hoa3 finals.docx

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMASCOLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

HOA 3

ASIAN ARCHITECTUREFINAL REQUIREMENTS

SUBMITTED BY:

Catalla, Gerard Anton A.

3 AR 3

SUBMITTED TO:

ARCH. RIGUNAY

DATE OF SUBMISSION:

NOVEMBER 13, 2014

Table of Contents

Korean Architecture……………………………………………………………………………………………3

Japanese Architecture………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Tibetan Architecture…………………………………………………………………………………………..9

Burmese Architecture……………………………………………………………………………………….12

Thai Architecture………………………………………………………………………………………………15

Khmer (Cambodia) Architecture……………………………………………………………………….18

Loatan Architecture………………………………………………………………………………………….21

Vietnamese Architecture………………………………………………………………………………….24

Indonesian Architecture……………………………………………………………………………………27

Islamic Architecture………………………………………………………………………………………….31

History of Architecture 3

Korean Architecture


Korean Architecture

Geography o Korea is surrounded by bodies of water like the Amnok River, Duman

River, East China Sea and Sea of Japan. The southern part of korea however have plains while the north have mountainous regions, since the country is surrounded by water, structures used Gidans or raised platforms to protect their structures from water and to prevent the cold air and humidity of the ground to enter their structures. Also, Chinese influence plays a part in Korean architecture since China is close to Korea.

Geologyo Korea is mostly covered with low mountains therefore most of the building

materials are stone and timber. Stone for their platforms and timber for the frames of the structures. Walls however are made from adobe or sometimes all wooden doors.

Climateo Northern regions are cold while the southern region experiences warm

and wet climate. Since Korea is in the temperate zone, they experience the 4 seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall. Winters are extremely cold due to Siberian air flow while the other seasons are generally hot and dry. Because of this, their architecture uses different techniques to control temperature, like the uneven distance of two buildings and the Ondol and Maru

Religiono There are two main religions in Korea, Buddhism and Confucianism.

Because of this, many temples were created to honor these religions like the Bunhwangsa Temple and Bulguska Temple. Also they used Dancheong to paint walls with symbols of the religions like Buddha and etc. Religion played a big role to the development of temples and Korean pagodas.

Historical/Social/Politicalo Korean history is greatly influenced by different dynasties who had

different views in religion and also neighboring country of China. Because of this, they adapted many styles from them like hipped roofs, pagodas and etc.


Japanese Architecture


Japanese Architecture

Geographyo Japan, like the Philippines consists of many islands. Because japan is an

island, it is surrounded by bodies of water. Japan is also inside the pacific ring of fire which means there are lots of earthquakes and typhoons. Some of the neighboring countries around japan are china, Russia and korea because of these, they influence Japanese architecture to the way it is.

Geologyo Japan is mostly a mountainous country, 80% of its land mass is coverd by

forests and wild vegetation. Because of this, most of the building materials used in their architecture are bamboo, stone and granite.

Climateo Since japan is in the temperate area of the world, they also experience the

4 seasons. Winter in some of the cities of japan, is mild while their summers are hot and dry. However the northern parts of japan experience colder winters and heavy snowfall. Because of this climate the houses they build mostly face the south for heat. They also build high walls in the northern parts of courtyards to protect them from the cold winter breeze.

Religiono There are many religions in japan, Confucianism, Christianity, Shinto and

Buddhism. These all play a role in the development of Japanese architecture as seen by their different temples like the hase kannon temple and sensoji temple. Buddhism also played a role in the development of one of the Japanese roof designs.

Social/ Historical/ Politicalo Japan has a rich history dating back to jomon period of 300BC in which

they developed their architecture. It can be seen that some external forces also influenced their architecture like Chinese architecture since they are neighboring countries. During the Heian period, Hidden roofs were invented stemming from Buddhist influence from china and korea.


Tibetan Architecture


Tibetan Architecture

Geographyo Tibet unlike Japan and Korea is not surrounded by water; this means that

Tibet is surrounded by different landmasses mainly India, Nepal, Bhutan and China. Because of this, the surrounding countries affected the type of architecture that Tibet had. Tibet is also called the roof of the world because it is on the highest plateau in the world which means it’s a mountainous country this too plays a part on their architecture.

