The city is called a monument of modern architecture. The architecture of the ancient civilizations of America

The most economically and culturally developed regions of South America before the Spanish conquest were the regions corresponding to the modern states of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile. The works of monumental architecture of ancient Colombia known to date are reduced to several underground tombs between the Magdalena and Cauca rivers and the primitive sanctuaries of San Augustine. The population lived in wooden huts (not preserved). Because of this, the architecture of Colombia is not considered. It is mainly the architecture of the Central Andes that is subject to consideration, that is, the ancient architecture of Peru, which includes the architecture of the plateau and the Pacific coast, and the ancient architecture of the Bolivian plateau. From Ecuador to Chile, the Central Andes stretch over a strip of over 1500 km in length and 75-350 km in width. The Central Andes are separated from Southern Ecuador by several hundred kilometers of wooded mountains and deserted coastline, in the east - the rainforests of the upper Amazon, in the south - the Atacama Desert.

By the III millennium BC. NS. the appearance of agriculture on the coast (cotton, maize). At first, communal farmers lived in small scattered settlements, later, with the development of class society, in the 9th-3rd centuries. BC NS. the first large civilization of Chavin appears, leaving monumental complexes in mountainous and lowland areas. In the IV century. BC BC - X century. n. NS. there is a rapid development and spread of great civilizations on the Pacific coast (the coastal strip is 30-50 km wide), which caused the emergence of large religious and administrative complexes. These civilizations are divided into three groups: the 1st in northern Peru - the Mochica civilization, the 2nd in the center of Peru - the Lima civilization, the 3rd in the south - the Nazca civilization. In the X-XII centuries. the civilizations of the coast were suppressed by the Tiahuanaki aliens who came from the inland, mountainous regions. The Tiahuanaca civilization developed in the area of ​​Lake Titicaca (the heyday of the 8th-11th centuries). In the XIII-XV centuries. once again, the dominant position is occupied by the coastal civilization - the Chimu civilization, which took the place of the Mochica civilization. Since 1470, Chimu and with it vast territories covering modern Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and part of Chile, were conquered by the Incas, who ruled until the Spanish conquest (1533).

In contrast to Central America, bronze was known in the Central Andes. More high level reached weaving, produced cotton and woolen fabrics. Farming was carried out with the help of irrigation systems on the low-lying ocean coast and on artificial terraces along the slopes of the mountains. In the Central Andes, much earlier than in Central America, state formations appeared covering large territories.

The coastal and upland areas of the Central Andes differ not only natural conditions and by the methods of farming, but also by building materials: on the coast, where there is almost no rainfall, raw brick (adoba) was used for monumental construction, in the mountains - a stone torn in clay solution or hewn, laid dry. The higher technical perfection of cut stone masonry did not correspond, however, to the lower quality of architecture in comparison with Central America. The builders of the Central Andes did not create spatial complexes equal to those of Mexico and Yucatan.

Main distribution Chavin style corresponds to the boundaries of the modern Peruvian department of Ansash. However, even before the spread of the Chavin culture, the area was densely populated. So, for example, in the valley of the Chikama River from 2500 to 1200. BC NS. there was a settlement, the inhabitants of which lived in round and square premises, and since 2000 BC. NS. dwellings were dug in the cultural layer left behind by previous generations. Nearby there is another settlement, in which houses were built from cylindrical adobes on clay mortar.

The Chavin style is named after the place of Chavin de Huantar, one of the centers of development of this culture. The earliest settlement of Chavin is Cerro Sechin. Cerro Sechin is located on a long-fortified granite hill at the confluence of the Sechin and Mosheke rivers. The dwellings and temple platforms were surrounded by walls. There was a cemetery near each fence. Water flowed through the aqueducts from the reservoirs. The barren hillsides were inhabited not only in order to protect the population from enemy invasions and floods, but also in order not to occupy the fertile lands of river valleys. The largest temple platform (1st millennium BC) lies on the northern side of the hill (Fig. 28). It is surrounded by upright hewn and carved granite slabs (1.6 - 4.4 m high). The slabs are interspersed with smaller pieces of hewn granite. The slab reliefs are the earliest examples of monumental sculpture in the Central Andes. The warriors on large slabs seem to be moving from both sides to the wide staircase of the main northern entrance. The rest of the plates are carved with the heads of defeated enemies and chains of vertebrae. The rectangular temple inside the fence had a developed symmetrical layout and was built of conical adobes.

The later temple of Chavin de Huantara (IX-VI centuries BC), located in the mountains (3200 m above sea level), has a completely different look than the temple of Cerro Sechin. Main temple, the so-called Castillo, is a three-storey rectangular building at the base (75 x 72 m), which did not have a single opening, except for the entrance, to which a stone staircase led. Low (1.8 m high) and very narrow (1 - 4.5 m) galleries and rooms were ventilated with special channels. The floors were connected by stairs. The layout is like a maze. The base of the Cyclopean blocks is pierced with drainage channels. The walls expand towards the base. The building is faced with carved stone blocks.

Mochica culture(VI-IV centuries BC - XI century AD) coincides in time with the classical period of the Mayan culture. It was associated with a large state entity covering the area between the Kasma and Pacasmayo rivers. The ruling elite organized large masses of people for the construction of grandiose irrigation structures: reservoirs, canals, aqueducts, dams. And now in the valley of the river. The Cumbre Chikama Canal is used for a length of 113 km. Aqueduct Ascona north of the river. Chikama was laid on a 1400 m long embankment, in the valley of the Nepenya River there are the remains of a giant dam.

