Futuristic Architecture

What You Need To Know About Egypt

2014-01-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

The Arab Republic of Egypt, commonly known as Egypt, is a Republic in North Africa. ""Egypt"" came via the Latin word Aegyptus derived from ancient Greek, which means 'the name of a temple of the God Ptah at Memphis.' Cairo is the capital of Egypt and is known as the land for learning, culture and commerce.

Geographically, Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea and is located between Libya and the Gaza Strip. To the north of Sudan is the Red Sea inclusive of what is known as the Asian Sinai Peninsula. The total area occupied by Egypt is 1,020,000 km². The coastline of Egypt stretches approximately 2,450 km. The Egyptian terrain is a vast desert plateau, interrupted by the Nile valley and the delta.

The climate in Egypt is hot and dry due to its proximity to the equator. Winters are moderate. The Sahara desert is the world's largest desert and is located in Egypt, as well as the Libya desert. These deserts were referred to as the "red land" in ancient Egypt. Even today, these areas are sparsely populated. Egypt has a population of approximately 77 million people. Islam is the religion practiced by majority of the people, with a small number of people that follow Christianity. Arabic is the language used widely by the Egyptian people. The majority of Egyptians are involved in agriculture and settlements can be seen along the Nile river. About half of the population lives in the urban areas.

Egypt is famous for its ancient architecture and culture. It boasts of some of the world's most stunning ancient monuments, including the Giza Pyramids, the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Another modern attraction in Egypt is the Opera house, which is the only one in the Arab world.

Every year there are a large number of tourists who visit the country. Many of them visit during the favorable months from mid-October to May, when the weather is not as hot, to view its many beautiful sites.

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Ancient Roman Gardens and Landscaping

2014-01-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

The origin of landscape design is impossible to determine. It didn't start with a certain person, or a particular movement: like all design, it arose to fulfill the needs of people organically through history. No one suddenly decided that we needed to scrupulously plan where we place our trees and flower beds - landscape architecture was developed to make one aspect of our lives even better, and it has fulfilled this role excellently throughout our past.

Although the first mention of the incredible combination of gardens and design was certainly the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, there is some controversy about their historical correctness. Although their Characteristics and status as one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World is attractive, we really don't know where to separate the history from the mythology. Although many experts have detailed the function, design, and creator of the Hanging Gardens, there are no Babylonian information still in existence that document them first-hand, and no archaeological evidence that unquestionably proves their existence - so we'll have to look elsewhere for a more useful place to begin.

Possibly the first appearance of what we deem modern landscaping arose during the rise of the Roman Empire. Romans lived in a more urban setting than anyone else up to that point in history, and they needed an in-city refuge from their bustling social lives. This as a goal, the Ancient Roman gardens developed a calming combination of ornamental plants, mosaics, and fountains - the gardens also were loaded with religious symbolism.

This closely designed landscaping stood in stark contrast to landscape design that would develop in the east, where Chinese and Japanese gardeners would attempt to make their landscape as unassuming and un-designed as possible. Landscape design also took a great leap foreword in Persia, where remarkable underground aqueducts were designed to keep lavish gardens alive in the arid environment. In fact, there is some evidence that Roman gardens were deeply influenced by Persian gardening techniques.

These are just a few examples of the many forms that landscaping has taken over the years, but it really seemed to enter its adolescence in the 1800s. The term "Landscape architecture" was coined by Gilbert Meason in his book "On The Landscape Architecture of the Great Painters of Italy", where he wrote about Italian masterpieces of landscape painting. The term's meaning has changed somewhat since its inception, the transformation helped along by the use of the expression in the winning entry for the layout of Central Park in New York City. In the mid 1900s, people who designed landscapes were referred to as "Landscape Gardeners", but Frederick Olmsted denied this limiting name and adopted the name "Landscape Architect".

In recent times, there has been a movement towards Landscape Urbanism, which is blending an urban setting with nature. With more and more people living in urban settings, landscaping has to fit into and work alongside urban planning, causing some exceptional combinations of asphalt and mulch. This attitude shift is certainly a modern phenomenon, but it really isn't that unique. Think back to those Ancient Roman Gardens: when cutting-edge landscapers use a combination of design, landscaping, and an urban location, they're just doing like the Romans did.

Mark Charipar is a landscape designer and architect who creates beautiful landscapes in Lincoln, NE.

Learn more about him and his company here: Landmark Landscapes

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Travel Italy - Highlights of Italian Art and Architecture

2014-01-07T10:24:00.000-08:00

Every year millions of visitors trek through Italy in search of ancient culture, great food, art, architecture, and more. The allure is immediate even to those who have never been.

There is more art and architecture to see in Italy than one person could possibly
experience in a lifetime. Rome, Florence, and Venice alone offer an unending array
of design excursions. Highlighted here are some of the must see designs of both
ancient and modern Italy. Talk a trip, bring a sketch book, and see the gorgeous art
and design that is synonymous with Italian life.

The Coliseum - An architectural marvel, the coliseum was built beginning
in 72 A.M. Originally used as a source of entertainment (usually forced barbaric
combat) the Coliseum is still an amazing site. Strangely, although it could be
considered a source of embarrassment of the past, it has been come to known as
one of the ultimate icons of ancient Roman greatness. Location: the Piazza del
Colosseo, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome

Vatican City - This tiny country is perhaps one of the most remarkable
aspects of Rome. Vatican City is the heart of Catholicism, both spiritually and
politically. St. Peter himself was crucified on this spot, and St. Peter's basilica was
built directly above the ancient hill. Both the Basilica and St. Peter's square are still
studied today in architecture and art history classes. You can wander the Vatican
Museums for days, including a visit to the Sistine Chapel, to see some of the true
masterpieces of Roman art. Location: Entry through Saint Peter's Square, Rome

Il Duomo (The Cathedral of Santa Maria Dei Fiori) - Il Duomo is considered
by many to be the grandest achievement in Renaissance architecture. The octagonal
dome, originally designed by Brunelleschi was the largest in the world when built.
Since then, Il Duomo , which took nearly six centuries to complete, has become
Florence's symbol. Climb the 414 steps of the bell tower, and Renaissance Florence
will be laid before you. Location: Piazza del Duomo, Florence.

Piazza San Marco - Piazza San Marco is still studied today by architects
and urban planners as one of the most beautiful and successful public squares. The
square is surrounded by cafes, shops, and of course the Campanile and St. Peter's
Basilica. Visitors and locals alike sip espresso in its cafes, meet to talk, and climb
the Campanile to see an amazing view of Venice. Location: Piazza San Marco, with
the Basilica at the wider end, Venice.

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection - In a city world renown for its
ancient art and architecture, the Guggenheim Collection houses one of the greatest
collections of modern art. her collection includes works by Pollack, Picasso, Klee,
Rothko, Chagall, Mondrian, and more. There is also a gorgeous sculpture garden
housing even more works. Location: Calle Venice dei Leoni, Dorsoduro, Venice.

The Brion Vega Cemetery - The Brion Vega is considered one of Carlo
Scarpa's masterpieces. Scarpa was and still is often considered the premier modern
Italian architect. The memorial is a great concrete and landscaped form if rectilinear,
stepping, and sculptural concrete elements. It is an amazing pilgrimage for the
architecture buff. Location: San Vito d'Altivole.

You can wander Italy for ages and never take in all of the art and architecture. Still,
the sites listed above are some of the must sees for lovers of art, architecture, and
travel. Open your eyes and see the Italian design that has been around for centuries,
and that which continues to flourish today.

Michelle is a travel buff who has recently moved away from Hawaii, but is anxiously awaiting the day when she can return. In the meantime, she occupies her time by helping others compare and select vacation options.

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Facts About China Architecture and Chinese Buildings Art

2014-01-06T10:07:00.000-08:00

China's distinctive architecture makes up an important part of China's splendid civilization. Together with Western and Muslim architecture, the three styles comprise the world's major architectural systems.