Geologyo Tibet is a very mountainous region with a lot of lakes and rivers because

of this the building materials that they used were mostly stone, clay and wood. They usually used granite for the walls, slate for canopies and different kinds of wood for structural support.

Climateo Since Tibet has a very high altitude, Tibet has a very cold climate.

Because of this, architecture was greatly affected. Like Japanese structures, Tibetan structures are oriented to the south in order to receive maximum daylight and heat. Most of the structures also used flat roofs in order to entrap heat. Walls are also thick and inclined 10 degrees in order to entrap heat and at the same time provide as protection from earthquakes.

Religiono Buddhism is the main religion in Tibet because of the influence coming

from India. Because of the great influence of Buddhism, some ornamentation was used on structures in Tibet. An example of this is the Lung-ta, these prayer flags are hung across the mountain ridges and along eaves of roofs. The different colors represented different elements in the world like fire, air and water.

Historical/ Social/ Politicalo Tibetan culture is expressed through craftsmanship, art, wood carvings

and the like. It is because carpentry was passed down from different generations kind of like hand me downs to next generations.

o In Tibet’s history it can be seen that architecture slowly grew as time

passed by. The most prominent example of this is the Lhasa Jokhang which is one of the ealiest temples of Tibet which presented many key elements to Tibetan Architecture like Geometric planning and the use of wood and long stones.


Burmese Architecture


Burmese Architecture

Geographyo Burma is the largest country in the mainland of Southeast Asia. The

landmass is mostly made up of lowlands and small mountain ranges. Some of the neighboring countries of Burma are China, India, Laos, Bangladesh and Thailand. Because of this, neighboring countries helped in influencing Burmese architecture.

Geologyo North side of Burma slopes downward to the southern side. Many

precious stones like gold, silver and diamond can be found beneath the surface of Burma. Because of this, the wealth and richness is often reflected on their structures. Their building materials were mostly of brick, sandstone, large timber and plaster.

Climateo Burma has a tropical monsoon kind of weather. They experience heavy

rainfall in the months of May to October and experience extreme heat during the months of March and April. Because of the large landmass, the northern highlands of Burma experience cooler temperatures since they are higher. Because of this climate, Burmese architecture adapted to it. An example is that their houses are six to eight feet above ground to improve ventilation.

Religiono Burma is dominantly a Buddhist country. Buddhism plays a huge role in

their architecture. An example of which is in their traditional Kayin house; where they place their shrine in a westward orientation and should also be attached to the living room. Buddhism beliefs also influenced the roof styles which can be seen through the pyatthat which symbolizes the Buddhist heaven Tayatimsa. Many temples and pagodas were created because of Buddhist influence in the country.

History/ Social/ Politicalo It can be seen in Burmas history that inhabitants have already lived there

for thousands of years. It can also be seen that there were external influences in the development of Burma in the form of India as a neighbor and the British as colonials. It is also said that the mayans used to inhabit Burma. As such, their architecture has been influenced also by these factors.


Thai Architecture


Thai Architecture

Geographyo Thailand is surrounded by different countries like Laos, Burma, Cambodia

and Malaysia. Because of this, the various countries influenced their architecture. For example, khmer influence was the use of sandstone in doors and windows. Also even some Chinese influence which can be seen in the general harmony in Thai architecture.

Geologyo Thailand’s terrain is mostly made up from high mountains; a central plain

and an upland plateau because of this most of the materials that they used are brick, stucco, wood, sandstone, porcelain and glass with wood being heavily used in temple construction.

Climateo Thailand is in the tropical region thus it has a hot and humid climate with

the exception of its flooding season from June to October. Because of its climate, architecture in Thailand was influenced in the form of their structures being on stilts 6 feet above the ground in order to provide ventilation during the hot periods and also serve as protection from the flooding season.

Religiono Majority of the population in Thailand are Buddhist, that’s Buddhism

greatly influences Thai architecture as well. The plans that they make for houses stem from superstitions and religious beliefs. Buddhist influence also helped in their temple design as seen from the many temples and sacred structures they have like the chedi.

Historical/ Social/ Politicalo Social beliefs play a role in Thai Architecture as there are social

hierarchies which indicate zones to classify different social positions. The places where people lived in represented what they are in the hierarchy which means that the higher a person is, the more they have a privacy zone and an upper level in terms of aesthetics.


