well as one of the best preserved
Bridges
Alcantara Bridge, Spain, 106 AD

Arabic word for meaning "the arch.

6 arch- The stone arch bridge was built over the Tagus River between 104
and 106 AD by an order of the Roman emperor Trajan . Built of granite and
without mortar, supported by five pillar
Roman Buildings
The focus of Roman Building design
was on FUNCTIONAL SPACES.
Roman people demanded buidlings that function to their
needs for esp entertainment so architect were able to
respond by creating buildings that answer their
requirement-functional-like bath-then there needs to be
THEATERS proper water facility,
AMPHITHEATERS
CIRCUSES
BATHS
BASILICAS
TEMPLES
All of these buildings were erected within the dense fabric of the city
 Greek theatre was blended into
landscape-in contrast roman thetre was

Roman Buildings an urban form located in flat city.>

arcade>an arcade is a set of
arches elevation-order-pure cosmetic
THEATRES(acting and drama) layer of trabeation

• The Romans borrowed the Greek

idea but did not require sloped land.
Instead they constructed the theatre
on the principle of arches.
• The structure of theater consists of
massive structural arcades on piers
• The three orders of greek
architecture were used on the theatre
elevation. Doric on the ground floor,
Ionic on the first floor and Corinthian
on the top floor. (aesthetic)
• Theatres were built in every roman
city
Roman Buildings
THEATRES(acting and drama)

• The theatre of Marcellus constructed

between 23-13 BC was first roman
theatre
• Access is provided circumferentially
• A stage runs from end to end in
front
• Enclosed by a tall wall
 Roman Buildings
AMPHITHEATRE

• A public building used for spectator

sports,games and displays.
• Apart from function,the important
outward distinction between an
amphitheatre and a theatre is that
amphitheatre is round or oval in
shape
• Am amphitheatre was first built in
Pompeii in 80 BC but the best
example of the roman amphitheatre
is in ROME

The Amphitheatre of Pompeii is one of the oldest

surviving Roman amphitheatres. located -the ancient
Roman city of Pompeii, and was buried by the eruption
of VOLCANO in 79 AD, that also buried the city of
Pompeii
 -an amphitheatre in rome. - largest
ancient amphitheatre ever built, and is

Roman Buildings still the largest standing. 1,900 years

old.
AMPHITHEATRE COLLOSEUM,ROME(70-80 AD) used for spectator sports including-
violent fighting

• Hosted large scales spectacular games that included

gladiatorial combat,

fights between animals, killing of prisoners by animals

and other executions, naval battles via flooding the arena
and combats between gladiators
BUILT
>limestone, tuff (vol
canic rock), and
brick-
faced concrete.
constructed in the
city centre, in effect,
placing it both
symbolically and
precisely at the
heart of Rome.
Mortar was not
used - iron clamps
held the stones
together instead
Colosseum amphitheatre, Rome, Italy, 72-80 AD
Roman Buildings
AMPHITHEATRE COLLOSEUM,ROME(70-80 AD)

• Elliptical in shape,capacity for

50,000 spectators
• Measured 48 metres high,188
metres long and 156 m wide
• The wooden arena floor was 86
metres by 54 m and covered by sand
Roman Buildings
AMPHITHEATRE COLLOSEUM,ROME(70-80 AD)

• The arena where the action takes

place is located at the center of
ellipse.
• Underneath was the
UNDERGROUND .a network of
tunnels and cages where gladiators
and animals were held before
contests began

The underground ruins is still visible,arena doent exist

Roman Buildings
AMPHITHEATRE COLLOSEUM,ROME(70-80 AD)

• For the exterior part the orders were

used in elevation in same manner as
theatre.
Roman Buildings
AMPHITHEATRE COLLOSEUM,ROME(70-80 AD)
• Had a passageway leading to
seating space from below that opens
into tier of seats
• Entrance was ringed by eighty
entrances at ground level.Each
entrance and exit was numbered as
was staircase
• Seating was divided into different
sections
 Colosseum

elaborate moveable fabric roofs were commonplace in

theatres and amphitheaters all across the empire -Colosseum amphitheatre, Rome, Italy, 72-80 AD
retractable cloth awning
 Roman Buildings
CIRCUSES

