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When In Rome...
Exploring Roman Architecture and Design
By Megan L. Fowler
Rome possesses both the histories of ancient times and modern achievement. "Buildings [in Rome] present you with feelings of power," says Meredith Bzdak, an architecture historian with the architecture firm Ford, Farewell, Mills and Gatsch in Princeton, N.J. "You are confronted with their significance. They are buildings of substance that reflected political ambitions and the grandiosity of the Roman Empire." Their use of heavy materials, grand proportions and emphasis on space and light has inspired architects and designers around the world.
Roman architecture, though somewhat borrowed from the Greeks, is known for using space as the center of the creation. "The space was as important as the walls around it," says Bzdak. "It was about the space." Roman architecture shows a spatial development from closed, simple space units to more complex spatial relations.
Unlike the Greeks, the Romans perfected the semi-circular arches to form vaults and domes; the great Pantheon is an example of such arches. "They perfected vaulting and the arch," says Bzdak. "The arch is the one thing you can point to in Roman revivals." Arches and pillars often recognized the achievements of leaders or national triumphs, as well as added spatial emphasis to the structure with expanded light. Smaller architectural advances included triumphal arches, pillars of victory and fountains. Romans loved running water and therefore created numerous fountains. Fountains also were built in memory of events and distinguished people, with many devoted to gods, just like altars.
Because it was so expensive and limited, Roman architects could not use marble all the time. But terra cotta, stone and brick were plentiful, and they invented the material concrete, made by mixing a strong material called pazzolana with limes and rubble. "Concrete wasn't a new material, but they exploited it and developed it to work to their advantage," says Bzdak. "Experimentation with structural mediums and concrete was absolutely inspired by Romans." The result was used to make walls, domes and vaulted ceilings of solid concrete. Chisels and bronze dividers were used to create the detail in the buildings.