29. Urine. Pyramid of the Sun, c. 100-900 Modern look, plan

The structures of Mochica were built from raw bricks. Just as in Central America, stepped pyramids (huacas) were erected, which differed in that, in addition to the cult purpose (sanctuaries were built on top of them), at the foot of the pyramids there were burials of the nobility (apparently, a relic of the community's ancestral cemeteries). Pyramids were usually 4 to 30 m high. The largest surviving - pyramid of the sun(about 100-900) is located on the banks of the river Urine... The river washed away half of the hill, which is a crumbling pyramid, but the rest of it testifies to the grandeur of the structure. The pyramid is 41 m high and 136 x 228 m at the base. The walls of the cluster of buildings at its top were covered with frescoes. Pyramid E (Fig. 29), consisting of 7 ledges, was moved to the corner of the large ledge (5 ledges) platform C, due to which vast terraces were formed in front of the pyramid from the south and west. From the north, a wide staircase A led to the pyramid, in front of which there was platform B. To the east, about 0.5 km from the pyramid of the Sun, there was the pyramid of the Moon (both names are modern), which is apparently a palace platform.

The dwellings of the nobility of the Mochica period are being reconstructed on the basis of ceramic vases found in burials. The houses were located on a hill, divided into terraces and surrounded by a thick mud wall (Fig. 30). Ordinary farmers settled at the foot of the hill. Inside the walls at the bottom of the hill lived servants, and at the top, wealthy landowners. Each house had a kind of large, open portico.

Perhaps the builders of Mochica were also aware of the wedge-shaped vault. A tomb covered with such a vault was discovered in the Chikama Valley. However, the rule was the use of a false code.

During the period of the Tiahuanaki conquests, the large and fortified pyramids located on the hills of the dwellings were not built. Near the roads, which by that time connected the coastal centers located in the river valleys, huge rectangular complexes surrounded by adobe walls began to be built, consisting of symmetrically located rooms, corridors and courtyards grouped around small platforms. An example is Huaca Dragon(circa 1100) in the Trujillo valley, whose walls, enclosing regular rows of dwellings, measure 55 x 59 m. The outer surface of the walls, made of molded and painted clay, contains repeated representations of animals (Fig. 31). The platform inside the complex has two tiers, decorated with molded friezes.

32. Chan-Chan, XIII-XV centuries. 1 - city plan; 2 - wall decoration; 3 - the second palace; 4 - the first palace; 5 - Ole group

The capital Chimu civilization, on the territory roughly coinciding with Mochica, was Chan-Chan. The ruins of the city occupy about 28 km 2. The city had a harbor, consisting of rectangular basins, with the outside open to the ocean. The indoor pools had sluices. The city and its surrounding fields were abundantly irrigated thanks to a 115 km long canal that connected the Moche and Chikama rivers. All buildings were built from adobes. Chan-Chan was surrounded by walls and consisted of 10-11 large complexes, apparently serving, as in Tenochtitlan, for housing for noble families. Each complex was usually rectangular in plan, and the entire city was regularly planned out (Fig. 32). The complexes were separated by narrow lanes. Aerial surveys make it possible to establish that the city consists of at least three superimposed networks of rectangular complexes, the existence of which cannot be suspected on the spot. New complexes were built on top of the smaller old ones, cutting them, not following them in terms of the location of the premises and along the length. The most explored are the so-called first and second palaces and the Ole group. The less preserved palaces were probably built earlier than the Ole group. The palaces are surrounded by a double row of mud walls 1.5-1.8 m high, with only one entrance from the north - the sunniest side. The walls not only isolated the group of people living in them, but also protected the dwellings from the prevailing southwestern sea wind. The structures inside the walls were regularly planned out. Large and small courtyards with open corners surrounded rows of similar, single-row, cellular small rooms, illuminated by doorways. Their layout is close to the palaces of Central America. The prevailing north orientation of the courtyards was necessary due to the frequent fogs. In addition to the dwellings, the enclosing walls contained reservoirs, small huacas and gardens. The gardens were built in large, stepped pits dug out, which are like the reverse image of a stepped pyramid. The plants were thus protected from the wind and were closer to the groundwater. In addition to the ancestral uac, as in Tenochtitlan, there were temple central pyramids. The analogies in the structures of the dwelling and the temple cannot be explained by the connections of Central and South America. Closeness is due to similarity building materials, climatic conditions and the semblance of a social order.

If in the first and second palaces the accumulation of regular buildings is accidental, then the Ole group has a strict symmetry and seems to be a palace-type building, made according to a predetermined plan in one construction season. This most intricate complex appeared, probably, immediately before the destruction of the city of Inkali. The complex includes 33 houses, consisting of two to five rooms. The houses stand on a low platform around a large, rectangular courtyard. The walls of the Chan-Chan buildings are decorated with niches, ornaments made of protruding adobas and mainly flat reliefs carved in raw clay according to patterns. Various combinations of carved patterns give the impression of Peruvian fabric, which was stronger in antiquity, since the ornament was painted. They are distinguished from the Huaca Dragon scenery by sharper outlines, rounded corners are absent.

Chan-Chan was a relatively young city, its age is hardly more than 300 years. The assertion is based on the fact that the number of his pyramids (uak) is relatively small and they are small. Another, minor city of Chimu culture - Pakatnamu had six large pyramids, of which one contained the core of the Mochica culture, but only one clan complex.

Lima culture in many respects repeats the structures of Mochica. It is also characterized by the erection of pyramids from adob, at the foot of which burials were arranged.

Most big city culture of Lima, which existed in the days of the Incas, was Pachacamac, the city, in the main temple of which there was a deity - an oracle. Currently Pachacamac is covered with sand. The Incas did not destroy the city, but erected two new large religious buildings in it: the Temple of the Sun and the Monastery of the Virgins of the Sun. All buildings were built of adobes, fashioned by hand or made in shapes, only the basements were made of stone. The temple of Pachacamac (Lord of the World) was located on the edge of the city facing the sea, in its southern corner (Fig. 33). The temple is the most ancient part cities - simultaneous to the cultures of Mochica and Nazca. Both the temple site and the city were walled. The temple was a platform of eight steps (on the north side), which had a height of about 1 m. The surface of the steps was covered with a layer of clay, smoothed and painted with mythological subjects. The painting was renewed at least 16 times. At the top of the platform were various residential and religious buildings grouped around the courtyard. Among them there was a dark sanctuary in which several people could hardly fit. There was a wooden cult statue - an oracle, with which only the priests who entered the sanctuary with the gifts of the pilgrims communicated. In front of the statue, the blood of people and animals was sacrificed. The cemetery for nobles and priests was located at the eastern side of the platform. From the east, the temple was adjoined by a wide esplanade with columnar galleries, under the canopies of which merchants and pilgrims were housed. On the esplanade there were also houses for their residence. Columnar galleries are a unique phenomenon in the architecture of South America, and their appearance is certainly caused by the special demands of Pachacamac life. The city itself, measuring 6 x 3 km, was divided by two streets, roughly following the directions of the world. Its quarters contained palace-like structures and numerous groups of adjoining rooms, accessible only from above. The combination of a cult center and residential structures is consistent with the type of city represented by Chan Chan.

