Architectural styles in order. Styles and trends in world architecture

Style in art is a multifaceted concept. We can talk about the style of an individual work or genre, about the individual style of an individual author, as well as about the style of entire eras: the style of the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism.

Artistic style is a universal concept. It extends to all types of art of a given era, manifested in architecture, sculpture, painting, arts and crafts, music and theater.

The word “style” comes from the Greek word stylos, which was the name of a stick for writing on wax. Every era writes its own history. Possessing his figurative system, so we can say that style is the handwriting of time in a given place in this hour. Styles, like people, have several ages: infancy, maturity and old age, but for each style these periods have different durations. Thus, style is a living, changing concept.

Each style is generated by a certain era and develops with it and dies out or transitions into another style.

An architectural style is a set of main features and characteristics of the architecture of a given time, of a given people. The architecture is characterized by stylistic unity.

Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Classicism, Art Nouveau, Constructivism - each of these styles is expressed in all three aspects: functional, constructive and artistic.

To give an idea of ​​a particular architectural style, it is necessary to characterize it from all three sides included in Vitruvius’ formula.

Thus, functionality is expressed in the fact that new types of structures appear when the need for them arises. This may be due to the political structure of the country, its social structure, the level of technological progress, living conditions, religion, and traditions. In ancient Rome, grandiose public baths were built. They stopped being built in the Middle Ages. But the construction of castles and monasteries acquired unprecedented proportions.

The second side of architecture - constructive - is also inextricably linked with style. For example, the use of “Roman concrete” opened up the possibility of constructing long-span structures and vaulted ceilings for ancient Roman architects. This is how aqueducts, huge circuses (Colosseums), theaters, baths, basilicas, numerous triumphal arches.

The aesthetic side of architecture in everyday life is defined by the word “beautiful”.

The development and change of architectural styles are inextricably linked with history. Changes in eras have always entailed a change in style.

Thus, the formation of a style is a very complex and lengthy process. Style's duration of existence most often coincides with historical era or with the history of a civilization or people. In the history of mankind, there was no architectural style whose monuments could not be seen or even touched today.

Three sides of architecture

Architecture is a special type of human activity, the purpose of which is to create a living environment. Therefore, architecture is called “second nature”, which man creates around himself. Even in ancient times, an architectural formula was found - the so-called Vitruvius formula:

Architecture = usefulness + strength + beauty.

Vitruvius defined three aspects of architecture: functional, technical and aesthetic, linking them into a single whole.

The functional side of architecture speaks of the “need” of the building. A building is created only when it is necessary for a person. Architecture is construction (of residential buildings, religious and public buildings, entire cities). Therefore, according to their overall purpose, the following types of architecture are distinguished:

  • housing (houses, chambers, huts);
  • religious (churches, cathedrals, churches);
  • public (museums, train stations, stadiums, schools, shops, theaters);
  • industrial (plants, factories, dams, power plants, combines);
  • landscaping (gazebos, pavilions, fountains, garden, park layout);
  • memorial (triumphal arches, obelisks, panorama buildings, crypts);
  • urban planning (architectural ensembles, city planning, roads, bridges, tunnels).

The technical side of architecture is responsible for the “skeleton” structure of the building, its strength, durability, and stability.

Over the centuries-old history of architecture, two structural systems have been created: post-beam and arched-vaulted.

In a post-and-beam system, the posts (supports) bear the entire weight of the structure, and horizontal beams span the space between them. Due to the limited length of the stone or wooden beam, the rooms in ancient Greek buildings were small in size.

In an arched-vaulted structure, the weight is also borne by the uprights. But the space between the racks is covered by arches, which allows the racks to be moved apart over long distances. The buildings are becoming enormous. The vaults put so much pressure on the supports that they can topple or break them, since in addition to the vertical they generate horizontal pressure. This expansion limits the size of buildings. To prevent pillars from tipping over in the Middle Ages, during the construction of huge Gothic temples, the walls were supported by external pillars and arches.

The aesthetic (artistic) side makes architecture one of the art forms. It is called frozen music. Vitruvius counted. That the building must not only be necessary and durable, but also necessarily beautiful, “pleasant, elegant, impeccable” and “pretty.” The appearance of the building and the interior design of the premises reflect the artistic tastes of the architect and society. For creating artistic image architecture uses three means: volumetric-spatial composition, main and secondary elements of the structure.

Any building has a volume and occupies a certain place in space. Considering it from this point of view, we are talking about volumetric-spatial composition, for example: the arch of the General Staff building with its two wings was the compositional completion of Palace Square; The Peter and Paul Cathedral, thanks to the precise calculations of the architect Trezzini, became the dominant feature of St. Petersburg.

The main elements of a structure include its main volumes, their grouping, and proportions. Approaching the building, we see other elements of the structure that distinguish it from others. Thus, we will never confuse the facades of the Winter Palace and the House of Books, even if we are shown these buildings not entirely, but only their fragments. Secondary elements help us recognize buildings: columns, pilasters, cornices, platbands, balconies, sculpture and other decorative details. They complement and complete the main compositional volumes. The means of creating an artistic image in architecture are not only the main, but also secondary details themselves, but also their relationship.

Style classification

Each era has its own ideas about the world around us, its own vision of beauty and harmony. The historically established set of creative principles, character and features of expression of the most significant features of material and spiritual culture created by society is defined as the style of a given era.

The word "style" (lat. stilus) comes from the name of an ancient writing instrument: style, or stylus, is a pointed rod made of bone, metal, wood, with which text was written (scratched) on a wax tablet or on birch bark. Style is determined by changes in lifestyle, the development of society; it is generated by a certain era and dies off, replaced by a new set of stable forms. Style rarely exists in its pure form: it always combines old and new.

For over a century now, the following generally accepted classification of styles has existed:

  • Egyptian style - 5000-1000. BC.
  • Antiquity - 3000 BC - 400 AD;
  • Romanesque style - 10-12 centuries;
  • Gothic - 12-16 centuries;
  • Renaissance (Renaissance) - 15-16 centuries;
  • Baroque, Rococo - 17-18 centuries;
  • classicism - 18-19 centuries;
  • Art Nouveau - late 19th century. - early 20th century;
  • rationalism - 20th century

Each style has its own characteristics. Let's consider several architectural styles: Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance (Revival), Baroque, Rococo.

Roman style

In the 11th-13th centuries, a new architectural style developed in Europe. Some of its features were borrowed from the Romans, so the style was called Romanesque. The main type of Romanesque building is the basilica. The buildings were elongated, their interior space was divided into several naves by rows of columns. During the Romanesque period, arches were often used. They were used both inside buildings to cover naves, and outside to create decorative arcature elements. In different parts of Europe, buildings of this style differed from each other in their national flavor. Even artistic movements were formed: the Saxon and Rhenish schools in Germany, the Burgundian, Aquitaine, and Provençal schools in France. In Burgundy, the central region of France, the influence of the Roman church was especially strong. In France and Italy, arches were also used in the design of facades. They were distinguished by the richness of their decorative decoration; oriental motifs are clearly visible in them. In some basilicas, arcaded elements rise upward, as if turning into a Gothic style. This is the Trinity Church in Cannes, built in 1070.

Characteristic features of the Romanesque style:

  • colors: brown, red, green, white;
  • lines: straight, horizontal and vertical, semicircular.
  • shapes: rectangular, cylindrical;
  • structures: stone, massive, thick-walled; wooden plastered with visible skeleton;
  • windows: rectangular, small, in stone houses - arched.
  • doors: plank, rectangular with massive hinges, lock and bolt;
  • interior elements: semi-circular frieze, repeating geometric or floral ornament; halls with exposed ceiling beams and supports in the center.

Gothic style

The Gothic style is richer and more complex than the Romanesque, and the system of Gothic plots is much broader, more harmonious and more logical: it reflects all medieval ideas about the world. “This makes a person especially acutely aware of the height of the columns and walls in comparison with their size,” wrote A.G. Tsires. “The high height gives an unusual appearance to the entire interior, emphasizes the symbolic and artistic value top and overhead lighting and indirectly recalls the sky, which played such an important role in the religious worldview of medieval Europe."

Characteristic features of the Gothic style

  • colors: yellow, red, blue;
  • lines: pointed, forming a vault of two intersecting arcs;
  • shape: rectangular building in plan; pointed arches turning into pillars;
  • structures: frame, openwork, stone; elongated pointed arches; emphasized skeleton of structures;
  • windows: elongated, often with multi-colored stained glass; round decorative buildings on top of the building;
  • doors: pointed ribbed arches of doorways; oak paneled doors;
  • interior elements: fan vault with supports or coffered ceiling and wooden panels on the walls; complex foliage ornament; the halls are high, narrow and long or wide with supports in the center.

The Gothic style is most common in Spain, Germany, England, and France.

Gothic in Spain

Spanish Gothic began to take shape around the 13th century. Its development proceeded unevenly due to the fragmentation of the kingdom and the influence of local traditions or the influence of Arab art in various historical areas. The style manifested itself exclusively in temple architecture. In Spain, the spread of new architectural ideas was slow. The Cistercians introduced a number of Gothic techniques: this was manifested in the form of arches and ribs of the vault, and in the very use of pointed arches. Moorish techniques also left their imprint on the interpretation of the Gothic rib frame system: the vault above the center cross rests on cross-shaped arches, with an eight-pointed openwork star placed in the space between them. The influence of Arab art was most clearly manifested in the brick cathedrals built by Muslim craftsmen. The first Spanish churches to replicate the scale of French Gothic cathedrals were the cathedrals in Burgos and Toledo (begun in 1226). Spanish Gothic is characterized by free fantasy deviations from the single structural design of the building and numerous additions to the original plan in the form of many chapels and extensions. The most important feature of the Spanish Gothic monuments is the continuation of the choir from east to west, from the apse to the middle of the central nave. The choir was separated by a high decorated partition; behind it was the main chapel, also enclosed by a wall. In the chapel, the altar was fenced off from the space behind the altar by a tall, richly decorated retablo. All this turned the chapel into an independent church inside the cathedral.

