Arch

The post and lintel technique was very limiting due to the fact that posts needed to be very close together to support the structure (Sporre 84).  The design and discovery of the arch allowed for bigger and taller buildings to be built.  The round design of the arch allows for the stress being supported by the arch to be distributed across the entire arch and to the supporting legs or posts (Sporre 85). 

Several types of arches are seen in architecture.  Sporre defines for us the arch terms buttress, arcade, tunnel vault, and dome. A buttress is any supporting wall or structure usually made of stone that helps to support the arch.  When several arches are placed side by side it is called an arcade.  Arches placed back to back form an enclosed space called a tunnel vault.  When arches are joined at the top of a structure and their legs form a circle, a dome is formed (Sporre 87-88). Many of these arch designs can be identified in the cathedrals built across Europe. When looking at the magnificent cathedrals it is amazing to now know how hard architectures worked to discover ways to build the beautiful domes and arches. 

                              

                                      
           http://learningandknowing.blogspot.com/2007/06/increase-creativity-raise-roof.html

               http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cathedral_Arch.jpg

       http://www.mountainsoftravelphotos.com/England%20-%20London/London /St%20Pauls%20Cathedral/slides/London%20St.%20Pauls%20Cathedral%2007%20Dome.html

Sporre, Dennis J. Reality Through the Arts. 8th ed. N.p: Pearson, n.d www.coursemart. 2013. Web 6 Feb. 2013

 

Modern Post and Lintel

Modern architecture today utilizes the post and beam structure based off of the ancient post and lintel technique, when building homes and other structures. The post and beam structures are used throughout the frame and interior walls of many structures to provide additional support throughout the building.  Post and beam frames for houses are often made of wood, and large buildings such as malls use steel. The post and beam technique uses joints to secure the beams to the posts (postandbeamconstruction.org). Architects can choose to have the wood post and beam supports exposed to add to the design and style of the structure. Personally I think the exposed post and beam style of architecture is very nice and unique. I think the exposed post and beam design adds character to the look of the building. 

                                    

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Post_and_Beam_Barn_Kitchen.jpg 

                                        postandbeamconstruction.org

Post and Lintel

            According to Spore, the post and lintel architecture structure is one of the oldest known building techniques. A post and lintel structure is made of beams and supports. The beams or lintels are horizontal and lay on top of the vertical supports or posts.  Traditionally post and lintel structures were made of stone (Sporre 84).  A famous ancient example of a stone post and lintel structure is Stonehenge.  Using stone for building post and lintel structures is more useful as the material for the posts.  Stone is very strong and has compressive strength which means it does not compress or crush easily (Sporre 84). This means the stone posts can support a large amount of weight.  Using stone as material for the lintel is tricky because stone does not bend. The stone lintel can crack easily if not supported well by the posts. 

     

               

                          Post and Lintel pic info                      Stonehenge

The ancient Greeks adapted the post and lintel structure into the columns and capitals structure.  They used columns as the post of support and the top of the column was called the capital (Sporre 84).  The capital was a designed by the architect to please the eye, it allowed for the post and lintel structure to flow together nicely rather than simply look like two stones lying on top of one another.   Capitals could be created in many different styles. Some popular and basic capital styles seen throughout Greek architecture are called Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian (Sporre 85). 

                            

http://collegeprepknowledge.blogspot.com/2012/07/greek-architecture-doric-ionic-and.html 

             http://www.greeklandscapes.com/image-slides/aegina-aphaia/index.html    

                         

Sporre, Dennis J. Reality Through the Arts. 8th ed. N.p: Pearson, n.d www.coursemart. 2013. Web 6 Feb. 2013