In the Paleolithic Age, Chinese ancestors lived on fishery and hunting, and were sheltered in trees and caves. In the Neolithic Age, Chinese ancestors engaged in raising animals and farming, and settled down by digging caves and by building simple houses with twigs and lumber, thus commencing their architectural activities.During the 3,000 years of the feudalist society, Chinese ancient architecture formulated gradually its unique system, coupled with a considerable progress in urban planning, garden designing, and house construction technique. In 221 B.C., the First Emperor of the Qin Empire mobilized the resources of the country to do construction works on a massive scale, including A' Fang Palace, the Emperor's Mausoleum, the Great Wall and the Dujiangyan Water-Conservancy Project. In the Later dynasties, many more massive construction works of lasting fame were carried out.

China's wood frameworks are unique in the world. They reflect the values, aesthetic and ethical standard of the Chinese people. Chinese architecture is rooted in cultural tradition and features several characteristics. It highlights absolute imperial power and strict social status. The best examples of this can be found in the palaces and forbidden cities. Chinese architecture also stresses overall beauty and its axial layout pattern is widely used in buildings. The Chinese style also incorporates elements of nature and emphasizes a graceful, reserved and easy-going beauty. Apart from the Han ethnic group, architecture in the ethnic minorities is also diversified and distinct.

Chinese architecture can be categorized into imperial palaces, religious temples, ancient gardens, tombs group and ordinary ethnic residences.

The online website of the China travel agency - China Fact Tours has fruitful information regarding facts about China and China Architecture [http://www.chinafacttours.com/facts/a], as well as a great deal of practical China travel information and travel resources be of help before you plan a trip to China!

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The Tricks of Ancient Greek Architects

2014-01-04T23:01:00.000-08:00

The centre-piece and most celebrated of the new projects was the temple to Athena the Virgin, known as the Parthenon. A deliberate attempt was made in the design of this building to achieve visual perfection, using a very sophisticated knowledge of optics. It seems to be constructed according to a plan based entirely upon straight lines, yet there is hardly a single straight line in it, although the tolerance for error is a fiftieth of an inch. Its perceived aesthetic perfection is a deliberately contrived optical illusion of a high level of sophistication only fully revealed during the mid-nineteenth century by the work of the British archaeologist Roger Penrose. It had been realised that our eyes play tricks upon us, and that in order to produce in observers the visual impression of a perfectly designed and constructed building, it would be necessary to take these distortions of perception into account by systematically compensating for them in the design.

The ancient architect realised that if the temple was constructed on a perfectly flat surface, our eyes, being deceived by the bright sunlight, would falsely perceive the floor to sag in the middle. He saw that if the columns were constructed perfectly perpendicular to the base platform on which they were erected, they would appear to lean slightly outwards. He also realised that if each of the columns were to be erected with exactly the same diameter from top to bottom, they would each appear to be narrower in the middle than they really were. Moreover, if all the columns were made with the same diameter, the outer columns would appear slightly thinner than the others due to the effect of the bright Attic sunlight; for the more well-lighted an object is, the less voluminous it appears.

The architects employed all their insight and skill to compensate for these and other distortions of visual perception in their design. Thus the surface of the platform on which the columns stand has been made slightly convex, so that it appears to be flat. The outer columns have been made to lean slightly inwards, so that if each were to be extended upwards they would meet in the centre about one thousand metres above the roof. This exactly eliminates the illusion that perfectly perpendicular columns would create, of leaning slightly outwards. The forty-six outer columns were deliberately made slightly thicker in their middle drums, where most of the light falls, so as to appear perfectly straight. The corner columns, being lighted from both sides, have been made slightly larger in diameter than the others.

These "special effects" are by no means limited to the major features of the construction. The frieze decorations were also systematically distorted to allow both for the effects of being seen from a distance and also for being viewed from the vantage point of observers below. Thus the figures on the frieze stoop slightly downwards. The lower parts of the decorations have a depth of three centimetres, while the upper have a depth of five and a half.

The ancient architects understood not merely those illusions which viewing a large building in a glaring light might generate, they knew how to compensate for them. But most surprising of all is the fact that they also knew exactly by how much to compensate for them.

One much-praised aspect of the appearance of the Parthenon, however, was not the result of ancient knowledge and skill. Travellers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries praised its beautiful golden patina. This had developed over the centuries, and could not have been foreseen by the ancient builders. It was due to the oxidisation of tiny particles of iron in the marble. Much of the building would, in any case, originally have been painted in gaudy colours, the reliefs being picked out in bright blue, red and gold. Today, with the gradual replacement of the old marble, subjected to decay from traffic fumes, by bright white newly cut blocks, the famous patina has been lost.

Learn more about Ancient Greece, Athens and Greece in general.

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Greek Architecture

2014-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

Architecture in ancient Greece was usually done with wood or mud-bricks, so their ground plans are the only evidence of their existence. Greeks established most of the most enduring themes, attitudes, and forms of western culture. Architecture is one of the Greek legacies that the western civilization has inherited, as Greece established many of the structural elements, decorative motifs, and building types still used in architecture today.

The two main styles of Greek architecture are doric and ionic. The doric style is much more disciplined and austere, whereas the ionic style is more relaxed and decorative. There was a strong emphasis in building temples for the Greek mythological gods and goddesses. But, there were also well known public buildings like the Parthenon.

Building materials used were limestone and some native stones. Highly expensive marble was used mainly for sculptural decoration found in grand buildings of the classical period. The roofs of their buildings were made up of timber beams covered with overlapping terracotta or occasionally marble tiles.

The structure of ancient Greek architecture consists of a basic cube or rectangle, flanked by colonnades, and a long sequence of columns. Building will have a pronao or a portico that open up to a large open court peristyle. Greeks used very little of the principles of the masonary arch, individual blocks bound together by mortar. The front end of the roof has flat triangular shaped structure, the pediment which is usually filled with scultural decoration.

Temples are the best known form of Greek architecture. The altar of the temple was usually found in the sacred fane, an enclosure, in front of the temple. The inner building of the temple, cella, served mainly as the storage room. The other common public builds of the Greek architecture are gymnasiums, the palaestra, and theatres.

In ancient Greece, architects were hardly treated as valuable master craftsmen, unlike today where the architects are closely associated with the work they produce. And moreover, architecture was not seen as an art form, as it is in modern times.

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The Roman Colosseum - Ancient History and Architecture

2014-01-03T02:54:00.000-08:00

The Coliseum, found in the very heart of Rome, Italy, is one of the few architectural feats made by man that has endured the forces of nature and time. Even fires and earthquakes haven't subdued the great edifice. Centuries have passed while the immense structure has fallen into ruins, but even today, it is a grand and stunning sight. The Coliseum (originally named Flavian Amphitheater) could accommodate a large crowd of around 50,000 attendees. To accommodate this large crowd they used methods which are similar to our modern day for crowd control. In place of tickets, shards of pottery with section and row numbers directed the spectators to their designated seating sections. To disburse the large crowd in case of emergency there were eighty entrances with each entrance and exit numbered.

It is known that the construction of the Coliseum was started by Emperor Vespasian (the first emperor of the Flavian Dynasty) around 72 AD. The funding for this undertaking came from the ransacking of Jerusalem. It took 8 years before its completion in 80 AD which was after Vespasian's death.

The imposing building was intended for public displays such as executions and dramas themed on Classical mythology. Another use for the coliseum was the famous gladiatorial contests where slaves were made to fight each other to death for the prize of freedom. The coliseum is considered as a ceremonial monument constructed in the Roman tradition of celebrating triumphs intended for placating the Roman people.

The still marble and stones of the remnant shout their story deep within. A look at the remnant would give us a glimpse of the glorious (yet bloody) past of Imperial Rome. It retells the victory of the warriors who fought for their lives. It reminds us of the lingering roars of the audience which was the last sound the fallen gladiators heard as they slowly dropped to the sand, crimsoned by their own blood. It recounts all the bloody games which ironically became the iconic symbol of the empire's prestige and power.

Hosting more than a million visitors annually, the Coliseum remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Rome. Most of these people come to witness firsthand the grandiose archeological remains and the unbelievable feat of architecture.

The Coliseum proved many things in history. It served as concrete proof of the architectural genius of its creator and showed that the hands of time could never wash into oblivion the glorious past of the Roman Empire as long as remnants of the Coliseum stand firm on the ground.

