Laws of the Indies

                On this week’s blog I will be focusing on the development of a set of urban laws that the Spanish created. These laws are vital to how cities were founded and built in the colonization of the Americas. These vital guidelines are outlined in the “Laws of the Indies”. According to Gasparini, the author of the essay I wrote, there are 148 laws that helped discover, establish and create the building of new cities.

When reading through all the laws, there are a few main points that I took away as being very important. To begin, the laws provide a spatial representation of information, giving guidelines about how a group or individual could discover or take over an area. These are laws numbered 1-31, discussing points such as no tolerance for encroaching on already inhabited and settled areas, as well as learning about natives that already lived in the area from a conquering point of view.

                The following section discusses more about the city planning aspects of the urban form. I found that the laws from this section could be broken into 3 groups or steps. The first step is about the physical structure of the land itself. People would want it to be fertile, close to water, and use the land to protect from others and the environment itself. Second, the laws focus on the selection of the site itself. The leader delineates land to others throughout an organization of a hierarchy of space. Once the other people have the land, they must begin farming or building on the land. Thirdly, there is a step in organizing the actual layout of the town. For a grid like plan there are many requirements such as the town square being the starting point of the town. Also, the street layout requires four principal streets within the square and four streets surrounding the square. In addition the size and overall design of the city will be varied based on the population. Finally, these laws are followed by laws for the commons.

                When reading the important features from the essay, it is obvious the Spanish had specific guidelines in its discovery and conquering of new cities. This shows that the urban form is created by specific rules which shows organization and advanced thinking in this period of time. When analyzing the three main areas of the Laws of Indies, it showed me that these laws had some control over the spread of the Spanish empire as well as stressed some importance about the original layout of the land, because they could see the importance of location and the physical environment in the long run. I also recognized that the laws do not directly state the city has to be built in a grid form, but because of the laws and restrictions, the grid pattern is enforced.

Overall the Spanish had specifics in creating their cities. From finding a location, to constructing the city, to planning the city, every step of the way was calculated based on these laws. It is fascinating to see how advanced thinking began that long ago. I believe that if these laws were followed in today’s society that we would have much more organized cities. Therefore, the Spanish had advanced laws that helped transform the urban landscape.

I will see you all next week for my final blog of the semester!

Granada: A Spanish Perspective

             On this week’s trip I will be comparing Santa Fe Granada and Granada. I will see the transformation in architectural design and organization between the old city of Granada, and the newer city of Santa Fe Granada. I am expecting to see different layouts, showing the dominance of conquest and the influence of the monarchs.

When travelling through Granada, the city seemed to have grown organically, much like that of Rome, and some medieval cities. Granada looks to me like an unorganized city where the social structure resembles the disarray of the layout.  

                On the other hand, when looking at Santa Fe Granada, it is basically a grid pattern, creating a very organized system. It reminds me of some of the areas I have previously gone to such as Timgad and other colonies of the Roman Empire. This layout shows the need for a fortified structure for a degree of defense. This place was destroyed and conquered by the Christian monarchs, showing the importance of a strong military presence. Since Santa Fe was an area reconquered by the Christians, the Christians would have wanted to establish this same element of strong military presence and control over the population. A grid layout includes many more important functions. The importances include felicitating order through ensuring certain buildings of importance are in the core, while others are in the outskirts. They also control the flow of people in the city, as well as stand for defense mechanisms, and an organization of the distribution of resources. The overall purpose I believe though is to control society through a hierarchy of space like we have seen in many of my previous trips.

               

            When looking at some of the identities in Granada, I was able to see through the Cathedral Granada many unique features describing the Spanish architecture. First, the cathedral was larger than the rest of the area, making me think it was a focal point of the area, and a point of direction. You can also see the importance that art and architectural design played in this culture. Finally, while looking at other places such as the Courtyard in the Alhambra, the ornate designs and overall beauty shows the importance of power within the compounds, as well as the conquered influence on the area.

                Overall, I am able to say that old Granada was organic in nature much like that of Rome in which I travelled to earlier in my blog, and Santa Fe Granada has a more grid-like organization like Pikillacta and Timgad. The organization of the newer Granada stands for many importances, and shows the development and use of land over time.