Gothic in Germany

In the XII - XIV centuries. Germany was going through a period of feudal fragmentation. Town halls and city cathedrals became centers of Gothic art here. Gothic became widespread in Germany in the first half of the 13th century. German Gothic cathedrals were different from French ones. In an effort to convey as clearly as possible the desire of the human soul for heaven, the architects increased the height of the vaults, crowning them with turrets with spiers. The western facades of cathedrals with one or two tall slender towers were especially decoratively decorated. However, external semi-arches (flying buttresses) and rose windows were rarely used here.

Monuments gothic architecture In Germany there are cathedrals in Marburg, Naumburg, Freiburg, Ulm and other cities. The most famous Gothic cathedral in Germany is Cologne. Construction of the cathedral began in 1248 and was completed in the 14th century. The cathedral towers were erected in the 19th century. The building, 46 m high, is decorated with many arches, spiers, openwork carvings, and pointed arches. The magnificent sculpture of the cathedral moved from the external walls into the interior space of the temple. It is rhythmically connected with architecture, but not with its rocky mass, but with the bends of vaults and arches. The statues themselves also have characteristic curves in the shape of the letter S. The sculpture of Cologne Cathedral is original, unique, unusually emotional, and dramatic.

Gothic in England

Gothic architecture in England began to develop in the 12th century. and was mainly associated with monasteries. Famous cathedrals in England: Canterbury Cathedral - the residence of the head of the English church; cathedrals in Lincoln, Wales, Salisbury.

A characteristic feature of English Gothic cathedrals is the presence of two transepts (transverse naves), one of which is shorter than the other. English cathedrals have a considerable length: they were built in an open area and had the opportunity to rush not only upward, but also to the sides. English Gothic is characterized by stretched facades, various vestibules, far-out transepts, rectangular apses, huge (up to 135 m in height) towers above the baptismal center, and a relatively small height of the central nave (relative to the side ones). Erecting cathedrals increasingly elongated in length, the English architects provided them with pointed arches, repeated many times in the windows, and the same abundance of vertical wall frames. Decorative elements played a leading role in English Gothic; for example, the use of color contrasts between different types of stone was characteristic. The famous Salisbury Cathedral, in southern England, was built in the 12th century. Hundreds of medieval masons and carpenters worked wonders to create this beautiful building. The cathedral stands on a foundation of only one meter, because underneath it lies a powerful natural foundation - a layer of silicon gravel. It took another 33 years to complete the main building, and the entire cathedral was built in 1258. A settlement grew around the cathedral, which was called New Sarum and is known to us today as the city of Salisbury. Between 1285 and 1315 a tower and spire were added to the cathedral. 6,500 tons of stone were used for construction. From such a huge load, the four pillars supporting the tower and spire bent, and to redistribute the weight, buttresses and flying buttresses were used.

Gothic in France

Gothic art arose in the French province of Ile de France, the center of royal possessions. One of the masterpieces of French Gothic is Notre Dame Cathedral, the famous Notre Dame of Paris. The cathedral was built on the site of a Christian basilica. Its construction began in 1163 during the activity of Bishop Maurice de Sully, and ended in 1345 in the 14th century. Notre Dame is a grandiose three-nave basilica that can accommodate about 9,000 people at a time. The length of the basilica is 129, it has 5 longitudinal naves. There are 3 portal entrances leading to the temple, framed by arches extending into the depths; above them there are niches with statues - the so-called “royal gallery”, images of biblical kings and French kings, 28 figures in total. The center of the western facade is decorated with a rose window, about 10 m in diameter, and above the side portals there are windows under pointed arches. An equally famous cathedral in France is the Cathedral in Chartres. It is famous for its stained glass windows, which occupied an area of ​​more than 2.5 thousand square meters. km. In 1194, the cathedral almost completely burned down, only the “royal portal” and the bases of the towers remained. The building was later rebuilt. The famous French cathedral in Reims became an example of “mature Gothic”.

Gothic in Russia

In the Middle Ages in Russia, Gothic was practically unknown. True, a certain similarity with European Gothic can be seen in the architecture of the walls and towers of the Moscow Kremlin. Gothic architecture penetrated into Russia only in the neo-Gothic era, that is, at the end of the 18th century.

According to Starov's design, a wonderful landscape park with various architectural structures was created in Taytsy, of which the Gothic gate, consisting of two symmetrical guardhouse pavilions connected by a pointed arch, has survived to this day.

In the city of Pushkin, in the Alexander Park there is a very beautiful Gothic-style building - the Chapelle Tower. The pavilion consists of two square towers, between which there is a wide arch. The tower was built according to the design of the architect A. Menelas in 1825 - 1828. Previously, the Chapelle windows had stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes, and the daylight penetrating through the colored glass illuminated the interior with a ghostly flicker, the figures of angels at the base of the arches and the white marble statue of Christ. But, unfortunately, these sculptures have not survived to this day. The Chapelle building is monumental and has the appearance of authentic Gothic ruins.

Renaissance

The Renaissance is a return in architecture to the principles and forms of ancient, mainly Roman art. Particular importance in this direction is given to symmetry, proportion, geometry and the order of its component parts, as clearly evidenced by surviving examples of Roman architecture. The complex proportions of medieval buildings are replaced by an orderly arrangement of columns, pilasters and lintels; asymmetrical outlines are replaced by a semicircle of an arch, a hemisphere of a dome, niches, and aedicules. An example of this style is the Chateau de Chambord in France. 1519-1547

Characteristic features of the Renaissance style

  • colors: purple, blue, yellow, brown:
  • lines: semicircular;
  • geometric designs- circle, square, cross, octagon;
  • shape: round or flat roof with tower superstructures;
  • arched galleries, colonnades; round, ribbed domes; high and spacious halls, bay windows;
  • structures: massive and visually stable;
  • windows: rectangular with heavy cornice and frieze, round, semi-circular arched, often paired and even triple;
  • doors: construction of portals with heavy cornice, frieze and columns; rectangular and semicircular arched entrance;
  • interior elements: coffered ceiling; antique sculptures; foliage ornament; painting of walls and ceiling.

Baroque

Baroque (barecco) translated from Italian means “strange”, “pretentious”, “bizarre”, and translated from Portuguese it means “irregularly shaped pearl”. This is a dynamic, affected style, which is characterized by theatricality, enchantment, and the desire for luxury. In the picture you can see the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, in the Peter the Great Baroque style. Baroque assimilates and processes various artistic traditions, including them in the development of national styles. Baroque art is characterized by grandiosity, pomp, pathetic elation, showiness, a combination of the illusory and the real, a strong contrast of scales and rhythms, materials and textures, light and shadow.

Rococo

Rococo is characterized by highly complex carved and stucco decorations, curls, cupid-head masks, etc.; in the decoration of the premises, reliefs and picturesque panels in elaborate frames play an important role, as well as numerous mirrors that enhance the effect light movement, as if penetrating the surfaces of the walls. The picture shows the Smolny Cathedral, built in St. Petersburg. The predominantly ornamental orientation of the Rococo style did not allow it to have a significant influence on the facades of buildings.

Characteristic features of the Baroque and Rococo styles

  • colors: muted pastel colors; red, pink, white, blue;
  • lines: fancy convex-concave asymmetrical pattern;
  • in shapes semicircle, rectangle, oval; vertical orientation of columns; pronounced horizontal division;
  • shape: vaulted, domed and rectangular: towers, balconies, bay windows;
  • designs: contrasting, tense, dynamic; with an elaborate facade - and at the same time massive, stable:
  • windows: semi-circular and rectangular: with floral decoration around the perimeter;
  • doors: arched openings with columns; plant decor;
  • interior elements: the desire for grandeur and splendor; massive grand staircases; columns, pilasters, sculptures, carved ornaments, interconnection of design elements.

Eclecticism

Eclecticism is an architectural trend based on combining various forms of previous styles in different combinations in one building. In Russia it developed in the 1830-1910s, changing a number of stages. New types of buildings have appeared (banks, train stations, folk houses etc.), rational space-planning and engineering solutions. Eclecticism includes the “brick style”, “Russian style” and other artistic movements in architecture with elements borrowed from old styles. Eclecticism usually occurs during periods of decline in art. Elements of eclecticism are noticeable, for example, in late ancient Roman art, which combined forms borrowed from the art of Greece, Egypt, Western Asia, etc. Representatives of the Bolognese school gravitated towards eclecticism, who believed that they could achieve perfection by combining the best, in their opinion, aspects of the creativity of the great masters of the Renaissance.

In the history of art, the most prominent place is occupied by the eclecticism of architecture of the mid-2nd half of the 19th century, which extremely widely and often uncritically used the forms of various historical styles (Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, etc.); It is characteristic, however, that this architectural and design eclecticism with its “freedom of choice” of architectural and ornamental motifs had a significant influence on the formation of the “modern” style, holistic in its essence, but fed from a wide variety of sources.

In the field of fine art, eclecticism is most typical of salon art. Eclectic trends became widespread in Western European and American culture from the mid-20th century. in connection with the emergence of postmodernism and the fashion for “retrospectivism” of artistic design, copying certain stylistic trends of the past (including eclecticism of the 19th century).