• The Romans developed circuses or

stadium for horse and chariot racing
• The structure of the circus is very
similar to that of theatres and
amphitheatres
• Circus maximus is perfect
example-located in rome.
• Around 600m in length by 200m in
width
• 3 tiers of seat,stalls for 12 race
houses.chariots
the most important centres of entertainment in
the Roman cities, apart from the theatres and
amphitheatres. Every city usually had one located
close to forum
Roman Buildings
CIRCUSES
 ROMANS HAD UNIQUE NEED FOR EXERCISE

Roman Buildings
RELAXATION ,SO THEY DEVISED A UNIIQUE ARCH
ELEMENT-THE BATH.
This practice became so poPulAr that at somepoint they
BATH
took it more serious than their gods
• The Romans Bath was more than just
Daily practice
merely swimming or washing
• Procedure includes a pattern of exposing
body to various level of heater air and
water
The core program of the bath consisted of
• a disrobing(changing) room(the
apodyterium)
• A series of at least two heated
rooms(the epidarium) and a hot
room(cauldarium)
• Besides heated room the bath also have
swimming pool,cool unheated room
called the frigidarium
• Wealthy people and emperors had
private bath,but the greatest baths were
the public ones.
Roman Buildings BATH(Baths of Caracalla, Rome 211-217 AD)

blueprint for Roman

baths.finest example of
thermae They were more
a leisure centre than just
a series of
baths. Besides being
used for bathing, the
complex also offered
facilities for taking
walks,
reading/studying,
exercise and body care.
The bath is within a
square precinct emclosed
by walls.curved exedra

The front wall has a series of shops with entrance at center.main

 225m

Changing Swimming pool

rooms

Open
Exercise Cold bath
115m
spaces

Warm bath

Symmetrical mirror design allowed separation of male Hot bath

and female sections. bath building is rectangular 225m
by 115 meters
. swimming pool at North>tepidarium
and a domed circular cauldarium is l ocated to S outh
where it is more sunny.
Roman Baths

Baths of Caracalla
 Roman Baths

made up of vaults,arches,groin vaults and domes.interior Baths of Caracalla

shows how romans have been able to adapt greek orders
in façade.
Baths of Caracalla
Roman Baths

Baths of Caracalla
 Underground flues for hot gases

• Underground furnaces,
boilers, piping and outlets led
hot water and steam to the
different rooms as required.
Hot air chambers below the floors
Roman Buildings
BASILICA

• BASILICAS are the most important

categories of roman arch.
• There were no basilicas before the
roman era.function is close to that of the
greek stoa where magistrates hold court
to dispose of legal matters.
• The basilicas are rectangular and usually
contained interior collonades that divided
the space in to aisles at one or both
sides with an apse at one end
• The central aisle tended to be wide and
was higher than the flanking aisles so
that light penetrate through the
celestorey windows.
• Roman basilicas were the main
inspiration for later church designs
 Basilica of Maximus and Constantine Rome. AD 312
Two apses (one by Maximus and the second by Constantine) end the large
barrel vaults and groin vaults. This became a “bridge building” from the
traditional basilica form to the centrally planned churches of the later Eastern
Roman Empire.
(reconstructed drawing) of the huge legal hall showing
Roman concrete vaulting expertise
Basilica of Constantine, Trier
Roman Buildings
TEMPLES
• The Etruscans were influenced by
Greek temple design.
• The design followed the axial plan. The
arrangement was mostly prostyle with
triple cella and walls exposed on 3
sides. Large overhangs protected the
fragile cella walls.
• It had a deep porch and widely spaced
columns. It was set on a high podium
with frontal flight of steps.
• The columns were much simplified, the
shaft was not fluted. The columns were
widely spaced so that attention was
drawn away from the colonnade to the
interior.
Roman Buildings
TEMPLES

• The typical temple had an axial plan,an

entrance porch with widely space
Columns in front
• The temple had a cella or sanctuary
• The whole temple is raised on a high
podium with frontal steps providing
access
• A good example of early form of the t
emple is MAISON CARREE in NIMES.
And the best preserved and highest
achievement in roman temple arch is
THE PANTHEON
Roman Buildings
TEMPLES(MAISON CARREE in NIMES c 20BC)

