Architectural Style: Types, Features, and Examples

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Venture into the wide domain of Architectural Styles to discover what makes them and find out how they influence contemporary architectural designs.

 

The field of architecture is very broad when it pertains to Architectural Styles. Each style has its own distinctive traits encompassing diverse cultures. Also, each style reflects its own artistic appearance and social influence.

Capturing a style in its entirety and in its true potential is now possible because of architectural 3D rendering technology. This technology, with its visualization and other capabilities, has completely revolutionized the way features of a style are captured in three dimensions.

Let's start our discussion by understanding what these styles refer to in the architectural world.

Architectural Styles - Defining the Term

A style depicts a unique set of design elements. This design demonstrates a specific time period, region, and culture. In other words, a style will encompass everything from the shape, form, and materials used in construction. Besides that, the development of a style is influenced by cultural traditions, as well as utilizing advanced 3D technology.

Architectural 3D Rendering Technology - The Game Changer

The architecture industry has been completely taken over by 3D technology. They offer a profusion of features, among which Architectural Visualization Services stands out the most. These services will enable architects to visualize a style before its tangible application. Hence, enabling them to explore every nook and corner. Professional 3D renderers and the digital visualization platforms they use can provide the truest depiction of an entire style in a virtual environment. The platforms that make visualization possible are:

 

  • 3Ds Max

  • Unreal Engine

  • AutoCAD

  • Maya

  • Lumion

  • Corona

  • Enscape

  • SketchUp

  • Autodesk Revit

  • V-Ray

Why a Competent 3D Renderer Matters?

First, know that without 3D visualization technology, capturing the true essence of a style can be highly difficult. It would not only be more time-consuming, but on top of that, doing even a minor revision would be labour intensive.

 

Thus, having an expert 3D renderer can help a great deal. A competent 3D Rendering Company would apply all the right techniques and technology to realistically portray a client's vision for any particular style.

 

And, for your rendering needs, you must go with SMA Archviz. They also have expert 3D renderers with whom they can offer you a customized solution for your architectural project.

Now, it will be interesting to examine popular architectural styles, as well as their details.

Top Architectural Styles

  1. Medieval Style

This style category consists of the following:

  • Romanesque

This is a European style that offers a solid fortress-like appearance with a dark ambiance for the interior.

Key Features

  • This style is designed and constructed with huge stones

  • This style includes semicircular arches

  • Also, the walls in this style are thick with small windows

Examples

  • Durham Cathedral in England

  • Pisa Cathedral in Italy.

 

  • Gothic

This style is more oriented towards verticality and lighting in terms of design. Unlike Romanesque, this style of architecture is taller with larger windows.

Key Features

  • This style occupies ribbed vaults, pointed arches with glass windows.

  • The walls in this style are slimmer with massive windows that allow more light for the interior

Example

  • Notre-Dame de Paris

  • Westminster Abbey

 

  • Renaissance

This style focuses on the notion of "calculated precision" together with symmetry and proportion.

Key Features

  • This style offers balanced composition, along with domes, columns, and rounded arches.

  • Renaissance architecture portrays geometrical forms oriented to central planning.

 

• Baroque

This style demonstrates a dramatic evolution of Renaissance architecture. The two major traits of this style are grandeur and dynamic effects.

Key Features

  • This style consists of curved facades, massive staircases with glided interiors and twisted columns.

  • It employs dramatic lighting effects contrasted with each other.

  • It also consists of sculptors, painters, and intricate designs in the interior part of a building.

Example

  • The Palace of Versailles in France

  • Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome

 

  • Neoclassical

The absolute opposite of baroque style, and represents classical simplicity.

Key Features

  • It includes free-standing columns with simple geometrical forms

  • It has symmetrical architecture with minimal decoration

Example

  • Capital of the United States

  • The White House in the United States 

 

  1. Modern Architecture

This architecture is comprised of the following styles:

  • Art Deco

This style in architecture meets the objective of both functionality and elegance. It offers sleekness and involves decorative details, especially around windows and doors

Key Features

  • This style consists of bold geometrical shapes

  • Rich hues and colors with dramatic ornamentation

Example

  • The Empire State Building in New York

  • Palais de Tokyo in Paris

 

  • Brutalist Architecture

The aim of this style solely lies in functionality because this architecture mainly consists of concrete and steel for its architecture.

Key Features

  • It is of a fortress-like architectural design.

  • The surfaces are raw and exposed, with unfinished looks.

Example

  • The Barbican Centre in London

 

  • Postmodern

This style comprises a mixture of excessive colors, decorations, and historical elements with a creative design approach.

Key Features

  • It offers an extensive range of styles

  • It consists of immersive decorations, which involve color schemes, historic elements, etc.

Example

  • Philip Johnson's AT&T Building

  1. Contemporary Architecture

This architectural style approach is being adopted in the current architectural buildings. Advanced 3D rendering tools are utilized to work on complex geometrical shapes that were impossible in the past.

In addition to that, this style is completely driven by technological innovation, thus promoting design exploration.

This style consists of parametric design with seamless transitions that emphasize digitally fabricated methods.

Example

  • Beijing National Stadium

  • The Shard in London

End Note

Architectural Styles are always developing, and this is only made feasible by the advancement in 3D technology. Current scenarios show that there are many novel buildings constructed in a creative and highly original fashion, and this is a result of the usage of 3D visualization technology. To understand how these styles have evolved, read this article. It provides information regarding the most commonly applied styles throughout.

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