Neo-Gothic

Originated in England in the 40s of the 18th century. In contrast to the national trends of eclecticism, neo-Gothic was in demand all over the world: it was in this style that Catholic cathedrals were built in New York and Melbourne, Sao Paulo and Calcutta, Manila and Guangzhou, Rybinsk and Kyiv.

The most famous neo-Gothic building is the Palace of Westminster on the Thames embankment.

The appearance of neo-Gothic in Russia is associated with the name of the architect Yuri Matveevich (Georg Friedrich) Felten. Not far from St. Petersburg, the neo-Gothic Chesme Palace (1774-1777) and the Chesme Church (1777-1780) were built according to his design.

Traits neo-gothic style are also present at the royal residence in Tsaritsyn in Moscow. It was built by the architect Bazhenov. Examples of medieval Gothic in Russia can be seen in the Kaliningrad region (former East Prussia). A small number of buildings have survived in the Leningrad region. Most of them can be found in Vyborg (the bank building on the market square, the market building, the Hyacinth Church (XVI century) in the old town, but most importantly - the only medieval castle in Russia (except for the Kaliningrad region), founded by the Swedes in 1293 .

Thus, from the above, we can conclude that architecture has changed over time, leaving and improving the best that was in stylistic solutions. The interweaving of mathematics and art creates the architectural music of European cities, and it still captivates our eyes. The windows of these buildings look at us from the depths, striking and surprising with their exquisite forms and strict mathematical calculations. The wind over the rooftops sounds like the strings of an organ, turning architectural masterpieces into frozen music.

I live in an area of ​​new buildings, where the houses are monotonous and faceless, but we care where to live, and returning to the architectural masterpieces of past centuries gives us hope that new architects will come who will create no less beautiful buildings, people will live in beautiful houses. After all, what we see around affects our soul. We will live better if we are surrounded by the music of architecture.

Architectural style is a set of characteristic features and attributes of architecture.
Characteristic features of a certain time and place, manifested in the features of the functional, constructive and artistic sides: the purpose of buildings, building materials and structures, methods of architectural composition - form the architectural style.

Architectural styles - complete list:

Navigation 40 styles

English façade: solid and durable

A modern English house combines several subtypes of style: Georgian, Victorian, Tudor.
The main features of such buildings are two floors, a steep roof slope, brickwork (usually red), a balcony with a balustrade, lattice windows, the presence of wild stone and forged parts in the decoration.
Signs of a home in English are an indispensable lawn at the entrance, as well as ivy or picturesque grapes on the walls. The British set up garages separately, under awnings. British design style is all about restraint, solidity and durability.

Barnhouse: simple but stylish


Barnhouse (from English - “barn house”) is an architectural style of the 20th-21st centuries.
The fashion for barnhouses originated in Western Europe - at the intersection of minimalism, loft and bio-tech. Externally, such a house looks simple: rectangular, gable roof (often without overhangs), laconic exterior decoration, no frills. At the same time, it is quite practical and convenient for life.

Baroque in the exterior: monumental splendor


Architectural styles: Baroque

Michelangelo is considered the trendsetter of Baroque fashion. In any case, Baroque houses are grandiose and pompous, like his sculptures. The scope, the sinuosity, the unity of the construction and the meticulousness of the finishing - these are short review Baroque architecture.
Such a house requires space and funds, because the style includes bay windows with balconies, pilasters, recessed ceilings, arched openings, and even towers. And also rich decoration: molded rosettes, garlands, wreaths.
Windows in Baroque houses are often semicircular in shape, and the doors are framed by columns.

Victorian style: prestige and elegance

Architecture popular in the 19th century Foggy Albion and in the colonies, it is not losing ground even today.
Victorian houses have 2-3 floors, asymmetry, a complex, multifaceted roof, an attic, often a round turret, a spacious porch, trimmed with carved wood or metal, white or beige.
However, the Victorian style has many variations, depending on the time and place of its penetration into a specific cultural environment.

Gothic in architecture: minted mystery

The style is legendary, historical, reminiscent of knights and fights. It is characterized by pointed, fan vaults, ribbed and vertical lines rushing to the sky, arches turning into pillars, coffered ceilings, elongated, often stained glass windows.
The Gothic style house has a sharp "skeleton"; its colors are yellow, brown, red, blue.
Both stone and wood are used as building materials, because the style was formed in different circumstances.
A house with a Gothic “face” is strict, graphically clear and darkly solemn!

Dutch style: unpretentious peace

Dwellings in kingdom of tulips and windmills– real hearths: comfortable, practical and durable. And all thanks to the conditions: unsteady, swampy soil forced the architects to be pedantically thorough, and the lack of space forced them to search for maximum utility and functionality of housing.
The qualities of Dutch house-building are a symmetrical layout, high gables, a sharp roof with wide hip ribs, windows with wooden shutters, light plastered walls and a base trimmed with stone.
The Dutch House is an ideal “haven” for those seeking privacy.

Deconstructivism: not like everyone else


The style of deconstructivism leaves no chance for any of the architectural absolutes. It is introduced into any environment with flashy broken shapes and structures that are difficult for visual perception.
Deconstructivism is not called the direction of architecture, but its negation, however, deconstructivists still have a foothold - constructivism and postmodernism.
Architects deliberately distort the principles and compositional motifs of these styles and end up with a dynamic and individual building project.

European Style: Popular Versatility

Conservative, solid and suitable for any landscape, the European house, for the most part, has a square shape and is built on 2-3 floors.
Features - a hipped, tiled roof, a plinth lined with stone or tiles, not very large, rectangular or arched windows, a balcony or bay window, a door in a contrasting color.
The decor is spare and rational, for example, wrought iron porch and balcony railings...

Italian architectural style: refined drama

Smooth, “swan” lines, arched windows, vaulted ceilings, pretty balconies and a natural palette of the facade (from gray to brown) are the signs of this style.
Italian-style houses are built from stone and wood, and in the budget version - from brick and timber. The number of floors is from one to four.
The courtyard plays a key role in creating the image of a magnificent Italian villa: it must have paved paths, living fences, several sculptures, and a fountain. The fence is usually made of textured stone.

Country style house: warmth and soulfulness

This style has many faces and is based on local customs: for example, in France “rural” houses are made of stone, and in Canada they are made of logs. In any case, country style involves traditional and natural raw materials.
Distinctive touches of such an exterior are rusticity (cladding the external walls with faceted stones), inclusion of objects handmade(this could be forged door handles or a horseshoe at the entrance), the color of the facade, reminiscent of shades of clay, wood, sand. The yard is decorated with appropriate archaic elements: bird nests on poles, flower beds on carts, a model of a mill.

Classic style in the exterior: imitation of the best

Classical architecture is based on ancient canons, on the best examples of the Italian Renaissance, English Georgianism or Russian architecture.
Classicism in the exterior is the symmetry of the building (the main entrance is the axis around which the extensions are located), the presence of columns, triangular pediments, porticoes, balustrades, balusters and other accessories of a particular architectural era.
Classic-type houses are decorated with pilasters and moldings. The preferred material, of course, is stone, however, nowadays decorative elements are well made from plaster or polyurethane.
Classic mansions are often two-story, light in color...

Colonial style exterior: discreet charm

Wealthy immigrants and planters built their households, combining “imported” capital and comfort with local exoticism. This is how the colonial exterior came into being.
Houses in this style are monumental, with two floors. The layout is rectilinear, the entrance is supported by a colonnade. They are erected from stone, plaster neutral color. The door is massive, wooden. There is almost always a terrace available. The buildings feature large, panoramic windows that offer views of the garden or wildlife.

Perhaps the most famous subtype of colonial exterior is a bungalow, a one-story or attic mansion, with a spreading veranda along the entire width of the pediment.
Its color is traditionally white, reflective, because bungalows were built in the tropics, combining the features of a traditional English cottage, army tents and oriental tents.

Constructivism in architecture: simplicity as art


Houses in the constructivist style are distinguished by high functionality and artistic expressiveness, which is achieved not through decorative elements, but through shapes and materials.
Laconic geometry and high expediency inherent in constructivism are intertwined today with naturalness, naturalness, and an abundance of light and space in interior spaces.
The main building materials are: concrete, glass, metal, plastic and other modern raw materials.

Loft: fashionable fundamentality

The idea of ​​the style is to transform technological rooms, factory floors, garages or hangars into bohemian, luxury apartments.

A loft-style house is a very spacious, tall, distinctly geometric building, usually with a minimum number of internal partitions.
The main building materials are brick and concrete.
Any finishing is alien to the loft façade; it does not require siding either.
The roof is often flat, but can be hip, pitched or gable. Panoramic windows.

Art Nouveau house: delightful chic

Once upon a time, this style became the banner of the movement for a new architecture, in defiance of the “boring” classics: with stately, curved lines, variety of shapes and decorations.
Since then, the contours of the openings in a modern house are necessarily rounded, the windows are decorated with wavy, elaborate grilles or stained glass, glazed tiles, mosaics, paintings are used in the decoration of the facade...
In general, “any whim,” since the goal of Art Nouveau is to show the individuality of the homeowner, emphasizing the originality of his nature.

Minimalism in architecture: freedom and light


Architectural styles: minimalism

Elementary and three-dimensional form, flat roof, huge windows, abundance of glass - this is what a cottage looks like in business, minimalist style.
Glass fragments are even mounted on the roof, and light plaster, stone or wood siding are used to decorate the facade.
Common colors are calm, natural: white, beige, olive, gray.

