.

.

    ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY Welcome. The history of Greece's stylish architecture and the impact on the landscape of the different building styles, provides a unique opportunity for fusion architecture. Integrating the elegant styles of architects from the past,  modern day architecture can create a building that effectively mingles the historical with the modern, creating a home that is beautiful but comfortable and warm and one that enhances quality of life. Of prime importance is understanding the rules of architectural design, thus creating a building that is a work of art but can sit easily in the landscape.

This is where The Federation can make a dream homes come true. A true architect is an idealist who can visualise a dream building, blend it into the surrounding architecture and landscape, and harmonise the two aspects to become one perfect vision. Federations design team offers all the style and elegance of the past while at the same time incorporating modern day requirements of a home, thus creating a desirable home.

In all countries around the world, building works are governed by strict rules and regulations which are set out by local Government. Greece is no different. Building is governed by both Greek Government and European Union policies in relation to environmental issues, structural surveys and wastewater, to name but a few. Buildings must be sympathetic to the styles of the areas architecture and address all the concerns of the local planning departments to gain approval to proceed.

Each person has individual style preferences and desires that makeup our own personalities from dress sense, colour and taste. This is what makes the human being so unique. We have the ability to create designs from our own personal likes and dislikes and our complicated personalities can generate our ideal home.

To achieve our ideal dream home, it is important to first gain an understanding of Greece's architecture and urbanisation history. We can then select styles that compliment our own taste, and develop a design that not only creates a living space that meets our expectations, but also makes best use of all the architectural designs available, both old and new.

To begin we shall select one of the historical islands of Greece, in this case Crete, to provide a general impression of how urbanisation has developed both on the islands and the mainland. Furthermore, we shall address the influences on architecture that have dominated the Greek landscape over the years.

understanding          the           history          of          greece's          architecture           and           urbanisation

Urban forms began in Neolithic times (6,000 - 2,800 B.C.).  All civilisations since then have added urban boundaries to enhance the occupants' particular requirements in the framework of these communities. The Minoan empire (2,800 - 1,000 B.C.) was the first to develop what we now know as modern civilisation.  It was they who first opened up the old Neolithic villages to agriculture thus allowing rural communities to serve the great urban Minoan cities and palaces around Crete.

While the Minoans focused mainly on coastal areas, the arrival of the Achaeans (1,400 B.C.) saw the occupation of the inland areas of Crete where they built new settlements in the higher ground away from the coastal regions. Sculptures began to appear in architecture, as a forerunner of the Greek classical period. The island economy flourished until an internal political struggle saw the island being split into a number of large city states, each with a great fortification citadel built to protect the inhabitants during this time of local unrest.

However, it was the occupation by the Venetian administration (1204 - 1669 A.D.) that contributed most to the present day urban forms. When the Venetians took control, they split Crete into 4 sections Chania, Rethimnon, Iraklion and Sitia, and 20 provinces. The islands settlement lands was divided into three areas. The first parcel of land was around the main towns and remained within the municipality, the second was given to the church and the third given to the Venetian and Greek nobles. The Venetian colonisation saw the greatest transformation of the landscape. They began restorations with new extensive public work programs and Crete underwent a new form of land policies as the European feudal system began in earnest.

The island went through many uprisings resulting in the land aristocracy going into decline.  Bourgeoisie Greek descendents began to become dominant, influencing the development of Cretan Towns. As the population increased, the towns began to spread out into the countryside restoring the old manor houses of the feudal lords. More and more public works took place as Crete became a major trading post.  The production of high quality food production, turning the land into vineyards and wheat fields that fed Venice. Crete became famous throughout Europe. The townships and villages increased dramatically in numbers. As the islands wealth increased the general population expanded to cope with the demands of the booming island  trading economy.

The Greek revolution (1821) saw one last transition of power, incorporating the independent island of Crete into mainstream Greece governed by Athens. Despite the great destruction that has befallen the island over the centuries, the continued development of cities, towns and village building traditions has never ceased.

The determination of the inhabitants to rebuild settlements after wars and natural disasters is obvious. Archeological studies have shown that the islands inhabitants continued to follow the same building techniques as before but also developed their style by adding new forms of building materials and styles of rural development resulting in the opening up of new regional villages.

In modern Crete, urban boundaries identifying land for specific usage have been identified. Land is classified for usage under the following headings; urbanisation  building zones, tourist development zones, national parks, historical sites, archeological zones, forestry and agricultural areas. These zones are now registered with local government in most areas. This process has made planning applications for dwelling houses more straight forward in urban zones.

Crete has been inhabited since the Neolithic times. This period saw the development of the first dwellings which typically were a rectangular building with flat roof of beams and branches, interlaced with a clay type material for strength and supported by wooden posts; an earthen floor, cut and dressed stone ledges and recesses and finished with plastered walls. This type of building has been well documented by  archaeologists and architectural surveyors.

The first main period of elegant design and architecture was from the Minoan period, which even today has some influence in design, particularly the famous vertical columns, stonemasonry carvings and interior designed wall paintings.

The island began a transformation in the Achaeans period with the development of mansion houses.  Also, smaller dwelling homes began to take a new shape with hard limestone random rubble walls, large monolithic stones, thresholds, door jams and broken clay jars which were introduced as chimneys stacks. This type architecture was called Folk. These buildings were mostly developed for the cold outlying villages in the mountain regions in the heart of Crete.

The working Cretan Folk farmhouse was a multi purpose building constructed of stone, wood, and earth in a simple cubic form with a limited amount of openings and set on two floors. This type of common family dwelling are spread across the countryside and are part of the Cretan Folk architectural structural framework of the time. This form of primitive construction and materials was a continuation of the style of  prehistoric houses of Crete, which can still be found today in the old villages.

The second phased introduction was the use of stone corner reinforcing, stone foundations, baked clay bricks and reinforced vertical and horizontal wooden components with interior plaster. This particular type of architecture and building construction is still a prominent  feature in villages today.

The biggest influence of all on Cretan architecture, the arrival of the mighty Roman empire, is still prominent on the landscape of Crete today. However, the Roman building influence was interrupted by the Byzantine and Saracen eras.  Some Byzantine churches still remain today.  However, most of the architecture from these two periods in history were destroyed and only archeological ruins remain.

The Cretan building Renaissance began in earnest with the second Roman rule.  With the arrival of the Venetians, an intense Renaissance building project began. In local areas buildings combined Venetian and local indigenous artists methods, reflecting and integrating Greek society and the Orthodox religion. This style borrowed architectural methods from local and European construction, which were all incorporated into a spectacular array of stylish building designs, that exploded with vigour onto the Cretan scenery.