The Foundations of Classical Architecture: Motifs & Details

In part three of the ICAA's four-part educational video series on classical architecture, architectural historian Calder Loth explores some of the most common and important design motifs used in classical design.
Viewers may receive one continuing education (CE) and/or AIA credit by watching this video and subsequently scoring at least 80% on a quiz that tests your understanding of the material. To learn more, click here: www.classicist.org/calder-lot...
Read more: www.classicist.org/articles/t...

[@r.t.dominguez1717]

I have never seen an architectural video of this caliber let alone so historic in nature. I wish I've seen your videos 15-20 years ago. It would have helped me on my lectures tremendously. Great job Professor Calder Loth. I'm a fan. ❤️

[@xxlabratxx01]

Check out Diana E E Kleiner

[@cognitor900]

Me too. Thanks for the magnificent series. I’m learning more now than…… well, ever!

[@gloriadouglas5968]

I have never seen anything like girl

[@kellyaquinastom]

Loth is world class. His works are foundational.

[@narthex1681]

This lecture has litteraly changed the way I see the world ! Thank you very much

[@rafalsz]

The most satisfying thing about this series is that in this part, when showing one detail, other details in the same building are instantly recognizable from the previous videos. Angled volutes, hypotrachelion, partial fluting of the columns, elliptical curves... I have admired classical architecture for a while, but feared I could never understand it without a degree or at least a very deep dive in some obscure literature. Thank you for producing this!

[@PiranhaJaw22]

his voice sounds architectural

[@thornmallow1]

*Intellectual

[@thequietstag4366]

@@thornmallow1 I think that's the joke.

[@PopLol]

amazing. this deserves more attention!

[@donaldauguston9740]

I could not have enjoyed this more if it had been dipped in chocolate. Thank you so much for uploading. DA

[@michaelbermingham4502]

I have to say, having watched hundreds of architecture documentaries over 20 years+, I have never seen such an informative, well researched, entertaining video. Whenever it started to get heavy, a picture of a beautiful building would appear and would put everything back on track. The building in Germany where all the pediments were the same made me laugh. The history of the edicule doorway was brilliant......,so that's what a Georgian door is! I am from Dublin and the defining architectural feature of this city is the "Georgian door". Now I see it in it's proper context, thank you! I enjoyed every minute of this video, the information was imparted in a very deliberate way, some would say cold, but I would say that's just how I like it!!

[@green8921]

Excellent content and presentation!

[@jesurajthomas8290]

Very very informative.Excellent photography !!

[@user-hs1ku7nd2l]

Fabulous! Strongly recommend for those who like architecture! Thank you very much Mr. Loth!

[@HobbyOrganist]

As always, Calder Loth does an excellent and interesting, well researched and engaging work of presentation and narration!

[@susanlynn5281]

I think you are the best speaker I have ever heard in all my years of education.

[@rickyrusli1330]

i learned alot from this video, very inspiring, also very informative. I haven't watched the 1st and 2nd but i'm already looking forward to the 4th one. I never once watched a very long information video without feeling sleepy like this. :D I truly enjoyed it, and i hope i can watch more presentation like this.

[@ableadelaide5893]

How illuminating that a quality post such as this gets 27k views and 28 comments in an entire year, yet some purile garbage from a Kardashian type can track up teens of millions of viewers in just days. Gives one great insight into the state of the times, and this series is worthy of every accolade. Thank you for posting.

[@bryanjconlon]

Fantastic! Such detail and presented in a very understandable way. Love how the features are highlighted during the commentary. Thank you.

[@kimartist]

OMG this is just what I needed! I recently moved to the Southern USA from California & I have so many questions! I'm seeing buildings here (including my local Post Office) that are so rich in architectural detail that it made me realize I utterly lack the vocabulary & historical knowledge to describe them! "Ooo I really like that... thing... over here & that... thing... over there!" And of course people who grew up with these amazing buildings have no interest, nor appreciation for the architectural richness that surrounds them on the daily. Thank you.

[@rinnrennz1515]

may i know why do we need motif in art?

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

This course is so enjoyable and I’ve learned so much, including the origin of a console table, guttae, modillions and so much more. My two pre-modern architectural history courses could only cover a few basics, because of time constraint and the very basic, introductory level needed to give most students an introduction to the general principles and periods. Now, I want to revisit all the classically-inspired buildings in my area!

[@angelinakondr]

Thank you very much for the course!