German-style houses: fabulous originality

These houses seem to have “jumped out” from the fairy tales of Hoffmann and the Brothers Grimm. They are compact and very neat in appearance.
The German style is characterized by laconicism, efficiency, the absence of intricate decoration and the natural color of the facade.
Such a dwelling has a square or rectangular shape, the base is covered with stone, and the gable roof is covered with red tiles.
A German house is decorated with a balcony or attic, as well as tinted boards - elements of half-timbered wood.
An original detail is the windows, separated by lintels and protected by shutters. The door is painted in a color that stands out against the background of the house.

Norwegian style: compact and environmentally friendly

A traditional Norwegian house is usually built from a carriage, that is, from half-hewn logs.
Single-story, squat, with small windows, it is nevertheless spacious inside, helped by the lack of a straight ceiling.
The decor of the exterior is primarily the texture of the building material. Color also makes its contribution to aesthetics: Norwegian houses are painted in bright and rich colors - cherry, orange, rich green.
A common occurrence is a grass roof. This is not only a folklore “twist”, but also additional protection from heat and cold.

Postmodernism in architecture


Irony and paradox, theatricality and complex figurative associations - all this is about postmodernism, whose representatives present familiar forms in an unusual context and advocate that anything can be art.

Architecture in the Provence style: rustic romanticism


Why does this style know no boundaries?
— Because Provence is the embodiment of both brilliance and naivety, and also a symbol of family values. It is believed that the name of the style was given by the French region, but “Provence” means “province”: pastoralism, simplicity, leisurely and measured - these are its main “trump cards”.
In the south of France, houses are mainly built from wild stone, with extensive use of pebbles and slate. In other places they resort to imitation, gypsum panels and slabs. But the roofs are always tiled, often multi-layered, of various levels.
The northern wall is necessarily blank. The windows on the lower floor may differ in size from the rest; they are often supplemented with sashes.
Natural colors are preferred: milky white, grass, straw. Extensions are welcome - verandas, terraces, kitchens, barns. The door is wooden, weighty, with forged hinges and a viewing window. The yard is covered with paving stones.

A house in the Provencal style is unthinkable without a plot with herbs, simple flowers and lavender in terracotta pots...

Prairie style (Wright style): harmony and functionality


Wright's style in architecture

“Frank Lloyd Wright is an innovative American architect. He had a huge influence on the development of Western architecture in the first half of the 20th century. Created “organic architecture” and promoted open plan in architecture."

Wright-style houses blend harmoniously into the surrounding landscape and decorate it.

Ranch style: thrift and thoroughness

This exterior is one of the most popular in “one-story” America. Having absorbed the nuances of other styles, features of bungalows and “prairie buildings,” it finally took shape at the beginning of the last century.
Low-rise ranch houses are “spread out” in width, complicated by extensions, plastered and painted with light colors.
The appearance of a ranch-style house reminds us that farmers began to build such housing: harsh, unpretentious people who value work, but also good rest!

Rococo in architecture: unbridled luxury

Such houses were preferred by French aristocrats. The classical order system on the basis of which they were erected is almost invisible due to the abundant, ornate decor.
The walls of the Rococo house are literally drowning in through patterns and lace details - curls, rocailles, cartouches.
Playful arches, slender colonnades, graceful cornices and railings add idleness to the premises and a pleasant lightness to life. Artistry and mannerism permeate the Rococo building like the sun through a crystal shard.
Traditional colors are soft pastel colors.

Romanesque style in architecture: my home is my fortress

The origins of this trend lie in the Middle Ages, when citadel castles arose everywhere. Their characteristic features are primitiveness silhouette, massiveness and brutality, because protection and shelter were the main task of such monasteries.
The main building material was (and still is) stone. The construction of apses, towers with domes and arched vaults was diversified.
The window openings were narrow, like loopholes.
Of course, in the modern version, the Romanesque mansion does not look as trivial and rude as in ancient engravings.
The windows have become significantly larger, the wild stone has been replaced by elegant stylization. But the principle remained unshakable: Romanesque-style mansions should be large, bulky and inaccessible in appearance.

Russian architectural style: toy house

Exterior design in the Russian style is not as monotonous as it might seem. These are also houses typical of Slavic wooden architecture, and mansions in the style of Russian merchants, and noble estates.
Wood, of course, rules the roost.
A house in the Russian style rarely exceeds two floors, the roof is gable, the windows are small, covered with platbands, and a covered porch is highly desirable. Balconies, staircases, and turrets will give the mansion a resemblance to a fairy-tale hut, and intricate carved decoration and an open veranda on figured supports will resemble boyar mansions.

Scandinavian style in the exterior: Nordic character

Among the features of this direction are: natural building materials, minimal decor, glass doors, huge windows (or an entire transparent wall), which is dictated by the lack of sunlight.
Scandinavian houses are covered with either white plaster or wooden paneling, which also fulfills an aesthetic mission: doors and windows are edged with dark wood, walls are sheathed with light wood, or vice versa.
The roof can be either flat or gable.

Mediterranean style house: glamor and bliss

Residences that could only be admired on the warm coast were also included in the design encyclopedia.
Their peculiarity is their light and joyful color (white, cream, pink); flat, tiled roof; half-open verandas covered with greenery; spacious balconies and rotundas; the presence of a swimming pool and, of course, a patio.
The building may consist of several parts flowing into each other. Windows and doorways are often horseshoe-shaped.
Preference is given to natural stone, ceramics, and wood.

Modern architectural style: freedom of choice

Its value lies in democracy. This design accepts any building materials, including the latest ones.
Such a house is distinguished by its simplicity and relevance. It does not need decoration or any stylistic tricks.
A gable roof, sufficient space, panoramic glazing and energy efficiency - perhaps all that is required...

Tudor style: noble heritage

Tudor house - material embodiment truly - English character. He is imposing and a little old-fashioned, like a 100% gentleman.
Formed in the 16th century, combining touches of Gothic and Renaissance, Flemish and Italian motifs, the Tudor style still remains in demand.
Its attributes are thick walls, high chimneys, turrets, lancet openings. Well, of course, half-timbered- outer frame.
In the old days, such houses were built from stone and wood, but today they use aerated concrete, panels and blocks. Beams, cornices and shutters stand out as before dark color.
The main facade almost always contains a bay window, sometimes in the form of a turret.
It is impossible not to mention the roofing: Tudor roofs are complex, with long hips and high gables, with small dormers.
The entrance is in the form of an arch, lined with stone and decorated with the family coat of arms.
The area around the house is decorated with stone sidewalks, paved paths, wrought-iron fences and, of course, an English lawn.

Half-timbered houses: ancient flavor


Architectural styles: half-timbered

Glimpses of this style appeared in the 15th century in Germany. Several centuries later, half-timbered wood “captured” the whole of Western Europe. They still turn to him today.

In essence, the half-timbered technique is a frame construction method. Its basis is fastenings made of wooden beams, racks, crossbars, and braces. They were once made of oak, intricately joined together with “secret” notches and wooden pins. The voids between the beams were compacted with clay, pebbles, and straw. The walls were plastered, whitewashed, and the frame was painted brown, cherry or black. It served as an ornament to the façade, dividing it into clear segments. Houses lined with wooden patterns are still called half-timbered.

Today, in the construction of modern half-timbered houses, insulated panels, double-glazed windows are used, and large panoramic windows are installed. Thus, combining ancient crafts and new technologies, they create an exclusive image of the home.

Farmhouse style: maximum air

This exterior is a broad category: its English modification differs significantly from the Italian one, and the Italian one from the North American one. Let's look at the general details.
Farm houses are often one-story, light in color, with unobtrusive decor. A notable feature is a large porch or open veranda, which, if space allows, can stretch along the perimeter of the house.
For finishing, either wood or materials imitating it are chosen. The windows are large, with good review, the door is often also glass...

Finnish style: scent of wood

Another type of wooden exterior.
For façade cladding, Finns use clapboard or planken.
The height is one and a half to two floors. The roof is gable, ceramic tile. There is often a terrace in front of the house, and above it a glazed balcony.
The color of the facade is wood shades or light paints: blue, gray, beige.
The highlight of a Finnish home is, of course, the sauna.

Fusion style: harmony of contradictions


This amazing style sweeps away laws and rules.
The architect and designer are free to use any materials, shapes, textures... And even principles!
Unlike eclecticism, which interweaves individual details of similar exteriors into a whole, fusion is a daring attempt to combine diametrically opposed things. For example, industrial design (loft) and baroque fragments. Or gothic with ethno.
In addition, the style involves the use of complex color range, variety of decor... And, of course, a subtle artistic flair that will not let you slip into architectural cacophony And design heresy.

High-tech in architecture: on the verge of fantasy

Such houses are a challenge to traditions and a demonstration of scientific achievements.
High-tech real estate is noticeable from afar thanks to wind generators and solar panels. The layout assumes significant home sizes and cubic shapes.
The walls are absolutely flat, the structure is smooth, the materials are concrete, glass, metal and plastic.
Color scheme – white, black, silver, shades of various metals.
High-tech - houses are also different large area glazing.
The terrace may be open, but the central door is also glass and sliding. Roofs are often flat, in the form of flat platforms, which are easy to adapt for recreation. The facades are equipped with lighting.

Czech house: a secluded place

The design of Czech cottages echoes European architectural traditions. Czech mansions are distinguished by their regular geometry, squatness, high and multifaceted tiled roofs, and stone foundations.
However, instead of tiles, they are sometimes covered with straw, which harmonizes with the rural landscape. Windows and doors are streamlined, rounded...

