Daniel J. Boorstin, (1992) explains how Romans made use of marble, concrete and bricks to hold their structures together, "By the time of Augustus, marble, used in Roman buildings mainly in slabs for facing or in decorative fragments for mosaics or pavements, was a material more cosmetic than structural. Like stucco, it covered a solid core of brick and concrete. Yet it was concrete that made Rome's grand and distinctive buildings possible. Bricks, one of the most ancient and familiar building materials, when added in the concrete gave character, novelty and grandeur to Roman works. Bricks embedded in concrete helped hold together grand new shapes."
Apart from the Colosseum there are several other beautiful buildings in Rome that remind us of ancient architects who achieved so much with few resources and facilities. The reason why these buildings have withstood the test of time is because of the use of a special type of sand which when mixed with concrete would make buildings fireproof and water-resistant. This volcanic sand was known as polozzana and it was used with concrete for buildings, which were more likely to face tough weather conditions. Another beautiful example of Roman is the Hadrian's Villa, which is located on the southwest of Tivoli.
Yegul (1997) writes, "Spreading over an area roughly twice the size of Pompeii (about 300 acres), Hadrian's Villa, located southwest of Tivoli, is the largest...
Unique even within a type that encouraged novelty of approach to design, Hadrian's Villa represents Roman architecture at its creative best; it summarizes much of its past and projects some of its future. Yet it remains a monument specific to its time and
place, an intensely personal statement by its educated, imperial patron."
In the
history of architecture, Roman architectural designs and buildings occupy a very powerful and significant position. Ancient Romans are considered pioneers of modern day concrete designs and their impact on the world of architecture is profound.
References
1) Roman architecture., the Columbia Encyclopedia, Fifth Edition, 01-01-1993
2) Daniel J. Boorstin, the Creators., U.S. News & World Report, 08-31-1992, pp. 74-103.
3) Yegul, Fikret, Hadrian's Villa and Its
Legacy. Vol. 79, the Art Bulletin, 09-01-1997, pp 547(4).
4) Roman Colosseum: http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Roman_Colosseum.html
