There are various ways to study culture, like its culture and food, but perhaps nothing tells as much about a culture as the buildings it creates. There is something about architecture that keeps on fascinating, be it the soaring domes in Istanbul to the clean geometric lines characteristic of Tokyo.<\/p>\n
Whether you are interested in designs or a traveller with a curious eye, exploring architectural styles can help expand your creativity and make you understand what makes a building unique.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What Are Architecture Styles?<\/h2>\n
Architecture styles are the characteristic approaches employed in building structures during a certain period of history or within a particular culture. The styles tend to respond to materials in use, the users\u2019 needs, and the prevailing ideologies or beliefs.<\/p>\n
From ancient temples of stone to contemporary glass towers, the styles change, but their impact endures. Most of today\u2019s new buildings continue to draw upon the classical or local vernacular traditions.<\/p>\n
1. Europe: The Cradle of Classical and Gothic Mastery<\/h3>\n
No discussion of architectural styles is complete without a mention of ancient Greece and Rome. Columns, symmetry, domes, and the golden ratio\u2014these ideas were born here and continue to influence architects today.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nKey Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n Examples include the Parthenon in Athens and Rome.<\/p>\n This architecture goes back to medieval Europe, where it was nurtured in France during the 12th century and went on to last till the 16th century. Gothic architecture <\/a>is easy to spot, characterized by its height and an element of drama.<\/p>\n It\u2019s indeed ironic that what is regarded as one of the best-loved architectural styles was once a pejorative term used by Renaissance critics to criticize it for being eerily strange and mysterious.<\/p>\n Prominent examples include Notre-Dame de Paris<\/a> and Cologne Cathedral, and the following features best capture the essence of Gothic.\u00a0<\/p>\n With the spread of Islam in continents as diverse as Spain to Persia, it left an enduring impact on the architectural style of these regions by infusing elements of religion and mathematics into traditional structures.<\/p>\n Key Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n Notable examples include the Alhambra in Spain, the Blue Mosque in Turkey, Shah Mosque in Iran.\u00a0<\/p>\n Islamic architecture is a striking example of how architectural styles have evolved throughout regions and yet retain their ingenious aesthetics of blending culture and religion.\u00a0<\/p>\n Deriving from Taoist and Confucian thought, Chinese architecture is centred on achieving a harmony between nature, balance and symbolism. These buildings are defined by rigid geometric rules and represent the hierarchy prevalent in Chinese society.\u00a0<\/p>\n Key Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n Buildings like the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven are the best representatives of this architectural style.\u00a0<\/p>\n Japanese architecture is minimalist to the core, bringing together tradition and simplicity.\u00a0 Ranging from ancient temples to contemporary buildings, the dominant emphasis is on utilizing light and space, and blending in with the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n Key Features:<\/strong><\/p>\n Examples: Katsura Imperial Villa, Tadao Ando\u2019s Church of the Light<\/p>\n It may amuse you to know that the global design trend of minimalism owes in great part to Japan\u2019s age-old architectural philosophy.<\/p>\n Africa is all about variety, be it in terms of people and landscape, and this is equally true about its architectural styles that combine elements of both old and new.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n
2. Gothic Architecture (Medieval Europe)<\/h3>\n
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3. Middle East and North Africa<\/h3>\n
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4. Asia: Balance, Nature, and Monumentality<\/h3>\n
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5. Japanese Minimalism<\/h3>\n
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6. Sub-Saharan Africa: Earth-Based Innovation<\/h3>\n