Nazca culture also characterized by the construction of large pyramids of adoba. So in Cahuachi, on the middle course of the Nazca River, pyramidal platforms up to 20 m in height were erected, crowned with groups of rectangular rooms. However, the most notable feature of the architecture is the construction of huge monumental images. They are located on a plateau above the Palpa and Ingenio rivers. The images are formed by a network of pedestrian paths strewn with light sand and gravel paths, on the sides of which there are stone pillars. The territory occupied by them is about 100 km long and several kilometers wide. The tracks did not serve to communicate between any specific points. The drawings are in the form of straight ribbons, spirals, figures of fish, insects, birds, plants, made in colossal sizes. Ritual processions apparently moved along the lines of the drawings. To some extent, the images were astronomical designations, some of the drawings are associated with stars in orientation and, possibly, depict constellations.

The construction of the figures required the efforts of many generations, the networks of drawings are superimposed on each other. For complex drawings, there were some auxiliary constructions such as fixed proportions, as evidenced by the traces of additional straight lines.

Tiahuanaku culture originally occupied the basin of Lake Titicaca. The earliest settlement was the city of Pukara in the north of the lake (5th century BC - 5th century AD). The heyday of Pukar dates back to the 1st century. n. NS. Shortly before the extinction of the city, around the 3rd century, in the south of the lake, Tiahuanaku (older than Taipikala) was founded, after which the whole culture is called. The flourishing of the city dates back to the VIII-XI centuries. After the V century. the Tiahuanaku style spreads in the regions of the Montaro River and the city of Cuzco. The date of the fall of the city is unknown, it is unclear why it was abandoned. It can only be established that on the coast, the Tiahuanacu culture continued until the beginning of the 13th century.

The center of Pukar consisted of small, irregular, thatched chambers made of adobes, radially located along the outlines of C. Each had one or two altars. Cells surrounded a deep square courtyard. To date, only well-hewn red sandstone foundation slabs have survived.

Tiahuanaku(3825 m above sea level) for five centuries it was plundered by numerous treasure hunters, in addition, after the Spanish conquest, its ruins served as a quarry. The destruction of the city is such (from the stone buildings there were scattered separate pieces, the earthen platforms were dug up) that only approximately on the stone foundations, in places dismantled, one can imagine the center of the city. Its ruins occupy an area much smaller than the corresponding ensembles in Central America and on the coast of South America (Moche). The city center consists of three groups of buildings oriented to the east (Fig. 34). They consist of earthen platforms lined with well-worked stone. Two of them - Akapana and Kalasasaya are separated by an ancient road. Both groups were surrounded by a 50 m wide moat that maintained a constant water table. The moat, along one of the tributaries, communicated in the north with the Tiahuanacu River. The third group - Puma-Punku (gate of the Puma) was 1.5 km south-west of the first two and was connected with them by roads intersecting at right angles. The center of the city was in the opinion of the Indians the center of the world, as indicated by its ancient name - Taipikala - "stone in the center".

The Akapana earthen platform measures 210 x 210 x 15 m. Based on 17th century texts. They are trying to reconstruct it as a pyramidal platform, crowned on the western side with a narrow stone building. It is believed that Akapana was a walled citadel with an entrance from the east. The citadel housed a water reservoir, premises for housing, warehouses. The Kalasasaya appears to be a U-shaped platform 135 x 130 m. Early masonry was discovered here, akin to that of the fence at Cerro Sechin. Prismatic lava pillars stand at a distance from each other, and the gaps between them are filled dry with small pieces of lava. The stone is carefully processed with stone tools. Kalasasaya, apparently, was a building dedicated to a cult associated with astronomical observations. A wide staircase flanked by two powerful pillars leads to the platform, the opening of the entrance gate at its top is very narrow, it allows only one person to pass. On the territory of Kalasasaya there is the Gate of the Sun, which is a monolithic structure 3 x 4 m. The gate was once surrounded by statues. The composition of the gate is monumental and extremely simple, above the opening (width 1.67 m) a wide, 0.9 m high frieze covered with a flat relief stretches. the squat figure of a god.

Puma Punku is a double pyramid. Blocks have been preserved here - parts of one or more buildings, scattered in such a disarray that some scholars considered Puma-Punku a suddenly abandoned stone workshop. The largest part measures 3.64 x 3.30 x 0.5 m. The heaviest block weighs about 200 tons. The blocks are hewn with the help of bronze tools with amazing care and precision. They were firmly held together by stone spikes and bronze brackets (a T-shaped depression remained in each block). Furrows are made on the blocks for lifting and placing stones in place. The holes for the wooden pins were used to attach strips of gold reliefs.

The best preserved, which has absorbed the traditions of previous cultures, is Inca architecture... At the beginning of the 15th century. small state Incas (formed in the XII century), concentrated around ancient settlement Cuzco, begins wars of conquest. The success of the wars was facilitated not only by the use of bronze weapons, but also by the centralized system of government. By the end of the XV century. the Incas possessed a vast territory from the city of Quito to southern Chile. The Inca state was the largest in ancient America. It was covered with a network of paved roads. Two parallel straight main highways ran along the mountains and along the coast for 6000 km. They were connected by cross roads. Inns were set up along the roads. Stone and suspension bridges were thrown across the rivers, stairs were cut in the rocks. A whole chain of fortresses was built, connected by fire alarms. The cities were distinguished by landscaping: drinking water flowed along the streets, in specially laid ditches.