The author enjoys history and travel.

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Get to Know Ancient Chinese Philosophy From Fung Shui and Chinese Architecture

2014-01-02T00:33:00.000-08:00

While on your China tour, you will observe many samples of Fung Shui. That's an ancient Chinese philosophy that seeks to bring our interior and exterior built environment into harmony considering the forces of nature that affect our physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Classic examples of Fung Shui are asked for destinations on China Tours and hence regarded as primary China travel destinations

An introduction to Fung Shui Principles

This ancient science, for science indeed it also is, is rooted in natural Taoist philosophies and seeks to grasp and make the most the ways wherein we're affected by our immediate physical environment. It seeks to make harmony between us and then the structures that we build for ourselves, both by correctly positioning these, and by placing furniture and other objects appropriately within them. Fung Shui continues to be helpful to orient buildings in China since time immemorial - these include spiritually important structures such as temples and tombs, as well as homes and places of work. The Fung Shui lifestyle holds that orientation of buildings regarding mountains, lakes and hills, points of the compass and in many cases stars can significantly affect the long run health and well being of the folks connected with them.

The hotels you stay in on your China tour may incorporate similar principles, in addition to you should ask the friendly staff you meet during your China travel experience about this, including their advice on China tours in general. Although discouraged in the course of the Maoist cultural revolution on the 1960's, Fung Shui has regained popularity in modern China where architects are using it to style and remodel the built Chinese environment you might say that enhances both quality of life and material well-being. This represents a shift in architectural values from theoretical principles in your direction of the wants of clients within a greater whole, and draws on the understanding that nothing stands in isolation, knowing that everything is connected.

A Practical Example

Fung Shui finds expression in all aspects of contemporary living. Through an example, let's consider how perhaps applied to some kitchen in a modern family home - in the end, kitchens do represent nourishment and prosperity in most minds, and reported by supporters of this ancient science, can therefore affect yourself and wealth too.

The next principles ought to be kept at heart:

Kitchen Placement. The Kitchen needs to be towards the rear of the house, to discourage the family from eating all the time, and encourage guests to linger after a meal. If undoubtedly impossible, then it must be partly obscured from direct view by positioning louvered panels or hanging beads - it is because a publicly visible kitchen could portend digestive or other problems.

Kitchen Layout. The principle cooking point must place the Chef in any commanding position that permits him or her to watch what's going on including retaining eye contact with family and guests. This is achieved by setting up a central cooking island, or through strategic placement of mirrors.

In using this method the fundamentals of Fung Shui blend seamlessly with modern needs for more open homes and greater family interaction - isn't it great when ancient and modern values merge to make fresh visions like this? You will find many practical examples of Fung Shui on your Chinese tour. In truth looking for these is among the fun aspects of China travel and the idea of several specialist China tours.

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Importance of Columns in Ancient Egyptian Architecture

2014-01-01T02:03:00.000-08:00

When you think about an ancient Egyptian temple like Karnak...it isn't easy to imagine it without thinking of its columned halls...is it??

One of the most beautiful and impressive aspects of architecture which comes to mind when you think about any Egyptian temple, are the spectacular columns, resembling groves of stone trees.. These columns, especially at Karnak and Luxor, dwarf human beings and bear inscriptions, carved relieves, and a weighty majesty unequaled anywhere else in the world. Most people who have some interests in ancient Egyptians will identify immediately the shape of Lotus and Papyrus style columns, but actually no less the about 30 different column forms have been isolated from temples of the various periods!!

Columns held special significance for the Egyptians, representing as they did the expanses of nature. Columns alluded to the times when vast forests dotted the land, forests that disappeared as the climate changed and civilization took its toll upon the Egyptian environment. They also represented the Nile reed marshes. The columns were introduced in order to simulate nature, and to identify man again with the earth. The first tentative columns are still visible in the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, but they are engaged columns, attached to walls for support and unable to stand on their own. Imhotep designed rows of such pillars at the entrance to various buildings and incorporated them into corridors for Djoser's shrine (2600 B.C.E.).

In the Fourth Dynasty (2575-2465 B.C.E.) masons experimented with columns as a separate architectural entity. In one royal tomb built in GIZA in the reign of Khufu (2551-2465 B.C.E.) limestone columns were used effectively. In the tomb of Sahure (2458-2446 B.C.E.) of the Fifth Dynasty, the columns were made of granite, evincing a more assured style and level of skill.

Wooden columns graced a site in the reign of Kakai (2446-2426 B.C.E.) in that same dynasty, and another king of the royal line, Nisuerre (2416-2392 B.C.E.), had limestone columns installed in his Abusir necropolis complex.

At Beni Hasan in the Eleventh Dynasty (2134-2140 B.C.E.) local nomarchs, or provincial chiefs, built their own tombs with wooden columns. The same type of columns was installed in tombs in the Twelfth Dynasty (1991-1773 B.C.E.), but they were made of wood set into stone bases. With the coming of the New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.E.) the columns become part of the architectural splendor that marked the capital at Thebes and at the later capital of Per-Ramesses in the eastern Delta. Extensive colonnades stood on terraces, or in the recesses of temples, opening onto courts and shrines.

Muhammed Khaled is concerned about Egyptian culture and history and the owner of Egyptian Panorama blog where you can discover more about Egypt through a collection of informative and simple articles and reviews on both ancient and modern Egypt. To see more details about Columns in Ancient Egyptian Architecture click here

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A Brief Comparison of Greek and Roman Architecture

2013-12-31T05:03:00.000-08:00

The Ancient Greek World was one of the most dynamic, innovative and progressive periods of art in western civilization. The Greeks were a people who strove for naturalism and perfection in their art. In their buildings, exterior structure and aesthetics were of primary concern. The Greeks considered beauty a distinctive feature of the gods and their pursuit of beauty was almost a religious exercise. The job of the ancient Greek Architect was to make a beautiful temple for the god. The development of Greek temple design also brought about the three column orders; doric, ionic and corinthian, which were used extensively in Greek buildings and have highly influenced other cultures.

The Romans were the first builders in Europe, and probably the first in the world to recognize the advantages of the arch, vault and dome. The structures they left behind are a reminder of the genius of Roman engineering. They invented concrete and loved building arches and monuments to themselves. They also loved to be entertained. The Romans enjoyed everything from chariot races to gladiator contests to musical plays to the ballet. Three of the most important buildings designed for mass entertainment were the theatre, the ampitheatre and the circus.

The Hepaisteion, Athens

A Greek temple's primary function was to shelter the god it was built for. That is why the temples were decorated on the outside, no one went inside. No part of a Greek temple was symbolic or meant anything other than what it was, a temple for a god, with a sheltered colonnade for worshippers. Greek architects did not strive for individuality, the ancient Greek builder could erect a standard temple with a brief verbal description.

Early Roman temples differed from Greek both on the inside and in their relationship to their surroundings. Often up to three gods were housed together, while their rooms were narrow, the temple as a whole tended to be loftier and grander than Greek temples.

The Hepaisteion is a typical peripteral style temple. It is massive in appearance with simple doric capitals and thick heavy columns made of built up drums of stone all around. Its forms of mass and and volume are simple rectangles, cylinders and cones with a triangular roof. The temple stands in isolation resting on a low foundation, approachable from all sides by three steps. The site of the temple was almost as important as the temple itself. Unlike Greeks, Roman temples had a focus of attention and most had a frontal access only.

The Hepaisteion is basically a room called a cella with a porch in the front and rear, that is enclosed inside a colonnade that supports the roof, which in turn protects the cella from rain and sun. Many early Roman pagan temples are similar to the Hepaisteion, but with the difference that pushes the cella to one end of the room and decoration inside the temple.

Stone was the main building material used in Greek temple construction. Timbering was used in the roof and ceiling. Terracotta roof tiles were also used. Everything that was marble was cut in large blocks and held together by clamps and dowels. Paint was used to highlight molding to strengthen the contrasting elements of the frieze.