• Maison carree is located in nimes

france.
• The whole temple is raised on a
high podium with frontal steps
providing access
• The temple is 26.5m length and
15.5m wide and raised on podium
3.3m high.
• it is temple with 6 Corinthian
columns in front 10 m dia.
• it has entrance porch that is 3
columns deep.
• the cella has columns slammed to
walls.(attached half Corinthian
columns on its three sides.

the temple shows greek influence on early roman temple

Roman Buildings
TEMPLES(PANTHEON)

• The pantheon was built between

118-128AD by the Emperor
Handrian.
• It was built as a temple dedicated
to all roman gods,hence the name
pantheon. the temple was like a
department store for the gods as
several idols of different gods were
on display
• Traditional Greco-Roman temple
front façade in Corinthian order.
The rotunda behind covered by a
dome is unique.
Roman Buildings
TEMPLES(PANTHEON)

• The pantheon essentially consists

of 2 parts.entrance portico and a
circular part or rotunda.
• Floor Plan showing the huge stone
mass around the rotunda which
served as structural mass to
prevent the collapse of the heavy
dome above.
• The portico is 8 columns wide and
3 columns deep and leads to
entrance of temple
• The columns are of unfluted
Corinthian order
• The wall of rotunda is 3 storeys
high on the outside;made up of
brick faced concrete and support
the dome roof of temple
Roman Buildings Coffered ceilings were originally created to reduce the weight of
stone ceilings, Coffered dome above circular plan
TEMPLES(PANTHEON)

• The interior has 8 large niches with

one serving as entrance and the
remaining seven used to dedicated
to the seven major roman gods.
• the dome is coffered.

• The interior
 • The pantheon,dome,oculus

Roman Buildings
TEMPLES(PANTHEON)
• Roof acts totally in compression as a
dome and the coffer shapes reduce
the weight of the dome but retain
sufficient strength;
• the coffers also provide scale and
interest inside. The oculus(EYE), or
opening at the top, was for lighting
and air circulation.
• At the head of the domeis a 30 ft wide
occulus,that opens up the great dome
to the sky and illuminated space with
light

• The interior was built with granites

and marbles imported from Egypt
and Greece
• The pantheon combines scale
boldness and mastery of every
architectural art. The hole (oculus), 7.8 meters in diameter, is the only source of light and
is the connection between the temple and the gods above. was for the
light beam to follow the axis Mundi (a Z-axis (in the third dimension)
connecting the heavens to the earth, often related to a religious or spiritual
connection,/"the connection between Heaven and Earth" or the "higher and
lower realms.
Elements of Roman Architecture Elements of Roman architecture: dome
Pantheon, oculus, Rome
Next class
 Roman Buildings
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

• Residential quarters were built

around a courtyard for light and air
• Common roman house was the
domus
• Two components: atrium and the
peristyle
• Rooms around atrium- formal,
rooms around peristyle- private
usage
• It had few or no windows on
outside
Atrium-large spaces, surrounded by a building, that
are either open-air or feature skylights
Domus-reserved for rich/welloff roman society.
domus-essentially a courtyard house with a collonadded
courtyard
Roman Buildings
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Domus

Atrium houses in pompeii

 Entrance, House of
Pansa,
Atrium, House of Menander, Pompeii, c. 2nd Century
Pompeii, c. 70 AD BC
 Roman Buildings
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

• Romans also built country villas or

houses where they could be close
to nature
• The handrian villa ,a large country
estate spread on a vast terrain
built for emperor handrian displays
an example of the level of wealth
displayed in buildings

120 hectares. -In Tivoli,just outside rome-relaxing and peace.- a

“small town” consisting-palaces, fountains, and baths, as well as
other structures that mimic various Greek and Egyptian
architectural styles.
Roman Buildings
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
 Other Architectural Elements
THE ORDERS

Roman also contributed to the

development of orders.
DORIC
IONIC
CORINTHIAN
TUSCAN DORIC ORDER but with no flutes

COMPOSITE Combines CORINTHIAN AND

IONIC CAPITALS

Contributed to development of orders.

