Monumental Architecture Research Articles (Page 1)

There is growing recognition that societies without prominent hierarchies could build large constructions. Scholars are debating what motivated many people to participate in these construction projects. We investigated the site of Aguada Fénix, Mexico, which features the oldest and largest monumental architecture in the Maya area. Using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and excavations, we documented a site plan composed of nested cross forms built between 1050 and 700 BCE. Its center was marked by a large cruciform cache containing the earliest known directional color symbols in Mesoamerica. The overall pattern consisted of 9- and 7.5-kilometer-long axes delineated by canals and corridors. The builders constructed canals, measuring up to 35 meters wide and 5 meters deep, and a dam to supply them with lake water. Although the canals appear unfinished, this site plan exceeded or rivaled the extents of later Mesoamerican cities. Aguada Fénix was probably designed as a cosmogram, which likely attracted people from a broad area.

Problem statement. USUST ESI “PSACEA” is one of the leading institutions in Ukraine for training specialists in the construction industry. In addition to its educational activities, the institution is actively engaged in innovation, educational initiatives, and scientific research. Within the framework of the scientific and technical project “Chemical and Structural Design of New Functional Materials”, specialized equipment was acquired for the 3D scanning of buildings, architectural monuments, historical structures, sculptures, art objects, building interiors, and more. The 3D scanning method enables the rapid acquisition of a three-dimensional digital model of a building, which can subsequently be used for restoration, reconstruction, or preservation purposes. The aim of this article and the objectives of the study are to scan the existing building of Lyceum no. 15 using a Leica BLK360 laser 3D scanner and to develop the first 3D model of an educational institution of this kind in the region. Further processing of the collected data will help address three main objectives: 1) For the team of specialists and students of USUST ESI “PSACEA” – to determine the amount of time required for scanning, assembling, processing, and analyzing the data, in order to plan future similar projects more efficiently. 2) For the students and teachers of the lyceum – to become familiar with cutting-edge, innovative global trends in 3D scanning and construction technologies. 3) For the lyceum administration – to receive a ready-to-use 3D model of the educational institution, which can be used in teaching senior students, and for the administrative and maintenance department to obtain detailed drawings to support repairs, restoration, or reconstruction of the Lyceum No. 15 building. Conclusion. The team of specialists and students from USUST ESI “PSACEA” gained valuable practical experience working with the Leica BLK360 portable laser 3D scanner. They identified the specific challenges associated with scanning an operational educational facility, addressed various software-related issues, and established a workflow and estimated timeline for data acquisition and processing.

Contemporary theoretical and methodological models for the restoration of architectural heritage sites are typically based on specialized scientific principles. These principles define historicity, the maximum objectivity in recovering the original state, the preservation of authenticity, the assessment of the value of all stages of the asset's life cycle, among others. This article examines a novel approach to the content and principles for developing and practically implementing architectural heritage restoration programs within an urban context. This approach is founded on the overarching paradigm of conserving and developing the socio-techno-biosphere of the modern city. It is demonstrated that the successful advancement of urban renewal and environmental programs and projects, including the restoration and reconstruction of architectural monuments, is critically dependent on establishing effective implementation mechanisms. These mechanisms are based on a fundamentally new method: a unified urban planning approach to organizing the city's spatial structure. From a practical standpoint, as illustrated by the case study of the reconstruction and restoration of a Constructivist-era cinema building from the 1920s-1930s, this integrated strategy enables addressing restoration challenges within a unified context. This encompasses preserving the historical value of assets for future generations, safeguarding national architectural identity, enhancing the quality of the urban environment and human potential, and leveraging the educational aspect of studying urban history and cultural heritage.