The Theatre of Marcellus, Rome

The Greeks may have invented drama, but theatre design was revolutionized by the Romans. They changed the Greek theatre, a structure that was usually built into a hillside, with its circular orchestra and detached scene building into a freestanding structure that united auditorium and stage. The back of the stage was as high as the auditorium so that the audience could not see outside as they could in a Greek theatre. Many Roman theatres, like Roman ampitheatres had a velarium or awning that was rigged to shade the audience from the sun. Roman theatres were regularly built on concrete vaulting that supported the auditorium and allowed easy access to seating, as crowd control was a big worry to the Roman builder.

The Theatre of Marcellus in Rome was first commissioned by Julius Caesar and was completed during the reign of his grandnephew and adopted son Augustus. The facade was travertine and had forty one bays with a half column on both sides of each bay. This style was widely copied after the theatre was built. Similarities can be seen in the Colosseum, which was built much later. Llike many Roman structures, the Theatre of Marcellus was built of concrete and baked bricks that were 3.5 to 4.5 centimeters thick. The bricks were very pourous to absorb the mortar and to give a better bond. The structure in the shape of a half circle which was a standard design for Roman theatres. The back of the stage area or the scaena frons was decorated with a continuous row of columns three tiers high that ran the width of the stage. The scaena frons was another Roman innovation that was first used the 4th century BC but didn't reach its ideal until the 2nd century AD.

In Roman theatres, the orchestra was part of the auditorium. It would often be set up with moveable chairs for the V.I.P.s. The Greeks used the orchestra as a stage area.

Summary

There are many differences between Greek and Roman architecture. The Greeks built many structures on top of hills, the Romans changed the hills into architectural structures. Early Greeks used the post and lintel system, whereas Romans extensively used the arch, vault and dome. Concrete was a major building material for the Romans, the Greeks were always trying to find better building materials and used huge stones held together with clamps and dowels.

In theatre design, both Greeks and Romans preferred to use hillsides, but because of large cities the Romans were forced to build their theatres on flat ground. This practice brought on the revolutionary design of a freestanding theatre structure.

The Greeks took their religion seriously and built their temples for the gods. The Romans took the view, brought it inside the temple interior and declared that what went on inside was very important so the temple must look good on the inside too.

Martha Vega is a freelance graphic designer in San Diego. She has a passion for design and enjoys learning about the arts including fine art and architecture.

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The Importance of Ancient Japanese Architecture in Modern Japan

2013-12-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

Tokyo is the capital of Japan. The city's design is the result of the coming together of so many architectural layouts. Hopelessly tragic and utterly doomed is Tokyo, the great megalopolis of seemingly gravity defying high rises and hyper malls, where permanence and ephemeral styles of architecture converge upon each other.

But amidst all of this noise and order the continuity of tradition still manages to thrive at the heart of this sleepless super city. It goes without saying that Tokyo is a forever changing city. I was destroyed twice, like so many of its temples and shrines, and then rebuilt to reflect the time and era. City planners and Japanese design consultants acquire a sense of how they wanted Tokyo to look when it was rebuilt a second time they put pen to paper. They thought up ways in which to create the most advanced city in the world and succeeded while remembering that tradition is their foundation for everything they set out to do. The only building in Tokyo that never conformed to traditional Japanese architectural styles is the Tokyo Government office building - Japan's only 'Twin Towers.'

Ephemerality is the identity of Tokyo; through flow and transparency. The idea of Impermanence is through its strong foundations, which are the building blocks of all Japanese architecture. Take Yasuda Gardens for example. Here is a park that is located in the center of Sumida Ward in downtown Tokyo. You can sit in this park and enjoy being in a classical style Japanese park. It is a park so well thought out that not even the noise from outside seep in through its bamboo surroundings.

A wild life sanctuary is built right in the center of the park where visitors attention is drawn right to the center where a large pond is located. In the center of that pond is a mote were you can see the Fisher King bird species.

There are two types of Japanese gardens. These are Tsukiyama which represents mountains and the pond represents the sea. The Kareasansui a white sand symbolizes the sea, and the stones represent hills, which often times can be seen in Kyoto.

In Tokyo, half of the land is urbanized, including commercial and residential districts, while natural areas and greenery have shrunk significantly due to modernization and property acquisition. There is still a wonderful balance that's never forsaken in an attempt to modernize the city.

The contrast between the park and Sumida river is extreme in my opinion. But again, that shows the dynamic of Tokyo's urban planning. in the end, it all works very well together; rivers, parks, the whole cityscape. The Tokyo Skyline has the underpinnings of culture, yet, it is often times concealed within stone and steel structures that are hard to point out. The city is tragically beautiful, because nothing seems to work, but does.

http://thesoulofjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/05/soul-of-japan-greatest-onsen.html

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Ancient Architecture for Modern Homes

2013-12-28T23:28:00.000-08:00

Highly skillful and experienced architects are able to construct luxury homes with old world design. The ancient country homes of Europe especially the French country cottages are considered as the most beautiful architecture designs. The present generation architects design and construct such ancient model houses with the help of modern architecture. When the owners of a property hire them for designing and construction of their house, the professional architect will discuss with them in detail and find out their views and ideas about their dream houses. Once they are clear about their aspirations, they will make the designs accordingly. There are only few architects who have the talent to design and construct modern luxury homes with the beauty and charm of ancient British as well as French architecture. When a modern luxury home is designed and constructed according to old world design, that house will be among the new genre of homes which are carved out of ancient and modern architectures. The architects with skill for custom designing can only design and construct this type of homes.

Only the professional and experienced architect can design and construct luxury homes which will be replicas of the dream houses in the minds of the property owners. There will be vast differences between designing custom made dream houses and designing a home just out of their own imaginations. Many real-estate businessmen who have invested huge amounts to buy land and construct luxury homes for sale will appoint the professional architects for designing and construction of luxury homes. The success of their business will be greatly depending upon the architectural elegance of the houses as well as quality of the construction. When the architect designs and constructs amazing homes with all modern amenities and architectural elegance, the venture will be a grand success and the developers can amass huge profits.

French country cottages are considered as the homes with most elegant designs among the ancient country homes of Europe. The present day architects who have specialized in custom designing are able to design and build the French country cottages with all its distinctive beauty and charm. Moreover, when they create such custom designed homes, they take adequate care to meet all the requirements of the house owner and also finish the project well within the budget limits. In order to make the houses exactly with the same appearance, they procure various construction materials from international markets. Also they make houses of smaller size so as to meet all requirements within the budget.

Buying luxury dream houses in Michigan is most exciting and enjoyable experiences of your life. We built different types of dream homes, luxury home builder s with cost-efficiently yet stand out as fresh, new and creative designs. For more details visit us online.

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Ancient Japanese Architecture

2013-12-28T11:36:00.000-08:00

As a testament to the quality of ancient Japanese architecture, the oldest surviving wooden structures in the world are located in Nara, Japan. Of the 41 buildings constructed during the Asuka period (538-710 A.D.) the most well-known are the Kondo (Golden Hall) and Goju-no-to (Five story Pagoda). These were constructed as a private temple for the Prince Shotoku, a regent and politician in the Asuka period.

Another well known archaeological site from ancient Japan is the Todaiji in Nara prefecture, Japan. The Todaiji was built to function as the headquarters for regional temples built in surrounding provinces. The Todaiji's main building is the Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall) and is the largest wooden building in the world. Inside the Daibutsuden a 16.2m tall Buddha is enshrined. The current statue of the Buddha was built during the Edo period (1603-1868) and only a few fragments of the original remain.

Buddhist Pagoda's in ancient Japan all shared similar characteristics. The wooden walls were thin and vertical. The structures had multiple stories supported by columns made from cypress trees. Thatched roofs were common as well as large doors and windows strategically placed for the best viewing of external gardens or other natural scenery.

Although Buddhism teaches impermanence, Shinto places importance on purity and youth. For this reason many Shinto shrines in Japan are rebuilt every 20 years, often at great expense, to keep them forever new and also forever ancient in their original form. The Ise shrine in Mie, Japan was rebuilt in 1993 and is on its 61st iteration. It is scheduled to be rebuilt in 2013.

The ancient Japanese may not have had access to suitable stone for building, but they were able to build long-lasting structures using wood. Although many famous castles and other well known historical buildings were destroyed by fire in Japan's history, there are many which are still standing today.

