18th, 19th and 20th Century Buildings Influenced by Ancient Greek Architecture
An example of how monumental Greek architecture influenced modern day buildings is the British Museum which was established in 1753. With the increasingly popular style from the 1750‘s, the building is designed to recreate the Greek revival style. The south entrance emulates classical Greece with the pediments and columns of the design. The columns use the ionic order from Ancient Greek temples and the pediment at the top of the entrance was a common feature of classical Greece architecture. The British Museum was certainly designed with the influential design of the Greek Parthenon.
Another example of how Corinthian order monumental architecture influenced western architecture is the US Capitol Building. The architecture style of the US Capitol Building is again neoclassical. It was inspired by the designs of the ancient Greek and Roman public buildings. The American president at the time, Thomas Jefferson aspired to have the Capitol building as a replica of the ancient temple. It uses a modified version of the Greek Corinthian columns on both the inside and outside as they are the most ornate, slender and sleek. On the first floor of the US Capitols, a dramatic wing of high ceilinged Hall of columns replicate the Greek architecture. Again the use of Corinthian columns is prevalent.
Brisbane City Hall is another example of how ancient Greek architecture continues to influence 18th, 19th and 20th century buildings. Its architectural style is classical style with Greek influences. At the front entrance of the Hall from King George Square, sleek Corinthian columns line the edge of the building standing almost 14 meters tall. The building has a pediment at the front which depicts a sculptural narrative. The inside roof of the main auditorium has a large copper dome and a grand marble staircase is incorporated in the design. The marble material was the main construction material for ancient Greek Parthenon’s and gives a sense of luxury to the building.
The British Museum, the US Capitol and Brisbane City Hall all reflect elements of ancient Greek architecture. Although none of the buildings are an exact replica, the key elements are used. Ian Jenkins writes, "Doric, Ionic or the later Corinthian order... no two temples were ever made alike.... This ability of Greek architecture to transcend its own time has been admired and exploited by generations of imitators in the classical tradition that in the early nineteenth century saw the British Museum itself rebuilt as an Ionic Greek temple to provide a fitting home for the monuments..." (Page 11, Greek Architecture and Its Sculptures, Jenkins, I). The use of marble material, sculptural pediments at the entrances and the use of Ionic and Corinthian columns are essential elements from the Parthenon, and are depicted in these buildings. The 'rules' which controlled ancient Greek architecture have been incorporated with the pediments depicting sculptural scenes of Gods and the columns throughout in one of the three orders. Whilst using the 'rules', each building is unique in the sculptures and art which was limited to the decorations only.