Essays and Research Papers on Architecture & Design

10 pages in length. The extent to which architecture of the modern movement was built upon nineteenth century theoretical and technological foundations is both grand and far-reaching. Changing at warp speed pace, the world was embarking upon an entirely new and different approach to everything social, political and technological; in order to keep ...

An 8 page paper discussing how resistance influences change. Two authors, Kenneth Frampton and Karsten Harries, discuss both change and the lack of change in architecture. Each finds reasons for resistance to change over time; Frampton attributes that resistance to regionalism. Where regionalism is strong (such as in New England), there are ...

An 8 page research paper that examines some of the principles governing the use of space in architectural design. The writer discusses the "language" of architecture and the psychological needs for security, stimulation and identity from the structure in which we live. Bibliography lists 12 sources.

This 3 page paper traced the development of classical architectural traditions after 1750. The styles starts with the adoption some of the gothic revival features and a revival of Greek classicism, the paper includes the work of Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Peter Behrens. The bibliography cites 3 sources.

A 9 page paper discussing several design points of this product of Sir Norman Foster. Notorious as being the most expensive high-rise built to date, construction took place between 1979 and 1986. The building retains its distinction as being the costliest; it also retains its breathtaking qualities. The purpose here is to ...

This 9 page paper examines the architecture of Birmingham, UK in terms of how it reflects the city's heritage and changing character. Specifically, this paper explores issues such as economy and social impact, as well as highlighting many points through the use of examples. Bibliography lists 15 sources.

A 6 page analysis of the Windsor Chair. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This is a 10 page paper discussing spatial design used by Rietveld, Mondrian and Kobori Enshu. Architect, artist and designer Gerrit Rietveld was part of an art movement in the Netherlands in the 1920s called “De Stijl” (The Style). One of the movement’s co-founders was artist Piet Mondrian, also from the Netherlands, whose work such ...

The need for change in the UK construction industry was recognised in the document Rethinking Construction by Sir John Egan. This paper considers the implications for contractual obligations, relationships and dispute resolution. The bibliography cites 4 sources.

This 3 page paper discusses the lives and accomplishments of two innovators of the twentieth century: Alfred Hitchcock and Frank Lloyd Wright. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

A 3 page paper which examines what one could gain or experience through visiting the Mayan ruins in Chichen Itza and climbing to the top of the El Castillo pyramid. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 4-page paper examines the structural aspects of the Sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois, including the foundation, steel and weight. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

This 6 page paper examines the life and work of architect Robert Adam and his brothers - all of whom were successful in their architecture but much less successful from a business standpoint. This paper explores the reasons for this disparity, citing examples such as their infamous Adelphi Project. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

A 6 page paper which first examines the Catalan’s culture on Barcelona and then discusses the architecture of Barcelona. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

This is a 4 page paper comparing and contrasting the concepts used in golf course designs. Examples include Pebble Beach and Augusta National. The designs of golf courses have changed a great deal over the last century and a half. Original golf course designs incorporated a great deal of the natural elements present in the ...

This 5 page report discusses Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, and the ways in which serves as a manifestation of the values of the society that produced it. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

This 3 page paper discusses the use of public spaces in alternate ways than what they were designed for. Bibliography lists 2 sources.

This is a 5 page paper discussing considerations of wood construction for the fire service. Fire service and assessment regarding the fire safety of any structure is considered a key component to establishing appropriate fire regulations. The many factors which are considered include fire hazards within the buildings, the number of people inhabiting the buildings ...

The Sydney Opera House was designed by the Danish Architect Jørn Utzon. This 6 page paper looks at the influence that the opera house has had on architecture in Australia and argues that the influence is not readily apparent, but that there has is an ongoing influence. The bibliography cites 8 sources.

This 3 page paper provides a physical description of this monument created in 1982. The architecture and design of the memorial is the focus of the paper. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

This 7 page report discusses the grand pyramid entrance to the famous Louvre museum in Paris. Designed by Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, the pyramid generated a great deal of controversy over the actual design, the future of French culture and design, and the fact that such a truly French institution was being changed by somebody who was not ...

A 5 page paper examining several buildings and their use of light. Architects that have chosen to use natural light to enhance the aesthetics or function of their buildings quickly find favor with those who will be using the building in its final form. Several designers have managed to use natural light as ...

A 4 page paper discussing the addition of an aerial bowl atop the historic stadium at Chicago’s Soldier Field. Dubbed the “toilet bowl” by critics, the architect calls the contemporary addition rising above the stadium’s Doric columns “the juxtaposition of old and new,” but the more likely reason for the design is lack of ...

A 3 page research paper that describes and explores the iconography of the West Front of Wells Cathedral in England. The writer argues that an iconography motivated the overall design of the famous West Front but that the precise meaning of its six hundred plus sculptures is open to interpretation by scholars. Bibliography lists 4 ...

This 10 page paper provdies an overview of the argument that drawing plays a significant role in architecture. Architects like Paul Klee, Daniel Libeskind and even Sim Van der Ryn all demonstrate a distinct focus on the development of architectural artistry and these can be understood through the sketchbooks and drawings of the architects. ...