A Trip to Tenochtitlan

             For today’s journey on Google Maps we will be visiting the capital city of the Ancient Aztec Civilization, Tenochtitlan, also known as the large metropolis Mexico City. Spanish colonizer Cortes arrived at this very populous city in the early 1500’s, and colonized the area and destroyed the aboriginal population. When looking at the objective of this blog, I must compare these two important cities, from a representation of the past and present, by analyzing the size and scale of the cities.  

Tenochtitlan and present day Mexico City have many similarities. First, Tenochtitlan was a political and cultural center much like Mexico City is today. It is said that the Aztec City is actually buried underneath Mexico City today. Within my ability to view these places, Mexico City seems to incorporate a much larger expanse than Tenochtitlan. According to some specific stats found from research, Mexico City includes 21 million people in the metropolitan area, and nearly 1500 square kilometers of space. As for Tenochtitlan, it had nearly 225 000 people in the area which was a lot of people for a city back then, but only covered an area of approximately 10 square kilometers, which shows the greater density and centrality. The larger population may have resulted in a more stable economy.

           

           It seems as if the growth of Mexico City is rooted from the Aztec City from the past. Tenochtitlan was the largest city of the time with power and beauty to its array of attributes. Mexico replicates this characteristic from a modern day example, as Mexico City is the largest metropolitan city in the western hemisphere today, and has major influence over the neighbouring areas just as Tenochtitlan did. I can see that the size of these areas, the unique organizational features of both areas, and the dominance and grandeur is relevant in both cities.

The colonization of Tenochtitlan is in direct line with the importance that the great city stood for at the time. That Mexico City was founded on the remains of the Aztec city suggest that the Spaniards wanted to erase all traces of the old empire. The city’s elegant beauty, and strong size, was very influential to the Europeans. Cortes believed that this already fairly developed city would stand as a good place to create the capital city, and in addition the island interior for the city is spatially perfect for control and organization. The city and takeover shows the power that comes along with the unique land shape and the overall size. I believe Cortes was intelligent in choosing this site for development because it was a large area, had an inland mass which could act as protection as well as the control of power, and it could stand out from the rest of the area, making it a more visually pleasing setting.

 

Chichen Itza- A Toltec Impression

          On my most recent adventure, I took a trip through Chichen Itza and Tula, Mexico, comparing them on how their architectural forms are similar, but also different. By doing this exploration I was able to learn more about the relevancy of a Toltec occupation of Chichen Itza. For this trip I used Google Maps as a guide for a first-hand view.

          As I began my trip, I started at Pyramid B in Tula. This pyramid is located on the Eastern side of Mexico, and is most noted for its architecture and stylistic figures. This area was founded by the Toltecs. After learning a bit about the Toltec history, I was able to dive in and learn about the architecture. Toltec architecture was influenced significantly by militaristic actions and religion. The theme of war is very relevant in the art work on the walls, telling stories. In addition, the temples had horizontal roofs, and were made of limestone. The architecture and stone figures were monumental in the fact that they gave the ancient civilization precision and grace.

 

          What I found really fascinating was something called the Telamon of Tula. These are large figurines standing nearly five meters tall on top of the pyramid, representing the Toltec gods. It is speculated that these used to be exquisite columns for a roof that previously existed. All in all, the large size of the pyramid, the precision of design, the intricate columns, and the overall build with a flat roof, sloping style stairs, and the themes of war and religion built into the walls, tells me a lot about the Toltec beliefs and their architectural mentalities that may have transformed Chichen Itza into what it stood for.

          As for Chichen Itza (meaning at the mouth of the well of Itza), it was one of the larger Mayan cities, in Mesoamerica. The city with a diverse population, had many unique architectural styles, and some monumental buildings describing the activities that occurred in the area. The building I am exploring today is the Temple of the Warriors. This temple was known for its great gatherings. This same temple was built of four platforms, surrounded on the south and west sides by nearly 200 round and square columns. These columns are ironically carved with Toltec warriors giving myself the first reason of why Chichen Itza may be a Toltec site. The temple also had the class ramp style that Chichen Itza was known for, allowing for an open stairway up the structure.

         

          When comparing this temple to Pyramid B in Tula, there are some direct correlations showing the Toltec influence. Firstly, all of the columns located within the area are representations of Toltec warriors, which shows the direct influence of the Toltec people.  The temple from a structural standpoint, also has a flat roof like Pyramid B in Tula. In addition, they both have the ramped staircase and the vertical walls, which is very common in Mayan architecture, and shows the stylistic appearance of the time period. One of the biggest symbolic differences I found was that of the serpent representations on top of the pyramid. From all of these similarities, and few differences, it is clear that from the structural layout of stone walls, military and religious design, and artistic columns and artistic expressions, this architecture has come from the same influence.

