Tracing the History of Ancient Roman and American Architecture, by Sophia Anderson

Providing insight to the beliefs, values, and needs of a particular culture, architecture and design prove crucial to better understanding a group of people. The design of different buildings and structures, for instance, must be functional to meet the needs of a community, but the way in which the design accomplishes its goals reveals the values of that community. Originating with ancient Roman civilization as early as 509 BCE, Roman architecture has been developed into its own style that draws influence from earlier cultures while simultaneously impacting many stylistic choices of later designs. Though the Roman Empire may have fractured, the innovative designs and achievements of their time in power have made an astounding impact on modern architecture and design across the globe. With the turn of the 21st century, ancient Roman architecture has remained through both the preservation of Roman structures and governmental buildings in the United States, demonstrating the continuity of historic and cultural relevance that architecture and design have in modern culture.

As Roman architecture formed and acquired its own attributes, the Romans borrowed from the Greeks that had come before them but maintained their own individual traits as well. One unique action of the Romans was their “ready adoption of Hellenistic planning and a daring use of new materials, such as brick and especially concrete” (“Roman Art”). With Hellenistic planning, Roman designers were able to combine classic Greek traditions with their own new innovations, putting a focus on urban planning that led to improved town layouts and military architecture along with more creative ideas. By utilizing new materials such as concrete and brick, the structures created by the Romans had more strength and durability that allowed them to endure many centuries, as evidenced by the Pantheon remaining in Rome. After integrating these new techniques, the Romans capitalized on columns, arches, and domes as trademark advancements of the Roman Empire. Arches, for example, enhanced “Rome’s ability to build massive projects across the empire,” as they redirected weight from the center of a beam to the posts (“Ancient Roman”). As a result, arches enabled a variety of projects to support a heavier infrastructure, allowing for more immense, grand designs, such as the featured aqueduct, to be built. Similarly, the introduction of domes has expanded the potential of large interior spaces, as domes spread out the weight carried by the structure to enhance the durability of wider, more open structures (“Ancient Roman”). Most famously used in the Pantheon, domes are also featured in temples, palaces, and churches alike. Finally, columns are highly symbolic in Roman architecture, representing the power of Rome’s empire as “columns were closely associated with the concept of Triumph and were erected as monuments to honor emperors” in ancient Rome (Staff). Showing the glory and might of the Roman Empire, columns progressed the artistry of ancient Roman architecture whether through stand alone columns such as the Column of Marcus Aurelius or through the structurally vital and intentionally visible columns making up the temples to Roman gods and goddesses. Through each technique of design and unique attribute, Roman architecture has become its own significant style from which many other designs have sought inspiration.

Even as the communities living across Europe have changed, shifting to new civilizations and cultures over the centuries, the architecture of the ancient Roman Empire has remained, to some extent, as many buildings were preserved throughout the years. Through enduring structures such as the Pantheon and the Colosseum, the value of ancient Roman architecture and its impact on modern culture cannot be diminished. The Pantheon, for instance, was built by Marcus Agrippa between 27 BC and 14 AD and was reconstructed by Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD (“Unveiling”).

While the Pantheon originally served as a temple for pagan gods, it was later dedicated to St. Mary and other Christian martyrs, which “ensured its preservation through the centuries, as many other Roman temples fell into ruin” (“Unveiling”). With a new status as a Christian building, the Pantheon was able to escape the plundering and vandalization of other ancient buildings. Not only does the Pantheon’s purpose demonstrate the cultural significance of religion to the people of Italy, but the columns framing the entrance of the Pantheon alongside the dome making up the interior reflects the symbolic attributes of ancient Roman design as they have been preserved. Similarly, the Colosseum’s history and preservation reveal further cultural values that connect ancient Roman architecture to modern groups of people.

With almost a whole decade of construction, emperor Titus dedicated the Colosseum in 80 AD as an amphitheater “where the public could enjoy gladiatorial combats and other forms of entertainment” (“Colosseum”). Housing over 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum allowed audiences to marvel at the gladiator fights while surrounded by grand arches, stone and concrete walls, and Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, as seen in the photo to the right. Though the Colosseum was abandoned in later centuries and used as a quarry site, various popes sought to conserve the stadium beginning in the 18th century (“Colosseum”). Both through their efforts to protect the Colosseum and modern efforts to restore the Colosseum in the 1990s, the Colosseum has triumphed as an architectural marvel, attracting tourists from all over the globe. Just as the Colosseum held cultural value to the ancient Roman Empire, the Colosseum holds significance now to reflect the great achievements of different nations and the inspiration that such a wondrous building emits. Both the Pantheon and the Colosseum, as a result, help tell the story of the transition between cultures and how people have grown as a civilization, switching authority and leadership but upholding the accomplishments of humanity along the way.

In contrast, American architecture and design has focused on more modern elements such as open concept layouts, clean lines lacking decoration, and an emphasis on low, horizontal structures. Within the Modern Era, the modern American architecture development between 1930 and 1970, Louis Sullivan was famous for his philosophy that form follows function. By rejecting ornamental decorations and structural clarity, Sullivan’s architecture, “embodied the value of democracy, the importance of nature, the autonomy of the individual, and the earnest expression of function without extravagance” (“What is”).