initially Tuscan order developed by the Etruscan later greeks used I t.very
popular in use…>
Composite-giant-spans up to two storey and miniature used to decorate
windows
 Other Architectural Elements
TRIUMPHAL ARCHES

• Other than builds ,ancient romans

also contributed to the development
of several arch elements
• Triumphal arch –in a rectangular
shape of monumental gate,usually
built to celebrate a victory in war
• triumphal arches served as
prototypes for many church
facades later on during the
Renaissance period.
• Two such triumphal arches are the
ARCH OF TITUS AND THE ARCH
OF CONSTANTINE

They were rectangular blocks punctuated by an arch in

• The pantheon,dome,oculus
the center
 Other Architectural Elements
TRIUMPHAL ARCHES
(ARCH OF TITUS c 81 AD))
• Built to commemorate the military
victory over Jerusalem
• Height of 15.4 m and 13.5 m wide
and was constructed of stone
• Single opening flanked on each
side by attached columns of
composite order

Dedicated to emperor titus.relief- • The pantheon,dome,oculus

depicting the destruction of temple in
jerusalem
 Other Architectural Elements
TRIUMPHAL ARCHES
(THE ARCH OF CONSTANTINE
81 AD))
built to commemorate the victory of
emperor Constantine over maxentius
in 312 AD
It has three arched openings ,a larger
one in the center flanked by two
smaller ones
There are four free standing columns
in façade framing the arched
openings
It is also heavely decorated

Built much later that that of titus-forms

shows attempt to create arch more
• The pantheon,dome,oculus
majestic than titus-
 Roman City Planning & Design
FORUM

Market place
Commercial,political and ceremonial
center of civilization
Later it developed into an elaborate
architectural space that became a part
of all roman cities
Unlike the greek agora which is informal
in plan, in roman forum the organization
is more formal
The building surrounding the forum are
normally large and dominate the space
Buildings in the forum-temples,basilicas
and bath

THE FORUM WAS the descendant of the greek agora for • Forum of pompeii
the romans.began as a market place
Roman City Planning & Design
FORUM

• Temple was placed at one

end as a dominating element
of the square while the
basilica was placed
transversely at the other end.
• The forum had other civic
buildings around it.
• The market was placed
outside the forum, unlike the
shops in the Greek stoas
which were an integral part of
the agora.

• The pantheon,dome,oculus

The Imperial Forums, Rome

Greek Agora Roman Forum
Loosely designed without axiality Strong sense of axial planning

Never dominated by other Insistence in total enclosure to have control

building
Temples placed aside to mix with Temples at one of the forum dominant is
scale and basilica on the other end placed
transversely
Shops were integral part of Agora Other civic buildings surround the forum:
Comitium- political assembly
Curia- Municipal assembly
Macellum- shopping area
 Roman City Planning & Design
ARCHITECURE AND URBAN DESIGN IN ROME

Winthin the fabric,all the

roman building types can
be identified.
These include,the
circus,the domus,roman
theatre,amphitheatre,aqu
aduct,roman temple,the
basilica and the forum
From the image, the
clustering of important
buildings close to the
forum is highly evident
Buildings are densly
packed
together,separated by a
network of narrow
pathways
Roman City Planning & Design
ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN IN ROME

Roman city planning started with a strategic center

point or origin by establishing two intersecting main
roads,
a Cardo (North-South) and a
Decumanus (East-West).
These two streets served as the main two streets
that would then expand into a grid like the many
European cities Grid pattern two major axis./cardo-commerce is
organized.(shops)decamanus-civicly imp structures
A forum placed at the intersection
theatre, arena, baths, public lavatories etc. became standard facilities.
 Plan of Timgad, Algeria, 100-117 AD

 Romans had paved streets, good

water supply and sewers by the
1st century AD
 Problem was just for the poor
tenements (forbid with the
services and unhygienic)

Grid pattern /organised

Aerial View of Timgad, Algeria
Thankyou
• Next class: 1. Pre-History
2. Egyptian Architecture
3. Mesopotamian Architecture
4. Minoan and Greek Architecture
5. Roman Architecture
6. Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture
7. Romanesque Architecture
8. Gothic Architecture
9. Renaissance Architecture
10.Baroque and Rococo Architecture