[@aravindsagar2226]

I don't know how I ended up watching this but I'm glad I did

[@thetroytroycan]

Your videos give me such pleasure. Please make more. I'll pay! Excellent quality

[@muscutt]

Great stuff..looking forward to the next episode

[@zansad878]

It's is an awesome class...briefly explained without boring....

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Even though it wouldn't advance employment, I would love to spend a few semesters studying art history, especially looking at architecture, b/c fine architecture is so publicly accessible. You don't have to own it to see it. It's everywhere.

[@ThrownAwayVoices]

I would not be so quick to think that it wouldn't help you in your career (though I don't know what your career is). There is a niche for Classical and vernacular architecture now that has a high demand and low supply because only several schools in the world teach its principles. You can become quite valuable if you find the right niche-ornamental design, sculpture, pattern-making, woodworking-there's so much to be done. Good luck!

[@Donquijote007]

And all this beautiful architecture was built at that time with horses, and hammers, it's incredible, and today not even 3d machines do something like that, I would like to know what a builder thinks

[@RockNRoll-wb8fn]

i learned soo much thanks for this very good documtary! PUT THIS KNOWLEDGE IN TO EVERY SCHOOL IN THE WORLD NOW !!

[@chiritaalexandra5933]

Very informative! Thank you

[@BashirbhaiLakhaniRajkot]

❤ good information... From Rajkot Gujarat India

[@creestee08]

thank you professor for making the video engaging. i never felt sleepy

[@groundedpathd1080]

thank you so much for these videos. This has really helped me in my classes- done very well.

[@c59294fje]

This is amazing! very educational ! thank you so much !

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

The Hellenes credited Egypt for teaching them the principles of their architecture. I would love to see a video on how the Hellenes adapted Egyptian architectural design, materials, etc. to develop their own architectural program.

[@yourdiamond6806]

Thank you very much for this rich and informative lecture 🌹

[@andreyserebryakov2231]

This is very awesome and well done!

[@cadurevival6702]

Incredible and informative. One of my dreams is to study in the Organization

[@Benjaminwolf]

All I have to say is that this is very interesting! It will, however, take a lot of practice to incorporate all the terminology into my vocabulary.

[@alaahamza62]

" The best-preserved console is on the doorway of the Bacchus Temple in Baalbek Lebanon . All the examples you mentioned still exist in the largest Roman temples throughout the entire Roman Empire in Lebanon

[@calderloth6058]

I agree that Baalbek is truly overwhelming. I had the privilege to visit Baalbek with it was safe to do so. It was a unique experience. I could have used many more views of Baalbek's magnificent architecture to make my points. Calder

[@alaahamza62]

I'm glad you did, Yes, it's a truly fine example of Roman classical architecture. Despite the national problems in Lebanon and conflicts in the Middle East, it's safe,and as am a person from Baalbek, you are always welcome here. @@calderloth6058

[@nathaneddy9712]

when do we get part 4???

[@j.d.4697]

29:06 absolutely stunning!

[@Cacacos]

Interesting and informative.

[@Bezeoner]

Thank you very much for the video!

[@ferdinandvs.benedictvs]

I love this channel!

[@DonMeaker]

The drum and dome on top of the columns of Bramante's Tempietto seems to come from the Mausoleum of Theodoric, though the first story of the Mausoleum is much heavier. Theodoric was referenced by the English poet Deor, who reflected on impermanence. "That went away, and so may this."

[@mansardmanor3869]

Rustication can also be seen on *French Provincial* first floor facades, in a refined finish

[@Fozz84]

I love this video. final thought was aztec stonework could make for great rusticated ornament. it's non symmetrical nature could add a playful homage to another classical route.

[@Fozz84]

myan could work too

[@leighbee1764]

Thank yall soo much, I wish I had this in school. maybe my dream to be an architect wouldn't have been destroyed by my learning type(understood later in life zero help from formal and public education systems. .) if I had other versions of resources other than reading and lectures I do imagine my GPA woulda been good enough to do something with my degree.

[@calderloth6058]

Your life can be nonetheless enriched by having an informed eye--giving you the ability to enjoy "reading" the architecture of buildings anywhere you go. Calder Loth

[@226klh]

Thank you very much

[@YouTube_Enjoyerlol]

This was very educational

[@ashotmirzoyan]

Thanks so much!

