The Classical Style of architecture has its roots in ancient Rome and Greece. It was prevalent from the 5th century BCE to the 3rd century BCE. This style emphasized the post and beam system replacing timber origin, and it included chief features such as columns, symmetry, stone and marble, rectangular windows, etc. Many modern structures are based on the Classical architectural style; in fact, Washington D.C. houses many buildings constructed in this ancient style.
Chief features
The Classical style focuses on specific characteristics, which are discussed below:
- Proportions and symmetry– This style of buildings has evenly spaced out windows and columns as symmetry is the main element.
- Front porch with pediment– A key feature of such homes and structures is that they have a front porch in full height featuring a conventional pediment at the top. The door is usually placed at the center of the building.
- Strong building material- The style focuses on using sturdy building materials like bricks, concrete, stones, and marbles.
- Rectangular windows– One of the key features of classical architecture is rectangular windows with neat edges.
- Arches- Arches are visually appealing along with serving a practical purpose. They help large buildings with open areas to remove tensile pressure and thus prevent instances of collapsing.
- Neoclassical Architecture
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The Classical Style of Interior Design
The key features of the Classical style translate beautifully into mesmerizing interior design. Let us see how!
- Colors-The ancient Romans and Greeks were fond of vibrant colors like reds, purples, blues, and greens. The Classical exterior design inclines towards neutral shades like whites, beiges, and greys, but this architectural style’s interior design focuses more on more colourful hues.
- Moldings – These are strip designs that run along the floor and ceiling edges adding an element of ornamentation in Classical style interiors.
- Floors-Floor design in Classical theme usually portray geometric patterns in black-and-white or colors. These add a touch of elegance to the interior design.
- Chiaroscuro- Chiaroscuro is a Renaissance-old technique that makes use of light and dark hues to create a dramatic visual effect in a room.
- Ceilings-The Classical style interior always blends well with its exterior. The ceilings had intricate and comprehensive patterns, including figurative scenes, motifs in plasterwork or paint.
- Doors and windows– The doors and windows resembled the striking design on the other interior surfaces. The frames showcased bright and bold patterns reminiscent of Classical times.
- Relief sculpture- Relief sculptures are three-dimensional figure that is fixed to a surface. Often found on many Classical architectural building exteriors, these sculptures are also seen on many Classical interior spaces. They use art to tell a story or portray a feeling and are absolutely stunning pieces of art.
Famous Buildings of Classical Architectural Style
Often considered the poetic form of buildings, we are lucky to have many buildings built under the Classical Architectural style and still basking in its glory. Here are some of the buildings of this style!
- Pantheon, Rome
- Birmingham Town Hall, England
- The Civic Center, San Francisco
- Hotel Ritz, Paris
- Temple of Apollo, Pompeii
The Classical Design is a perfect blend of technology and geometry. It is one of the reasons that has made buildings in this design stand the test of time and still set examples of trend-setting architectural design. This architecture theme has inspired architects and designers for ages as it strikes an immaculate balance between too intricate and too simple.