In a very American fashion, the lack of concern for decor and particular detail matches the fast-paced spirit of capitalism dominating the American market. Rather than imitating and trying to perfect another culture’s artistic design, American architects have boldly created their own style which reflects the ambitious nature of the country, showing again how architecture and design are able to provide connections between a culture’s architectural environment and the cultural relevance behind it. Additionally, American designers used modern materials such as “steel columns, exposed concrete block, stained concrete floors, column-free spaces, and radiant heating systems” (“What is”). While American architects still made use of traditional materials, they focused on an innovative use of the materials that showcased their natural features rather than focusing on making each element a highlight or centerpiece of the design. Through each stylistic decision, therefore, the more rushed attitude of American designers complemented by a desire to create something new is revealed.

Following The Modern Era, a more holistic design mission integrated both the cultural elements of American architecture with the welcoming atmosphere of more personal design. Though the Modern Era elements of American design became well known and iconic, at the start of the 1970s, “modern principles such as excess space and the stark nature of building materials became too cold for everyday living and sparked new forms of architecture” (Thomann). Many architects began to challenge the lack of decor and the strict use of space as cold or impersonal, becoming concerned with the connotations of modern American architecture. Consequently, a flurry of artistic movements and debates such as the Whites vs. Grays and the “Chicago Seven” were born, as architects tried to discern what modern architecture should look like after the Modern Era, whether designs should follow after Le Corbusier or Venturi (Simonson). With branching forms of architecture and artists searching for greater abstraction in their designs, a new era of Postmodernism overtook the prior era to welcome back varying structural shapes such as pyramidal and triangular forms. As a type of backlash to the Modern Era of architecture, postmodernism architecture emphasized “the pre-modern architecture styles which felt colorful, vibrant, ornate, and decorative” alongside more eclectic styles and lines, such as in the building to the right (Thomann). With these changing styles of architecture, the culture of the American people is better reflected, as the nation began opting for a fuller integration of color and more imaginative design rather than simply the harsher forms of demonstrating achievement that the Modern Era upheld. With each new movement of architecture, the narrative continues to evolve to fit the spirit of the community, just as ancient Roman architecture told a story about the Roman Empire as well as the current values of the city of Rome in present times.

Though American architecture has sought to design its own style that accurately reflects the culture of American people, there are also a significant number of buildings that have characteristics from ancient Roman architecture. The interior of Union Station, in particular, features arches that were a classic part of ancient Roman architecture. In Washington D.C., the arches provide the building the stability necessary to create such an open area while highlighting the intrinsic beauty of the building, as pictured below.

Additionally, there are 46 statues surrounding the room which are modelled after ancient Roman soldiers and symbolically serve as “a protective force, guarding over all who travel through the halls of Union Station” (Dudac). Taking after the Romans, the architects of Union Station have clearly borrowed the symbolism behind the ancient architecture, underscoring the importance of Roman architecture in modern American design as well as the cultural values of protection and guidance that both nations wanted to emphasize.

The Jefferson Memorial, too, integrates a great number of attributes from ancient Roman architecture. At first glance, Jefferson Memorial pictured below is actually quite similar to the Pantheon. Both structures are built with a great domed area in the back of the building that is encircled by many columns for both support and style. These Ionic columns are a trademark to ancient Roman architecture but now frame the interior of the Jefferson Memorial as well as the front opening of the memorial (“Memorial Features”). The marble and granite steps, too, create a parallel vision of the Pantheon compared to the Jefferson Memorial, as was common for many Roman temples. By utilizing the same elements and features of ancient Roman architecture, American designs are able to convey similar themes about power and authority, as the Roman Empire is associated with having mass amounts of territory and great strength in both their advancement and conquest as a nation. These Roman features are especially found in federal or state governmental buildings, as it is the American government that wishes to share this message with the public. As a result, the Roman elements form a bridge between cultures and prioritize the same values to the public, proving how crucial architecture is in better understanding a culture or community. .

As time has passed, many nations have risen and fallen, yet a few manage to gain influence to then leave a mark in future communities. The ancient Roman Empire, for example, was one of the greatest empires of its time due to its proud military success, economic expansion, and growing reputation in the ancient world. Though the Roman Empire no longer stands, their architectural advancements have remained, showcasing the artistic progress that the Roman Empire possessed. Both in modern Rome and in the United States, elements or structures of ancient Roman architecture are preserved or held on display. While Roman architecture focused on arches, columns, and domes with new materials, the Modern Era in America denied such decorative elements in favor of functionality over form. However, the columns, domes, and arches alike are still present in many American governmental buildings, demonstrating how much inspiration was drawn from Roman architecture and the influence that they had on the United States. Since the original culture that constructed these famous features is now gone, the fact that the elements remain indicates the current meaning that these structures and features have to modern audiences. To better understand modern cultures as well as the ancient Roman Empire, proper examination of each culture’s architecture can enlighten audiences to both the meaning and values of each culture as they are reflected through architecture.

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