Chalet style houses: reliable protection

It's hard to believe that in the past, the chalet was just a shepherd's house at the foot of the mountains. Cut off from civilization, this shelter had to be resilient, invulnerability, have the required level of comfort.
The foundation and first floor were built of stone, the attic was built of logs. The roof of Alpine houses is gable, flat, with significant projections turning into awnings.
The facade faces east, living rooms to the south. The chalet has at least one spacious balcony.

The chalet in its modern form is not only stone and wood, but also brick and concrete, as well as panoramic windows and a large terrace...

Chateau style house: noble nest

Actually, this was the name given to the country estates of French nobles, consisting of a castle, a park and, often, a winery. The famous Versailles is essentially a chateau.

The style of this exterior is determined by classic proportions, a large number of lancet windows decorated with frames, a multi-pitched roof, elegant gables, wide terraces, spacious balconies with forged, filigree railings and bay windows.
The walls can be finished with rusticated stone, brick, or decorated with stucco.
The base is usually made of natural stone, and the roof is made of tiles.
The chateau-style façade is a proud sign of family nobility.

Swedish style: sweet naturalness

Part of the Scandinavian style, Swedish domestic architecture continues the tradition of dramatic simplicity.
The peculiarity of the Swedish cottage is its contrasting color: its walls are painted red, and the corners, window frames and doors are highlighted in relief with white.
The buildings are often wooden, with large windows, because sunlight is especially valued in these parts.

Ethnic style: from tower to wigwam

National style is the soul of ethnic style. This could be a house resembling a Russian log house, built using timber and topped with a ridge on the roof. Or a mansion with an oriental “accent” in the form of Arabic ornaments, Persian grilles and tiles. In other words, there are as many cultures and building traditions as there are sources that feed the diverse ethno-exterior.

Ethnic style, African motifs

Ethno style, Thai motifs

Japanese style in architecture: laconicism and lightness

Japanese country houses can be seen not only in the Land of the Rising Sun. This is because Japanese style is incredibly organic.
Its strengths are clarity, perfection, and unpretentious lines.
The materials are stone, glass and wood, the palette is restrained.
Sliding doors in such a house are on each side; the central entrance is often complemented by a stepped deck, reminiscent of a porch and bridge.
The house can have a covered veranda with a wide view, and an open terrace.
The continuation of the Japanese home is an authentic landscape: a mini-pond, several picturesque boulders and a couple of dwarf pine trees will turn even an ordinary home into a philosopher’s refuge.

Architectural style reflects common features in the design of building facades, plans, shapes, and structures. Architectural styles were formed in certain conditions of economic and social development of society under the influence of religion, government structure, ideology, architectural traditions and national characteristics, climatic conditions, and landscape. The emergence of a new type of architectural style has always been associated with technical progress, changes in ideology and geopolitical structures of society. Let's consider some types of architectural styles that served as the basis for various trends in architecture in different periods of time.

Archaic architecture

Structures erected before the 5th century BC are usually classified as archaic architecture. Stylistically, the buildings of Mesopotamia and Assyria (states of Western Asia) are related to the buildings Ancient Egypt. They are united by simplicity, monumentality, geometric shapes, and the desire for large sizes. There were also differences: Egyptian buildings are characterized by symmetry, while the architecture of Mesopotamia is characterized by asymmetry. The Egyptian temple consisted of a suite of rooms and was stretched horizontally; in the Mesopotamian temple, the rooms seem to be attached to each other randomly. In addition, one of the parts of the temple had a vertical orientation (ziggurat (sigguratu - peak) - temple tower, a characteristic feature of the temples of the Babylonian and Assyrian civilizations).

Antique style

Antiquity, as a type of architectural style, dates back to Ancient Greece. Greek buildings were built in the likeness of the “megaron” residential building of the Cretan-Mycenaean era. In the Greek temple, the walls were made thick, massive, without windows, and a hole was made in the roof for light. The construction was based on a modular system, rhythm and symmetry.

Megaron - means “large hall” - a rectangular house with a hearth in the middle (beginning of 4 thousand BC)

The ancient architectural style became the basis for the development of the order system. There were directions in the order system: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian. The Doric order appeared in the 6th century BC, it was distinguished by its severity and massiveness. The lighter and more elegant Ionic order appeared later and was popular in Asia Minor. The Corinthian order appeared in the 5th century. BC. Colonnades became a hallmark of this type of architectural style. The architectural style, the photo of which is located below, is defined as antique, Doric order.

The Romans, who conquered Greece, adopted the architectural style, enriched it with decoration and introduced an order system into the construction of not only temples, but also palaces.

Roman style

Type of architectural style of the 10th-12th centuries. - received its name “Romanesque” only in the 19th century. thanks to art critics. The structures were created as a structure from simple geometric shapes: cylinders, parallelepipeds, cubes. Castles, temples and monasteries with powerful stone walls with battlements were built in this style. In the 12th century towers with loopholes and galleries appeared at castle-fortresses.


The main buildings of that era were the temple, the fortress and the castle. The buildings of this era were simple geometric shapes: cubes, prisms, cylinders; during their construction, vaulted structures were created, the vaults themselves were made cylindrical, cross-rib, cross. In the early Romanesque architectural style, walls were painted, and by the end of the 11th century. Three-dimensional stone reliefs appeared on the facades.

Classification of architectural styles

style name

style characteristic

image

Canonical

4 thousand BC.

Superhuman dimensions, stability, strict symmetry, “quantitativeness”, geometric shapes, grandeur. The architecture perpetuated the deified power of the pharaoh and the belief in the afterlife.

(pyramids at Giza, ensemble of temples at Karnak)


Classical

8th century BC -

This style was developed in Antiquity: Greece, Rome. Light, slender architecture by Dr. Greece carries in its artistic system a different spirit of heroism and human significance. The main achievement of Greek architects was the creation of the order. Harmony, lightness, simplicity, proportionality to the human scale, practicality, rationalism, solemnity.

(Acropolis of Athens, Roman Colosseum)


Romanesque

Massiveness, heaviness, heaviness, serf character, basic means of expression- stele with narrow openings - cross-bathing system. Thick walls, narrow windows - loopholes in monasteries and castles.

The main element of the composition isdonjon. Around it were the rest of the buildings, made up of simple geometric shapes - cubes, prisms, cylinders.

(Cathedral ensemble in Pisa,

Cathedral in Worms)



Gothic

The frame becomes the structural basis, and huge openings appear filled with stained glass windows. Arches and portals stretch out and take on a pointed shape. Lightness, delicacy, weightlessness, upward direction towards the sky, towards God.

(Notre Dame Cathedral,

cathedral in Reims, V Cologne)

Ancient - Russian

Majestic simplicity, festivity, elegance, decorativeness, multi-headedness.

(Church of St. Sophia in Kyiv, Church of the Intercession on the Nerl,

Dmitrievsky Cathedral in Vladimir)

Renaissance

Symmetry, harmony, balance, geometric correctness of forms. An important achievement was the creation of a new architectural form - the floor. The windows are interpreted as the eyes of the building, the façade as the face of the building; those. the outside expresses the interior architectural space.

(Temple of Santa Maria del Fiore, Palazzo Rucellai, Michelangelo Buonarroti. Dome of St. Peter's Cathedral. Rome )


Baroque

Bizarre, dynamic, restless, richly decorated, sculptural, creating parks, ensembles, buildings richly decorated with stucco, painting, sculpture.

(Ensemble of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Tsarskoye Selo Palace, Hermitage Museum, )



Classicism

"Classius" is an example. The style of absolute monarchies, calm grandeur and noble simplicity, strict rhythm, symmetry, elegance, solemnity. rigor of form, clarity of spatial design, geometric interiors, softness of colors and laconicism of external and internal decoration of buildings

(palace ensemble of Versailles , arrows of Vasilyevsky Island, Kazan Cathedral)





Rococo

"Rocaille" - shell. Refinement, mannerism, luxury, whimsical decorativeness, ornament in the form of a shell. characterized by a tendency towards asymmetry of compositions, fine detailing of form, a rich and balanced structure of decor in interiors, a combination of bright and pure tones of color with white and gold, a contrast between the severity of the external appearance of buildings and the delicacy of their interior decoration.(Oval Hall of the Soubise Hotel , palace interiors of the Winter Palace, Smolny Cathedral)



Empire style

The style of the empire of the Napoleonic era, dryness, academicism, severity, clarity of lines, cold grandeur. a combination of massive simple geometric shapes with military emblems. passion for the construction of various kinds of triumphal arches, memorial columns, obelisks. Porticoes become important elements of the decorative decoration of buildings. Bronze casting, painting of lampshades and alcoves are often used in interior decoration.

(Chalgrin. Arch of the Star in Paris , the main headquarters building in St. Petersburg, Leper and Gondoin. Vendôme Column in Paris.)


Modern

Asymmetry, softened streamlined shapes, curving lines of the ornament, external decorativeness. use of new technologies (metal, glass).Stair railings, light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, even door handles- everything was carefully designed in the same style

( (1906, architect. ), Victor Orta House of Tassel (1983),Sytin's house, Mansion of S. Ryabushinsky. F. Shekhtel. Moscow.1902

Modern – late XIX - early XX centuries; are characterized various decorations houses, roundings, avoidance of regular geometric shapes. Use of large glass areas. Facing surfaces are made of decorative brick, porcelain stoneware, and in some cases - painting (in Moscow architecture - Yaroslavsky station, TSUM, Metropol hotel)




Modern

(constructivism,

organics,

retro)
20th century

The use of new building structures, new building materials, abstraction of geometric shapes, aestheticization of structures.