          Therefore, after visiting these fascinating sites, I can conclude that due to the structural and architectural similarities between Pyramid B and the Temple of Warriors, Chichen Itza is of Toltec dominance. That is all from this trip, but stay tuned for my next adventure!

 

 

A Virtual Tour of Teotihuacan

             For this week’s blog entry, I will be taking a virtual tour of the fascinating city of Teotihuacan. When taking this walk through Teotihuacan I will be focusing on the pyramids as well as the Street of the Dead Complex. Between these two fascinating uses of space and pieces of architecture, I hope to learn more about what they are and get a stronger idea about the themes involved.  

            To begin, I will be looking at the Pyramid of the Moon. This pyramid, which was once home to two tomb sites, was built in six stages, each stage building up onto the original structure.  One of the tombs found four people, while the other tomb was found to be the tomb of the great Goddess, whose statue was said to have mounted this great structure at one point. In addition to being a place that emphasized power over the area, it is also quite large in structure. It is the second largest structure in Teotihuacan. Also, it was created with an artistic nature in which its appearance resembles the mountain Cerro Gordo which is nearby. When staring up at the pyramid, the overall dominant size allows me to see it conveyed power over the city. Most importantly to me, I loved the contrast between the architecture and the physical environment around it. It tells me a story about how they adapted to the landscape.

           

           As I continue on my journey through Teotihuacan I arrive at the Pyramid of the Sun. This pyramid is the largest structure in Teotihuacan. This pyramid is the third largest in the world, and it is located in the middle of the city showing its centrality and importance. Looking at it I can feel the presence as it towers above me intricate and defined. The pyramid looks as if it has been weathered and brutalized with the passage of time, but researchers said that an alter used to be solidified on top which means that this place probably stood for religious and cultural purposes in the area. Also, this pyramid was created strategically so that astrological events could be monitored, as well as the monitoring of the agricultural practices of the time. This pyramid was also said to have been a tomb, but due to the destruction of it over time, and lack of intensity in the excavations, it is unknown.

           After looking at both of these pyramids, I am able to see that they have religious importance, but they also control the theme of power. Standing tall with such centrality in the city, these pyramids look over the city and show the citizens who is in power. The grid like pattern of the city around these structures is also important because it shows how the space was organized like a hierarchy in which the elite lived near the center and the less fortunate on the fringe. This is a very similar characteristic to what I found on my last trip to Timgad and Pikillacta.

Finally, I walked to the Street of the Dead Complex. This complex is one of the most recognizable places in Teotihuacan and was known for its large courtyards in which rituals were performed.  The open space between the two compounds on either side of the street, allows for a very open feel. When looking at the areas, they look like the perfect spaces for people to come together, which proposes the possible theme of unity and community. This place was also noted for most likely being the place for administrative work and residences. It also acts as a division between the two other areas of the city, suggesting the themes of power, space, and colonialism.

 

            Overall, as I look at the whole city, it is fairly easy for me to see the results of dual rulership in the architecture and in the use of space. I think Teotihuacan is actually beautiful in the way the city contrasts the mountains in the background, and I find that the architecture shows meaning with respect to the culture and the physical environment. I am able to see many similarities here to other places I have visited such as the pyramids in Egypt, and the grid pattern in Timgad which allows me to understand that these urban trends defining cities have made their ways to different cultures. That is it for Teotihuacan, stay tuned for my next tour!

Timgad vs Pikillacta

For this week’s blog post I will be looking to compare two incredible examples of colonial architecture, and evaluate them on their use of space and place, as well as the cultural and social impacts of the architecture on the area. The two places I will be looking at are the Roman colonial center of Timgad and the Wari military center of Pikillacta. As each of these centers were built on the frontiers of their respective empires, a strong analysis should be able to tell us how they are similar, and in what ways they differ.

