Western European Architecture

This paper is based on the architecture of Medieval Period from 500AC – 1400AD and its styles such as Byzantine, Early Christian, Romanesque and Gothic. Moreover, the paper also covers certain examples from South Florida and the famous buildings standing there. Although a lot of time has passed since the medieval times, we can still see some buildings that were built in the medieval times. Most of the houses that were built during this time were mostly those that belonged to the rich merchants. However, in most of the places the construction done earlier has been replaced as these buildings have been rebuilt and remodeled. The town houses that were built during this time were partially similar to their rural counterparts and they were basically designed due to the lack of space. This is because, previously, land especially in the towns was considered to be very important. The normal town plot in the medieval times was long and narrow and it ran back from the front of the street. Features of the medieval town houses The houses that were planned in the medieval times were basically rectangular in shape and they had a gable end or a wing that faced towards the street. The front part of the house that was on the ground floor was usually used for the purpose of doing trade or used to be used as a shop. Behind the shop, used to be a hall or the main living area and this was further extended to two more storeys and at the back of the house, used to be a counting house or an office along with stores and warehouses as well and an additional accommodation on the upper floor mainly above all the other rooms. The kitchen was separated from the main house and it was an isolated structure at the rear near the courtyard. The upper storey adjoined the street and it used to overhang the street and this gave more space to the upper story than the space at the ground floor, however there was a disadvantage of this as well because the overhanging of upper floors increased the risk of fire spreading. Halls, solars and privies Most of the houses were framed with timber and had wattle walls and the houses for the rich people were built with stone walls. The main element of the houses in the medieval times was the halls that were divided by screens that formed a passageway that led from the pantries and a kitchen area. The hall extended the full height of the building and the hall was used as a general living room by everyone who lived in the house. Privacy was very little and the family members needed a place to keep warm and for recreational purposes. In the hall, there used to be a blazing fire and its smoke used to escape through a hole that was present in the roof that was covered by louvre. The fireplaces and the chimneys were also one of the important features of the medieval times. The domestic chambers that were also known as solars and were used as sleeping rooms and it was located above the passage. At times, these were also fronted by a gallery that overlooked the hall. Even during the middle ages, the timber frames were being used extensively. There were no proper sanitation facilities in the medieval houses and the privies or garderobes were made in the thickness of the walls of larger town houses or as projecting jetties. Garderobes used to get discharged through pipes and gutters into a pit and the chamber pots were used in ordinary dwellings. Furniture and fittings Not much furniture was used in the houses by the people who lived in the medieval times. The only furniture that used to be present in the houses was a table that used to be covered with a linen cloth. Moreover, they had benches or forms, a chair, stools, chests, small cupboards, shelves housing cups, jugs, pewter, knives and spoons, bowls and plates. The people stored their food items in the small cupboards. The poor in the medieval times used palettes to sleep on. These were bags that were filled with dried ferns, rushes or heather, however the people who were well-off used wooden bedsteads to sleep on and it was very rare that the people possessed proper beds, curtains and hangings. Byzantine architecture This is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire and it emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity and today, it is referred as the Roman Empire after AD 330 and at this time the Roman Empire shifted its capital from Rome to Byzantium. This empire that continued for more than a hundred years influenced the Medieval and Renaissance era architecture in Europe but later in 1453, the capture of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks led directly to the architecture of the Ottoman Empire. Early Christian Architecture This flourished from the third to the seventh century and it was produced for the unsplited Christian church. During the Late Antique period, Roman art and architecture extended in the late second till the seventh century and the Byzantine art and architecture existed from fifth till the seventh century. Christianity was made the state religion of the Roman Empire before the Edict of Milan. However, the art adopted by the Christians was restricted as they just used to decorate the hidden places of worship and most of this was derived from Roman art and was developed accordingly to suit the religion. The ideals of perfection used to get rejected by the artists, instead they used to draw images that reflected spiritual significance. In order to envisage the Christian concepts, an iconography was also formulated. In the beginning, the Christians only used to express their arts in terms of transmitting their faith and belief and not as a way of expressing beauty. Later onwards, in the fourth century, the early Christian architecture flourished under the imperial sponsorship. There used to be mainly two types of buildings. . The longitudinal hall – basilica 2. The centralized building – a baptistery or a mausoleum. The exteriors of Early Christian buildings were plain and unadorned; however on the contrary, the interiors were richly decorated and had marble floors and wall slabs, frescoes, mosaics, metal works, hangings, and sumptuous altar furnishings in gold and silver. Early Christian illuminated manuscripts are of an unusually high quality, however nowadays such kin d of architecture is rarely seen. Romanesque architecture This term was used to describe the architecture of Middle Ages Europe which evolved into the Gothic style beginning in the 12th century and this terms means â€Å"descended from Roman† and was used to describe the style from the early 19th century, however there is no specific date that is there as a proof from which this type of architecture came into existence but it ranged from the sixth century till the 10 century. Since the Imperial Roman architecture, the Romanesque architecture is known as the first pan-European architectural style, moreover this style in England is usually named as Norman architecture. The Romanesque architecture basically is a combination of the features found in the Western Roman and Byzantine buildings, furthermore it used to have substantial quality with thick walls and round arches along with sturdy piers, groin vaults, large towers and decorative arcading. The Gothic building followed the Romanesque architecture but comparing the two, the buildings of the Romanesque architecture had clearly defined forms and they were regular based on a symmetrical plan. The overall appearance of the buildings was simple and could clearly be identified all over Europe although the material and the characteristics in different parts of Europe were different and a lot of castles have been reported to be built during this period. Gothic Architecture It is already mentioned in the previous section that the Gothic architecture followed the Romanesque architecture. This flourished mainly during the late medieval period and was succeeded by the Renaissance architecture. Gothic architecture originated in the twelfth century and lasted till the sixteenth century and during this period the Gothic architecture was known as the French style. The main characters of Gothic architecture include the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. Most of the people are able to recognize the Gothic architecture. This is because most of the great cathedrals, abbeys and parish churches of Europe are built using the features of this. It also has many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities, however the private dwellings were not much extensively built. The Gothic architecture was expressed most powerfully in the churches and cathedrals and some of the civic buildings as well and its characteristics normally expressed the emotions. Many religious buildings were built during this period and the smallest buildings are often differentiated from the other architectural designs. However, the larger churches are considered invaluable works of art. These buildings are also listed with UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. The Gothic revivals began in the mid-18th century starting from England and it spread through 19th-century in Europe that continued till the 20th century and this was largely based on the religious building and the universities.