Khmer Architecture


Khmer (Cambodia) Architecture

Geographyo Cambodia topography is a mix of plains and various mountain ranges that

run throughout the country. It also consists of different kinds of bodies of water like the great lake and the Mekong River which is the 12th longest in the world. It’s surrounding countries are Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam which help in the influence of Khmer Architecture. It can be seen in the character of their architecture which has influences from Indian and Thai architecture. (house on stilts)

Geologyo Since Cambodia has a mountainous region, most of the materials used for

construction were sandstone, for the temples, laterite, for enclosed walls and platforms, and wood which is what most of the structures are made of. Also because of neighboring influences like stated before, bricks and mortar masonry were also used stemming from Indian influences.

Climateo Like Thailand, Cambodia is in the tropical region so it basically has a hot

humid climate. Similarly like Thai architecture, Khmer architecture also uses the stilts on houses to for ventilation purposes because of the hot climate.

Religiono Most of the population of Cambodia is also Buddhist. There are also some

who are Christians and Hindus. Because of the vast amount of Buddhists in Cambodia, it is said that there are around 4,400 monastery temples throughout the country thus proving that religion played a big role in their architecture. But Cambodia does not only boast a large amount of Buddhist temples but also houses the biggest Hindu temple which is Angkor Wat. Because of these influences temples follow specific orientation towards the true east.

Historical/ Social/ Politicalo Based from the history of Cambodia, the first kingdom of Cambodia, the

Funan Kingdom was greatly influenced by Indian culture, where Buddhism comes from. That is why the influence of Buddhism is strong in Cambodia because it started from the beginning thus having great effect in the present and in the architecture of Cambodia


Loatian Architecture


Laotian Architecture

Geographyo Laos is the only landlocked nation in Southeast Asia therefore it is

surrounded by different countries such as China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma. The topography in Laos is mountainous with some plains and plateaus. Like Cambodia, the Mekong River runs through Laos. Because of the various neighboring countries and geography of the country Loatian architecture is pretty similar to that of Cambodia and Thailand.

Geologyo Because of the topography of the country, the building materials mainly

used for structures are often timber in the form of bamboo. However Laos is rich in precious stones like gold, silver, copper and iron and also minerals like sapphire, gypsum, coal and more.

Climateo The climate in Laos is pretty much the same as of Cambodia since they

are in the same tropical region, which is mostly dry and humid. The rainy season occurs from May to October and the dry from November to April. Because most of the people live near the Mekong River houses are also on stilts similar to neighboring countries as forms of protection from the flood and doubling as a coolant during the hot season.

Religiono Buddhism is also widespread in Laos just like its neighboring countries.

Because of this, Buddhism plays a role in Laotian Architecture especially in their temples. This can be seen in their Wats, which are Buddhist temples which are made from brick and stucco with high roofs because of Buddhist doctrines. They also have their own stupas called thats which have a distinct curvilinear four-corned shape which symbolizes the lotus.

Historical/ Social/ Politicalo It is said that the French empire took over laos for a brief period in time.

That it is why it can be seen in their architecture there is some French colonial influence as well as a mix between Thai and Buddhist architecture because of its geographical location.


Vietnamese Architecture


Vietnamese Architecture

Geographyo Vietnam is surrounded by a mix of landmass and bodies of water like

South China Sea, Pacific Ocean and for the land, Laos, Cambodia and china. The topography in Vietnam has a mountainous terrain with a few plains near the south. Because of this influences from other countries especially china play a role in Vietnamese architecture since they are neighbors. Example of which is the use of feng shui for construtction and the roofs with elevated hip rafters which is a distinct characteristic of Chinese architecture.

Geologyo Because of the mountainous terrain of Vietnam the building materials they

used were mostly bamboo, thatch, brick, stone, tile, terracotta and lime with the chief building material for construction as wood and the main material for royal and religious buildings are stone and brick.

Climateo Vietnam is in the tropical region of countries thus experiencing warm and

humid weather throughout the year. Because of this, their architecture adapted to the climate which we can see in their vernacular Vietnamese architecture which used massive wooden framework rather than the lightweight stilt method used by its neighboring countries. Also because of the climate the backs of houses, which face the north, have no windows and doors to serve as protection from the cold winds.

