In the foundations unit of History and Theory of Design the main focus was where and when architecture first began. The foundations unit was just that, the architecture that was first started in ancient times was the foundation for the way building types look today. The archetypes in ancient Greece, Egypt, and Rome, are what the designers of modern times pulled from to make the world today. 
Not only were the designs archetypes for modern times, they were also prototypes for following civilizations. In ancient Mesopotamia the stepped ziggurat let into the pyramids in Egypt. The ziggurats purpose was to get physically and spiritually closer to god, and at the highest point the temple this would help them achieve this goal. Each individual ziggurat was built for a particular god, the ziggurat of Ur –Nammu was devoted to the moon god Nanna. The pyramids that the ancient Egyptians used were to immolate the same effect, to reach heavenward to the gods through structure. The Egyptians smoothed over the steps and had unique measurements to directly correlate with the suns location.
The pyramids at Giza were used to celebrate the god Rah. The Egyptians believed in making their buildings last longer than they would because the afterlife was more important than the reality. They believed that their tombs were a passageway into the afterlife and who and what they brought with them would be how they lived for the rest of eternity. They made elaborate pyramids out of limited technology and materials that lasted for hundreds of centuries. The pharaohs would steal from existing structures to help make their pyramid larger and better. The bigger and better concept would carry on throughout the remainder of history to help build up our world with structures. 
The ancient Egyptians also introduced the tripartite arrangement included in Hypostyle hall. This temples form was copied by the Greeks who incorporated it into major buildings in their cities. The porch, court, and hearth was an arrangement in which the porch was for deciding who was to enter, the hearth was for meeting and greeting, and the hearth was only for important people like priests. The basic outline that was established in ancient times carried throughout history into modern day homes and buildings. In the home there is the porch, living room and the bedroom. All decide who is worthy enough to be allowed in to the sacred hearth.
After the Greeks faded out the Romans came in to further develop the basic outline of architecture. The Romans used a hybrid of all the previous civilizations to create wonders out of concrete.
Along with creating big buildings and cities, the Romans created other important architectural elements to reach heavenward. The invention of the “wu-wu” was the male form of saying that bigger was in fact better. The structures would be placed out in open areas for all to see in wonder at their glorious wu-wu. Arches were added later as the female form into design. They weren’t necessarily used for a passageway, but more of a symbol of success. Soon after the basilica in form became the prototype for churches. The churches were to create order out of chaos when the Roman Empire came to an end. The heaven on earth embodiment of churches was put into the architecture by line and form. The footprint was laid out in girth and in height with geometric precision, so if the earth ended the basic forms would help the church be the last thing standing.
The foundations unit thoroughly explained how history affects architecture in every single way. The prototypes laid down in ancient times are still in effect for current designers to receive inspiration from. Each civilization copied off of one other to improve the architecture and look of the world. All wanted to be better than the last, so height and form was key to showing power. Without the foundations of the ancient world, who knows where humans today would be.
Not only were the designs archetypes for modern times, they were also prototypes for following civilizations. In ancient Mesopotamia the stepped ziggurat let into the pyramids in Egypt. The ziggurats purpose was to get physically and spiritually closer to god, and at the highest point the temple this would help them achieve this goal. Each individual ziggurat was built for a particular god, the ziggurat of Ur –Nammu was devoted to the moon god Nanna. The pyramids that the ancient Egyptians used were to immolate the same effect, to reach heavenward to the gods through structure. The Egyptians smoothed over the steps and had unique measurements to directly correlate with the suns location.
The pyramids at Giza were used to celebrate the god Rah. The Egyptians believed in making their buildings last longer than they would because the afterlife was more important than the reality. They believed that their tombs were a passageway into the afterlife and who and what they brought with them would be how they lived for the rest of eternity. They made elaborate pyramids out of limited technology and materials that lasted for hundreds of centuries. The pharaohs would steal from existing structures to help make their pyramid larger and better. The bigger and better concept would carry on throughout the remainder of history to help build up our world with structures. 
The ancient Egyptians also introduced the tripartite arrangement included in Hypostyle hall. This temples form was copied by the Greeks who incorporated it into major buildings in their cities. The porch, court, and hearth was an arrangement in which the porch was for deciding who was to enter, the hearth was for meeting and greeting, and the hearth was only for important people like priests. The basic outline that was established in ancient times carried throughout history into modern day homes and buildings. In the home there is the porch, living room and the bedroom. All decide who is worthy enough to be allowed in to the sacred hearth.
After the Greeks faded out the Romans came in to further develop the basic outline of architecture. The Romans used a hybrid of all the previous civilizations to create wonders out of concrete.
Along with creating big buildings and cities, the Romans created other important architectural elements to reach heavenward. The invention of the “wu-wu” was the male form of saying that bigger was in fact better. The structures would be placed out in open areas for all to see in wonder at their glorious wu-wu. Arches were added later as the female form into design. They weren’t necessarily used for a passageway, but more of a symbol of success. Soon after the basilica in form became the prototype for churches. The churches were to create order out of chaos when the Roman Empire came to an end. The heaven on earth embodiment of churches was put into the architecture by line and form. The footprint was laid out in girth and in height with geometric precision, so if the earth ended the basic forms would help the church be the last thing standing.The foundations unit thoroughly explained how history affects architecture in every single way. The prototypes laid down in ancient times are still in effect for current designers to receive inspiration from. Each civilization copied off of one other to improve the architecture and look of the world. All wanted to be better than the last, so height and form was key to showing power. Without the foundations of the ancient world, who knows where humans today would be.
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