КОЛИЗЕЙ

Амфитеатр Флавиев, обычно называемый Колизеем, уже много веков является символом величия и могущества Рима, а также одним из наиболее знаменитых памятников древности во всем мире. Колизей начал строиться в 72 г. н.э., его архитектор неизвестен, но некоторые отождествляли его с архитектором Рабирием, построившим дворец Домициана. Подобно другим римским амфитеатрам, Амфитеатр Флавиев представляет в плане эллипс, середина которого занята ареной (также эллиптической формы) и окружающими её концентрическими кольцами мест для зрителей. От всех сооружений такого рода Колизей отличается своей величиной. Это самый грандиозный античный амфитеатр: длина его наружного эллипса - 524 м, большая ось — 187, 77 м, малая ось — 155, 64 м, длина арены — 85, 75 м, её ширина 53, 62 м; высота стен — от 48 до 50 метров. При таких размерах он мог вместить в себя до 125000 зрителей. Амфитеатр Флавиев был построен на бетонном фундаменте толщиной в 13 метров.

Стены Колизея воздвигнуты из крупных кусков или блоков из травертинового камня или травертинового мрамора, который добывали в близлежащем городе Тиволи. Блоки соединялись между собой стальными связями общим весом примерно 300 тонн; для внутренних частей использовались также местный туф и кирпич. С внешней стороны здание представляло собой три яруса арок. Между арками расположены полуколонны, в нижнем ярусе — тосканского, в среднем — ионического и в верхнем — коринфского стиля.

Колизей утратил две трети своей первоначальной массы; тем не менее, он и поныне беспримерно громаден. «Пока Колизей стоит» — говорили пилигримы в VIII столетии — «будет стоять и Рим, исчезни Колизей — исчезнут Рим и вместе с ним весь мир».

When rendering use these words and word combinations:

амфитеатр – amphitheatre, величие и могущество – greatness and might, эллипс –ellipse/ oval, ось – axis, вмещать – seat, травертиновый – travertine, добывать – mine, стальныесвязи – ties, туф – sinter, ярус – tier, беспримерно – unprecedentedly, пилигрим – pilgrim.

20 Express your opinion on the magnitude of the Roman Coliseum and discuss it with your partner using the expressions from Appendix 1.

21 Topics for projects and presentations:

1. Constructivism.

2. Residential buildings.

3. Public buildings.

4. Renovation and restoration.

5. Architecture and ecology.

 

PART II. BUILDING MATERIALS

“We move through negative spaces and dwell in positive spaces.”

Matthew Frederick (architect)

BRICKS and BRICKWORK

Unit 3

Exterior detail	Interior detail

LEAD-IN

Figure 3.1 Evry Cathedral, Essonne, France

1 a) Explain how the following words are connected with “bricks”:

Ceramic, clay, lime, heat and cooling, firing temperature, kiln, iron content.

b) Read the information below and compare your answers:

A “brick” is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.

" Bricks" for building may be made from clay, shale, soft slate, calcium silicate, concrete, or shaped from quarried stone. However, true bricks are ceramic, and therefore created by the action of heat and cooling.

Clay is the most common material, with modern clay bricks formed in one of three processes - soft mud, dry press, or extruded.

Normally, brick contains the following ingredients:

• Silica (sand) - 50% to 60% by weight;

• Alumina (clay) - 20% to 30% by weight;

• Lime - 2 to 5% by weight;

• Iron oxide - 5 to 6% (not greater than 7%) by weight;

• Magnesia - less than 1% by weight

The fired colour of clay bricks is influenced by the chemical and mineral content of raw materials, the firing temperature and the atmosphere in the kiln. For example, pink coloured bricks are the result of a high iron content, white or yellow bricks have a higher lime content. Most bricks burn to various red hues, if the temperature is increased the colour moves through dark red, purple and then to brown or grey at around 1, 300 °C. Calcium silicate brickshave a wider range of shades and colours, depending on the colourants used.

2 Find information about history, methods of manufacture, and characteristics of bricks and make a report.

Bricks and mortar make a house, but the laughter of children makes a home. (Irish proverb)

3 Discuss the following proverbs:

It’s like talking to a brick wall. (Spanish proverb)

• Write a paraphrase of each proverb. • Say whether you agree or not, and why.

READING

4 a) In what context do you think the following words and phrases will appear in the text?

•hand-moulded •moist clay •firing •manufacturing process •quarry •extraction •cement mortar •surmounted by a corbelled structure

b) Read the text quickly and check your answers:

Originally, bricks were hand-moulded from moist sun clay and then sun-baked, as is still the practice in certain arid climates. The fi ring of clay bricks dates back well over 5000 years, and is now a sophisticated and highly controlled manufacturing process; yet the principle of burning clay, to convert it from its natural plastic state into a dimensionally stable, durable, low-maintenance ceramic material, remains unchanged. The quarrying of clay and brick manufacture are high-energy processes, which involve the emission of considerable quantities of carbon dioxide and other pollutants including sulphur dioxide. The extraction of clay also has long-term environmental effects, although in some areas former clay pits have now been converted to bird sanctuaries or put to recreational use. However, well-constructed brickwork has a long life with low maintenance, and although the use of Portland cement mortar prevents the recycling of individual bricks, the crushed material is frequently recycled as aggregate in further construction.

The elegant cathedral at Evry near Paris (Fig. 6.1), designed by Mario Botta, illustrates the modern use of brickwork. The cathedral of Saint Corbinian, built with 670, 000 bricks, was dedicated in 1997. The building exhibits fi ne detailing both internally and externally. Externally the cylindrical form rises to a circle of trees. Internally the altar is surmounted by a corbelled structure leading one’s view upwards to the central roofl ight. Three-dimensional internal brickwork is fi nely detailed to generate the desired acoustic response.

 

5 Read the text again and answer the questions that follow (1-5):

1. What was the original process of brick manufacture?

2. How can you describe a modern manufacturing process?

3. What environmental effects does a modern manufacturing process cause?

4. What have you read about recycling?

5. What are the examples of the modern use of brickwork? Why do these cathedrals impress visitors?

 

Follow-up

6 a) Find in the text the synonyms for the following words:

initially, complex, still without changes, high-activity, to discharge, long-dated environmental impact, to use again, to produce