Religiono There are a lot of religions in Vietnam like Catholicism, Confucianism,

Buddhism, Cao, Dai, Hoa Hao, Islam and more. The vast number of religions had an effect on Vietnamese architecture especially on temple and pagoda planning. For example there are specific Buddhist plans and also specific Taoist plans, with the former coming from Chinese influence as well. Their influences can be seen in how the design their religious structures like the Chua Keo Pagoda and the Dinh Temple.

Historical/ Social/ Politicalo In the history of Vietnam, it is said that in the beginning, around 400 AD,

Vietnam was a part of china. Because of this, the great influence of china could not only be seen in their culture but prominently in their architecture. After their departure from china, Vietnam was ruled by France thus there is also a French influence in their architecture in the form of their colonial buildings like the Opera House in Hanoi and different palaces. Until now the French colonial style still influence their modern architecture.


Indonesian Architecture


Indonesian Architecture

Geographyo Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago which has 13,677 islands.

Some of the neighboring countries near Indonesia are Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, timor-leste, Palau, and the Philippines. Because of its vast land, the effect on its architecture is that their traditional houses have different styles of design.

Geologyo Indonesia’s land is the meeting point of several tectonic plates meaning

that they experience very strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Because of this, the building materials that they used were mostly bamboo because of its strength to last during storms and powerful earthquakes. Some other materials they used were andesite stones for their temples, bricks with mortar for their gates and thatch and fibers for the Rumah Adat.

Climateo Because Indonesia is such a big country, their climate and even time zone

differ from each other. Indonesia experiences a hot and wet monsoon climate; the north western side being much colder than the south east side. Because of this climate in the north east side, their architecture is more about conserving heat because of the coldness through insulation means. The south eastern side, being relatively close to Australia, has a hot and dry climate. Because of this, architecture in this area takes into more consideration the ventilation of a building and the use of lighter materials so that their structures can breathe more. An example is that their buildings are mostly on large stilts to provide for ventilation just like Cambodia and Thailand structures.

Religiono Hinduism was the most prominent religion in Indonesia during their

beginnings; however, as time passed by, they slowly transitioned from a Hindu country to an Islamic country. Since Indonesia transitioned from Hinduism to Islamic, the architecture with regards to religion became a mix of mostly these religions. They developed different architectural styles because of these like the Candi Architecture and the Balinese Architecture which were inspired by religious sources.

Historical/ Social/ Politicalo Indonesia was conquered by the Dutch around the 16th to 17th century thus

opening Indonesia to colonial architecture. However after their independence, they drifted away from the old colonial style and leaned


towards the Jenki style which introduces expression of freedom through having irregular forms in structures.

o A social factor also affected the architecture in Indonesia. Sort of like the

caste system in Indian times, the Indonesians had different classes which were separated by their language levels and their titles. It affected their architecture because being higher in the class means the design and the decorations of the houses are more extravagant and different than the lower bracket.


Islamic Architecture


Islamic Architecture

Geographyo The Islam religion covers a vast amount of land ranging from northern

Africa until Southeast Asia. This affects Islamic architecture because since the coverage is large, different styles of Islamic Architecture were created due to the location of specific countries.

Geologyo Since the Islamic religion is widespread throughout the world it did not

only affect the style of their architecture, but also the materials for construction that the people used. The most common materials were stone, bricks, ceramics, stucco, wood and marble.

Climateo As stated above, Islam covers different parts of the world thus they have

their own climates. This affected their architecture because their style of design of mosques or Islamic structures would have to adapt to the climate of the certain area. Thus having a variety of design styles.

Religiono Obviously religion plays a major role in Islamic architecture since there

would not be Islamic architecture without the religion of Islam. But the main factors that affect the design of structures religion wise were the beliefs of the Muslims. For example, the orientation of their buildings should face Mecca and the way they ornate their structures using patters.

Historical/Social/Politicalo Social factors like the kind of culture and people who are there affect

Islamic architecture because specific cultures also contribute to the designing of structures. For example, in Persian style of Islamic Architecture, most of the motifs for the designs come from Persian influence since the culture there is like that.


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