To begin, the Roman colonial center if Timgad is located on the Northern Slopes of the Aures Mountains, in modern day Algeria. Timgad was known for being a military settlement at the time of its founding by Trajan. Timgad is now important today because it is mostly recognized for the grid pattern planning characterized by large square blocks with 90 degree intersections. This is significant because when I was looking at the area on Google Maps, it appears extremely planned which is extremely different from how Rome was organized, which was mostly organic. Timgad itself consists of 144 blocks, evenly divided into four main areas, but the Forum and the theatre take up 11 and 6 blocks respectively. This area looks fascinating as when developed it looks like it was created to manipulate the landscape. I believe they did this for a few reasons. One, with greater organization it would control the flow of people and be more mathematically precise in organization. Also, the grid pattern is important because the emperor would live in the middle which shows how this space represents a hierarchal structure. As you move out from the middle, the class of people declines. By seeing how much room these places occupied, it shows the importance that size and space played in this area. In addition, with precise grid like divisions, it shows me the importance that organization and structure played into the social and political values of the area. This is vital socially, because as a person in a town you want to maintain the appearance of who you are and keep the cultural dynamics of the area constant. Finally, another observation I made when looking at Google Maps is that the walls in Timgad seemed smaller than the ones in Pikillacta. This suggests to me that the area had walls as a mechanism for defense, but due to the smaller walls, it was not the only purpose. Also the smaller walls allow for a more open concept which is a different use of space.

 

After viewing the important features that Timgad had to offer, I looked at the Wari military center of Pikillacta. Pikillacta is located in the Lucre Basin of Peru at the east end of the valley of Cuzco. When Pikillacta was developed it was designed to appear different from above as it was seen from the ground. From an aerial view Pikillacta looks as if it is built on a flat landscape, but in reality from a ground view is built on a slope with nearly a 100 meter elevation difference in certain parts. When looking at the form of the structures, Pikillacta places a large emphasis on the grid pattern as well, and uses rectangles and squares to determine how they allocate space. Pikillacta is often described as bellicose and regimented. From the very large walls dividing the area into a grid pattern, it is easy to see that this area was a military outpost. Based on my observations again, it looks as if it was built on a hierarchy of space, having only specific ways to get to the middle where the elite lived. I am starting to see a need in military structure to build the mass tight and in control grids, for organization but also strategic defense. The terrain is also very uneven which would make for better defense. I believe that this use of space and architectural design is used for intimidation, defense, power, and attractive organization. Finally, due to its transparent structure, you are forced to walk through it in certain ways which could lead to one thinking that is was also designed for administrative purposes.

As you can see from the comparison of the two places, they are similar in the respect that they are both military centers, they both have a grid pattern that shows a hierarchal use of space, they both have walls for defense, and they both manipulate the land in which they are upon to create a symmetric land use that is appealing yet strategic socially, politically, and from a military aspect. The differences between the two are that in Pikillacta the walls are very large suggesting that this was a major military base and that the use of space is more condense and tight in formation, while in Timgad the walls are smaller which allows for the space to seem more open in concept. Therefore, I have found after another exploration on Google Maps the similarities and differences that exist between Timgad and Pikillacta.

 

A Walk Through Rome

As I begin my journey throughout this blog, it will begin with an understanding and a virtual journey through Rome. Rome is currently a popular tourist destination due to the incredible architectural sites, and is an important place to look when understanding the evolution of architecture and its involvement in the world today. As I go through the virtual tour on Google Maps, I will be using a travel guide found on www.rome.info, to view and analyze architectural sites that have been preserved and revitalized, as well as take a look at the space and how it is used in Rome. With all that being said, let’s begin our walk through Rome!

As I begin my walk, I start at the remarkable Pantheon. The Pantheon is the most preserved building of ancient Rome. Orginally built between A.D. 118-125, it was a temple dedicated to the gods of Rome. As I look at the building itself, it is fascinating how the front is rectangular allowing for the classic entranceways for precessions, but also that it is combined with a massive circular back, showing how the Roman architecture played with geometry to seek architectural success. The building would have originally been entered by climbing a set of stairs at the front, but has now been restructured so that the stairs are underground.  One of the fascinating things I am able to learn here is that due to the buildings incredible size, when building, heavy materials such as travertine and brick were used for a solid base, but for the dome, pumice a very light material was used for a sufficient and efficient enclosure. Finally, I am able to see that the structure is not Doric, which shows that there may have been a more feminine and artistic appreciation in the design of this great piece of work. Beyond the structure of the building itself, it is interesting to look at the modern design of the streets and space around the building. The Pantheon appears to be the center of importance for the area, which shows a dominant power characteristic for the gods. As for the space around the Pantheon, out front there is an open space which allows for the Pantheon to stand alone, powerful and dominate the area. As for the streets around the Pantheon, they are very narrow which shows that the area is very dense. Although dense, none of the buildings around the Pantheon are nearly as large, which shows how much larger the Pantheon is in comparison to the rest of the area, again showing the dominance and power of those who use the building. Therefore, after my virtual tour of the Pantheon I am able to see what makes it unique to Rome, and how its placement and use of space allows it to stand as a powerful landmark.