This paper explores the profound relationship between beauty and self-transcendent emotions (STEs), such as elevation, awe, compassion, gratitude, humility, and spirituality. It posits that beauty, particularly moral beauty, serves as a primary elicitor of these emotions, fostering both individual and collective well-being through prosocial and altruistic behaviors. The study examines how moral beauty, alongside natural and artistic beauty, activates similar neural processes, notably in the medial prefrontal cortex, and correlates strongly with STEs. Elevation is highlighted as a key STE triggered by moral beauty, inspiring a desire to improve oneself and serve others, while awe, often elicited by vast stimuli, also arises from moral acts, promoting prosociality. Compassion, gratitude, and humility are similarly linked to beauty, with moral beauty playing a central role in their arousal, enhancing community well-being. The paper also connects beauty with spirituality, suggesting that spiritual transcendence overlaps with moral and natural beauty appreciation, potentially amplified by awe-inspiring monumental architecture. The findings underscore the role of beauty, especially moral beauty, as a catalyst for STEs, which drive kindness and human flourishing. The paper calls for further empirical research into the spiritually transformative potential of beauty, particularly through moral exemplars and sacred architecture.

INTRODUCTION. The work is aimed at studying the mechanisms of constructing modern urban identity through the prism of the interaction of material and digital semiotic systems. The research is aimed at applying Lotman’s methodology to analyze the role of semiotic urban codes of Rostovon- Don in the formation of its media image in the digital age. A system tool (table) is proposed for analyzing the interaction of historical and modern urban codes in the media space.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The semiotic approach of Yu.M. Lotman is applied, with the help of which the city is presented as a “dynamic semiosphere”, where conflict and hybridization of codes form new levels of representation of urban space. Using the materials of the urban media of Rostov-on-Don as an example, the article analyzes how historical and modern urban codes interact and transform in the media space today.RESULTS OF THE STUDY. A systematic approach to identifying the specifics of historical and modern urban codes that shape the rethinking of urban identity is presented. The study showed that the semiosphere of the city is structured through the dialectical interaction of historical and modern codes, where the former (architectural monuments, traditional practices, linguistic markers) serve as stabilizing elements of the cultural landscape, and the latter (modern architectural complexes, digital communications, new economic models) act as dynamic factors of transformation.CONCLUSION. The study demonstrated that media reality does not just reflect the city, but becomes an instrument of government, communities and individual users in the struggle for the meanings of the urban environment. The work contributes to the discussion on the transformation of urban semiotics in the context of digitalization and provides a methodological framework for analyzing similar processes in other post-Soviet cities.

The ancient city of Nadroma is considered one of the well-known cities among the cities of the Islamic Maghreb in the past. It was preferred by the sultans to live in. It had a special place among the Zayani sultans, as Yahya bin Khaldoun mentioned that Sultan Othman ibn Yaghmurasen was deeply saddened by its occupation by the Marinid Sultan Abi Yahya, the brother of Sultan Yusuf. Abu Yaqoub Al-Marini, then was soon recovered by the Zayanis, leaving behind a good number of archaeological evidence, in addition to what the Turks left after them. From this stand point, we decided to present this research paper as an extensive reading of the ancient Islamic architectural monuments in the city of Nadroma and it came in the nature of the diversity between what is religious, civil and military, similar to the Islamic cities that shared time and space with them, and we deliberately mentioned examples of each character, in order to fulfill the right of the subject, and make this research paper as an identification card for the richness of the city of the exploits of the current and subsequent generations. Keywords: Nedroma, The Great Mosque, The Qaddarin Mosque, The Sultan’s Castle, The Shrines.

This study analyzes the cultural heritage of Islamic civilization in Persia during Shah Abbas I’ reign (1588-1629 CE), focusing on the interplay between political power, religious identity, and cultural expression. Using a historical research method (heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography), and an interdisciplinary lens, the study addresses gaps in the literature by combining art historical, political, and social perspectives. The results show that monumental architecture (Imam Mosque, Meidan Emam), textile arts, and economic policies were not only artistic achievement but also tools for legitimizing Safavid rule and reinforcing Shia identity. Isfahan, as the capital, exemplified integration between religion, economy, and culture, supporting the dynasty’s political stability. This cultural legacy later shaped modern Iranian national identity. This research contributes to the dynamic understanding of Islamic civilization and the relevance of cultural heritage in the contemporary context. The implications of this research encourage the preservation of cultural heritage as an instrument of diplomacy and inclusive history education. The study's originality lies in its holistic approach combining material and non-material analysis, distinguishing it from previous partial studies.