In the capital Cuzco only the Inca gentlemen or especially noble leaders subject to them could live. The original center of the city was a small, elevated square with the Temple of the Sun and the Inca palace next to it. In the XIV century. the city is expanding (Fig. 35). Each Supreme Inca no longer occupies the ancestral quarter of the ancestors, but builds its own ancestral complex. In the middle of the 15th century. in the north-west of the city, the Saksahuaman fortress was founded. At the same time, to the north of the hill, a swamp was drained and a new community center was founded with new palace quarters of the Inca rulers. Behind them is a new temple, the House of Knowledge and warehouses. Currently, on the site of this center there is a cathedral square and a cathedral. TO central square four main roads converge, connecting the capital with the provinces. Here folk festivals took place, to which the mummies of the Inca rulers and their wives were brought from the Temple of the Sun on a stretcher. On the square in front of the Temple of the Sun, only cult ceremonies took place. The city was divided into quarters - the ancestral complexes of the Incas. Each block was surrounded by a high stone wall with only one gate. Inside were thatched one-story buildings with doors facing the courtyards. The quarters were divided by narrow streets. The main streets were wide enough; so in Quito the main street had a width of 15 m. The walls facing the streets consisted of polygonal blocks or squares of black lava, laid dry and equipped with spikes and nests to make the masonry earthquake-resistant. The openings had a trapezoidal, narrowing stone lintel shape. Trapezoidal niches were the only decoration of the building.

Close main square there was the House of Knowledge - the Inca Academy. Here, the Inca youths were trained in government, philosophy, economic management of the entire vast territory in order to become high officials. The professions were hereditary, in particular, only an Inca could become an architect.

In the middle of the 15th century. the Temple of the Sun was also rebuilt. The temple was 100 meters long and 80 meters wide. The foundations of the enclosing walls have survived, striking in the thoroughness and precision of the masonry, especially perfect in the apse end of the temple, preserved to a height of 6 m. Outside, along the top of the wall, there was a frieze of forged gold plates. The temple, like the dwelling houses, was covered with thatch. The restrained exterior design of the temple did not match the luxury of the interiors. In the main room, the first rays of the sun through the open door fell on a huge golden disc, and on either side stood golden and silver statues of deities. The walls of this and other sanctuaries were covered with gold plates. In one of them, the mummies of the Incas and their wives sat on golden benches. Next to the temple was the Golden Garden, where all objects (trees, flowers and people) were made of silver and gold.

Fortress Saxahuaman(Falcon's Nest) in the north-west of Cuzco was the most significant fortress, seikhhaus and treasury of the Incas (Fig. 36). The fortress was located on a steep mountain, bounded on both sides by deep river slopes, on the third, northern, along a saddle accessible for passage, it was fenced in by three rows of zigzag walls towering one above the other. Each wall was about 3 km long and contained about 40 ledges. The walls are about 3 m thick and 6.5 - 3 m high. According to legend, the fortress was built by 20 thousand slaves over 15 years. Until now, the locals call her "Tired Stone" or "Bloody Stone". The architects were the Incas: Guallpa Rimachi, Maricanchi, Akahuana and Calla Kunchui. The walls of the fortress were piled dry from huge polygonal blocks of gray granite, fitted so precisely that, in the words of one researcher, it was impossible to "stick a hair" between them. Some of the stones were up to 3 m wide and 6 m high. Each wall had a narrow trapezoidal passage closed by a rising stone slab. All three aisles were not aligned on the same axis. There were three towers inside the fortress: one round and two rectangular (the foundations survived). V round tower the noble Incas lived. Inside, its walls were trimmed with silver and gold and decorated with images of animals and plants. At the base of the tower there was an abundant well, into which water was supplied from a very great depth.

Round living quarters are found not only in Saxahuaman. In one of the mountain settlements near Cusco in Runtu Rakkay, there is a round house, which encloses a round courtyard 11 m in diameter. The living quarters consist of three rooms curved in an arc, the doors of which open into the courtyard. The house is a variant of a generic residential complex of large cities. Round structures appeared in South America much earlier than the reign of the Incas. Recently in the mountains east of Trujillo in the area of ​​the river. Marañon was discovered the city of Great Pahaten, conquered and plundered by the troops of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui (1471-1493). The city has a round stone, apparently a cult building with a diameter of 14 m. Its walls have survived to a height of 5 m and were decorated with relief images of condors. The building was cut by a staircase 4 m wide. According to the conquerors, the city had many round buildings and temples crowning the hills.

The other two towers of Saxahuaman housed the garrison of the Incas. Saxahuaman was not only a fortress, but also a place of worship (the house of the Sun), in addition, it was kept here military equipment, tribute from the conquered provinces and the treasures of the Incas, hidden, according to legend, in the labyrinths of the dungeons under the fortress.

The Incas not only used the terrain for their structures. Often the rocks themselves were used for the construction of buildings. So, from the north, in front of the Saxahuaman fortress, the so-called Throne of the Incas was carved out of the rock, consisting of steps leading to the platform. It was at a height of 20 m, and from it the front square in front of the fortress was perfectly visible. Behind the throne there were sacred rocks with ladders, niches and grooves carved into them near the caves. Such rocks were associated with the cult of the dead, sacrificial blood flowed down the grooves inside the caves. It is possible that the round ledge of the temple at Cuzco encompassed such a rock.

The cities, which had a shorter construction period than Cusco, and a smoother surface, were built according to a regular plan (Pikillacta and Viracochapampa, about 1500; rice. 37). In the center of the city there is a rectangular square around which the family quarters are located.

Small mountain settlements had a regular layout if they were located on a flat surface. This was the settlement at the fortress Ollantaytambo(end of the 15th century), where the valley of the Urubamba River expands significantly. The fortress was located above the settlement. Narrow streets 2-3 m wide, it was divided into 18 blocks, enclosing a large square area(fig. 38). The quarter contained two complexes separated by a blank wall. In the middle of each complex there was a large courtyard, into which the doors of four houses with gable roofs and stone pediments opened. The houses were built of rough stone and mud. The walls of the houses had niches inside. The mountain slopes around the settlement were broken up by agricultural terraces.

