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Monumental Architecture vs. The Everyday |
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by nmdaybaz / 10.24.2005 |
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| Monumental Architecture vs. the Everyday |
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Assignment |
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Weaving through the Case Romane del Celio many members of our group had to duck their heads as we went through the small doorways. Each room was well lit by electric lights, leaving one to imagine how the ancient Romans must have felt with only torches to light the rooms. Dense and compact, each room served its purpose in the minimum space required. The storeroom of one of the shops had indications of support beams for a loft, utilizing all the space available. Though functional, the houses were not without embellishment. Decorative frescos covered the walls and ceilings, and the importance of a room could be determined by the amount of marble covering the wall.
This is in contrast to the monumental architecture employed in buildings such as basilicas and temples. For these buildings, the scale was massive and the embellishments an integral part of their structure. Made of imported marble, and adorned with precious metals, the wealth involved in the construction was prominently displayed. Many of these buildings were open to the environment, or had very large windows, letting light be an integral part of the function.
The primary difference between these two architecture types involves the relationship between the people who utilize the building and the building itself. In a private home, it is the inhabitant of the home who is controlling the space. They have specific needs and structure their housing to fit them. In a public space, such as the aforementioned basilicas or temples, it was the building that was designed to control the inhabitants. A temple was built with a specific purpose, to instill reverence for the gods and provide a place for worship. A ornate temple created a much larger sense of awe for the importance of the god to whom the temple was dedicated than a homely one would. Likewise, walking into a massive basilica would instill much more respect and intimidation of the government system than a small building would. This is not to say that the Roman homes were without decoration, or the monumental buildings were without practicality, but both prioritized their functions for different purposes.
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