Alton Trevino lives in Japan and enjoys writing about Japanese history and culture. Please visit the following link to read more about ancient Japan.

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Ancient Greek Theatre Architecture

2013-12-26T18:07:00.000-08:00

The ancient Greek theatre was shaped by the literary evolution of the plays. Threshing floors, where the rural Dionysiac troups first held their feasts, constituted the early pattern of the round orchestra (playing area) in subsequent theatres. In the centre of this orchestra was the thymeli, the altar of the god, demonstrating the origins of the theatre in ritual. In the initial dithyramic assemblies, devotees stood around the threshing floor. In the theatre, the spectators' seats filled the amphitheatric auditorium which was built into the natural slope of a hill and usually divided into two horizontal diazomata (sections) and many wedge-shaped kerkides (blocks of seats) the number of which changed according to the size of the orchestra. The tiers in the upper section were twice the size of those in the lower. The auditorium covered 2/3 of a full circle, making it necessary to build retaining walls to support the side sections. The seats were semicircular rows of steps. The first row had comfortable, throne-type seats with backs, places of honour. When women were permitted to attend a certain performance, then they sat in a separate section. The places in the upper diazomata were for foreigners. Slaves did not appear to have the right to attend performances.

The orchestra (playing area) was the soul of the theatre. All the other parts grew up around it, as its final circle was surrounded by the auditorium. The altar, which was right in the centre, had to be equidistant from all sections. The side doors beside the retaining walls of the auditorium were called the parodoi, through which the spectators entered the theatre. The appearance of actors through these entrances was significant for the plot of the play: the public was aware of the convention that when an actor entered from the right-hand door, he was coming from the city; the use of the opposite door meant that he was arriving from some distant place. The members of the chorus always stayed in the orchestra, even later when a platform and stage buildings were added to its open side. There was a strict mathematical relationship between stage, altar and auditorium, which was related to the effort to perfect the acoustics.

With the creation of the stage, steps were built leading up from the orchestra to the logeio (platform), where the actors recited their parts. At the back there was a large wooden facade, movable and painted, which depicted an outdoor backdrop. This facade was always the same according to the play: in tragedy an official building was shown, usually a palace or temple; in comedy smaller, rural buildings tended to be used; in satyric drama, the scenery required a cave entrance. As the performances were held during the day, no artificial lighting was necessary, although there were various sound effects used, such as metallic containers full of water to increase the volume of the speeches, and pebbles were shaken around in bronze jars to sound like thunder. The technicians who wielded these vessels would either stand behind the scenery or along the sides of the platform, in the side-wings. In the stage building behind the platform, there were areas where the actors changed their masks and costumes and where these props were kept after the performance.

The architecture of the theatre was perfected in the 4th century, the primary example being that of Epidaurus. But all around the Mediterranean, theatres of all sizes bring back echoes of ancient Greece.

In neighbouring Rome, performances of drama began in the middle of the 3rd century at the Hippodrome, on movable platforms. Stern Roman senators were not particularly fond of free-thinking Greek plays, and thus the building of permanent theatres was expressly forbidden, until Pompey visited Mytilene and was so impressed by its stone theatre that he built a similar one in Rome in 55 BC. But the all- powerful Senate forbade the building of seats, and for this reason the first spectators had to bring their own chairs. During the years that followed, given the influence of Hellenic education on Roman society, many theatres were built which differ in many ways from those of Greece.

In Roman theatres, the auditorium covered only half of a circle and the rows of permanent seats were initially intended only for senators. Later other rows of seats were added for minor notables, even though social differences were very strict. The upper sections filled with crowds. Above the last row of seats there was a covered portico around the entire semi-circle. The seats were raised well above the orchestra, since this area was frequently flooded with water for the presentation of mock naval battles, as Roman spectacles were gradually replacing classical Greek works of philosophical simplicity.

Another innovation was that in the place of the ancient Greek side entrances, boxes were built for the emperor on one side and the Vestal Virgins on the other. At the end of the performance, the curtain would fall between these boxes. But the stage, too, differed from the Greek shape, because Roman presentations needed more space to accommodate those taking part in the pantomimes and grandiose plays with large casts. In Rome, the wooden scenes of the Greek theatre became a three storey wall, with openings and niches for statues, the height of which was the same as the height of the portico above the last series of seats in the auditorium. This feature made it easier to install a movable covering and machinery to spray perfumed water to refresh the public on hot days.

The spectators enjoyed the performances free of charge, as part of the infallible "bread and circuses" measures for controlling the crowds. But in the harsh Roman society, where circuses were stronger than bread, the public preference always lay in the amphitheatres, in the oval arena where combats with wild beasts and doomed gladiators prevailed.

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Hello everybody! I am really happy to be here sharing my experiences with you and learning things that I didn't know about. I hope you enjoy reading my articles as much as I enjoy reading yours!

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The Beauty of Ancient Chinese Architecture

2013-12-26T01:27:00.000-08:00

With a civilization history of over 5000 years, traditional Chinese architecture develops a school of its own, and has become an important component of the world architecture system. What does ancient Chinese architecture look like? What are the key features? The ancient Chinese architecture mainly refers to the structures built before 1911 (however, some latter-days buildings are also designed with a traditional style), including delicate gardens, magnificent rock caves, solemn imperial palaces, time-honored temples and monasteries...

The basic distinguishing characteristic of Chinese architecture is the employing of timber frames and rectangular units of space joined together as a whole. All ancient structures lay emphasis on horizontal and focus on the principle of balance and symmetry. In addition, they were built to face south to get more sunshine and avoid the cold wind. The roofs usually slope down on both sides and have a symbolism involved. Yet the styles and features may vary a little according to different areas of China.

The Chinese imperial architecture

Imperial architecture is composed of the palaces built for ancient emperors, solemn, most luxurious and extremely valuable in the architecture history. Imperial palaces were strictly arranged in balance, while the layout indicated the hierarchy concept and feudal netiquettes. And the roofs were painted into gold embody the royal sovereign. Forbidden City, also named the Palace Museum or the Imperial Palace is the most outstanding representative of imperial architecture, which was completed in 1420 and served as the palace for emperors of the Ming (1368-1644) and the Qing (1644-1911).

Grottoes and rock-cut architecture in China

Chinese Grotto complex are endowed with Buddhist flavor, and thought as a treasure of Buddhist art. Grotto first appeared in India and later was introduced into China, and reached its peak during Northern and Southern Dynasties (420- 589). Grottos are caves curved on the cliffs, usually huge project and with exquisite engravings. Inside, there are murals that tell Buddhist stories and convey the doctrine, as well as Buddhist sculptures of various sizes. The most famous grotto complex include Mogao Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes and Mt. Maiji Grottoes.

Ancient gardens

Ancient Chinese gardens can be divided into two types, royal gardens in Beijing and private gardens mainly in Suzhou, both of superb architectural art achievement. The essence of constructing a Chinese garden is to well design all the elements including fake mountain, small pool, the path, rocks, plants, indoor decoration... Royal gardens are luxurious and elegant, while Suzhou gardens are smaller but more exquisite with various techniques. The most famous private gardens include Garden of Net Master, Humble Administrator's Garden and Lingering Garden.

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The Emerging Architecture

2013-12-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

Architecture is the art of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures. Architecture is as old as human history because it is the basic need of a human being. Architecture symbolizes the history, culture, traditions, technology and climate of the nation. In primitive ages man was used to live in caves but with the passage of time trends changed. As "necessity is the mother of invention" human beings started to make houses made up of stones to protect themselves from extreme climatic conditions and also from wild animals. New innovations and new trends prevailed and human beings started to make houses with bricks made up of mud, then they started baking these bricks to make them much stronger to protect themselves from other natural disasters.

Till now, many of the artists and great philosophers have defined architecture but it has no static definition. It is the art which is directly concerned with all human beings because a man rather rich or poor, tall or short or may live in any part of the world has to face architecture in his lifetime. It can't be avoided rather we like it or not. William Morris defined architecture as the "molding and altering to the human needs of the very face of the earth itself." According to John Rustin, it is the art for all to learn because all are concerned with it. It is affected by climate, culture, technology and needs of the society. Architecture of a nation highly depicts the taste of its people. Architecture is also considered as frozen music. Sir Henry Watson says that architecture is commodity, firmness and delight.

