CLASSICAL CIVILIZATION: GREECE

The Greek civilization is one of the oldest and most important civilizations today. This era is where western ideas, culture, science, fine arts, medicine and legal systems began.

Many architecture concepts date back to Greek civilization such as columns, perspective, and balance. One of the most important surviving building of this civilization is the Athenian Acropolis. Another example of Greek architecture in today's world would be the well known arch and columns. Doric, Ionic and Corithm. These concept can be spotted almost everywhere around the world. Another well known Greek concept would be their symbols and graphics. These were used in pottery, mosaics and paintings in that era. One of the most iconic motifs were floral, marine, egg and dart and Greek fret or key.

The three most used colors in this civilization were black, red and white. Some of the furniture includes: tables, storage pieces, couch or sofas, beds and the most iconic the Klismos chair.

Modern architecture based on the Greek Civilization

Original Greek Architecture

Ancient Greek Art, Epidaurus, Greece

Greek Key Motif used in modern decoration such as rugs, sofas, pillows, etc.

Ancient Greek Klismos chair

       

Modern Klismos chair

From Chanel's blog: I liked how she made the comparisons from ancient furniture to today's furniture. Same style more modernistic look.

From Dana's blog: Firstly, I love the way her blog is set up, I liked how she gave an introduction of Greece and why she was interested in that place. I thought it was very good how she shared her favorite piece of furniture, design and architecture. Also I thought it was good how she brought up the columns in the Lincoln Monument in Washington.

ANCIENT CIVILIZATION: EGYPT

Ancient Egyptians used chronology based on dynasties and pharaohs although historians rely on classifying this period into Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom.

The Old Kingdom estates that Egyptian religion was focused on death, or the "afterlife." On the the earliest buildings of this era was the Mortuary Complex of Zoser which is located west of Memphis and north of Saqqara. The name of the architect was Imhotep. The most famous pyramids of this period are Khufu (Cheops) and the pyramid of Khafre (Chephren.)

The Middle Kingdom focuses on the main type of royal monument, the great pylon temples.

New Kingdom was the classic age for Egyptian art and architecture, this is the period where furniture was classified under two systems:  simple geometry, and the shape of the human figure.

Egyptian furniture and architecture was easily conserved because of the climate and land conditions, it is easy to assume that this civilization majorly contributed in today's architecture and furniture design.

The following pictures show a contrast of architecture from this period compared to current applications.

 Medium Pyramid Falcon City, Dubai.

The Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian Bed.

Modern Egyptian Daybed.

From Ali's Blog; I thought it was really good how she explained the story of the twins, and she also included the actual painting that was found. I found it really interesting how the painting can be interpreted in many ways, it does not necessarily meant that the twins were together as a couple, but I see how it can be interpreted in that way based on the painting. Although, in that culture men tend to be very affectionate towards each other.

From Ariana's blog; I really liked how all her picture have the same frame, her blog is really neat. Regarding the actual content  I thought it was really good how she included her personal preferences in the acacia wood and how she included different examples not only from Egyptian architecture but also designs, paintings and furniture.

PRE HISTORY

PALEOLITHIC

2,500,000-9,000 B.C.E

Caves were one of the most iconic things during this era, these were used as shelters. The caves at Lascaux date to 17,000 B.C.E. There were other caves found in the South of France and Northern Spain that were older, these date from between 32,000 and 10,000 B.C.E.

NEOLITHIC

9,000-2,000 B.C.E

Neolithic refers to the principal material used for construction which was stone. A Neolithic legacy is, a Spiro Kostof which means "a fixed place under the sky" (Kostof 1995).

Stonehenge

A henge (below) is a Neolithic monument in a circular form created with ditches, upright stones and banks. These were preceded by earth works and timber constructions. Stonehenge was a place used for rituals.

BRONZE AGE

4,000-1000 B.C.E

This period is when they started incorporating bronze and other materials into their architecture and design. Metal, copper and stone were used to built weapons, jewelry and tools.