ABSTRACT We examine here evidence for human occupation along the northern and eastern Gulf of Mexico during the middle to late Holocene transition (MH-LHT). It has been assumed that people ignored coastal zones before the late Holocene, due to coastal instability and an alleged lack of ecological resources. Only stable coastlines, it is argued, could support sufficiently abundant resources to attract higher populations who in turn shifted to sedentary settlements, elaboration of cultural identities, and even monumental architecture. An additional variable is the allegedly poorer ecological contexts on the inland coastal plain. However, such assumptions much be tested. There is increasing evidence for coastal resource use within older middle Holocene coastal zones still subject to marine transgression and continuing ecological change. We examine here a large database of sites derived from the Digital Index of North American Archaeology (DINAA) within the northern and eastern Gulf of Mexico coastal plain and find no statistically significant evidence that populations migrated to the coastlines during the MH-LHT and only weak statistical evidence that ecological conditions played a role in demographic distributions. Instead, persistent use of the coastline appears to have been the case, while ecological indicators suggest complex human relationships with evolving MH-LHT ecosystems.

One of the largest fortresses in the world, located in Smolensk, is in the line of textbook works of Russian architecture. Over the centuries, the architectural monument has been consistently regarded as a phenomenon of history, culture, architecture, urban planning and so on. At the same time, the theme of architectural graphics related to the fortress has not been subjected to special analysis. The material is devoted to the transformation of the graphic language on the example of 18th-20th century drawings of the Smolensk fortress wall and to the definition of the peculiarities of development. The task of comprehending the shift in priorities in the conservation of the fortress through the analysis of architectural graphics is addressed.

The architectural features of presidential centers are examined with the aim of subsequently developing a design model for such facilities, addressing the following issues: memorial, multifunctional, and monumental architecture in buildings dedicated to heads of state; and actualization of architectural structures named after heads of state. Key classification criteria are suggested for presidential centers. The chronologies of the presidential centers in the United States and the CIS countries are reviewed; the design and construction features of the presidential centers are identified; a model demonstrating design options for all presidential centers in the US and the CIS countries is proposed.

The course «Reconstruction and Restoration of Architectural Heritage» requires students to do comprehensive work on a project, which is not always possible in the current teaching process. A project-based approach to student teaching and learning in this course was tested using the creation of a digital twin of the cultural heritage object «Zilantov Monastery» in Kazan in order to evaluate how useful this approach is in the training of restoration architects. The results of the study suggest that a project-based approach has a significant potential for teaching students specializing in the reconstruction and restoration of cultural heritage sites.

Abstract The article includes a detailed analysis of a selected lighthouses located on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea, focusing on issues related to cultural heritage and value protection. The study includes an analysis of the history, architecture and contemporary functions of lighthouses using the example of the facilities located on Cape Rozewie. The article focuses on the tangible values of lighthouses, which are architectural monuments, preserved items and elements of technical heritage, as well as on the intangible aspects, including the service of lighthouse keepers, the traditions associated with it, and the symbolism of the objects. In addition, the key role of lighthouses in the development of regional tourism is highlighted, and the problem of transformation of objects into consumer products is presented. An additional purpose of the article is to assess the level of awareness of respondents about the complex value of the cultural heritage of lighthouses and the changes in the meaning of objects occurring today.

The palmette, a representation of the sacred tree, was a prevalent motif in the southern Levant, often associated with divinity and royal authority. Its earliest attestations in Iron Age Judah date to the late 9th century BCE. The motif became increasingly prominent during the 8th–7th centuries BCE, appearing on monumental architecture and ivory carvings. This paper reassesses previously published artefacts to explore the palmette’s evolution in Judah, focusing on the influence of Assyrian imperial encounters. It argues that interactions between the Judahite elite and the Assyrian Empire reshaped the meaning and function of local symbols, leading to the adoption of the palmette as a marker of royal power. The study suggests a further transformation amid shifting political and ideological conditions, reflecting internal struggles. By analysing archaeological and artistic evidence, this paper situates the palmette within the broader geopolitical and cultural transformation of Iron Age Judah.