Greek architecture is considered as most primitive architecture and long lasting too. In Greek architecture mostly Parthenon (Parthenon of Athens) and temples are included. This is also considered as one of the wonders of the world. Greeks mostly used stone carvings and the philosophy behind all their architecture is to make some place for worship. Ancient architecture mostly include stone carving, wood carving and most of the construction work is done by human hand which made it so unique. Most of the buildings are symmetrical where repetition of design and patterns can be seen. Similarly Roman, Gothic, Egyptian and Indian architecture is an elegant example of ancient architecture. It tells us all about the culture, climate and traditions of these civilizations. It seems that much hard work and struggle has been exerted to build these buildings. Materials used in these buildings are mostly natural like stone, marble, sand, wood etc. Repetition of ideas and materials could be seen in ancient architecture because of the lack of technology.

With the passage of time new inventions in the field of technology, chemistry and many other scientific fields are done. Many of the new materials have been introduced by the architects and chemists produced artificially at low cost. Today's architecture is the blend of structuralism, formalism, high technology, expressionism and neo expressionism. Fast growing industries and professionalism give birth to modern architecture which is simple less ornamental but maximum people-oriented. Modern architecture is rich in inspiration and abstract ideas behind it. With the increasing complexity in architecture it is further divided into various branches. Environmental hazards are most hot issue today that's why architects are trying to create designs which are environment friendly. Many of the architects gave stress on green building sustainable designs among them Sim Van der Ryn (1960), Ian Mc Harg (1970) UK and Brenda and Robert Vale from UK and New Zea land are most famous. Architects are now designing building which are self-sufficient in all energy demands. Dynamic Towers is the famous modern building which is good example of sustainable architecture which will be powered by water turbines and solar panels to fulfill its energy requirements.

In short, architecture whether good or bad has great impact on our lives. It is the symbol of the strength and progress of the nation but the architecture must be aesthetically pleasing and environment friendly to save our planet earth and to mold its face in a beautiful manner. Many trends have been passed away and many will come but its only purpose is to provide shelter for human beings and to create the world where they can live with peace and tranquility.

I am a student of architecture school of Pakistan. Architecture is my passion and I have written this article to make people aware of emerging architecture and its importance in our lives.

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Top 7 Types of Architectural Styles

2013-12-01T20:32:00.000-08:00

Architecture is defined as an art of building designer architectures in the form of buildings and other physical structures like homes, offices, hotels, resorts, and commercial buildings. This incredible art also involves the use of science and technical knowledge n order to give a form and structure to creativity and imagination. This mixture of art and science implement a design that transforms into a functional and aesthetically pleasing architecture.

1. Adirondack Architecture: This type of architecture gives a rugged finish to the structure design. This outstanding craftsmanship is mainly used for structures like rustic cabins, boathouses, custom homes, and log cabins. The architectural style introduced by William West Durant dates back to the 1880s that spread through the Adirondack Mountains, eventually to throughout the mountainous areas from the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains.
2. Adam Style: The Adam style is named after a renowned British architect Robert Adam. The design was originated from the Neoclassical design in the eighteenth century that revolutionized the industry with a fresh and graceful design. The design is more popular in England and America, most evident during the structural buildings constructed between 1790s to the 1830s.
3. Art Nouveau Style: Art Nouveau is a French term for 'New Style' and was introduced as an outcome of the efforts put in by known European artists who held a revolt against formal and classical design. This innovative design style was originated in Pairs in the eighteenth century. The design of the buildings often has asymmetrical shapes, arches, mosaics, stained glass, Japanese motifs, and decorative surfaces like curving, floral motifs and plant-like embellishments.
4. Indian Architecture: Indian architectural designs reflect the diverse culture and religious tradition of the country. This style of design has its own uniqueness and significance in the form of structure, design, and decorative surfaces. Ancient Indian Architecture was influenced by the western design form, especially from the Buddhist stupa to the Colonial Era. The style is simple, distinctive, and flowing in design.
5. Islamic Architecture: Islamic architecture mainly includes structure design like the tombs, mosques, and forts. The typical design includes domes, geometric shapes, towers, and Islamic calligraphy.
6. Ottonian Architecture: Ottonian architecture was evolved in the 10th century during the reign of Emperor Otto. It took its inspiration from various existing structure design mainly from the Carolingian and Byzantine architecture.
7. Victorian Architecture: Victorian architecture is a style of architecture that was popularly used in Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria. It was characterized by massive construction, decorative surfaces, simplicity, and fluidity. Balloon framing freed buildings, timber-framed box forms, odd corners, overhangs, and irregular floor plans are some of the characteristic features of the Victorian architecture.

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Luxury Tours of India - Delightful Fusion of Indian Charms and Attractions

2013-12-01T01:30:00.000-08:00

India is a country where history, cuisine, culture, tradition and nature redefine and exhibit a diversity that is indifferent and seldom found in any other place in the world. It is a paradigm of unity that exists despite of diversity and is a perfect fusion of the old and the new. Being the incredible land of the Maharajas, it is symbolic of the royal lifestyle and royal splendour that comes alive in the magnificent palaces that have been transformed into beautiful heritage hotels without compromising on the age-old beauty of the amazing architecture and grandeur. India tour packages offer a number of tour packages of which the most fascinating is the India luxury tour packages.

The luxury tours of India include touring different cities like Delhi, Agra, Jaipur as part of the golden triangle tours, where you can see the magnificent palaces and forts of the Mughals and the Rajputs. You can also experience the regal grandeur and luxury of the rulers of Rajasthan with the help of the Palace on Wheels luxury train tour. The luxury art and architecture tour of India enlightens the tourists on the ancient art and architectural styles of the country and their evolution over thousands of years of Indian history.

The various exotic attractions or tours that are included in the Indian luxury tour packages include Ajanta and Ellora caves, architecture and museum tour, great Taj Mahal tour, Kerala backwater tour, Birding tour of India, Kerala culinary tour, India and Rajasthan tour, Holiday in Kerala, art and architecture tour, North India highlights tour, tours to Goa, Rajasthan tours, beach tour of India, camel safari in Thar Desert, North India tour, India and Nepal tour, Palace on wheels, South India sojourn, exotic Rajasthan tour, Golden triangle tour, art and culture tour, rejuvenation tours to India, and adventure tours of India. Each coach of the Palace on Wheels is set in the style of one of the major princely states of Rajasthan, complete with their royal insignia, coat of arms, architectural traits and handicrafts of the region, and traditional motifs.

Rejuvenate your mind, body and soul in South India, where ancient culture has learned to coexist with modern developments of today in sublime harmony and balance. It is in Deccan India that you will find some of the best Spa and Ayurveda resorts in the world, meting out original Ayurvedic treatments and massages as well as a mix of traditional and foreign massage therapies and innovative treatments to heal you better. The vast space and rich landscapes offers tourists the opportunity to experience the curative power of Nature. The Indian sub continent is blessed with an amazing mixture of wildlife starting from swarming insect colonies to majestic herds of elephants to highly endangered Royal Bengal Tigers and one-horned rhinoceros that certainly make India an animal lover's paradise.

Spirituality, antiquity, culture, monuments, wildlife and adventure - India offers such a number of holiday opportunities that it is difficult to distill them in a single tour and hence, the country will hook you for another visit and then another. An India luxury tour is indeed the best option to look at if you are planning on a wonderful, comfortable and memorable holiday.

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Incredible Heritage of India

2013-11-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

India is synonym with 'diversity' and this bears in the rich heritage of the country. The perfect blend of religions, cultures, languages, customs and traditions is reflected in the rich heritage of the country. One of the oldest civilizations is a treasury of art, architecture, philosophy, classical dances, music, flora, fauna and much more. The natural beauty of the country, the landscapes ranging from deserts to mountains...beaches to plains, the varied temperatures all make it a must visit country for avid travelers. India has also been the birthplace of yoga and meditation.

India is also the birth place of four of the world's major religious traditions; Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Religion has played a vital role in shaping India and its heritage. One of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, India is also a hub of spirituality, yoga and Ayurveda; which attracts millions of tourists from around the world.