Life Is a Continuous Journey Essay

Life is a continuous journey. Some journeys are short and some long. Some journeys are sweet and pleasant while some are sour. Some journeys are too memorable to be erased by the sands of time. I had one such experience. The memory of this journey continues to flicker, on and on, in my mind even after several years. We reached on 9th Dec., as our train reservation was for the following day by North- East Express. We reached the station early in the morning, the next day and boarded the train. The train started off at 6.00 a.m. I sat by the window and enjoyed the passing scenery. The sights of numerous rivers, bridges, countryside, evergreen paddy fields, lush green tea gardens, vast plains, etc. enchanted me a lot. In the late afternoon we reached Rajshahi station, which is the gateway to khulna. Some of us got out of the train to have a look at the station. The hustle and bustle of people moving about, the coming and going of trains and the enticing sights of the various stalls of t he station attracted our attention and we too moved about the platform enjoying these sights. We didn’t realise how quickly the time had passed. Suddenly we saw our train moving. We were at the far end of the platform and ran with all speed and might to catch the train. I was the last to notice the movement of the train and so the last to run. I too ran after my friends to catch the train. But the train was moving fast. Within moments my friends managed to get in. As I was about to reach the train, I slipped and fell on the platform. I saw my train speeding away before my sight. I shivered with fear. My friends were shouting at the top of their voice asking me to run faster. Just then a coolie lifted me and ran with me to the door, where my friends pulled me in. I just looked back and waved my hands at the good Samaritan, who had helped me-1 got only a glimpse of his face. But that face continues to remain afresh in my mind. The incident deeply scared me and I dared not to move an inch from my seat thereafter. It took some time for me to recover from the shock. The wonderful sights of New Delhi and Agra failed to bring back my lost enthusiasm and interest. I don’t even remember what I saw and how the rest of the excursion ended. The incident at the N.J. P Railway Station was too great to be forgotten by a few passing bliss. I can never forget this memorable journey. The reminiscences of this journey often flicker in my mind every now and then. Whenever this happens, I say a short prayer for the kind and unknown Samaritan, who helped me on that fateful day to get into the train. It was, by far, the most unforgettable journey of my life- a journey that has left its deep scars on the canvas of my life.