The preservation of the Armenian architectural heritage of Artsakh in the 21st century faces significant challenges, primarily stemming from armed conflicts and ethnocultural and religious intolerance. The wars initiated by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia, beyond territorial conquest, aim to erase Armenian identity, history, and cultural landscape systematically. Architectural monuments, as tangible evidence of historical Armenian presence in these territories, stand as a cultural obstacle to this agenda. The deliberate destruction of Armenian cultural values and historical and cultural heritage exemplifies Azerbaijan’s long-standing policy of cultural genocide. For over a century, even during peacetime, Armenian Christian heritage in regions such as Nakhichevan and Nagorno-Karabakh has suffered irreversible losses. This destruction continues today at an even larger scale, particularly following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The article presents the vandal actions of Azerbaijan, which began at the time of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1991-1994) and continue to this day, which are carried out against Armenian Christian monuments (Holy All Savior Ghazanchetsots Church and St. Hovhannes Mkrtich Church (St. John the Baptist), or Kanach Zham (Green Church), in Shushi, Gandzasar, Dadivank, Amaras, the monastery complexes of Yegnasar, churches of Tsitsernavank, Vankasar, Tsaghkavank, and many, many others). These actions unfold through various forms, including physical destruction, appropriation, disfigurement, desecration, and changing the primary function of tangible heritage. The principles of authenticity, integrity, and the importance of safeguarding the Armenian historical legacy in the international system for the preservation of the Christian heritage of Artsakh are revealed. Initiatives aimed at preserving the medieval heritage of the region were noted.

Many buildings were built in Yerevan with bricks. The specifics of brickwork, residential buildings, architecture, and building art in Yerevan have become the subject of the article. Especially, the characteristics of Iranian architecture are observed in the architecture of residential houses in Yerevan. The building material is mainly brick, and the front decoration of the buildings is carried out through the decorative brick masonry, which is more typical of Iranian architecture, with unique solutions of the decoration elements and wooden balconies. This combination points to the skill of Armenian architects and masters. This research aims to gather and maintain accurate information about brick structures, which significantly impacts their preservation. In a GIS environment, it is possible to combine vector and text information. The recommended technology makes it possible to see the location of the object on the map, not only in two dimensions but also in a 3D model. The proposed data processing in the GIS environment, both graphic (vector) data processing and linking of textual data to them, is already carried out. As a result, a complete database is obtained, which can be published for free use as well as serve as a basis for the preparation of maintenance or restoration projects, further monitoring, and analysis.

Architectural monuments are buildings and structures built mainly a hundred or more years ago, when there were no modern norms for new construction objects. The non-compliance of cultural heritage objects with modern norms in many cases proves to be an obstacle to simultaneously preserving its structures authenticity and ensuring mechanical safety, provoking excessive modern intrusion into the structure historical substance. It is noted that monuments can be classified as a separate type of structures based on a number of characteristics, including structural similarity, the presence of accumulated sediments exceeding the limits regulated by modern norms, the operation duration exceeding the service life according to modern norms, construction in a “pre-regulatory” era based on experience passed down from generation to generation. For such a specific type of structure modern norms allow additional requirements to be considered for the purpose of normative and calculated load values, as well as reliability coefficients. Particular attention is paid to determining the reliability coefficient by responsibility, which is related to ensuring the structures mechanical safety depending on the number of visitors in them. It is shown that ensuring acceptable social risk (which is equivalent to ensuring the required reliability) can be achieved not only by strengthening structural elements but also by limiting the number of visitors to individual premises, which is reflected in the value of the reliability coefficient by responsibility. The dependence allowing to determine the value of this coefficient is proposed. This approach makes it possible to preserve the authenticity of the protected structural elements without compromising the architectural monument reliability.