The culture encompassing of music, dance, art & craft, festivals, linguistic, customs and Indian cuisine is a great way to understand the incredible heritage of India. As a popular saying goes 'music has no boundaries' and Indians seem to have an uncanny knack for music. There is music for every occasion, be it celebration or sorrow in India. From a child birth, wedding, prayers or death, music is an important part of the Indian way of life. The kind of music one gets to listen to in India varies from classical, semi-classical, folk and film music.

Indian architecture, paintings, murals, sculptures, handicrafts capture Indian history explicitly. The Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra, the Khajuraho temples in Madhya Pradesh, Konark Temple in Puri, Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu and the Taj Mahal in Agra are some of the beautiful monuments that reflect the rich architectural heritage of India.

This multi linguistic country boasts of dialects which change over every few kilometers in the country. There's an old saying - 'the taste of water varies from place to place, so does the language in India'. Most of the languages spoken in India in one way or the other belong to two main families of languages, which are the Dravidian and Aryan.

Indian food is now famous world over; Indian spices are the essence of Indian cuisine. No tour to India is complete without savoring the flavors of India. So, whichever part of the country you travel, you will find a cuisine or delicacy exclusive to the region.

India is a one big nation that has amazing travel experiences in store for today's experimental traveler.

India may be part of Asia but it is no less than a continent in itself. Such is the incredible heritage of India and its cultural diversity that no matter where you travel in India, the country will leave you with images and experiences that you'll cherish all your life. Come and explore India.

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Golden Triangle Tour-Experience Indian Mixture of Culture and Architecture Beauty

2013-11-29T12:12:00.000-08:00

Golden Triangle Tour is a unique blend of architecture, beauty and culture for national as well as international tourists. The tour comprises of three popular destinations namely, Delhi, Jaipur and Agra.

Delhi

The tour begins from Delhi-the heart and capital of India. Tourists capture the glimpse of old city here, which was once active political hub of Mughal Empire. Chandni Chowk is the busiest and most wanted commercial market of Delhi and every tourist must visit this place at least once. Also, there is Akshardham Temple in Delhi is the largest Hindu temple having high-technology exhibitions, musical fountain and much more. Along with that, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib is a sacred Sikh shrine visited by millions of tourists every year. Humayun's Tomb is also a popular place to visit. The tomb was built in the remembrance of Humayun's widow, Hamida Banu Begum.

Other attractions that one must visit on his tour to Delhi include Lodhi Gardens, Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat-the resting place of Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi; Shanti Vana-the resting place of first Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru; National Museum; and Connaught Place-one of the most attractive commercial centers of New Delhi.

Agra

Next halt of Golden Triangle in India is Agra, the old capital of Mughals. Agra holds Taj Mahal, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Taj Mahal gives romantic appearance in the moonlit night and is truly the most astonishing piece of architecture in India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. This is not the only place to be visited and cherished in Agra. Other amazing attractions of the city cover the great Agra Fort, Aid-Mat-ud Daula and Fatehpur Sikri. Right from dreams and romance to royalty, Agra develops your wildest desires.

Jaipur

Coming to the last but certainly not the least halt of Golden Triangle Tour, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan. It is also popularly called as pink city. While in Jaipur, visitors have many attractions including Amer Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Jal Mahal, etc. The right tourist guide will give you all information and convenience to visit the past of each of the architectures of Jaipur.

Make the most of your trip to India by opting for a Golden triangle tour. Search for Golden Triangle Packages on the Internet. With a detailed search, you'll surely find one of the best suitable Golden Triangle Tours as per your budget and trip duration.

Want to explore the political hub of India, the eternal Taj Mahal and royal majestic capital, Jaipur within few days during your tour to India? Visit GoldenTriangleTours.co to enjoy golden triangle tour by booking Golden triangle tour packages.

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Ellora Caves Architecture

2013-11-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Ellora caves are the magnificent epitomes of Indian architecture. They are famous monumental caves and they are recognized by the UNESCO as one of the world heritage sites. They are known for their exclusive paintings. It centers on the three religions of Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. They depict the incidents from the tales of Jatakas and Bodhisattvas. It has been excavated out of the Charanadri hills in the state of Maharashtra, about 30 km. from the city of Aurangabad. Built around the 5th century and the 10th century, there are about 34 caves. There are twelve Buddhist caves, five Jain caves and the remaining are the Hindu caves. This denotes the religious harmony between the people of all the religions.

The caves have structures called Viharas, mainly the monasteries. They were the concepts of the Buddhist monks mainly but the Hindus and jains also made an important contribution in the making of the caves. The monasteries were huge multi-storied residential buildings for the monks. It had living rooms, kitchens, sleeping quarters and other rooms too. The shrines of these monasteries had carvings on them of Buddha, bodhisattvas and saints. The sculptors were so efficient that in many of the caves, the stone sculptures look like they are made of wood.

One of the Buddhist caves is very famous, known as the Chaitya hall or the Vishwakarma cave. Popularly it is also known as the carpenter's cave. This is cave number ten. The Chaitya is a cathedral like Stupa hall. The ceilings of this hall have been carved in such a way so as to give it a look of wooden beams a fifteen foot statue is situated here at the heart of this cave. It has small window opening that highlights the sitting Buddha. This is the statue of Buddha in a preaching pose.

The Hindu caves are remarkable and amazing. They are the finest specimens of architecture. They had their own unique style that made them stand out from the Buddhist and Jain caves. They have their own creative vision and exquisite styles. Their executions skills were remarkable. The cave number 14 depicts lord Shiva as the destroyer.

The twelve caves of Buddhist culture depict the seven incarnations of the Buddha. They believed that the Buddha took birth after every 5000 years. The patrons of these caves were the Rashtrakuta rulers in the seventh century. The boldest feats of architecture were depicted by the 16th cave. Here Kailash was build from a single stone. Mural paintings are still preserved in the Kailash cave though it was painted in five caves. The Elloras are the finest specimen of the Indian architecture.

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Award Winning Indian Architects

2013-11-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

Construction has always been important role to increase or decrease the value of the property ever since human civilization happen. It is construction that defines the buildings and also proves to be the trigger for its purchase or sale. In the modern times, to deal with construction field there are various sectors that have emerged to form this industry. One of the most important among them would be Real Estate and Infrastructure, Manufacturers and Builder, Architects and Interior Decorator. Architects are a professional that specialize in the field are called as Architecture, dealing with the technical knowledge and management skills. The most important segment is to understand the related fields function of an Architect, as architect one closely works with various field that are;

o Real Estate Development
o Corporate Facility Planning
o Construction Management
o Interior Designing
o Interiors and
o Project management

Among all Real Estate lends a majority of work to this sector. The basic aim of the Real Estate sector is to deal with property which involves purchasing, disposing or customizing the property, however in order to perform any of these function the Real Estate alone is not a qualifier, architects here would bargain their share of importance when compared to various other related field which are involved in the process of construction. Architects define property by structuring them into castles, villas, flats, floor or just a wasteland. Architecture as sector has evolved it associates with various related field like, Architect Design, Architect Engineering, Architect Technology and among others. With this overview about Architects, they can be defined as, "people who are involved in planning and designing buildings and participants to supervise construction of the building", therefore relating Architects to the field of Engineering would not be wrong. Understanding the criticality of Architects in the field today we have courses that certify architects in the field. These courses start from diploma to degree as per the interest of an individual.

The importance of architectures can be realized with the reorganization of architects not only with the Indian Real Estate Awards but also with the National Awards. The latest real estate events like Real India Fest 2009 also recognize the work of Architects in the field and therefore facilitate this sector by dedicating them with a different category of awards. This award recognizing their work not only in their field but also in the fields related to them. To conclude one can say that with the increase growth in the Real Estate and Infrastructure there would be an opportunity for the related fields to grow. Architects serve to be the backbone which brings them an opportunity of not only showcasing their talent but also enhancing their work. We could look at some of the key players today in the market. They are;

o Architect Hafeez Contractor
o Archkons
o Sanson Sen and Associates (P) Ltd.
o Span Consultants Private Limited
o C. P. Kukreja Associates
o Prem Nath & Associates
o Semac Private Limited
o OCI Architects and
o Among Others

For real estate events, architect awards, indian real estate awards [http://www.realindiafest.com] visit [http://www.realindiafest.com]

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Golden Triangle Tour - The Elite Indian Mix of Culture and Architecture

2013-11-26T15:31:00.000-08:00

India, the land of great and magnificent historic past, the varied beautiful cultures that boasts its own mystical significance in the diverse and traditional lives of people and the rich and authentic architectural beauty that dates back to the great historic past are some unique features of beautiful land of Incredible India.

