How Classical Architecture Began in Ancient Greece: A Survey of Classical Architecture, Part I

Notre Dame architecture professor Richard Economakis presents a sweeping summary of classical architecture, starting with its origins in the ancient world and progressing through history all the way to the present day. Part I of the series focuses on Ancient Greece.
About the Program:
A Survey of Classical Architecture is a new four-part lecture series charting the development of classical architecture, from its emergence in Ancient Greece and Rome, to its rebirth in the Italian Renaissance, elaboration in the 17th and 18th centuries, and reaffirmation in modern times. The lectures look closely at influential architectural works and the contributions of the treatise writers, from the Roman author Vitruvius to Renaissance architects Alberti, Serlio, Vignola and Palladio. They proceed to an overview of the later treatises by architects Perrault, Chambers and Gibbs, and continue with the works of contemporary theorists Porphyrios, Tzonis and Lefaivre, Westfall, and others. The series concludes with a survey of exemplary classical works from the 20th and 21st centuries.
This first lecture in the series begins with the development of Greek monumental architecture and its translation from wood into stone. It includes nomenclature, formal repertoire, and typology, stressing Greek architecture's columnar (as opposed to mural) approach, and its emphasis on the making of free-standing monumental buildings.
00:31 Greek and Roman Antiquity
08:50 The Greek Doric Type
21:29 The Greek Ionic Type
29:03 The Greek Corinthian Type
33:51 Greek Proportioning Systems
46:17 Greek Interest in Ideality
47:44 Greek Urbanism
About the Speaker:
Richard Economakis is a Professor at the School of Architecture of the University of Notre Dame. He served as Director of Graduate Studies until 2022, when he was appointed Interim Associate Dean of Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work. He is also a member of the ICAA's Board of Directors. He received both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell University, and has worked in classical and traditional firms in New York, New Haven, Athens, and London. While in London, he worked as an editor at Academy Editions, where he produced monographs on the works of contemporary classical architects, and the books Building Classical and Acropolis Restoration. This last edited book was the first to fully document the restoration of the Acropolis monuments in Athens since work began in 1975. He is the author of another book, Acropolis, which surveys the history and architecture of the Periclean Monuments. His most recent edited book, Durability in Construction, was selected as the July 2015 ‘Book of the Month’ by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
In the Spring of 2021, Prof. Economakis co-edited the inaugural issue of Notre Dame’s journal ANTA, together with Michael Mesko. Prof. Economakis has led summer programs for Notre Dame in Greece and Britain, and a 2006 ICAA tour of Ancient and Neoclassical Greece. He is currently engaged in research on the origin of the forms of the Doric Order, the preliminary research for which was published in The Classicist No. 12, in 2015. The work builds on ten seasons of experience as site architect in archaeological excavations on the island of Crete, in Greece. As principal of Richard Economakis Architectural Design, he has produced projects in the US, Central America and Europe. Since 2007 he has realized a number of buildings for the award-winning new town of Cayalá in Guatemala, in collaboration with the firm Estudio Urbano of Guatemala City. His design for a Civic Hall at Cayalá received a 2013 Palladio Award. His recent proposal for the construction of Refugee Villages in Greece and the Mediterranean received the Award of Excellence from the International Making Cities Livable organization, in 2016.
Sponsor:
The ICAA would like to thank our Lead Sponsor for Continuing Education courses: Uberto Construction.

[@samanthab1923]

I remember when my son was little we got him classical architecture blocks. They were really cool.

[@Hugo-ym7bo]

What are those? Is it like building blocks with classical elements? Do you know what theyre called?

[@thelordchancellor3454]

@@Hugo-ym7boI would also like to know

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I’m saving this lecture, and the related one on Roman architecture, forever. I love the Ionic Order best, it has a grace and lightness, almost springiness, about it.

[@walterwally983]

Gotta watch it again! Excellent!

