Welcome to Our Introduction to Architecture Homeschool Course

Introduction to Architecture Course Lesson 1

In its simplest form, architecture is design and creation. It should come as no surprise that people love to build since we were created by the Ultimate Designer and Creator—God, Maker of heaven and earth. He has instilled his qualities within his people. He has allowed us to imagine and given us the ability to create. Of course, our “creations” are much different than His. The things God created in the beginning came from nothing. The things we are able to create are made from those things God spoke into existence in the first place. The paper we draw our designs on comes from the trees, as do our pencils. The beams in our skyscrapers are made of various kinds of metals, which originated from minerals in the earth. Bricks, concrete, and glass can be broken down into elements we find in nature. The tools used to build and the nails and screws used to hold structures together come from parts of God’s creation. God has given each of us a gift that we should use to bring Him glory. Those who are able to imagine, design, and create are no exception.

This course will take a look at some amazing architecture, from ancient buildings to today’s skyscrapers that actually seem to scrape the sky. We will look at the ingenuity of the structures at the time they were created and learn about the people behind them. Architectural and scientific elements will be studied throughout, as well as history, geography, Bible, and art. While these lessons will not be broken down into individual days, there should be enough instruction and/or activities for a week’s worth of lessons. Feel free to break them down in a way that works for you and your children. If you feel there are too many activities, then pick and choose a few. I recommend high schoolers attempt to complete all of the activities in order to receive credit for the course.

Let’s start our study of architecture with God’s Word. We see elements of architecture in the very first book of the Bible. In Genesis 4:17b (NIV), we read, “Cain was then building a city,and he named it after his son Enoch.” This was the very first city! It is likely these homes and other buildings were made of mud, brick, stone, and wood. Cain would have used what was readily available.

In Genesis 4, verses 20 and 22,we read that Jabal “was the father of those who live in tents”and Tubal-Cain “forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.”While you might not think a tent is architecture, I contend that it is. Somebody had to come up with the idea that there was a better way to exist than living in caves. (For the sake of argument, let’s say the idea was all Jabal’s.) It’s a bit difficult to be a nomadic people if you’re living in a cave. How would you take that cave with you if you needed to move to find food or be mobile because of your flocks? Man was supposed to inhabit the earth. How would he be able to fulfill that command if he was stuck in a cave? Jabal looked for a solution. He designed the tent so it could be taken down and carried away. It was a structure that was to give his family protection from the elements—wind, rain, scorching heat, etc. Of course, it was a simple design, but it was a design, nonetheless.

How about Tubal-Cain? He created tools of bronze and iron. These would have been the types of tools builders would have used for fixing things and for building structures. They were probably the kinds of tools used to build the ark. Without the right tools, building is difficult.

In Genesis 6, God informs Noah that he will be “putting an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them” (Genesis 6:13, NIV). He instructs Noah to build an ark. While we are not going to be discussing shipbuilding in this course, the ark served as a dwelling place for both man and animal. God gave Noah very specific instructions for the design of the ark. We will see later that God is very specific in the design of certain structures.

What were God’s instructions for building the ark?

-Genesis 6:14-16 (NIV)

ACTIVITY: Watch these videos* about Noah’s Ark:

1. This is a two-minute-long video that compares the ark to various ancient buildings and other objects: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrtCLXlaaG8
2. This one is a minute-long presentation of the ark’s construction, dimensions, and a quick look at the interior: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmTKQ6oqgIA

*SchoolhouseTeachers.com note: Parents should closely monitor children’s use of YouTube andWikipedia if you navigate away from the videos and articles cited in these lessons. We also recommend viewing the videos on a full screen setting in order to minimize your students’ exposure to potentially offensive ads.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: If you are interested in the specific construction of Noah’s ark and its seaworthiness, you can read the article from Answers in Genesis: https://answersingenesis.org/noahs-ark/thinking-outside-the-box/

“So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it

and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it:

The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and

thirty cubits high. Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof

an opening one cubit high all around.”

Once the floodwaters receded, the people began to spread throughout the earth. We see in Genesis 10 that many cities had been built: Babylon, Erech, Akkad, Calneh, Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, Resen, and so on.

GEOGRAPHY ACTIVITY: Each lesson will include a map activity so you can become familiar with where the structures we will be discussing are located.

1. Download and print the world map at the end of the lesson or use one of your own.
2. Because the ancient cities were located in what is known as the Middle East, either circle the grouping of countries considered to be a part of this region or color them. Use an atlas or find a map online.
3. Download and print the Middle East map at the end of the lesson. Use this map to locate some of the cities you read about in Genesis 10. A map of the ancient near east will assist you in your search. Compare the location of the ancient cities to the cities of today.