The cities cultural heritage and historical appearance preservation requires the lost or in disrepair architectural monuments restoration. BIM modeling technologies, that allow to create an architectural object detailed digital model, thereby enhancing the structures reconstruction process is one of the most effective tools for solving such problems. Thus, this article, using the example of creating the information model of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church dome in Budimirovo village (Kalyazinsky district, Tver region), demonstrates how the use of foreign and domestic software systems such as Autodesk Revit and Renga optimizes the historical sites reconstruction. Autodesk Revit implements two approaches – with modeling tools for the basic BIM software and its integrated visual programming tool, Dynamo Studio.To objectively assess the effectiveness of the software solutions, a comparative analysis was conducted based on criteria of usability and the final product quality. The research results allow us to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using software packages and select the most practical tool for solving the tasks of reconstructing architectural monuments with a dome structure.

The article examines the history of the construction of the Roman Catholic church in the village of Lazduny, Ivyevsky district, Grodno region, a monument of neo-Romanesque architecture of the early twentieth century. Based on archival documents, the years of construction of the temple are specified, the authorship of the project is established. The name of architect Mikhail Dubovik, the author of the projects of several churches in Belarus, is being introduced into the history of Belarusian architecture. A comparative analysis of the architectural solutions of the churches built according to his designs in Lazduny and in Ikazn (Braslavsky district of Vitebsk region) is carried out.The existing state of the interior of the Lazduny Church is described, including the works of 19th century altarpiece paintings “Holy Trinity” and “The Murder of St. Stanislav”.

The study of historical monuments within both architectural and literary frameworks reveals a dynamic interplay between scientific observation and artistic interpretation—a vital characteristic of travel writing/the travelogue. This approach, exemplified by British traveler and writer Henry Finnis Blosse Lynch (1862–1913), reflects how factual detail and creative representation are seamlessly integrated in depictions of sites, landscapes, and cultural scenes. This case study highlights Lynch as a pioneering explorer who authored the first comprehensive volume on Armenian architecture and as a writer who vividly portrayed Armenian monuments through both verbal description and photographic imagery, becoming the first traveler to document such sites using photography. Additionally, this paper emphasizes the significance of Lynch’s detailed accounts of architectural monuments, churches, monasteries, cities, villages, populations, religious communities, and educational institutions in vivid language. The careful study of his work can contribute meaningfully to the investigation of the travelogue as a literary genre and to the preservation and protection of the architectural heritage of historical and contemporary Armenia, particularly in regions facing cultural or political threats.

This article focuses on ancient and especially early medieval writings obsessed with the idea of being the first and in particular, on the emergence of the medieval Arabic genre of writing called al-awaʾil (the plural of al-awwal, namely the first) in the early days of Islam. It draws attention to this type of knowledge which provides the necessary foundations for arranging and systematising sequences of events – a branch of history usually called protography. As opposed to recent notions of writing on medieval art today, in which the aesthetic of modern art is either discerned as attracted by medieval aesthetic or that medieval and ancient works of art are being praised for their modern aesthetics, this article aims at detecting and recognising the earliest notions of searching for the first and the original in Muslim history. It is accepted that awaʾil literature could have functioned as a source of pride among different communities in the newly established Abbasid Empire, in which each clan could have taken pride in its own first and developed a sense of belonging and distinct identity. Moreover, it is likely that this genre enhanced consciousness about times past, evoked an awareness of the concept of temporal duration, and told apart mythical time from historical time. Yet, this article challenges how this trend in literature might have had its impact on the ways in which monumental architecture was regarded in the early Abbasid period, especially in those specific moments in which awaʾil literature flourished and was enthusiastically studied. Predictably, reflections on the past were evoked when people were confronted by the ruins of the impressive monumental architectural projects of the pre-Islamic periods. Yet, these reflections, as argued in this article, might contribute to the re-thinking of mythical times and clarify the novel megalomanic aesthetic of the early Abbasid period, of which the fragmentally surviving architecture of the city of Samarra bears witness.