The Indian Tourism gives a delightful platform to the tourists all around the world to explore the India's splendid beauty and its chiseled features with the striking and the most affordable Golden Triangle tour package.

The Golden Triangle tour is the most fascinating Indian tour, which takes the tourists to the most striking places of the India and leaves them completely awestruck with the absolute wonders of the country. By choosing the Golden Triangle tour, one gets to explore all basic elements of the Indian tourism that keeps on attracting tourists from across the globe.

Golden Triangle India is an immense tour which comprises of the three major cities of India named Delhi, Agra and Jaipur that offer the fascinating history, architectural glory, rich art and craft and royal romantic tales.

The Golden Triangle tour can be classified under below mentioned categories that precisely explain the importance of India.

Historical Significances: India has been a significant eye witness to the most influencing and powerful historic events in the past. Being the major city of India, Delhi is the witness to the various rising and falling empires that used to rule Delhi in ancient and medieval periods. The huge significant historic pasts truly reflects in its forts, palaces named as Red Fort, Jama Masjid, India Gate, Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb.

Agra also contributes to the rich heritage history of India in the form of Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Tomb of Akbar. Jaipur, the pink city of Rajasthan comprises of Hawa Mahal, which is one of the most striking structures in Jaipur, Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort and Albert Hall Museum, which adds to its pristine and royal beauty.

Vibrant Cultures and Traditions: India is truly reflected in its rich heritage cultures and customs which are the most prominent part of the royal India. Delhi is the city of varied, rich and colorful cultures that adds to the beauty of this place. The rich festivals of different traditional believe, their diverse cuisines, the different mannerism to conduct, multilingual people which combines the cultural heritage of Delhi.

To have the real taste of Indian culture during the Golden Triangle Tour, you must wait to arrive in Jaipur as folk dances to pottery and variety of painting forms like silk painting, cotton painting and gem stone painting makes the city a true representative of Indian culture. The colorful bazaars all over the city justify its name as the pink city of India while representing its rich and vibrant traditional cultures and highly traditional people.

Agra is one of the prominent cities of the entire Golden Triangle Tour, which is truly influenced by the Brij region in Uttar Pradesh. The Brij culture in Agra is so impactful that the people get greatly enhanced as soon as they enter the city. The cuisine, the dresses and the languages are greatly influenced by the traditional Brij culture.

To explore the incredible India, the most preferred tour package that serves the purpose is golden triangle tour package. Book this package at the most affordable price to make your journey entertaining and magnificent.

Explore the incredible land of India with the most suitable Golden Triangle Tour. Get all the information about Golden Triangle Package at GoldenTriangleTours.co, a product of eminent tour operator TourMyIndia.com

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India's Art and Architecture

2013-11-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

India is destination of people world over for its varied cultural heritage with special interests in its art, architecture and entertainment.

From the caves of Kujraho to the magnificent Taj, the Indian architecture has always been eyed and greatly appreciated. Indian art has been depicted in such profound architecture. The symmetry in the architecture at the Taj Mahal or the appreciation of the recently built Akshardham Temple has attracted the attention of all across the world.

Today, the visitors are not only concentrated to the long ago built structures. Indian art is also depicted in the modernization of the society. It can also be called as adopting the westernization for the good! The buildings of enterprises, malls, shopping centers, metro rail also attract a lot of tourist attention.

As the years pass, India's outlook to the art has changed. There are shows of Indian performers outside India as well. Indian singers, classical and folk performers and painters are a great demand of the west.

Indian cultural dresses are also hitting the foreign markets. Gone are the times when Indian traditionals were restricted to Indian market places!

Foreign designers are adopting Indian styles into their designer wear. Indian designers have also formed a niche for themselves into the international fashion market. Indian designers also showcase their talent in the international fashion week and such programs of great acclaim. India has already made a mark in the world business but still has a long way to go!!

Apart from a varied variety of things India is famous for, entertainment and precisely bollywood, has gathered a lot of international acclaim lately. Movie stars are being invited into Hollywood movies, international game shows, international award ceremonies etc.

Indian movies, now-a-days have different screenings for the countrymen and abroad. With the trend of cross over movies bollywood has gained more recognition because such movies are not only made in English, for a wider audience but also cater to intellectually strong subjects. This doesn't mean that the essence of Indian movies has lost to such artful movies. Indian movies are liked for their storylines and songs. Indian movies are also being short listed for the Oscars, which are the most prestigious international awards.

Not only bollywood movies, but also regional movies have come of age. Recently there is a buzz that Spiderman- the movie would be made in Bhojpuri.

This infers to a handshake of India and the world. Not only is the world accepting Indian movies with open arms, but Indians too are ready to accept the international movies with their format of lesser duration and no songs as compared to typical Indian movies.

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Top 5 Art and Architecture Destination in India

2013-11-24T10:05:00.000-08:00

From lotus temple in Delhi to wondrous Taj in Agra and marvelous sculptures & painting at Elephanta Island, India has a great number of destinations which entice architecture-lovers from far corners of globe. Here's my list of India's top 5 places to admire artistic creations. The list, however, has not been endorsed by any magazine or survey.

Agra: It may seem obvious, but it's not without a reason why Agra in state of Uttar Pradesh tops my list of places for art-lovers. Home to Taj Mahal: one of Seven Wonders of World, Agra is India's most talked-about tourist place. Taj Mahal, with its unique blend of Persian, Islamic and Indian architecture styles, is one of the most attention-grabbing manmade monuments on this earth. Amazing work of stone-cutting, carvings, paintings and calligraphy on white marvels leave all the visitors stunned. Even the domes & structures alongside the main complex add to the architectural beauty of this wonder. Beyond the Taj, visitors can experience flawless Mughal architecture at Red Fort. Fatehpur Shikri and other ancient buildings in the city are also worth exploring.

Delhi: Nothing beats a Delhi trip if you're the one inclined towards arts & cultures. One of the oldest cities in the world has turned to be a vibrant metropolis in India, but its age-old architectures & grand history still has a charismatic charm and never fails to impress architecture-admirers. The city has a long list of historical monuments with many of them designated as UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. From forts to monuments to religious sites, the city is like a museum of master architecture work. Mammoth Red Fort, towering Qutub Minar, impressive structure of Rasatrapati Bhawan and unique design of Lotos temple is sure to leave folks breathless. You can visit to Akashrdham Temple to view amazing carving & paint work of modern artisans.

Ajanta-Allora Caves: Stunning structures made by rock-cutting, Ajanta Caves hold an immense collection of sculptures and artworks pertaining to great Bhuddhist religion. This includes some famous paintings too, which remind us of Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanks. As old as 2nd century BCE, these cave monuments have been a dream destination for artisans and archeologists. They are a world heritage site by UNESCO and are must-visit tourist spot in Indian state of Maharashtra.

Mahabalipuram: Mahabalipuram is undisputedly the most picturesque town of South India in sense of architectural beauty. Monolithic rock curved temples are the center of attraction, which are architectural masterpieces founded by Pallava kings. Wonderful Dravidain architectures backed with unsurpassable history & spiritualism in Mahabalipuram keep art-lovers and history-admirers flocking the city year-round. There are eight rathas in the town, which are made of rock-cutting and named after five pandawas of Mahabhartha and their wife Drupadi.

Hampi: An amazing cluster of historical ruins here takes visitors to the bygone era of Vijayanagar Empire. A vast, open landscaped and magnificent town in Karnataka state, Hambi is a must-visit place if you wish to explore arts & history of Indian state of Karnataka and its great rulers. The age-old temples in Hampi have their own story and religious significant, which will sure be a delight to comprehend.

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