"Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity..."
Study of the architectural works of the Greeks and Romans, which influenced architectural styles in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Greek Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of architecture in Ancient Greece, including the orders of columns, temple design, and urban planning.
Roman Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of architecture in Ancient Rome, including the use of vaults and arches, triumphal arches and basilicas.
Gothic Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of Medieval European architecture, including the use of pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses and elaborate ornamentation.
Renaissance Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of architecture during the Renaissance period, including the revival of classical forms, experimentation with new materials, and humanist themes.
Baroque Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of architecture during the Baroque period, including dramatic and ornate designs, use of light and shadow, and complex composition.
Neoclassical Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of architecture during the neoclassical period, including the revival of classical forms, strict adherence to proportion and symmetry, and more restrained ornamentation.
Beaux-Arts Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of architecture during the 19th century, including the synthesis of classical and Renaissance elements, use of monumental forms, and focus on civic buildings.
Modern Architecture: This topic includes the history, style and specific characteristics of architecture in the 20th century, including the rejection of historical styles, experimentation with new materials, and focus on functionality and simplicity.
Building Materials: This topic covers the materials used in classical architecture, including stone, brick, marble, wood, terracotta, and other building materials.
Architectural Styles and Orders: This topic covers the various styles and orders of columns, including the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders, as well as other styles such as the Tuscan order.
Architectural Elements: This topic explores the various elements of classical architecture, including columns, pilasters, capital, friezes, pediments, entablatures, and cornices.
Architectural Details: This topic covers the intricacies of classical architecture, including ellipses, arches, niches, balustrades, keystones, and other decorative details.
Urban Planning: This topic covers the principles of classical urban planning, including the creation of public spaces, the placement of buildings, and the use of axial planning.
Landscaping: This topic explores the importance of landscaping in classical architecture, including the use of gardens, water features, and other natural elements to enhance building design.
Iconography: This topic deals with the visual symbolism used in classical architecture, including the depictions of gods, heroes, and other mythological figures.
Egyptian Architecture: A style based on pyramids, sphinxes, and other monumental structures characterized by massive, symmetrical forms.
Greek Architecture: A style that includes the orders (Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian), temple designs, and intricate ornaments inspired by nature.
Roman Architecture: A style influenced by Greek architecture and characterized by the use of arches, columns and strengthened with concrete and brick.
Byzantine Architecture: A style that flourished in the Byzantine Empire and is characterized by the use of mosaics, domes, and vaults.
Gothic Architecture: A style that includes towering pointed arches, vaulted ceilings, and stained glass windows, characterized by a sense of verticality.
Renaissance Architecture: A style that thrived in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries, which emphasized proportion, symmetry, and classical forms.
Baroque Architecture: A style that emerged in the late 16th century and features extravagance, flamboyance, and dramatic effects.
Rococo Architecture: A style characterized by the use of curves, natural forms, and ornate decoration emerging in the 18th century.
Neoclassical Architecture: A style that evolved in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, reviving the classical forms of ancient Greece and Rome.
Beaux-Arts Architecture: A style that originated in France and embodies a mixture of Classical forms and elaborate decoration.
Art Nouveau Architecture: A style that emerged in the late 19th century and characterized by the use of curved lines, flowing forms, and floral ornamentation.
Art Deco Architecture: A style that emerged during the 1920s and 1930s and features decorative elements drawn from industrial design, including geometric shapes and streamlined curves.
"...from the works of the Roman architect Vitruvius."
"Different styles of classical architecture have arguably existed since the Carolingian Renaissance..."
"...and prominently since the Italian Renaissance."
"...they can in general all be said to draw on a common 'vocabulary' of decorative and constructive elements."
"In much of the Western world, different classical architectural styles have dominated the history of architecture from the Renaissance until World War II."
"Classical architecture continues to inform many architects."
"The term classical architecture also applies to any mode of architecture that has evolved to a highly refined state, such as classical Chinese architecture, or classical Mayan architecture."
"It can also refer to any architecture that employs classical aesthetic philosophy."
"The term might be used differently from 'traditional' or 'vernacular architecture,' although it can share underlying axioms with it."
"For contemporary buildings following authentic classical principles, the term New Classical architecture is sometimes used."