Buildings Analysis Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Buildings Analysis Project - Essay Example .....................†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.8 Function†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....................................................................................................9 Bas-Relief†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..............................................................................................†¦...9 Conclusion....................................................................................................................10 References†¦...............................................................................................................11 Angkor Wat, Cambodia Introduction Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia which was built in the 12th century for king Suryawarman II as a temple dedicated to him and also as the symbol of the capital city. It is the only temple surviving among all other temples dedicated to Hindu deities in the region because it is the best preserved site. It was first dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and then it was turned into a Buddhist temple. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture making it a national symbol for Cambodia; it is also the most important tourist spot of the country. Some of the features are similar to the famous Hindu architecture of the temples. Some of the other salient features are the extensive rectangular galleries each of which is raised above the next level. The three areas of architectural analysis are material and structure, bas relief and function of the building. Material and Structure The temple stands on a terrace raised higher than the city. Three rectangular galleries rise to a central tower, each level higher than the last. One gallery is dedicated to one particular god. Each gallery has a gopura at each point and there are towers at the corners of the inner galleries which forms a quincunx with the central tower. The features are oriented with their back eastwards as the temple faces west. The west facing steps are shallower than the other side. The outer gallery measures 40250 sq m in area with pavilions towers at the corners. The structure is buttressed by columned half-galleries which are extended throughout and are open to the outside temple. The galleries and the towers, all are made according to the Khmer architecture with Khmer inscriptions throughout the gallery walls. There are four ponds for fulfilling the water requirement of the building which are currently dry and look like as if they were courtyards. The second and inner galleries are connected to each other and to two flanking libraries by another cruciform terrace, again a later addition. Devatas abound on the walls are present both singly and in groups of up to four; it starts from the second level. If we trace the history it is revealed that the second level was originally flooded in the past due to the ocean around Mount M eru. The stairways are very deep but it does not represent the architecture, it is related to the religious aspect of the architecture of the building as the stairways are made steep to depict the difficulty for ascending to the gods. The walls feature statues and bas reliefs which will be discussed later. Various materials are used in the buildings, which include Brick, Sandstone and Laterite. These materials signify the Khmer architecture. The earliest Angkorian temples were made mainly of brick, decorations were usually carved into a stucco applied