The settlement - a fortress, for which it was impossible to create a flat area, is Machu Picchu(fig. 39). It is located on a saddle (2520 m above sea level) between two mountains in the bend of the Urubamba River. The fortress was connected with the neighboring fortresses by roads laid in the rocks. The almost steep slopes to the river were covered with terraces with vegetable gardens. Higher up, in less steep terrain, were residential buildings. They either surrounded small courtyards, to which they were faced by the longitudinal side containing the doors, or were extended by a chain. The openings were trapezoidal. The roof was attached to the pediments by means of special stone ledges, to which a wooden lathing was tied. Houses were built either from rubble on clay, or from well-hewn stones, without mortar.

The steep relief almost made it impossible to build streets, the buildings were connected by more than 100 staircases, partially carved into the rocks. Among the village was a large rectangular square stretching from north to south. Residential buildings surrounded it from the south and west, in the east there were religious buildings. Apparently similar in type to the Temple of the Sun in Cusco was the building to the south of the square, containing a tower-like, open upward ledge. Inside it was a sacred rock, in the deep niches of the walls around it, apparently, mummies were kept. The structure was built of beautifully hewn stone blocks. Among the cult buildings on the east side of the square, on the very high point the settlement was located inti-huatana (solar shackles) - a tall conical stone on a stone platform. Similar stones were found among the sacred rocks near Saxahuaman and in other Inca fortresses. A number of magical rites at this stone were supposed to prevent the disappearance of the sun during the long winter. The buildings at the foot of the “sun shackles” are distinguished by the special care of the masonry and the large size of the stones. If each individual building of Machu Picchu does not seem to be an outstanding architectural monument, then all together they leave a deep impression.

42. Kacha. Temple of Viracocha, 15th century General view and plan

Several palace and cult buildings with excellent layout are located on the islands Lake Titicaca and southwest of the lake. On Lake Titicaca on the island of the same name at the end of the 15th century. was built a two-story stone Pilko Kaima palace(fig. 40). On the ground floor, relatively small, symmetrically located chambers are separated by powerful walls and connected by very narrow corridors. A number of cameras are devoid of natural light. The premises on the second floor are much larger. Here is a terrace open to the lake. The floor slab consisted of flat, well-fitted slabs. The facades have a strictly symmetrical structure, for the creation of which false, blind openings are arranged.

Another structure is Monastery of the Maidens of the Sun on Coati Island, end of the 15th century. (fig. 41). The building encompasses a large rectangular courtyard on three sides, the facades are divided by numerous niches, giving a complex chiaroscuro pattern, reminiscent of the complex geometric breakdown of Tiahuanacu buildings.

V Quality the ruins of the complex have been preserved Viracocha temple, significantly different from the temples of other cities (Fig. 42). The temple looks like a long four-nave building, oriented from north to south. It consisted of three tiers, with a sanctuary in the upper one. Along the longitudinal axis of the temple, there are often 15-meter-high pillars with a highly elongated rectangular cross-section. Round columns divide the space between the pillars and the outer walls. The entire building was covered with a gable roof. Its base, which is 2 m in height, was built of stone slabs, above there is a masonry made of adobes. Six rectangular courtyards are located at right angles to the temple mow, formed by rectangular buildings with a gable end, apparently the dwellings of priests and pilgrims. Further south, behind the wall of the sacred site, is also a regularly planned group of circular dwellings, built on clay from torn stone.

Apparently, round and rectangular dwellings were the prototype of the round and less often rectangular tombs in the area of ​​Lake Titicaca - chullps. Chullpa - a tall tower made of precisely fitted blocks of stone, had a burial chamber at the top. Most researchers date the tombs to the time of the Incas.

The monumental architecture of the most developed countries of Ancient America is characterized by heavy, overwhelmingly massive structures with relatively underdeveloped interiors, which is explained not only by the low level of construction technology. The exploiting elite, which had barely separated from the clan, needed expressive, most illustrative means of subjugating the ordinary population. Giant pyramids decorated with intricate decor, long palaces piling up on high platforms, stadiums with temples made up the grandiose ensembles surrounding the inhabitants of Central America. In South America, majestic adob pyramids were built on the coast. In the mountains - the colossal, closed walls of palaces and sanctuaries, decorated with gold plates, were supposed to testify to the greatness and inaccessibility of their rulers.

The chapter "Architecture of South America (Central Andes)" of the book "General history of architecture. Volume I. Architecture Of the ancient world". Author: E.D. Kvitnitskaya; edited by O.Kh. Khalpakhchna (editor-in-chief), E.D. Kvitnitskaya, V.V. Pavlova, A.M. Pribytkova. Moscow, Stroyizdat, 1970

The top of the flooded old church is all that remains of the sunken Brazilian city of Petrolandia after the construction of a large hydroelectric power plant. This is the story of another city that was deliberately flooded and disappeared from the face of the earth for man-made reasons.

Heading to Copacabana? If you are looking for a break from the usual hotels, check out the quirky little place called Hostal Las Olas Guesthouse. This is a complex of ten private villas, each of which has a different shape and unique interior (especially the sink stands out among them). Guest House Las Olas has an extravagant Gaudí style and beautiful views. What else can you dream of while traveling?

Places such as the Cathedral of Las Lajas in Colombia attract not only pilgrims, deeply religious people, but also curious tourists, as well as just amateurs beautiful nature and connoisseurs of incredible architecture. The sanctuary of Las Lajas was built in the Gothic style and is one of the most interesting landmarks in Colombia. So beautiful architectural gem located at an altitude of two and a half thousand meters above sea level - on a bridge leading over an abyss in the canyon of the Guatara River, near the border with Ecuador.