High Blood Pressure essays

High Blood Pressure essays One out of the four of you in this classroom will have it. It affects 50 million Americans and nearly half are women. There are no symptoms to this disease. Many people have it for years without knowing it. This is why high blood pressure is also called the silent killer. Uncontrollable high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. As a 3rd level nursing student I have had firsthand experience with patients who have high blood pressure also known as hypertension. Today I would like to talk about what is high blood pressure, risk factors, prevention, and disease progression. Lets start with the definition of high blood pressure also known as hypertension. While you are sitting in your seats you are probably wondering if you are at risk for high blood pressure. According to the American Heart Association, if youre an adult and your blood pressure is higher than 140/90, you have high blood pressure and are at risk for heart disease, stroke, and other medical problems. Blood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). High blood pressure can occur in children and adults, but more commonly in people over 35. One single reading doesnt mean you have high blood pressure, but its a sign that you should watch it carefully. Now lets talk about 2 categories of risk factors, controllable and uncontrollable. Controllable risk factors are those that increase your chances of developing high blood pressure, but you have the ability to modify them. First is being overweight. Second is too much salt intake. Third is drinking too much alcohol. Fourth is lack of exercise. Fifth is smoking. Sixth applies to women and is birth control pills. And lastly is stress. The first five factors mainly deal with having an overall healthy lifestyle. By eating fatty foods an...

Reservoir Dogs Essays (680 words) - Concept Albums, Feces

Reservoir Dogs Essays (680 words) - Concept Albums, Feces Reservoir Dogs Gangsters, violence, murder and corruption !!!!! If these are some of the things that you're into, then this is your kind of movie. Be ready to watch it more than once to be sure to get all the movie has to offer because it jumps from subject to subject and can be a little confusing. The movie on the whole was really great. It was filled with some pretty gory scenes and extreme violent content, Tarantinos' trademark. The way he portrays the real life aspects of crime and violence are unbelievable. I wonder if he experienced some of these things himself and that's why he has a realistic view of them. Then again, I can't really gauge how realistic any of these themes are because after watching this kind of movie it makes me feel like I lead a really sheltered lifestyle. Why does all the violence in Tarantinos' movies become so attractive to us normal people? I think it's because most of his material is underworld stuff. He deals with things we can barely relate to. Topics that are so far fetched to a "normal" person that they kind of hypnotize us into watching. Things happen in his movies that are so bizarre, we can't begin to imagine them happening to us in real life. The weird part is, many of these things DO happen every day. We all know there really are gangsters, mobsters and really low-life people that involve themselves in what we think of as underworld crime. Drug deals.... on a level so great... amounts we can't begin to comprehend. Murders, for whatever reason. Even the thought of hiring someone to kill someone else gives us a goose bump or three. In his movies it's almost like borrowing a cup of sugar from your next door neighbor. Chopping off someone's ear would repulse me and probably make me want to spew my lunch. Tarantinos' characters chop off ears then talk into them as if they were using ma bell. His characters attitudes are totally ruthless. They could give a shit if you were the cousin of the president or a nanny. They have a job to do and they do it. No holes barred, no questions asked, no thought given to actions or consequences. They are almost like robots, zombies of the underworld that have no emotions or respect for the value of life. You would think these characters are drugged or brainwashed, but they're not. It amazes me that people do this kind of shit as if it were just another day. It's as second nature to them as brushing our teeth every morning is to us. Belonging. Everyone likes to feel like they fit in. There is a certain comfort level in belonging to something, anything. Even if it is to a gang of criminal types. I think that's another reason we all relate or get captured by viewing these kinds of movies. I can only compare it to a fraternity; fraternity brothers all belong to an organized group. They have similar interests, goals and acquaintances. All Tarantinos' characters have these things in common. Although they aren't exactly what we would consider acceptable, they all still feel this common bond. It's a sick kind of thing though. When you think of all the things life has to offer, why would you want to involve yourself in all this complicated criminal shit? They jeopardize their own existence because even though they are considered members of the organization, they would snuff each other out in the blink of an eye if the right person told them to do it. !!!! I have to admit I was totally awed by his movie. I couldn't wait for the next scene to start. As a movie maker, his ideas and the way he presents them are phenomenal. He definitely captures his viewers. You don't even want to blink for fear of missing something. I would like to see him do a movie about topics that aren't so bizarre just to see if the movies would be as good.