Constructivism - construction environment, the possibilities of new technology, its logical, expedient designs, the aesthetic possibilities of materials such as metal, glass, wood. Constructivists sought to contrast ostentatious luxury with the simplicity and emphasized utilitarianism of new object forms, in which they saw the reification of democracy and new relationships between people. (

Moscow Planetarium, architect. M. Barshcha, M. Sinyavsky; Eiffel Tower

G. Eiffel

“organic architecture” - to assert the necessity and pleasantness for the human eye of flexible natural forms, the connection of architectural structures with the natural environment. ( Opera House, Jörn Ustzon,

Australia, Sydney)

Retro style - spacious forms, verandas. The exterior decoration of the house is made of modern materials, but stylized as antique. There is a contrast of dark colors and light ones, broken roofs, valleys, dormer windows, spacious staircases.

"high-tech" ("high-tech") - maximum functionality. No decorative excesses. Active introduction of new technologies into the human environment. Sometimes demonstrative use of technical forms - brightly colored open pipes, air ducts, elements of engineering equipment, metal structures and other surroundings of the “age of technology”

The designs are characterized by: rigor and simplicity, straight lines, simple geometric shapes. The decor is calm. The color scheme is dominated by monotony. Lots of metal and glass. Metal-glass multi-tiered galleries are popular( Rainbow Center in Niagara Falls, USA, 1978 )




Educational visual aids and course presentations

“History of Architecture” (disc, posters, slides)

Architectural styles: Baroque

Victorian style: prestige and elegance

Architecture, popular in the 19th century in Foggy Albion and in the colonies, does not lose ground today. Victorian houses have 2-3 floors, asymmetry, a complex, multifaceted roof, an attic, often a round turret, a spacious porch, trimmed with carved wood or metal, white or beige. However, the Victorian style has many variations, depending on the time and place of its penetration into a specific cultural environment.

Gothic in architecture: minted mystery

Architectural styles: Gothic

Dutch style: unpretentious peace


Dutch architectural style

Deconstructivism: not like everyone else

The style of deconstructivism leaves no chance for any of the architectural absolutes. It is introduced into any environment with flashy broken shapes and structures that are difficult for visual perception.
Deconstructivism is not called a direction of architecture, but its negation, however, deconstructivists still have a foothold - constructivism and postmodernism.
Architects deliberately distort the principles and compositional motifs of these styles and end up with a dynamic and individual building project.
Read more about


Deconstructivist architecture

European Style: Popular Versatility


European style in the exterior

Italian architectural style: refined drama


Italian style in the exterior

Country style house: warmth and soulfulness

This style has many faces and is based on local customs: for example, in France “rural” houses are made of stone, and in Canada they are made of logs. In any case, country style involves traditional and natural raw materials. The distinctive touches of such an exterior are rusticity (cladding the external walls with faceted stones), interspersed hand-made items (this could be forged door handles or a horseshoe at the entrance), the color of the facade, reminiscent of shades of clay, wood, sand. The yard is decorated with appropriate archaic elements: bird nests on poles, flower beds on carts, a model of a mill.

Architectural styles: Country

Classic style in the exterior: imitation of the best

The architecture of such a building is based on classical standards - on ancient canons, on the best examples of the Italian Renaissance, English Georgianism or Russian architecture. Classicism in the exterior is the symmetry of the building (the main entrance is the axis around which the extensions are located), the presence of columns, triangular pediments, porticoes, balustrades, balusters and other accessories of a particular architectural era. Classic-type houses are decorated with pilasters and moldings. The preferred material, of course, is stone, however, nowadays decorative elements are well made from plaster or polyurethane. Classic mansions are often two-story, light in color.

Colonial style in architecture: modest charm

Wealthy immigrants and planters built their households, combining “imported” capital and comfort with local exoticism. This is how the colonial exterior came into being.

Houses in this style are monumental, with two floors. The layout is rectilinear, the entrance is supported by a colonnade. They are built from stone, neutral-colored plaster. The door is massive, wooden. There is almost always a terrace available. The buildings feature large, panoramic windows that offer views of the garden or wildlife.

Perhaps the most famous subtype of colonial exterior is a bungalow, a one-story or attic mansion, with a spreading veranda along the entire width of the pediment. Its color is traditionally white, reflective, because bungalows were built in the tropics, combining the features of a traditional English cottage, army tents and oriental tents.


Colonial style in the exterior

Loft exterior: fashionable fundamentality

The newest, trendy style. His idea is to transform technological premises, factory floors, garages or hangars into bohemian, luxury apartments.

A loft-style house is a very spacious, tall, distinctly geometric building with a minimal number of internal partitions. An undoubted advantage of such a project is inexpensive building materials: concrete, cement, brick. Any finishing is alien to the loft façade; it does not require siding either. The roof can be flat or gable, with a metal roof. Be sure to have a large, tall window. A loft home should resemble an industrial building, even if built from scratch.

Modern style house: delightful chic

Minimalism in architecture: freedom and light

German-style houses: fabulous originality

These houses seem to have “jumped out” from the fairy tales of Hoffmann and the Brothers Grimm. They are compact and very neat in appearance. The German style is characterized by economy, productivity, the absence of intricate decoration and the natural color of the facade. Such a dwelling has a square or rectangular shape, the base is covered with stone, and the gable roof is covered with red tiles. A German house is decorated with a balcony or attic, as well as tinted boards - elements of half-timbered wood. An original detail is the windows, separated by lintels and protected by shutters. The door is painted in a color that stands out against the background of the house.

Norwegian style: compact and environmentally friendly

Architecture in the Provence style: rustic romanticism

Why does this style know no boundaries? Because Provence is the embodiment of both brilliance and naivety, and also a symbol of family values. It is believed that the name of the style was given by the French region, but “Provence” means “province”: pastoralism, simplicity, leisurely and measured - these are its main “trump cards”.

In the south of France, houses are mainly built from wild stone, with extensive use of pebbles and slate. In other places they resort to imitation, gypsum panels and slabs. But the roofs are always tiled, often multi-layered, of various levels. The northern wall is necessarily blank. The windows on the lower floor may differ in size from the rest; they are often supplemented with sashes. Natural colors are preferred: milky white, grass, straw. Extensions are welcome - verandas, terraces, kitchens, barns. The door is wooden, weighty, with forged hinges and a viewing window. The yard is covered with paving stones.


Architectural styles: Provence

Ranch style: thriftiness and thoroughness

This exterior is one of the most popular in one-story America. Having absorbed the nuances of other styles, features of bungalows and “prairie buildings,” it finally took shape at the beginning of the last century. Low-rise ranch houses are “spread out” in width, complicated by extensions, plastered and painted with light colors. Feature – sliding glass doors. The appearance of a ranch-style house reminds us that farmers began to build such housing: harsh, unpretentious people who value work, but also good rest.

Rococo in architecture: unbridled luxury

Such houses were preferred by French aristocrats. The classical order system on the basis of which they were erected is almost invisible due to the abundant, ornate decor. The walls of the Rococo house are literally drowning in through patterns and lace details - curls, rocailles, cartouches. Playful arches, slender colonnades, graceful cornices and railings add idleness to the premises and a pleasant lightness to life. Artistry and mannerism permeate the Rococo building like the sun through a crystal shard. Traditional colors are soft pastel colors.

Architectural styles: Rococo

Romanesque style in architecture: my home is my fortress

The origins of the exterior lie in the Middle Ages, when citadel castles arose everywhere. Their characteristic features are a primitive silhouette, massiveness and brutality, because protection and shelter were the main task of such abodes.

The stone, of course, reigned. The construction of apses, towers with domes and arched vaults was diversified. The window openings were narrow, like loopholes.

Of course, in the modern version, the Romanesque mansion does not look as trivial and rude as in ancient engravings. The windows have become significantly larger, the wild stone has been replaced by elegant stylization. But the principle remained unshakable: Romanesque-style mansions should be large, bulky and inaccessible in appearance.

Russian architectural style: toy house

Exterior design in the Russian style is not as monotonous as it might seem. These include houses typical of Slavic wooden architecture, mansions in the style of Russian merchants, and noble estates.

Wood, of course, rules the roost. A dwelling in the Russian genre rarely exceeds two floors, the roof is gable, the windows are small, covered with platbands, and a covered porch is highly desirable. Balconies, staircases, and turrets will give the mansion a resemblance to a fairy-tale hut, and sophisticated carved decoration and an open veranda on figured supports will resemble boyar mansions.

Scandinavian style in the exterior: Nordic character

Clear contours, natural building materials, a minimum of decor, but maximum amenities - houses with such properties are called Scandinavian.

Among the features of this home are glass doors, huge windows (or an entire transparent wall), which is dictated by the lack of sunlight. Scandinavian houses are covered with either white plaster or wooden paneling, which also fulfills an aesthetic mission: doors and windows are edged with dark wood, walls are sheathed with light wood, or vice versa. The roof can be either flat or gable. Scandinavian mansions are “stuffed” with energy-saving technologies and are often equipped with solar panels.

Scandinavian style in the exterior

Mediterranean style house: glamor and bliss

Residences that could only be admired on the warm coast were also included in the design encyclopedia.

Their peculiarity is their light and joyful color (white, cream, pink); flat, tiled roof; half-open verandas covered with greenery; spacious balconies and rotundas; the presence of a swimming pool and, of course, a patio. The building may consist of several parts flowing into each other. Windows and doorways are often horseshoe-shaped. Preference is given to natural stone, ceramics, and wood.

Mediterranean style in the exterior

Modern style in architecture: freedom of choice

Its value lies in democracy. This design accepts any building materials, including the latest ones. The house is distinguished by its simplicity – both externally and in its operation. It does not need decoration or any stylistic tricks. A gable roof, sufficient space and panoramic glazing are perhaps all that is required.