Each pilgrim carried bricks to the top of Montserrat to help build this historic sanctuary in Colombia. The Sanctuary of Montserrat is a religious building visible from most of Bogotá. For people from the Colombian capital, the temple is the most sacred place, symbolic of the city. The history of Montserrat Temple dates back to 1640 when it was allowed to build a sanctuary on the mountain. The small chapel was dedicated to the Virgin Morena de Montserrat, and was built in honor of a similar sanctuary that still stands in the mountains outside of Barcelona.

Botanical Garden Curitiba is a unique attraction dedicated to the natural world. Built in 1991, the garden resembles the French royal gardens- the whole area is filled with luxurious elegance. Flowers line the paths to the garden, and each hedge is carefully thought out to resemble the gardens of a Versailles garden. The greenhouse itself is a garden highlight, gracefully set against the backdrop of the Curitiba skyline.

The stunning Catholic cathedral was built in the newly created capital of Brazil. The Brasilia Cathedral was designed by renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and is an almost hyperboloid structure that appears to be pinned to the ground. The building's exterior, with its striking shape and magnificent glass ceiling, is as intriguing as its history.

Ghat House in Chile is characterized by amazing design and breathtaking unity with nature. The architects have made every effort to blend harmoniously into the coastal landscape. The mansion literally merges with the coastal slope, giving access to the beach. At the same time, it does not violate the integrity coastline, but rather complements it. This project has received many awards at prestigious international competitions.

Would you like to surprise your friends with a vacation story and numerous photos of the places you have been? When planning a vacation, remember our story and, perhaps, you will want to visit these particular cities and learn a lot of new things.

# 10 - Brasilia, Brazil

This city originated in the red desert and reached perfection in less than 4 years. He became the capital of the country, a living and breathing organism. This is Brasilia, the 10th item on our list. Conceived and planned by the architect Lucio Costa in 1957, this city is home to many buildings designed by the world famous architect Oscar Niemeyer. From a bird's eye view, it looks like a cross, but to many it resembles a butterfly or an airplane in shape. This layout was criticized by many, but UNESCO declared the city a World Heritage Site.

The main architectural masterpieces this capital is considered to be the Palace of Aurora (here is official residence President of the Republic), the Republican Cultural Complex, the Cathedral, the Square of the Three Powers (all buildings on it are government buildings). In the design of the city, the ideas of Le Corbusier, a French architect, who is rightfully considered the father of modern architecture, were of no small importance. Brasilia is an amazing capital, if only because it was erected in the shortest possible time.

# 9 - Dubai, UAE

Are you faced with the question of where to get a crane for a construction project? Blame Dubai for this. It is estimated that about 25% of all cranes in the world are involved in the construction of this Arab city, and they work around the clock. Crammed with skyscrapers, Dubai is considered the only capital to have a seven-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab, the tallest hotel in the world. This amazing structure is shaped like a sail.

But it also pales in comparison with other buildings that loom on the horizon. These are Hydropolis, the world's first underwater hotel, Burj Dubai, the tallest structure in the world, API World Tower, which will become the tallest hotel in the world in the future, Dubailand, a Disneyland-style amusement park that is expected to surpass Walt's creation. Disney in scope and beauty. Do you want to look into the future with one eye? Look here.

# 8 - Athens, Greece

Acropolis, the heart of ancient Greek civilization. It is here that the architects of the 21st century draw their inspiration. Perhaps the Acropolis gives the entire city an amazing solidity and power. Here you will see the classic Greco-Roman columns that once supported the Parthenon, the most significant of the ancient monuments of Athens, you will see intricate patterns and intricate carvings on their tops. Some people will want to stay here, but if you are longing for something new, turn your gaze to the building of the Athens Academy - it embodied a modern vision of the classical Greco-Roman style. There is also the recently renovated Athens Olympic Stadium. But is there any doubt that it is the ancient architecture, which has been tested for centuries, that attracts numerous tourists here. That is why we have included Athens in the list of the most architecturally interesting capitals.

# 7 - Florence, Italy

The city is considered by many to be the cradle and center of the Italian Renaissance. And, of course, the architecture of most of the buildings in Florence reflects the style of the Renaissance. It is world famous Palazzo Vecchio(Old Palace), where is located city ​​hall, Academy of Arts - this is where you can see David, the greatest creation of Michelangelo, the Uffizi Gallery - one of the world's oldest museums, main museum Florence, which exhibits Renaissance masterpieces. These are also majestic and airy cathedrals, among which Santa Maria del Fiore is the largest in Europe. Cathedral as well as the Basilica of the Holy Cross, quite big church... A unique attraction in Florence is the Ponte Vecchio - Old Bridge - a medieval building with small shops and workshops on both sides.

# 6 - Rome, Italy

Like Athens, Rome is the cradle of Western civilization, and this is primarily evidenced by its richest architecture. These are true classics: Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Temple of Venus in Rome. Later constructions can compete with them in beauty - St.Peter's Square in the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, National monument Victor Emmanuel II. Modern buildings there are not so many here, just a fabulous abundance of the ancients, erected in the style of classicism and the Renaissance. It is thanks to the magnificent architecture that Rome was included by us in the list of the most beautiful capitals.

# 5 - Shanghai, China

China is actively developing its industry today, and Shanghai, one of the main projects, is an absolute evidence of its rapid growth. At the current scale, decisions on the construction of certain buildings are made in a matter of hours, and it takes no more than a week to develop a project (in the West, this will take months and years). The new area of ​​Pudong, the international business center of Shanghai, is rapidly developing, with the most beautiful and tallest buildings, including the Jin Mao Tower and the Pearl of the East TV Tower, which houses a shopping center, a hotel and an observation deck.

Traveling along the river, you can see the past of the city - there are many buildings built in the colonial style, but they are gradually being replaced by modern structures like the Shanghai Grand Theater. Nearby is the construction of what in the near future may become the tallest structure in the world - the building of the World Financial Center. Still not sure where China is heading? Then look.