How to Make a Lichtenberg Figure

How to Make a Lichtenberg Figure Lichtenberg figures are branching structures formed by an electrical discharge on or inside of an insulator. The structures take their name from Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, the physicist who discovered and studied them. Although you can  make your own Lichtenberg figure using polyethylene sheets and talcum powder, there is an easier method you may wish to try. Lichtenberg Figure Materials Sharp metal object (e.g., awl)Insulator (e.g., sheet of acrylic)Photocopier toner Make a Lichtenberg Figure Position the metal object so that only its tip is touching the surface of the insulator.If you have a Wimshurst machine or Van de Graaff generator handy, discharge it through the metal point into the acrylic. (Gray Matter has a cool video of what happens if you use a particle accelerator to create the Lichtenberg figure. Note that the hammer is insulated, thus preventing that persons skin from displaying a Lichtenberg figure. Be careful!)If you dont have a machine, youll have to generate static electricity another way, like by dragging your feet through a shag carpet and zapping yourself on the metal object... fun!In either case, you will create a Lichtenberg figure across the surface of the acrylic, radiating outward from the metal point. However, you probably wont be able to see it. If you (carefully) blow toner powder across the surface of the acrylic, the Lichtenberg figure will be revealed.

Major Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Major - Term Paper Example These punctilious checks and measures that are applied in the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada are underpinned by the roles that the holder of this office discharges. These roles are in turn highly sacrosanct to the dispensation of justice throughout Canada, as shall be seen in the discussion that ensues forthwith. First, it is important to note that the Chief Justice of the SCC sits as the chairperson of the Canadian Judicial Council. The Canadian Judicial Council in turn comprises all of Canada’s chief justices, and their associate chief justices who serve in the superior courts. The Canadian Judicial Council which was established by the Judges Act of Canada coordinates all the issues of discussions that concern the judiciary, organizes and facilitates all the seminars that involve federally appointed judges, sets up and carries out inquiries on public complaints or on requests that have been made by the provincial attorney general, or the fede ral Minister of Justice. Normally, these complaints and requests concern the conduct of a federally appointed judge. By extension, the foregoing means that the Chief Justice of the SCC initiates the roles of the Canadian Judicial Council and delegates those roles to those functioning below his office. This means that the Chief Justice is the officer who oversees all the functions immediately above (organizing the seminars for the federally judges, coordinating all issues of discussions that concern the judiciary and making inquiries on complaints lodged by the public, the provincial attorney general or the federal Minister of Justice). In almost the same wavelength, the Chief Justice presides over and guides all the sittings of the Supreme Court. The only exception to this provision is the Chief Justice’s absence. In the event of this absence, the Deputy Chief Justice will chair the sitting of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is the same office that has to choose the pane ls of Justices who preside over all the Supreme Court of Canada cases. According to Dodek (2011), the Chief Justice also directs and manages the staff serving in the Supreme Court. This role is of immense magnitude, given that the Supreme Court of Canada has more than 150 employees who are also members of the federal government civil service. At the same time, the import of this development is that matters touching on the welfare of the employees of Canada’s Supreme Courts such as the extension and harmonization of remunerations, workplace safety and standards, efficiency and legal competence among Supreme Court employees and the observation of work and legal ethics are all matters that fall under the Chief Justice’s jurisdiction and responsibility. The case above has a great bearing on the dispensation of justice in Canada. Particularly, matters touching on the harmonization of remunerations, workplace safety and professional standards directly bear on the motivation of the Supreme Court employees, like other members of the federal government civil service. This means that the Chief Justice directly bears on the services and duties which are: giving its views on how a specific law ought to be interpreted and applied by Canada’s entire court system; giving guidance to the lower courts; providing uniformity in the court systems throughout Canada; directing change in interpreting and applying laws; and recommending or even rejecting explicitly the traditional