In Genesis 11, it seems the people grew weary of spreading out. They settled in Shinar and, since they all spoke one language, they decided to work together to build a city with a tower made of bricks that could reach heaven. The people wanted to make a name for themselves, and they wanted to remain in this new city. Do you know the story of the Tower of Babel? God confused the language of the people and scattered them over all the earth. Therefore, the city and the tower were never finished.

Fast forward more than 1100 years, and we see another structure with detailed instructions from God—Solomon’s Temple. The temple was to be the dwelling place of God, so it stands to reason He would be very particular.

The home I am living in now was partly built to mine and my husband’s specifications. We didn’t have any say in the floor plan, but we could choose the colors, the carpet, the cabinets, the types of exterior doors, lighting, etc. Of course, we had limited choices, and we were constrained by our budget.

God did not have a budget. He knew what He wanted, and He provided everything necessary to build it according to His instructions. It was a glorious structure! Below is a picture of a model of what the temple might have looked like.

ACTIVITY:

1. Read 1 Kings 6 (the whole chapter) and 1 Kings 7:13-51.
2. Complete the vocabulary sheet included at the end of this week’s lesson.

There is a lot of detail in these passages, even down to the furnishings. We will see an example of an architect later in the course who designed a house, down to the furnishings, and placed everything back in its original position when he visited, if things had been moved by the family who lived there. Can you believe it?

ACTIVITY:

1. Try your hand at drawing the temple based on the description in the I Kings passages. Consider using graph paper. For the sake of argument, assume a cubit is equal to 20 inches.
2. Once you have completed your drawing of the temple, compare it to this one: http://www.biblestudy.org/biblepic/interior-diagram-of-temple-in-jerusalem.html
3. Each of the structures we study in this course will be a certain length or height. Most units will be in feet and inches. A cubit is an ancient unit of measure. Read this article on Answers in Genesis.com: https://answersingenesis.org/noahs-ark/how-long-was-the-original-cubit/
4. Draw a diagram of the inside of your church and a picture of the façade. What do you like best about its architecture? If you don’t attend a church, draw your house or a church nearby you find interesting.

Are you wondering why we started this course nearly at the beginning of time? I want you to consider the advancements that have been made in architecture as we look at various structures in the coming weeks. One of the structures this week was the tent. Those used in Old Testament times were likely very simple. Their main purpose was to serve a function—provide a living space. Today, however, you can see there has been a transition from a purely utilitarian purpose to more of an aesthetically pleasing structure that still continues to serve that original purpose. Consider a circus tent . . .

Or a modern camping tent . . .

Though the design of buildings has changed drastically over the years, one thing remains the same—they all have a foundation. The foundation is crucial so the building can serve its purpose and stand strong for years to come.

I Corinthians 3:11 (NIV) says, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

If the foundation of our lives is Jesus, we can serve the purpose we have been created for. We can stand strong for years to come—hopefully for the rest of our lives.

I’ll see you next week!

Vocabulary Worksheet

Define the following words that are found in 1 Kings 6 and 7:13-51. These are words you will likely see at some other point during the course.

1. portico – ___________________________________________________________________
2. clerestory – _________________________________________________________________
3. partitioned – ________________________________________________________________
4. overlaid – __________________________________________________________________
5. jamb – _____________________________________________________________________
6. course – ____________________________________________________________________
7. foundation – ________________________________________________________________
8. pillar – ____________________________________________________________________
9. capital – ___________________________________________________________________
10. festoon – ___________________________________________________________________
11. cast metal – _________________________________________________________________
12. façade – ____________________________________________________________________

ANSWER KEY

1. portico – a row of columns supporting a roof at the entrance of a building
2. clerestory – the upper part of a wall that rises above a roof and that has windows
3. partitioned – divided
4. overlaid – covered with a layer of another material
5. jamb – an upright piece or surface forming the side of an opening
6. course – a continuous level range of brick or masonry throughout a wall
7. foundation – an underlying base or support
8. pillar – a large post that helps to hold something up
9. capital – the uppermost member of a column that provides structural support for horizontal member or arch above it
10. festoon – a carved, molded, or painted ornament representing a decorative chain
11. cast metal – metal that is poured into a mold
12. façade – the front of a building

©2014 Tammie Bairen Living Life As It Unfolds