# 4 - Berlin, Germany

Since 1989, ever since the Wall collapsed, Berlin has been actively involved in the restoration and transformation of its buildings. The most notable and famous are, of course, the Reichstag, which once housed the Nazi parliament. Today it is covered by a new glass dome; the Potsdamer Platz area - previously abandoned, but now renovated, is dominated by the impressive Sony Center and the headquarters of the DaimlerChrysler concern, built over the past five years. Among the newest can be called the building of the new British Embassy, ​​the Jewish Museum, designed by the American architect Daniel Libeskind.

There are also many examples of classical architecture and buildings in the neoclassical style - Old museum, the preserved building of the Bode Museum, and the Red City Hall (the old residence of the mayor).

# 3 - Chicago, Illinois

This is not just a city of delicious hot dogs and hot sports fans, here, in the City of Winds, the Chicago school of architecture was born and developed - the source of modern American architecture. After the devastating fire of 1871, which destroyed more than 2,000 acres of various buildings, Chicago was rebuilt. Thanks to the efforts of architects, present-day Chicago arose; there are many memorial structures that the whole world knows about. To understand what this city is like today, it is worth remembering that the very word "skyscraper" first appeared here.

The main attractions of the city are called: Sears Building - the most high tower in the United States, the Wrigley Building, a triangular office building that houses the headquarters of a chewing gum company, and Marina City, aptly called the "corncob", graced the cover of the Wilco rock band Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Moreover, the greatest architect of America, Frank Lloyd Wright, lived and worked here, a lot of houses built according to his designs have survived in the city, another, no less famous architect, Frank Gehry, developed the city center and presented him with a huge Millennium Park.

# 2 - Paris, France

Walking around this city, you catch yourself thinking that you are in the halls of a huge art museum. Here you can find the architecture of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, neoclassicism and art nouveau, it is full of ultra-modern buildings that fit perfectly into the overall picture of the city and remind that this is not a museum after all. Indeed, ex-French President Mitterrand was so imbued with the idea of ​​renewing the city that he authorized the implementation of an architectural project called "Grands Travaux" (it was started in the 80s and its goal was to renew the classic style of the city). As a result, a glass pyramid appeared at the entrance to the Louvre, as well as a number of interesting new architectural structures.

The Pritzker Architecture Prize of 2008 (equated in the circle of architects to the Nobel Prize) went to the Parisian architect Jean Nouvel, whose works include museums, in particular, the Musee du quai Branly, conference rooms, office buildings and residential buildings. If you are a passionate lover of the classics, then in Paris you can appreciate it at its true worth: Arc de Triomphe, Cathedral Notre dame de paris, Musée d'Orsay ... To see everything, you will need to come back here again.

# 1 - Barcelona, ​​Spain

Can your camera capture happiness? If yes, then it is worth buying new card memory and come to Barcelona. The greatest architects of the world, gone and living now, created this city and gave it a regal look. Start with the Hospital of St. Paul and the Palace of Catalan Music, the creations of Luis Domenech and Montaner. These buildings are monuments of the World cultural heritage UNESCO.

You can admire the art of another famous Catalan architect - Antoni Gaudi. Among his masterpieces are Casa Mila, Park Guel and the Sagrada Familia - Sagrada Familia. Further you can see the work of Santiago Calatrava - his tower Montjuic Communications, as well as the masterpiece of the already mentioned Frank Gehry "Fish", which is located in Port Olympic, the city's water gate. Finally, walk along La Rambla, the market street in Gothic Quarter, and be surprised by the abundance of ancient buildings. It is not for nothing that Barcelona, ​​the focus of classical and modern architecture, crowns our rating of the most beautiful capitals in the world.

Architecture modern city develops in tune with the constant development of urban culture, industry, and the growth of society. Social and technological progress accelerates and stimulates the further development of old cities and the emergence of new ones.

City architecture: some general information

Urban construction is designed to expand the infrastructure and living space of a person, to create new architectural complexes. Another, no less important, role is to preserve the historically formed image of the city, to maintain its original atmosphere.

The architecture of a modern city also includes landscaping. Its goal is to create and improve living conditions for citizens, to preserve natural resources within a certain territory.

Many post-Soviet cities were built according to standard designs and therefore are still largely similar to each other. Monotonous Soviet buildings can be found in every CIS country, be it Kazakhstan, Armenia or Russia. But there is one city, with whose unique appearance thousands and thousands of people around the world dream to get to know - this is Moscow.

Moscow city architecture

Moscow is the "center of the world", attracting thousands of tourists every year. Moscow architecture can be called a kind of historical chronicle that captures victories and defeats, sorrows and joys throughout the long life of the capital.

Metropolitan architecture is characterized by directions and images that have been happening over the centuries. All the events taking place on the historical stage of the country were reflected in one way or another in the appearance of our city. The 15th century captured itself for a long time with the stone architecture of the Assumption Cathedral and the Kremlin. The reign of Catherine the Great was remembered for the birth of classicism - the Senate, the Bolshoi Theater, the Pashkov House and the Tsaritsyno Travel Palace.

After Patriotic War In 1812, the capital was rebuilt. Historical Museum, became a monument of those times. In the 20th century, Art Nouveau appeared, its examples are the hotels National, Metropol, Yaroslavsky railway station. 21st century gave birth to ultra-modern architecture with its skyscrapers, shopping centers and multi-storey offices, which in their own way decorate and complement the multifaceted

Modern architecture as art

The architecture of a modern city is engaged in the formation of the outer living space of people through the construction of new and maintenance of old buildings. This art includes three main aspects:

• Urban planning - creation and reconstruction of buildings.
• The architecture of three-dimensional structures - the design of residential and industrial enterprises.
• Landscape architecture - arrangement of squares, park areas, public gardens.

In addition, the architectural environment has a strong emotional impact on residents. Along with other factors, it contributes to the development of patriotic feelings.

Directions of modern architecture

V different countries the architecture of a modern city is called differently. We call it "modern", in Germany "Jugendstil", in France "art nouveau". Art Nouveau, as an architectural trend, took shape in the late 19th - early 20th century. It is characterized by a protest against the established, archaic appearance of buildings. During construction in this style, steel, concrete, glass were first used, later plastic and other technological materials. This style is distinguished not only by external aesthetics and thoughtful functionality. The next after modernity, in the 20s of the 20th century, was formed constructivism, which absorbed the "soul" of the victorious proletariat. Its main task is to serve the new production. During construction, reinforced concrete was mainly used. According to the projects of the constructivists, not only factories and factories were created, but also residential buildings, schools, hospitals, and clubs.