Tudor style: noble heritage

The Tudor house is the material embodiment of truly English character. He is imposing and a little old-fashioned, like a 100% gentleman.

Formed in the 16th century, combining touches of Gothic and Renaissance, Flemish and Italian motifs, the Tudor style still remains in demand.

Its attributes are thick walls, high chimneys, turrets, lancet openings. And, of course, the half-timbered structure is the outer frame. In the old days, such houses were built from stone and wood, but today they use aerated concrete, panels and blocks. Beams, cornices and shutters, as before, are highlighted in a dark color. The main facade almost always contains a bay window, sometimes in the form of a turret. It is impossible not to mention the roofing: Tudor roofs are complex, with long hips and high gables, with small dormers. The entrance is in the form of an arch, lined with stone and decorated with the family coat of arms. The area around the house is decorated with stone sidewalks, paved paths, wrought-iron fences and, of course, an English lawn.

Half-timbered houses: ancient flavor

Glimpses of this style appeared in the 15th century in Germany. Several centuries later, half-timbered wood “captured” the whole of Western Europe. They still turn to him today.

In essence, the half-timbered technique is a frame construction method. Its basis is fastenings made of wooden beams, racks, crossbars, and braces. They were once made of oak, intricately joined together with “secret” notches and wooden pins. The voids between the beams were compacted with clay, pebbles, and straw. The walls were plastered, whitewashed, and the frame was painted brown, cherry or black. It served as an ornament to the façade, dividing it into clear segments. Houses lined with wooden patterns are still called half-timbered.

Architectural styles: Half-timbered

Farmhouse style: maximum air

Farm houses are often one-story, light in color, with unobtrusive decor. A notable feature is a large porch or open veranda, which, if space allows, can stretch along the perimeter of the house. For finishing, either wood or materials that imitate it are chosen. The windows are large, with a good view, the door is often also glass.

Farm style

Finnish style: scent of wood

Another type of wooden exterior. For façade cladding, Finns use timber, clapboard or plank. During construction, walls are lined with insulation, for example, mineral wool. The height is one and a half to two floors, the roof is gable, ceramic tile, there is often a terrace in front of the house, and above it a glazed balcony. The color of the facade ranges from white to wooden shades. The highlight of a Finnish home is, of course, the sauna.

Fusion style: harmony of contradictions

This amazing style sweeps away laws and rules. The architect and designer are free to use any materials, shapes, textures... And even principles. Unlike eclecticism, which interweaves individual details of similar exteriors into a whole, fusion is a daring attempt to combine diametrically opposed things. For example, industrial design (loft) and baroque fragments. Or gothic with ethno. In addition, the style involves the use of a complex color scheme, a variety of decor... And, of course, a subtle artistic flair that will not allow you to slide into architectural cacophony and design heresy.


Architectural styles: Fusion

High-tech in architecture: on the verge of fantasy

These houses are a challenge to tradition and a demonstration of scientific achievements. High-tech real estate is noticeable from afar thanks to wind generators and solar panels. The layout assumes significant home sizes and cubic shapes. The walls are absolutely flat, the structure is smooth, the materials are concrete, glass, metal and plastic. Color scheme – white, black, silver, shades of various metals. Houses are also distinguished by their maximum glass area: often one of the facades is glazed. The terrace may be open, but the central door is also glass and sliding. The roofs are flat, in the form of level platforms, which are easy to adapt for recreation. The facades are equipped with lighting. External engineering communications serve as decorative items.

Czech style: a secluded place

The design of Czech cottages echoes German and pan-European architectural traditions. Czech mansions are distinguished by their regular geometry, squatness, high and multifaceted tiled roofs, and stone foundations. However, instead of tiles, they are sometimes covered with straw, which harmonizes with the rural landscape. Windows and doors have a streamlined, rounded shape.


Czech architectural style

Chalet style houses: reliable protection

It's hard to believe that in the past, the chalet was just a shepherd's house at the foot of the mountains. Cut off from civilization, this shelter had to be resilient, invulnerable, and have the necessary level of comfort. The foundation and first floor were built of stone, the attic was built of logs. The roof of Alpine houses is gable, flat, with significant projections turning into awnings. The main facade faces east, living rooms to the south. The chalet has at least one spacious balcony. The decoration is made of wood carvings.

The chalet in its modern form is not only stone and wood, but also brick and concrete, as well as panoramic windows and a large veranda. A logical addition to such a home would be an alpine slide, coniferous trees, a grill or a barbecue.

Chateau style house: noble nest

Actually, this was the name given to the country estates of French nobles, consisting of a castle, a park and, often, a winery. The famous Versailles is essentially a chateau.

The style of this exterior is determined by classic proportions, a large number of lancet windows decorated with frames, a multi-pitched roof, elegant gables, wide terraces, spacious balconies with forged, filigree railings and bay windows. The walls can be finished with rusticated stone, brick, or decorated with stucco. The base is usually made of natural stone, and the roof is made of tiles. The chateau-style façade is a proud sign of family nobility.

Architectural styles: Chateau

Swedish style: sweet naturalness

Part of the Scandinavian style, Swedish domestic architecture continues the tradition of dramatic simplicity. The peculiarity of the Swedish cottage is its contrasting color: its walls are painted red, and the corners, window frames and doors are highlighted in white. The buildings are often wooden, with large windows, because sunlight is especially valued in these parts.


Swedish style

Ethnic style: from tower to wigwam

National style is the soul of ethnic style. This could be a house resembling a Russian log house, built using timber and topped with a ridge on the roof. Or a mansion with an oriental “accent” in the form of Arabic ornaments, Persian grilles and tiles. In other words, there are as many cultures and building traditions as there are sources that feed the diverse ethno-exterior.

Japanese style in architecture: laconicism and lightness

Japanese country houses can be seen not only in the Land of the Rising Sun. This is because Japanese style is incredibly organic. Its strengths are clarity, perfection, and unpretentious lines. The materials are stone, glass and wood, the palette is restrained. Sliding doors in such a house are on each side; the central entrance is often complemented by a stepped deck, reminiscent of a porch and bridge. The house can have a covered veranda with a wide view, and an open terrace. The continuation of the Japanese home is an authentic landscape: a mini-pond, several picturesque boulders and a couple of dwarf pine trees will turn even an ordinary home into a philosopher’s refuge.
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Architectural styles.

