History Assiggnment 1b (FOOJIAHUI)

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: ARCHITECTURE ANALYSIS REPORT
COURSE: ATBR2313 HISTORY OF WESTERN ARCHITECTURE
NAME: FOO JIA HUI 20WVD03980

PROGRAMME: DAR1 YEAR 1 SEMESTER 3

CONTENT:

1.1 Introduction
2.1 Building 1: Mausoleum of Diocletian
2.2 Building 2: Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
3.1 Comparison 1: Building Material
3.2 Comparison 2: Space Planning
3.3 Comparison 3: Ambience
3.4 COMPARISON 4: SCALE
3.5 COMPARISON 5: PROPORTIONS
3.6 COMPARISON 6: STRUCTURES
4.1 CONCLUSION:
5.1 REFERENCES:

1.1 INTRODUCTION:

The aim of this assessment of History of Western Architecture is to study and understand the Western Architecture development and also
to analyze the similarities and differences in the application of Western architecture ideas in the East. In the assignment 1a, a building in
Roman architecture has been studied which is the Mausoleum of Diocletian. The assignment 1b will study about a Classical architecture
building in Malaysia and compare the elements of this Classical building with the Roman architecture building.

2.1 BUILDING 1: MAUSOLEUM OF DIOCLETIAN

The Mausoleum of Diocletian is located in Split, Croatia. It was built in the 4th century. The mausoleum is built to represent the
emperor’s divine because the emperor of Roman is believed to be the son of Jupiter who has the power to control the Earth. This
building is an octagonal form. There are two sphinx sculptures at the entrance of the mausoleum to act as a keeper to protect the
emperor’s last resting place and also celebrating the Diocletian’s divine status (Split Day Trips, 2017). Then, the exterior view of the
mausoleum is an octagonal shape but it is a circular form when in the interior view (Heinrich Hall, 2019). There are also columns inside
the mausoleum which are used to decorate. There are also gorgeous and beautiful gold mosaics and dome frescoes in the mausoleum.
The center of the mausoleum is placing the sarcophagus of Diocletian (Split Day Trips, 2017).

Figure 2.1 Perspective view of Mausoleum of Diocletian (Roberto Piperno, 2014)

2.1 BUILDING 1: MAUSOLEUM OF DIOCLETIAN

Plan Front Left Section
elevation elevation

2.2 BUILDING 2: CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is a gothic building located at Klang, Selangor. It was built in 1928 and Father Souhait was charged
to design the church building (Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, 2018). Father Souhait designed the building by using some gothic
architecture elements such as the rose window, stained glass, pinnacle and so on. The building also has the bell tower on the first floor.

Figure 2.2.1 Figure 2.2.2
Facade of Church Perspective view
of Our Lady of of Church of
Lourdes Our Lady of
Lourdes

2.2 BUILDING 2: CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Ground First floor Front elevation Right elevation
floor plan plan Section

3.1 COMPARISON 1: BUILDING MATERIAL

Different CHURCH:
The material used to build the Church of Our Lady of
DIOCLETIAN: Lourdes is timber, clay brick and plaster (Church of Our
The building material used to build the mausoleum of Lady of Lourdes, 2018). Timber which is always used in
Diocletian is local limestone, marble and brick which is made tropical climate countries is used for the window framing
in Salonitan factories. The limestone and marble is taken from and door. Also, the clay brick is used for the whole building.
the beds of the Jadro River (Split Day Trips, 2017). They used Also, the plaster is used to finish the wall to improve the
these materials to build the mausoleum because material from wall appearance. Clay brick is the common building
local is easy to get and also will shorten the construction time material in Malaysia.
because they no need to get material for a further place.

3.2 COMPARISON 2: SPACE PLANNING

Different CHURCH:
The church is shaped in rectangular shape. The apse of
DIOCLETIAN: the building is the altra. Both beside the nave are placing
The mausoleum is octagonal in shape, hence, the the wooden pews for the prayers.
indoor space is limited than the church. The
sarcophagus of Diocletian is placed at the center of
the mausoleum because it is the main character for
this building.

3.3 COMPARISON 3: AMBIENCE

Similar

DIOCLETIAN;
The ambience of the Mausoleum of Diocletian is more
deep, depressing and solemn. This is because the
opening for the mausoleum is less. The less daylight
provided to the mausoleum makes the indoor
atmosphere feel more depressing and solemn. This will
make the visitors to the mausoleum feel scared and
stifled and think the owner of the mausoleum or the
emperor is powerful and dignified. Then, the design and
decorative inside the mausoleum is also gorgeous to
represent the divine and the status of Diocletian.

