Week One - Pre-History

Although we have more remains of art and architectural pieces in more recent times, we can only assume that the earliest inhabitants also had these elements, most likely made with the natural items they had. Caves are the earliest seen ready-made structures. They provided shelter but also held a symbolic meaning. The earliest forms of architecture and interior designs were seen in the Stone Age. This didn’t mean everything was made out of stone, but most of it was likely formed by things found in nature. There were two stone ages, the Paleolithic and the Neolithic. 

The hand ax is arguably the first designed object. We can’t know for sure, but the creator of the ax could’ve designed it that way for a specific reason. It could possibly be because a symmetrical object is more pleasing to look at. It is scientifically proven that people are more attracted to symmetrical things. In prehistoric times, it was seen that symmetrical bodies meant good health. They most likely reflected that concept of beauty in what they designed.

The Paleolithic caves at Lascaux date back to 17,000 B.C.E. before permanent architecture. They were most likely used for ritual activity since Lascaux wasn’t inhabited. The caves contain many engravings and painted animals and signs. These paintings and signs are studied by art historians to discover the beginnings of art and design. In interpreting the paintings in the caves, one can see that animals played a very important role in their lives. The people often represented them. The paintings were one of the first examples of providing meaning in a space through decorations. The architecture of the cave was unchanged, but the paintings inside responded to the shape of the cave. The paintings are mainly representational with few abstract ideas.

Neolithic refers to the time period 9000-2000 B.C. and mainly focuses on the use of stone. Buildings and many objects were fashioned with stone. An early example of a Neolithic object would be menhirs. They consisted of giant stones turned upright to create monuments. Menhirs provide a directional focus and create meaning in space through the use of focal points. The Neolithic time period led to the idea of fixity which allowed for more permanent construction. 

The next step in construction was Megalithic. This included stones or timbers being stacked on top of each other and filled in with mud.

Dolmens were an early form of post-and-lintel construction. They consisted of two or more vertical stones connected by a stone laying across the top. This design can be seen in the design of walls and ceilings or doorframes in construction today.

Stonehenge is one of the most impressive henges in England. A henge is a Neolithic monument of upright stones. It is in a circular shape and contains banks and ditches. Construction before this largely consisted of timber and earth construction. Using more permanent materials like large stones led to better monumental architecture. Stonehenge was an early example of post-and-lintel construction and was used for ritual practice. During this period, people moved from nomadic living to more permanent living. They also began to live in multiple-unit housing rather than single dwellings.

Skara Brae was a Neolithic village in Scotland. In earlier houses built of stone, you can see the idea of built-in furniture. This mainly included stone benches, but in some cases included dresser-type pieces of furniture. 

Catal Huyuk is a Neolithic site located in Turkey. It was the largest town in the region with 5,000-7,000 people. It contained rectilinear houses made of mud bricks and plaster. There was a rectangular hearth in the center of them. The houses were also decorated with humans, animals, and geometrical shapes. They often contained shrines for ritual purposes. Although Catal Huyuk is a Neolithic site, there is a small amount of stone found. With little stone available to them, their decorations included woven textiles and mats, and wooden bowls and baskets. 

The Bronze Age came after the Neolithic period. This was when people began crafting buildings and objects out of metal, copper, and bronze. This included weapons, jewelry, and tools.

Harappa is a city that was important in the development of the human settlement. They had amenities like brick-lined walls and a street drainage system. Most houses in the city contained a private bathing area which drained into the street. 

One Step Further:

One architect that I’ve always loved the work of is Zaha Hadid. She was born in Iraq in 1950 and was the first woman to be awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Zaha Hadid began her studies by receiving a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She then studied at the Architectural Association in London. She started her own firm in London in 1979. Her first big project was a recreational center in Hong Kong called The Peak. It showed off her unique geometric designs that were later known as deconstructivist. Many of Hadid’s designs were very intricate but often were too complicated to build. Her designs were more often displayed in museums as works of art. Her first major project built was the Vitra Fire Station in Germany. She also became the first woman to design an American building. Zaha Hadid continued designing beautiful buildings and even designed other things like interior spaces, furniture, bags, and more. She received countless awards throughout her life and is one of the most well-known female architects. She experienced a sudden death from a heart attack in 2016.

Pre-History Images:

Stonehenge

Lascaux Caves

Skara Brae

Pre-History Today Images:

The look of stone is still popular today

Some houses use stone columns with a stone roof on top, similar to Dolmens

Pottery and other decorative pieces with Pre-Historic paintings are still used today