HISTORIC RECURRENCE IN ARCHITECTURE FROM ANTIQUITY TO REFORMATION

Abstract

History acts as a facilitator in experiencing the past virtually, decoding the myths, troubleshooting the unsolved mysteries, unveiling the souvenirs, revealing the ekistics, etc. Architectural history in particular, explains the extrusion and morphology of built environment and its surroundings with respect to socio, cultural, economical, political, environmental, technological concerns and many more. Success will not come without failure; History of Architecture has initiated and shaped many concepts, construction mechanisms, etc. as a result of various pros and cons in design alternatives, learning from the many inevitable results and hence pioneered us to proceed further towards the next level instead of starting from the evolution. It played an important role in contributing the strategic balance between aesthetics and structural components right from our ancient past. History with its metamorphosis inspired and motivated the designers at various levels, and has become a renewable resource quotient in exploring new configurations based on the then existing examples. It left everyone with extreme knowledge, innovative mathematical implications, strategic construction techniques, creative concepts, etc. that can be made adaptable in contemporary times and resulted in designing prototypical iconic forms. This paper focuses on exemplifying certain contributions from the history and their influence in present-day conceptions. Also, discusses about the technological improvisations with time, and concludes with the anticipation that history never hinders progress and will continue to inspire the future generation architects and engineers hence forth.