Brief description of the main architectural styles

Architectural style can be defined as a set of basic features and characteristics of architecture of a certain time and place, manifested in the features of its functional, constructive and artistic aspects (purpose of buildings, building materials and structures, techniques of architectural composition).
It is customary to distinguish architectural styles of global significance:
Prehistoric architecture
· Antique architecture. VIII century BC e. - V century n. e.
· Roman style. X - XII centuries
· Gothic. XII - XV centuries
· Revival. Beginning XV - beginning XVII century
· Baroque. Con. XVI century - end. XVIII century
· Rococo. Beginning XVIII - con. XVIII century
· Classicism, incl. Palladianism, Empire style, neo-Greek. Ser. XVIII - XIX centuries
· Eclecticism. 1830s - 1890s
· Modern. 1890s - 1910s
· Modernism. Beginning 1900s - 1980s
· Constructivism. 1920s - early 1930s
· Postmodernism. From ser. XX century
· High tech. From the end 1970s
· Deconstructivism. From the end 1980s
In fact, there are practically no pure styles in architecture; they all exist simultaneously, complementing and enriching each other. Styles do not mechanically replace one another, they do not become obsolete, do not appear out of nowhere and do not disappear without a trace. In any architectural style there is something of the previous and future style. When attributing a building to a certain architectural style, we must understand that this is a conditional characteristic, since each work of architecture is unique and inimitable in its own way. In order to attribute a building to a specific style, we need to choose the main, in our opinion, feature. It is clear that such a classification will always be approximate and imprecise.
Antique (Greek) style is the architecture of ancient Rome and Greece. This style appeared on the lands of the Aegean Sea for so long that it was considered the progenitor and even in some way for such movements as Classicism, Neoclassicism, and Renaissance. Because the Romans were students of the Greeks, they immediately adopted the ancient style, supplementing it with their own elements (dome, arched order cell).
Roman style. X-XII centuries (in some countries XIII century) (with elements of Roman antique culture). Medieval Western European art of the time of complete dominance of feudal-religious ideology. The main role in the Romanesque style was given to harsh, fortress-like architecture: monastery complexes, churches, castles were located on elevated places, dominating the area. Churches were decorated with paintings and reliefs, in conventional, expressive forms, expressing the frightening power of the deities. The Romanesque era is characterized by nobility and austere beauty.
The Gothic style mainly manifested itself in the architecture of temples, cathedrals, churches, and monasteries. In contrast to the Romanesque style, with its round arches, massive walls and small windows, the Gothic style is characterized by pointed arches, narrow and tall towers and columns, a richly decorated facade with carved details (vimpergi, tympanums, archivolts) and multi-colored stained glass lancet windows . All style elements emphasize verticality. In Gothic architecture, there are 3 stages of development: early, mature (high Gothic) and late (flaming Gothic). The church of the Saint-Denis monastery, designed by Abbot Suger, is considered the first Gothic architectural structure. During its construction, many supports and internal walls were removed, and the church acquired a more graceful appearance compared to the Romanesque “fortresses of God.”
Renaissance (Renaissance). (French Renaissance), a period in the cultural and ideological development of Western countries. and Central Europe (in Italy XIV-XVI centuries, in other countries the end of the XV-XVI centuries), transitional from medieval culture to the culture of modern times. In architecture, secular buildings began to play a leading role - public buildings, palaces, city houses. Using the order division of walls, arched galleries, colonnades, vaults, domes, architects (Brunelleschi, Alberti, Bramante, Palladio in Italy, Lescaut, Delorme in France) gave their buildings majesty, clarity, harmony and proportionality to man. Particular importance in this direction is attached to the forms of ancient architecture: symmetry, proportion, geometry and the order of its component parts, as clearly evidenced by surviving examples of Roman architecture. The complex proportions of medieval buildings are replaced by an orderly arrangement of columns, pilasters and lintels; asymmetrical outlines are replaced by a semicircle of an arch, a hemisphere of a dome, niches, and aedicules.
Baroque (Italian barocco - “vicious”, “loose”, “prone to excess”, port. perola barroca - “pearl of irregular shape” (literally “pearl with vice”); - a characteristic of European culture of the 17th-18th centuries, the center of which was Italy. Baroque art is characterized by grandeur, pomp and dynamics, pathetic elation, intensity of feelings, a passion for spectacular spectacles, a combination of the illusory and the real, strong contrasts of scale and rhythm, materials and textures, light and shadow. Baroque palaces and churches thanks to the luxurious, the bizarre plasticity of the facades, the restless play of chiaroscuro, complex curvilinear plans and outlines acquired picturesqueness and dynamism and seemed to blend into the surrounding space. The ceremonial interiors of Baroque buildings were decorated with multi-color sculpture, modeling, carvings; mirrors and paintings illusorily expanded the space, and the painting of the ceilings created the illusion of open spaces. Baroque architecture (L. Bernini, F. Borromini in Italy, V.V. Rastrelli in Russia) is characterized by spatial scope, unity, and fluidity of complex, usually curvilinear forms. There are various national versions of baroque (for example, “Moscow”, “Naryshkin” baroque in Russia).
Ukrainian or Cossack Baroque is a variation of the Baroque style widespread in the Left Bank and Dnieper Ukraine in the 17th-18th centuries, which is characterized by a combination of decorative and plastic solutions of Western European Baroque and Renaissance with creative processing of the heritage of Orthodox temple architecture and Old Russian architecture.
Rococo (French Rococo, from rocaille - a decorative motif in the form of a shell), a style direction in European art 1st half of the 18th century. Rococo, associated with the crisis of absolutism, is characterized by a departure from life into the world of fantasy, theatrical play, mythical and pastoral plots, and erotic situations. Rococo art is dominated by a graceful, whimsical ornamental rhythm. The characteristic features of Rococo are sophistication, great decorative loading of interiors and compositions, graceful ornamental rhythm, great attention to mythology, erotic situations, and personal comfort.
Classicism (French classicisme, from Latin classicus - exemplary) - architectural style and aesthetic direction in European art of the late XVII - early XIX centuries The main feature of the architecture of classicism was the appeal to the forms of ancient architecture as a standard of harmony, simplicity, rigor, logical clarity and monumentality. The architecture of classicism as a whole is characterized by regularity of layout and clarity of volumetric form. The basis of the architectural language of classicism was the order, in proportions and forms close to antiquity. Classicism is characterized by symmetrical axial compositions, restraint of decorative decoration, and a regular system of city planning.
Empire (from the French empire - “empire”) - the style of late (high) classicism in architecture and applied arts. Originated in France during the reign of Emperor Napoleon I; developed during the first three decades of the 19th century; was replaced by eclectic movements. The Empire style is a unique reflection of Roman classics combined with Egyptian motifs. Empire architecture is characterized by monumentality, geometric regularity of volumes and integrity (triumphal arches, columns, palaces). The Empire style, through numerous attributes and symbols, affirmed the idea of ​​imperial greatness. The creator of the St. Petersburg Empire style is considered to be the “Russian Italian” K. Rossi. Another prominent architect of the same style was V. Stasov.

Eclecticism (eclecticism) (from the Greek eklektikos - choosing), a mechanical combination of heterogeneous, often opposing principles, views, theories, artistic elements and so on.; in architecture and fine arts, a combination of heterogeneous stylistic elements or an arbitrary choice of stylistic design for buildings or artistic products that have a qualitatively different meaning and purpose.
Art Nouveau architecture is an architectural style that became widespread in Europe in the 1890s-1910s within the framework of artistic direction modern Modern architecture is distinguished by its rejection of straight lines and angles in favor of more natural, “natural” lines, and the use of new technologies (metal, glass). Like a number of other styles, modern architecture is also distinguished by the desire to create both aesthetically beautiful and functional buildings. Much attention was paid not only to the appearance of the buildings, but also to the interior, which was carefully worked out. All structural elements: stairs, doors, pillars, balconies were artistically processed. Modern architecture has a number of characteristic features, for example, the rejection of mandatory symmetrical forms. New forms appear in it, such as “shop windows,” that is, wide ones designed to act as shop windows. During this period, the type of residential apartment building finally takes shape. Multi-storey construction is being developed.
Constructivism, a movement in modern art of the 1920s, which put forward the task of designing the material environment surrounding humans. Constructivism sought to use new technology to create simple, logical, functionally justified forms, expedient structures (architectural projects of the brothers A.A., V.A. and L.A. Vesnin, M.Ya. Ginzburg, I.I. Leonidov).
Hi-tech (eng. hi-tech, from high technology - high tech) is a style in architecture and design that originated in the depths of postmodern architecture in the 1970s and found widespread use in the 1980s. It is characterized by pragmatism, the idea of ​​the architect as an elite professional, the provision of services by architecture, complex simplicity, sculptural form, hyperbole, manufacturability, structure and design as an ornament, anti-historicity, monumentality.
Deconstructivism - a direction in modern architecture, which took shape as an independent movement in the late 1980s in America and Europe and then spread in one form or another throughout the world.


The Gothic style is amazing, it is timeless and striking in its forms. In architecture, it is considered one of the most expressive styles invented by mankind. These are not only classic medieval religious buildings and castles, but also modern residential buildings. We offer an overview of striking examples of world architecture in the Gothic style.

The Gothic style comes in several forms, but they are all beautiful. The Gothic art of France, England and Italy cannot be compared, as it is unique. France is the country where he was born and acquired his soul. It contains churches from the 12th century and modern religious buildings. Everything about this style is perfect – from the shape to the details.





St. Stephen's Cathedral was built in 1147 and is one of the most outstanding and beautiful buildings made in the Gothic style. It was considered the mother church of Austrian Catholicism and the seat of the archbishop. The cathedral has stood the test of time and has survived many historical events. The roof of the unique and most recognizable building in Vienna is covered with multi-colored tiles. Few people know that the northern tower was a mirror image of the southern one. In 1511, a Renaissance-style top was added to the north tower, which Viennese call a "water tower tip." During World War II, the cathedral's bells, which were on the south tower, disappeared without a trace. The bells of the north tower have been preserved and are still in use. The oldest part of the cathedral is considered to be the Roman Tower and the “Giant's Gate”.


Mir Castle is an impressive example of 16th century Gothic architecture. It is located in the Grodno region and is one of the most interesting tourist sites in Belarus. The three-story Gothic castle was built by Count Ilyinich in the 1500s, and Nikolai Radzivil, the second owner of the castle, completed its construction in the Renaissance style. In the courtyard of the castle, near the northern walls, Italian gardens are laid out.


Mir Castle survived destruction during the Napoleonic War. Nikolai Svyatopolk-Mirsky acquired the castle and began its reconstruction, which was completed by his son, hiring the architect Theodore Bourget. The Mirsky family owned the castle until 1939. Today it is a national cultural monument and is revered by locals and tourists.




The Cathedral of Our Lady of Antwerp, owned by the Roman Catholic Church, is located in Antwerp, Belgium. Construction on the site of a former 9th-12th century chapel began in 1352 and continued until 1521. Today the cathedral is considered the largest and most strikingly beautiful Gothic building in the Netherlands and Belgium. In 1533 there was a fire and part of the cathedral was destroyed. Since 1559 it has been the residence of the archbishop. During military operations from the 1800s to the 1900s, the cathedral was damaged and restored several times, but neither fire nor war could destroy this magnificent structure, which became immortal. The last restoration of the Gothic architectural monument began in 1965 and ended in 1993.


Construction of another masterpiece of Gothic architecture, Cologne Cathedral, began in 1248 and lasted until 1473, but was not completed and continued into the 19th century. The cathedral, a symbol of the Roman Catholic Church and German Gothic architecture, is located in Cologne, Germany, is the seat of the archbishop and is one of the monuments listed as a world cultural heritage.


It is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and the second tallest cathedral in the world. There are a lot of relics there that you can look at. The cathedral was planned like the Cathedral of Notre Dame of Amiens. It is based on a Latin cross and high Gothic vaults. You can admire the stained glass windows, high altar, original furniture - this cathedral is a real treasure.




Burgos Cathedral, a creation of the 13th century, is located in Spain, belongs to the Roman Catholic Church and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Construction and reconstruction lasted from the 13th to the 16th centuries, just then elements in the Renaissance style appeared in the cathedral. In 1984 it was added to the World Cultural Heritage List. The cathedral contains many historically and culturally valuable objects - from statues of the 12 apostles to the Chapel of Relics and art objects, statues of angels and knights.




Located in Prague, St. Vitus Cathedral, a majestic monument of Gothic architecture, is in reality much more beautiful than they say. It is revered not only for its beauty, but also because it is considered the main religious building in the Czech Republic. It is also the largest in the country. The cathedral contains the tombs of Roman emperors and kings of Bohemia.




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