Family law Scenario analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Family law Scenario analysis - Essay Example Family law Task 1 - Using relevant statutory provisions and case law, analyse scenario 1: Assess the legal validity of any possible claim against Gail’s estate and applying legal provisions, illustrate how her estate would be disposed of. Task 2 - Using relevant statutory provisions and case law, analyse scenario 2: Identify any possible claimants on Peggy’s estate under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and assess the likelihood of success each claimant would have in receiving a payment from the estate. Task 3 - In relation to the two scenarios, critically comment upon the ability of the law to interfere with a testator/testatrix’s last wishes. Task 1 In order to check the legal validity of any claim against the estate of Gail, it would be necessary to refer primarily to the will that Gail prepared. In terms of the will’s validity, no doubts can exist. In accordance with the s9 of the Wills Act 1837 ‘no will shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed by the testator or by some other person in his presence and by his direction’. The will of Gail is signed by her; the text of the will contains the phrase ‘Signed by the said Testator,†¦, in the presence of us’, a phrase that verifies the fact that the will was signed before the witnesses, so no doubt in regard to the will’s validity exists. In other words, the will of Gail is valid being aligned with the relevant provisions of the law, as described above. At the next level, the text of the will should be reviewed for judging whether Gail assets would be distributed in accordance with the will, or whether her estate will fall under intestacy. In other words, it should be made clear whether the will has been revoked or not. Gail prepared the will in December 2010. At that time, Gail had already taken a divorce from Brian, as assumed by the fact that when Martin proposed to her, the processes of the divorce were over. It should be mentioned that after the divorce, Gail bought a house the value of which has been estimated to ?225,000. Also, in July 2010, Gail had inherited a sum of ?150,000 from her father. In other words, the value of Gail’s estate, i.e. the inherited assets, can be estimated to ?375,000. In terms of the will’s validity, the following issues should be mentioned: in accordance with the UK law, a will is automatically revoked if a marriage takes place (s 18(1) of Wills Act 1837). This means that the will of Gail could be possibly considered as revoked. The section 18(3) of the 1837 Act notes that the will may not be revoked after the marriage in case that the testator has made clear within the will that he is going to marry to a particular person and that he wishes that the will remains effective after the marriage. Gail added such term within her will, without, however, specifying the person that she was going to be married. In this context, her will should be considered as revoked. As a result, those who were entitled under the will would receive nothing, with reference particularly to Gail’s best friend, Claire Peacock, but also Blanche Tilsley. The gifts which were, in accordance with the will, would be given to the above persons, will be incorporated in Gail’s estate and will be distributed using the intestacy rules and the right of the surviving spouse. As for David and Sharah, who were also mentioned in the will, they will not inherit the rest of Gail’s esta te, but they will share, along with Nicholas, the remaining part of the estate of ?62,500, after deducting the right of the surviving spouse, as described below. At this point it should be mentioned that Sharah would not inherit since she dies in the car accident, along with Gail; however, Sharah has a daughter, Bethany, who would inherit as the grand daughter of Gail. Under these terms, the estate of Gail would be distributed among the beneficiaries, using the Administration of Estates Act 1925, as containing the rules related to the surviving spouse rights, and the Law Reform (Succession Act) 1995, which includes the