[@wissamsalman6415]

The amount of valuable knowledge presented in this lecture calls for a standing ovation at the end of the viewing. Thank you Professor for the great effort you made putting together and delivering such a magnificent presentaion.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

Excellent lecture, it really covers the historical development of the Greek Classical style. Most videos on this topic start with the Doric, Ionian and Corinthian orders, as if they appeared put of nowhere. The hypothesis of the polychromy beginning with applied, colorful, wood preservatives makes perfect sense.

[@fareniente1210]

Wonderful ...

[@acegard7801]

Always interesting

[@artisanhome8980]

Thanks for sharing!

[@SporeMurph]

Excellent and useful presentation.

[@matteopionni1889]

Complimenti, ottimo lavoro!

[@florentinalexandruiftimie8214]

is there a part 2? I would love to watch it. thanks

[@koskivaarak]

On the Korinthian order and the achantus: The plant was used in traditional medicine to treat asthma, diabetes, leprosy, hepatitis, snake bites, and rheumatoid arthritis. Not a bad idea to have it on temples of healing.

[@bennethos]

Excellent video which clarified some Greek definitions for me . I’d like to get to know a bit more about how the Greeks defined their measurements for planning . I’ve read they used Plato’s Meno’s cube etc and they stared out with the stylobates . But how did they decide on what the width of the stylobates should be ? Was it based on the god statue they were going to house ?

[@SonicPhonic]

Great video; much appreciated. At 8:21, does Dorian imply Spartan?

[@3hustle]

1:02: 🏛 This video provides an introduction to the history and development of Classical Architecture, focusing on the expressions and approaches of Greek and Roman cultures. 6:26: 🏛 The video discusses the architecture of ancient Greek temples and the use of polychromy in their design. 12:13: 🏛 The video discusses the components and terminology of Greek architectural forms, such as the Doric temple, including the column, entablature, pediment, and various decorative elements. 19:10: 🏛 The video discusses the differences between Greek Doric and Ionic architecture. 24:16: 🏛 This video discusses the distinguishing features and origins of the Ionic and Corinthian architectural orders. 30:06: 🏛 The video discusses the Corinthian type of column in Greek architecture and its association with healing sanctuaries. 36:09: 🎵 Greek architects used mathematical ratios based on music to create harmonious proportions in their buildings. 42:05: 🔢 The video discusses different types of mathematical progressions and their use in Greek architecture, including the Golden Ratio. 48:47: 🏛 Greek city planning had two approaches: informal with buildings arrayed in a seemingly casual manner, or based on a gridded street pattern. Recap by Tammy AI

[@user-wh4wm3mw7l]

9:49 A rafter has a single face. Why was it represented as triglyph?

[@inkpen9547]

19:04

[@johans7119]

Please look at ancient Egypt and the math used. Architecture schools always start with Greece and Rome and totally miss Egypt which is where it originated

[@goncalodias6402]

Thats probably because there is no surviving treatise on egyptian architecture like vitruvius

[@goncalodias6402]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqDRiadrnqtlr6c

[@inkpen9547]

Greece and Rome are the foundations of Western Architecture. What we visually see from day to day in our own hometowns like the United States Capitol, or the Library of Congress, or historic neighborhoods and business districts. Although Greece was influenced by Egyptian Architecture...the main elements are generally not in the likeness of Egyptian Architecture. Egyptian lines are not what is considered "classical Architecture" of the Western world although it does come up when discussing Neoclassical Architecture and other revival styles. Similar to Islamic Architecture which focuses more on the East, which begins thousands of years before Classical Greece and Rome 3:11

[@johans7119]

@@inkpen9547 but the Hypostyle hall in Karnak, for example, is older than ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The structure was built around the 19th Egyptian Dynasty (c. 1290-1224 BC). The Romans took columns from Egypt to include in the pantheon. Ancient Greek architecture dates from 900 BC until the 1st century AD and Islam wasn't founded until the 7th century.

[@inkpen9547]

@@johans7119 Have you reached out to any of the ICAA personally about your concerns? Are you enrolled?

[@seanp8220]

Has anyone been able to explain how the numerous worlds fairs were able to replicate this so called 'style' of architecture verbatim?