Introduction to Architecture

This week we began our study of architecture. The students provided lots of fascinating definitions of architecture, and we concluded that it involves both the art and the science of designing and constructing buildings. In order to begin practicing their architectural skills, the students are looking at photos of different styles of cathedrals. 

Here are some of their observations about the Romanesque style:

-- There are very few windows, and the cathedral is overall very simple.

-- It has a solid surface, with not that many decorations.

-- It has a washed, whitish color, with a little pointy tower detail leading towards the sky.

-- There are round arches around the doorways, and a there is a mosaic kind of pattern on the edges of the roof.

-- There are not a lot of extravagant details on the outside of the building.

-- This building seems kind of short, compared to some of the churches that I have seen.

-- I notice a rose window at the top of this cathedral.

-- Each pair of columns holds up a Roman arch, and the arches hold up the roof.

-- The inside of this building must have been very dark, if the only window for natural light was the skinny little window in the front.

-- I wonder why the Romanesque cathedrals are not very fancy?

-- This cathedral is trying to make you focus more on what the speakers are saying, instead of focusing on elaborate designs. 

-- Why aren't there more windows?

-- The roof is very low, and the inside of the building is very plain.