The end of the 40s was marked by the emergence of a minimalist trend in architecture; it reached its peak by the 1960s. Minimalists' creed is "Nothing more!" The buildings of this time are laconic, they have no decor and other excesses. The main idea of ​​the minimalist designers is the search for the ideal proportion, the combination of comfort and functionality, in the understanding of that time. The development of modern architecture did not stop there. Soon minimalism outlived its usefulness, and was replaced by the modern hi-tech style, which for many years was entrenched in urban architecture.

High-tech - architecture of a modern city

The formation of this idea was influenced by new technologies accompanying Metal, glass, ultramodern materials and structures, monolithic forms, power and strength embodied in buildings - this is the high-tech style. It includes three subdirections: industrial, bionic and geometric high-tech.

The industrial direction is characterized by a kind of frankness of design. It flaunts all communications, connections, floors, creating decorative and functional structures on their basis.

Geometric high-tech is a variety of geometric shapes, a combination and interweaving of the most unexpected and unusual configurations.

Bionic high-tech is characterized by imitation of the appearance of living nature, harmonization appearance buildings and dwellings with the help of smooth transitions and lines characteristic of those that are common in nature.

Fuerte de Samaipata complex (Samaipata fortress), also known as El Fuerte - archaeological site and site World heritage UNESCO, located in Bolivia in the department of Santa Cruz, Florida province. It is located in the eastern foothills of the Bolivian Andes and is popular tourist spot for Bolivians and foreigners. The complex was not a military fortification and, according to historians, was a pre-Columbian religious site built by the Chane people, a large pre-Incan ethnic group comprising the Arawaks. There are also the ruins of the Inca city, built next to the complex during the expansion of the Incas to the southeast. The Incas and Chan were periodically raided by the Guaraní warriors who invaded the region from time to time. Eventually, the Guaraní conquered the plains and valleys of Santa Cruz and destroyed Samaipata. Guarani also dominated the region during Spanish colonization. Next to the temple complex, the Spaniards built a small settlement, in which the remains of buildings of typical Arab Andalusian architecture are now found. Over time, the Spaniards left the settlement and moved to the neighboring valley, where the city of Samaipata is now located.

Tiwanaku or Taipikala (sometimes Tiwanaku, Tiwanaku, Tiwanaku, from Aim.Tiwanaku) - ancient city, the spiritual and political center of the eponymous Andean civilization. Located 15 km from south coast Lake Titicaca in Bolivia. Since 2000 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The majority of the local population speaks Aymara (one of the three Indian languages, vaguely resembling the Quechua language), the minority in Uru (Uru) or similar to it Chipaya. Previously, the now extinct language of Pukin was widespread. Alan Kolata believed that all of these languages ​​were important in Tiwanaku. The name of the area in the Aymara language was consonant with Taipikala (Taypikala, Taipikala), which means "stone in the center", since the area was, in their opinion, close to the center of the world. There is an opinion that before that there was a name in the Pukin language. It is believed that in pre-colonial Bolivia already in the II-IX centuries. Tiwanaku was the largest city in the Central Andes region and the center of the state of Pukina. At that time, the city occupied about 6 km² and had 40 thousand inhabitants. Around 1180, the city was abandoned by the inhabitants after the defeat of Pukin by the Stake (Aymara) tribes.

Chan-Chan - former center Chimu culture and the capital of state education Chimor. Located on the Pacific coast in northern Peru, west of Trujillo in the La Libertad region. The city was founded around 1300 and to this day covers an area of ​​about 28 km². It was probably the largest city of its time on the South American continent and one of the largest cities world built from adobe. During the period of its greatest prosperity, about 60 thousand people lived in it, and in the city, gold, silver and ceramics were stored in large quantities. The Chimu capital originally consisted of nine autonomous regions, each of which was ruled by a separate ruler who displayed valor in battle. These rulers were revered as kings. Each district had its own burial sites with rich investments of precious stones, ceramics and dozens of skeletons of young women.

The ghost town of Humberstone in the Atacama Desert originated in the Atacama Desert in 1872 as industrial city... Local residents worked in the mines of James Thomas Humberstone for the extraction of saltpeter. The demand for nitrogen fertilizers was great, the city was getting richer. There were schools, theaters, restaurants, churches, and their own customs. But over time, the reserves of sodium nitrate were depleted. In 1958, the Humberstone plant was closed, and 3 thousand people were left unemployed. In a short time the city was deserted. Residents left in a hurry, leaving their property here. Now Humberstone is a museum under open air... It is visited by tourists, every November a festival is held in the city, which attracts people who once lived here. Since 2005, the city has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
For more than half a century, no one has lived in Humberstone. But many tourists come here. Guided tours are held here, and once a year there is a festival.

Ciudad Perdida, or Buritaka 200, is an archaeological site representing the ruins of the city of culture Tayrona in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. The city is believed to have been founded around 800 AD. e., that is, 650 years earlier than Machu Picchu. The area is also known as Buritaka, and the local Indians call it Teyuna. The city was accidentally discovered in 1972 by local grave robbers. They found a group of stone steps climbing up the mountain, and following this staircase, they found themselves in an abandoned city, which they called "the green hell." After gold figurines and ceramic urns from the city began to appear in the local market, authorities investigated and discovered the city in 1975. According to representatives of the local tribes - the Aruaco, Kogi and Arsario - they visited the city long before it was discovered by the authorities, but kept its whereabouts secret. They called the city Teyuna and believed that their ancestors, carriers of the Tayrona culture, lived here. Ciudad Perdida was, apparently, a regional political and industrial center on the Buritaka River, where from 2 to 8 thousand people could live. The city was apparently abandoned during the Spanish conquest.