[@eng.f.alahmar549]

Nice work

[@robdob249]

THANK YOU LOVE THIS VIDEO LOVE YOU STAN CLASSICISTORG

[@matthewbudlong9813]

Where did all the basement windows come from!! The older building all have these weird half or even a quarter basement window?

[@soccerhsu]

light for the crypt

[@matteopionni1889]

Complimenti, lavoro ben fatto

[@haroldmclean3755]

Excellent 👍

[@marcosgarcia2643]

Awesome!

[@leogangawan5252]

Thank you sir!

[@ts3784]

can any one tell me how old marble or stone columns were made? especially the one piece pillars which are so straight and smooth. i ca not find any materials on this

[@allanh1522]

what's the difference between dentils and guttae? i thought guttae were specific to be being under triglyphs

[@AntPDC]

In the petrified carpentry of Ancient Greek architecture, dentils are intended to represent the ends of previously rafters, which were previously timber. The much smaller guttae are intended to represent wooden pegs previously used for securing various timber members, such as joists (represented by triglyphs). These motifs were carried through to Ancient Roman and later architecture of the Renaissance.

[@alexeyrodokanakis8827]

Dentils are squared off while guttae are cylindrical.

[@noahbui1911]

Thanks

[@laureanosamuelolmoromero5756]

i added all locations he mentioned to a map.. i feel like i'll never be done learning that stuff, and everytime i watch it i find a new detail in the drawings or something...

[@multiverse8101]

So how are they carved?

[@drychalice]

👍🏆

[@nguyenhung5085]

wow !!!

[@ghassankanaan1767]

👍👍👍

[@gloriadouglas5968]

Classic architecture

[@universalflamethrower6342]

My city doesn't believe in details and motiefs, it believes in straight lines, glass and concrete

[@DanFrederiksen]

Isn't tha neoclasical rather than classcal.

[@davidweston9115]

"A room without a fireplace has no heart, and certainly, no soul." This is my main man. If you want to be a real architect, listen to this man. He shows dozens of examples of the work both extant and ruined, and very importantly, he shows modern hacked up botch jobs done by illiterate architects, and the layman can finally see why their towns look like cheap garbage. If we could put a stop to this... (about as likely as ending world hunger and racism I suppose). In any case even if you are about to commission a building, watch these lectures so you don't get taken by one of these illiterate architects, and end up with a blight on your property and the neighborhood, because if you ever do find out the truth, and learn to read architecture yourself, you will hate your building from then on.

[@mrdr1ggy]

they were not fireplaces.. they were powergrids. this is why most of catherdrals and palaces and gigantic homes had organ pipes running through it. and old science, technology from the past for free energy! using sound waves to make power. NO WAY the building you see from the 1800th century, were built at that time by industrial revolution and new comers to America and many places all over the world. They are lying and hiding who really built this!!

[@orvilleclisby6748]

The gods prefer their faith over upholding these beautiful structures.

[@Awreccan]

Wait did I just watch a lecture by Robert Langdon?

[@rackcity-sz4oy]

how did i end up here

[@gloriadouglas5968]

I never said them

[@ludovicleprinceroyal8721]

So no Neoclassicism in France? Anglophiles are so out of tune with historical precedence. The Petit Trianon (architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel) is the first real essay in an elegant, and correct classical style. The English were superficial with their use of classical orders well into the 19th century.

[@warnockossoffwon5494]

@1:50 Both were stormed and desecrated by mobs. One by communists in 1917, the other by deplorables in 2021.

[@SoloTravelerOffTheBeatenPath]

You are actually gay and cringe.

[@edwasil7450]

The same architecture is all around the world how do you explain this, have you heard of Tartaria maybe the answer is there, you better do more research.

[@marsco2442]

The same books are found in libraries around the world, have you heard of this? They even have the same letters! There is much more research to be done...

[@xwiirastusx]

No. The Winter Palace is an abomination of a building, an exercise in poor taste. It is completely out of proportion, the elements of Rococo style, which belong in the interior, are displayed on the exterior. But then again, what do you expect from Bartolomeo Rastrelli Junior, an Italian architect who probably never went to Italy during his lifetime, and was a complete slave to Elizabeth Petrovna of Russia, Empress known for her poor taste and excesses.

[@dudebro2241]

"Classical revival" more like Tartarian

[@dailydoseofsunshine2319]

Lol no

[@wagstaff4921]

We get it you don't want to learn, just keep your fantasy land to yourself