Porches of North America

3. Classical Order

Any attempt to appreciate the depth of meanings and symbolism associated with classical architectural forms must first start with a review the classical orders and then explore how they have been used through waves of architectural design innovations and revivals. Classical styles of architecture that were fundamentally based on elaborations of the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders were developed first in ancient Greece from about 600 bce and were refined over many centuries. The ancient Romans modified the proportions and details of these orders during the first five centuries of the current epoch. In addition to the three ancient orders, two other orders were subsequently added: the Composite order and the Tuscan order. The Composite order is a more elaborate version of the Corinthian that combines elements of the Ionic. The Tuscan order, which was documented in the works of the Roman architect Vitruvius during the first century bce, has a column similar to that of the Roman Doric, with a simple base (but without the decorative fluting) and a plain entablature that lacks the Doric ornamentation . Because of its simplicity, the Tuscan order has been especially popular for vernacular versions of the various classical revivals . In his 1833 pattern book, Practice of Architecture, Asher Benjamin observed, “The Tuscan capital is distinguished by rustic plainness; the Doric by grave simplicity ; the Ionic, by graceful elegance; and the Corinthian and Composite, by gorgeous richness.”1 Whether based on ancient Greek or Roman examples, each of these classical orders is comprised of a horizontal entablature supported by columns that may rest on a pedestal. From the top, the entablature is comprised of a cornice, a frieze, and an Classical฀Order Classical Order 99 architrave. The column also has three basic parts—a capital at the top, a shaft, and a base at the bottom. Greek Doric columns normally have no base; however, very simple bases are sometimes installed for protection. The pedestal, also known as a stylobate, may be omitted, but in its proper form it has a cap (or cymatium), a die (or dado) and a base. It may be solid or arcaded in a Roman form associated with classical designs from the Italian Renaissance. The simplest of the three main classical orders is the Doric, which can be recognized by its plain capital comprising a series of moldings. On a Roman Doric column, the capital has three parts: the series of moldings at the top is the abacus; the space beneath is the necking; and the lower series of moldings is the astragal. On a Greek Doric column, the astragal is rendered as an incision around the shaft (or is sometimes even omitted), and the square abacus at the top is supported by a large echinus, a convex molding that has a cross-section based on a segment of an ellipse. Moldings on the Roman orders, however, generally have cross-sections that are based on sections of a circle. The proportions of the various parts of the Greek and Roman orders also differ, with the columns on the Roman versions being more slender. Greek Doric columns typically are finished with sixteen or twenty elliptical flutes carved deep enough into the shaft to form vertical pointed edges (each called an arris) where the flutes meet. Columns of the other Figure฀3.1. A colonnade of Tuscan columns extends along the facade of the Essex Inn, built about 1810 in Essex, New York. 100 Porches of North America orders are rendered either with or without fluting; however, when applied to Ionic and Corinthian column shafts, the flutes are typically cut deeper, in the form of a segment of a circular curve, to leave a flat fillet between each, instead of a pointed arris. Doric friezes are enriched with triglyphs, slightly projecting rectangular blocks incised with two V-shaped channels and chamfers to produce three vertical lines. Between each triglyph is a square space called a metope that is sometimes ornamented with carved decorations. On Roman Doric friezes, the metopes may be ornamented with bucrania (ox skulls) dressed with garlands of flowers or husks hanging from the horns. Soffits (the underlying surfaces) of Doric cornices are enriched with mutules, projecting rectangular blocks that are carved to reveal a grid of guttae, the circular bases of Figure฀3.2. Major parts of classical orders. Classical Order 101 truncated cones. A row of six guttae also extends below each triglyph. Decorations are also...