 

The next stop on my tour is the Roman Forum. The forum  is the central area in which Anicent Rome developed. This is the area where the day to day activities occurred such as finances, administration, religious events, and was known as the hearth of the city. This area was home to the most important public buildings and structures such as the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Saturn, and the Temple of Vesta.  If you look at the area and the space in which the Forum is located, it is in a central location which shows the power of the area and the central importance of the Roman civilization. It is also very unique to see how the Forum is separted from the area around it by walls which shows again the power that existed in this central area. As for the architecture, the exquisite stone arches and columns stood strong at one point, but after being destroyed the Forum is not as beautiful as it once was. Although destroyed, it is important to note the importance that archways, and columns played in the area, and how the precision to detail on these architectural monuments is just phenominal. Overall the Roman Forum stands as a central point for the citizens of Rome, and although it has changed significantly now in present day, the significance of its location and space it occupies is largely significant of the time period.

Finally, to finish off my virtual tour I took a walk around the Roman Colosseum. The Colosseum is located just east of the Roman Forum and was built in A.D 80, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. This colossal structure was home to the famous gladiator fights as well as other cultural events of the time. The amphitheatre could hold over 50 000 people showing its dominant size and influence. The main features that I can see from this this great structure is the abundance of arches that act as elegant and precise entranceways, as well as masts that were attached to stone corbels on the fourth level. When looking at the space around the Colosseum there is a lot of open space which allows the structure to look even larger in size than it already is. In addition, the open space is nice because it reminds me of modern day sport stadiums that have an area outside where fans gather, and I feel the space gives a social identity to the area. Finally, by standing tall and alone over the open space, the placement allows for a powerful image for the structure, which was one of the main themes found in Roman Architecture.

Therefore, after completing my virtual tour through Rome, I am able to see the intricate designs and forms of some of the most notable structures, but at the same time I am able to see how their placement and use of space emphasizes their importance in the area. The narrow and winding streets in Rome shows the organic design of the city as a whole, and the elevation changes really gives Rome a confusing nature to travel around. But overall, Romans used space, place and architecture to create the incredible place that we now tour and study today.

Hello classmates, bloggers, and friends:

My name is Robert Richards and I'm currently a 3rd year student at the University of Western Ontario, enrolled in the Honours Specialization of Urban Development program. Beyond my undergraduate degree, I will work towards obtaining an MBA in Finance, to pursue my dream to be a financial research analyst. Born and raised in Whitby, Ontario, I have seen firsthand the evolution of Whitby from a small town, to a large urban town on the verge of becoming a city. This environment is one of the main reasons why I have found a passion in urban development, and one of the reasons I have found an appreciation for the urban form. At school I have been lucky enough to be the Finance Executive for the Urban Development Association. This opportunity has given me more insight into the diversity that urban form brings to the world and the opportunities that exist today. With the combination of a drive from an early age, and the tools at the University level, I hope to continue my learning as I dive into the artistic nature behind architecture and urban design.
This blog that I have created will explore not only the history of architecture and urbanism, but it will also involve my insights, beliefs, and critiques of the evolution of the urban world. Throughout the semester, I will be discussing a variety of themes, ideologies, and opinions pertaining to VAH 3388G, hoping to stir conversation about issues with my classmates and friends.

Now that you know more about me, let me use a new urban trend to tell you more about me as an individual.

As a student fascinated with urban design, I have much to learn about architecture from the past as I have never taken an architecture class before. As for my current interests, I am a big supporter of green architecture. This green form transforms how many look at cities, and although not feasible in a variety of aspects, the natural beauty and the social benefits from the environmentally friendly mindset make this urban feature appealing.  The main feature that I like is the use of green roofs. By placing greenery on top of buildings it is appealing for one, but is also reduces the heat on the city which is a very interesting effect in my opinion. A great example is City Hall in Chicago who has taken the green roof to heart and has become a model for the integration of the environment into the urban form.

I look forward to discussing future topics with all of you!