CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



bass-reliefs, representing battle-scenes, &c. The 

 interior contains large halls or tanks for hold- 

 ing water, surrounded by numerous columns 

 arranged in an artistic manner. In this temple, 

 all the forms are essentially of the Roman Doric 

 order, as those of Cashmere are of the Greek. 

 No such pillars occur in India, and no Indian 

 bracket capitals or pillars occur here. As yet, 

 no clue has been found to the history of this 

 remarkable style. 



The architecture of China was at one time 

 attempted to be 'revived,' and introduced into 

 this country ; but more recent investigation has 

 shewn that in that country, so remarkable for 

 its ancient civilisation, scarcely a building exists 

 to record its past history or its present greatness. 

 The temple of the Great Dragon at Pekin, and 

 the Buddhist temples, resemble Indian archi- 

 tecture, but are very inferior in extent. The 

 pagodas, the appearance of which is so familiar 

 to us, are exaggerated tees of dagobas. The 

 porcelain coating with which they are adorned 

 produces a novel and brilliant effect. 



Like the architecture of Cambodia, that of 

 ancient America forms a puzzle to the historian. 

 There are certain resemblances between Asian 

 and Central American art, but it is impossible at 

 present to point out any connection between them. 

 When the Spaniards conquered Mexico, they found 

 cities and large buildings. The principal monu- 

 ments are the teocallis, or temples : these are 

 pyramidal, with a temple or cell on the top. They 

 are of all ages, from four or five centuries before 

 the Spanish conquest. These pyramidal platforms 

 are similar in idea to those of Assyria, being lofty 

 bases on which to set the temple conspicuously. 

 Some of the buildings are, however, of a more 

 original style, such as that at Mitla. The walls 

 slope outwards from the base upwards (a feature 

 unknown in any other style). The panels are 

 filled with frets and new peculiar forms. In 

 Yucatan, the buildings are similar to those above 

 described, some of them shewing distinct traces 

 of a wooden origin. The horizontal arch is also 

 used. 



We have seen that all true architectures have 

 had a gradual and natural growth. No style was 

 ever created by one man, so that all the calls we 

 so often hear on the architects of the present day 

 to produce some original style must be in vain. 

 By endeavouring each man in his own sphere to 

 design in accordance with the actual needs of the 

 case, a true feeling will be introduced, which will 

 soon produce good fruit. As above pointed out, 



180 



French domestic and English ecclesiastical archi- 

 tecture are now rapidly freeing themselves from 

 the trammels of copyism. 



PRACTICAL ARCHITECTURE. 



In designing a building, the architect must first 

 ascertain as nearly as possible what the require- 

 ments of the case are. This is sometimes a very 

 difficult matter, from the vagueness of his instruc- 

 tions. 



The architect then prepares ' sketches,' shewing 

 on the ' plans,' which represent the appearance of 

 a house if cut through horizontally at any point, 

 the accommodation or arrangement of the rooms, 

 windows, doors, stairs, &c. ; and by the 'elevations,' 

 the geometrical representation of the exterior of 

 the different sides. When the sketches, which are 

 usually to a small scale, are approved of, the work- 

 ing drawings and specification are next prepared. 

 The former shew the ' plans ' and ' elevations ' care- 

 fully drawn out to a larger scale, all the construc- 

 tions being accurately considered, and the dimen- 

 sions all marked on the drawings. The ' specifica- 

 tion' contains a minute account of every part of the 

 works to be done. These are generally divided into 

 mason's and excavator's, carpenter's and joiner's, 

 plumber's, plasterer's, smith's, slater's and glazier's 

 works ; each contractor for one or more of these 

 departments being bound to carry out the work 

 in accordance with the plans and specification. 

 Before estimates are taken from contractors, the 

 drawings and specification are all measured by a 

 surveyor, who prepares' schedules' or 'bills of quan- 

 tities,' shewing the exact amount in yards, feet, 

 &c. of all the materials and workmanship which will 

 be required to complete the works. These sched- 

 ules are like a blank account prepared beforehand, 

 and each contractor prices the bill at the rate he 

 undertakes to do the work at. These rates are 

 useful in checking excessive charges ; the builder 

 being bound to execute more or less work as may 

 be required at the rates stated in the schedules. 

 When the schedules are given in, and the contracts 

 entered into, the architect proceeds to make out 

 numerous large drawings of all the ornamental 

 parts of a building, all the mouldings having to 

 be drawn in section to the actual size, for the 

 guidance of the workmen. All the ornaments, such 

 as capitals of columns, &c. have also to be drawn 

 out to the actual size. In the same way, drawings 

 for doors, windows, shutters, and all wooden finish- 

 ings, must be furnished of the full size. 



