Lesson 10

In the Realm of Architecture (methods of construction)

Helpful Words and Expressions

1. an order – порядок; ордер (архитектурный)
2. building – строительство; здание
3. the column and beam – стоечно-балочная (система)
4. to achieve perfection – достичь совершенства
5. a base – база, основание (колонны) 6. a shaft – ствол колонны
7. a capital – капитель
8. an entablature – антаблемент
9. Doric – дорический
10. Ionic – ионический
11. Corinthian – коринфский
12. Tuscan – тосканский
13. Composite – композитный
14. an ornate version – богато украшенный вариант
15. a vault – свод
16. a dome – купол
17. Roman – римский
18. the Romans – римляне
19. Romanesque – романский (стиль)
20. the pointed arch – стрельчатая арка
21. the arch and shell construction – арочно-оболочное строительство
22. group living – жизнедеятельность населения
23. gridiron – шахматно-прямоугольная, сетчатая (планировка), гридерон Task 1. Match the Russian words and expressions to English ones:
1. Roman	a) ствол колонны
2. Romanesque	b) стоечно-балочная (система)
3. a shaft	c) романский
4. the column and beam	d) арочно-оболочное строительство
5. the pointed arch	e) свод и купол
6. the vault and dome	f) римский
7. the arch and shell construction	g) сетчатая (планировка)
8. gridiron	h) стрельчатая арка

Task 2. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. The Romans added two orders: Tuscan and Composite.

2. For many centuries the column and beam was the only method of stone construction.

3. During the Roman Empire round arches, vaults and domes achieved perfection in stone, brick and concrete.

4. The order is a column with a base, shaft and capital supporting an entablature.

5. Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders were invented in Greece.

6. Composite order presents an ornate version of Corinthian.

7. Romanesque style lasted from the early 11-th century to the mid 12-th century.

8. One of the most remarkable elements in Gothic architecture is the pointed arch.

9. The most recent developments in arch and shell construction contain a promise of great possibilities in the architectural design of the future.

10. Gridiron, radial and the ring street patterns are usually combined for beauty and efficiency.

Task 3. Guess the meaning of the words:

a) architecture, architect, architectural, ensembles, aesthetic criteria, method, the series, characterized;

b) characteristic formalized ornament, a general plan, the basic problem, the ornate version, aesthetic and functional criteria;

c) Ionic, Corinthian, Composite, Roman Empire, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Classicism;

d) Egypt, Greece, Persia, Mesopotamia;

e) the Parthenon, Noutre Dame, Bauhaus;

f) Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Oscar Niemeyer.

Task 4. Read and translate the text.

The architect creates order in the picturesque variety of nature.

(August Perret)

Architecture is music in stone.

(Victor Hugo)

1. Architecture is the art and science of designing and building structures or ensembles, according to aesthetic and functional criteria.

2. Most of the buildings of ancient times were based upon the column and beam method of construction. Such are beautiful impressive monuments of Egypt and Persia, which achieved their perfection in Greece with the creation of the architectural orders.

3. The order is a column with a base, shaft and capital with its characteristic formalized ornament. The series of columns support an entablature. The Greeks invented 3 orders: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The Romans added two others: Tuscan and Composite.

4. The arch and dome came into being in Mesopotamia. Classic orders, round arches, vaults and domes were perfected during the Roman Empire, Romanesque architecture (the early C 11-th mid C 12), Renaissance (the early C 15 – C 16), Baroque (C 16), Classicism (the early C 17). Gothic (the later C 12 – C 16) great works are cathedrals (e.g. Noutre Dame in Paris), characterized by the pointed arch and other remarkable elements.

5. In our time the constructive principles changed with the introduction of steel and ferro-concrete. And the arch and shell construction was recently developed.

6. The basic problem of town planning is the organization of land and buildings for group living. There are varied gridiron, radial, ring and functional (or organic) street patterns.

7. The outstanding modern foreign architects are: Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius.

Task 5. Finish the following sentences.

1. According to Victor Hugo architecture is …

2. Architecture is the art and science of … according to …

3. The column and beam method achieved its perfection in … with the creation of …

4. The architectural order is a column with …

5. The Greeks invented 3 orders: …

6. Classic orders, round arches, vaults and domes were perfected during …

7. Gothic architecture is characterized by …

8. In the history of town planning such street patterns were applied as …

9. We know 5 modern outstanding architects: …

Task 6. Answer the following questions on the text.

1. What is architecture?

2. What three methods of construction were there in the history of architecture?

3. What does it mean the architectural order?

4. Where can you find Ionic, Corinthian and Composite orders in Voronezh?

5. What architectural styles do you know?

6. What street patterns were worked out in the history of town planning?

7. What street patterns are used in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Voronezh?

8. Whom of the modern outstanding foreign architects can you name?

9. What structures are modern foreign architects famous for?