Figure 3.3.1
Ambience in the
Mausoleum of
Diocletian (Barbara
Vallance, 2021)

3.3 COMPARISON 3: AMBIENCE

CHURCH:
The ambience of the Church of Our Lady of
Lourdes is brighter and more solemn. There are
many openings for the church. For example,
about 8 shutter windows at the both left and right
wall of the church. Hence, sufficient light comes
into the church and makes the church look like
full of hope and future in the building. Also,
there are rose windows and transoms are using
stained glass to give some image and colour to
the church and give the sacred ambience to the
church.

3.4 COMPARISON 4: SCALE CHURCH:
The scale of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes also
Similar seems big to the humans because the gothic building
has the principle of human belief that the building
DIOCLETIAN: tall and narrow can connect to heaven and able to
The scale of the mausoleum is quite big to the humans communicate with the Gods.
and shows the power of the emperor. The bigger scale of
the building to the humans will make the humans more
respect the emperor. The bigger scale of the mausoleum
also shows the higher status of the emperor.

3.5 COMPARISON 5: PROPORTIONS

DIOCLETIAN: CHURCH:
The exterior column is surrounded by an octagonal shape The proportion of the nave and the aisles at the entrance is different.
wherever the interior column of the mausoleum is The size of the nave entrance is bigger than the aisles entrance which is
arranged in circulation. beside both left and right of it. The nave is the main walkway and
entrance for the church. The rose window at the facade has a bigger
size than the stained glass window opening. The rose window gathers
all the images and elements which can show the holy of the Gods. The
amazing colourful image and the bigger size of it give a different
appearance and are sacred to the whole building.

3.6 COMPARISON 6: STRUCTURES

Similar

DIOCLETIAN:
The wall of the mausoleum can support itself, it is because of
the arches function in the wall.
The load of the building will transfer to the arch then direct
transfer to the wall and the ground. The column of the
mausoleum is constructed separated with the wall. Hence, the
main function of the column is used for decorative purposes
(Split Day Trips, 2017).

3.6 COMPARISON 6: STRUCTURES

CHURCH:
The building also uses the arch principle to support the
ceiling and roof. The interior column of the church is
constructed together with the wall. Hence, the arch is able to
send the load to the column and wall to make sure the
building could stand.

The window of the church is using the Malaysia local culture
which is shutter windows (Ms.Ida’s group, 2014). Because
Malaysia is considered a hot climate which is located at the
equatorial of the earth, hence the local residents usually used
shutter windows to improve the ventilation of their building
and help to reduce the heat inside the building.

4.1 CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, we can see that some of the elements or principles are similar in these two buildings such as the scale. The ambience for
the two buildings are giving the solemn atmosphere but there are still a different feeling in these two buildings. In the mausoleum we
can feel more of the depression feeling in the solemn atmosphere but in the church we can feel more safe and calm in the solemn
atmosphere. Then, the material used in the building also will be slightly different when the building location which it was constructed is
different. The use of the material can be affected by the climate of the location.

5.1 REFERENCES:

1. Barbara Vallance (2021), Ceiling in the Diocletian`s Mausoleum, viewed 20 March
2021,<https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-ceiling-diocletian-s-mausoleum-now-cathedral-st-domnius-split-croatia-i
mage82683578>

2. Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (2018), Architecture, viewed 20 March 2021, <http://ollklang.org/architecture/>
3. Heinrich Hall (2019), Diocletian’s Palace at Split- A Superlative Monument, 20 March 2021,

<https://www.petersommer.com/blog/archaeology-history/diocletians-palace-split-croatia>
4. Michael Greenhalgh (n.d.), The Emperor’s Mausoleum, 20 March 2021,

<http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/bycountry/croatia/spalatro_palace_of_diocletian/mausoleum.html>
5. MICH’S (n.d.), Methods of Documentation and Measyred Drawings, 20 March 2021,

<https://micharchijourney.wordpress.com/semester-3-5/methods-of-documentation-and-measured-drawings-3/>
6. Ms.Ida’s group (2014), Church of Our Lady Lourdes, viewed 20 March 2021,

<https://churchofladylourdes.wixsite.com/measureddrawing-2014/concept>
7. Roberto Piperno (2014), Diocletian’s Dalmatia, viewed 20 March 2021, <https://romeartlover.tripod.com/Spalato6.html>
8. Split Day Trips (2017), The Mausoleum of Diocletion and Its Astonishing Story, viewed 20 March 2021,

<https://www.daytripsfromsplit.com/mausoleum-diocletian-astonishing-story/>

THANK YOU
HAVE A NICE DAY :)