ARC 1412 – THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT 1 1x1

PICTURE
NAME: ENRIQUEZ, ALYSSA LYN MARIE C.
SECTION: 13

“PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE”
1. Draw one (1) architecture in the local setting that you think embodies the three
principles: utilitas, firmitas, and venustas according to Vitruvius. In your own words,
explain your answer in a 500 word essay. Cite your sources accordingly. You may
draw using pencil, pen, ink or mixed media.

ATTACH RENDERED DRAWING HERE

Essay Entry 1.0:
“The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene”
The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, known then as the Parish of Saint John the
Baptist and now familiarized as Quiapo Church for Roman Catholics that was founded in 1586
by Fray Antonio de Nombela OFM which was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the
forerunner of Christ. This Sacred Place is located in the District of Quiapo, Manila, in the
Philippines (Quiapo Church, n.d.). In connection with Vitruvius' Golden rule or Vitruvian triad,
this infrastructure contains; Firmitas, Utilitas, Venustas, which can be translated as strength,
utility, and beauty (Reiner-Roth, 2015). To justify the statement, facts and evidence will be
provided within this paper.
Firstly, Firmitas, breaking down the construction process, Quiapo Church was built by
the missionaries of the Order of Friars Minor using bamboo for the frame and nipa leaves as
thatching. In 1574, Limahong and his soldiers destroyed and burned the church and same
happened in 1603 and the parish was temporarily turned over to the Jesuits until secular clergy
was objected. In 1686, the then Governor-General Santiago de Vera initiated the full
construction of the church. During the Seven Years' War, when the British attacked Manila in
1762, they tried to demolish the chapel. Then soon destroyed by an earthquake in 1863, and
a temporary church was constructed in its stead. With the help of Rev. Manuel Roxas, Fr.
Eusebio de León subsequently rebuilt the damaged church in 1879 and finished it in 1889.
Then church was burned yet again on October 30, 1928, destroying the ceilings and sacred
rooms built with woods due to electrical overload. After numerous disasters and renovations,
the current Quiapo church stands strong with its enlarged lateral walls and reinforced concrete,
while the ornamental elements are made of precast concrete. The use of concrete rather than
stone in building helped to reduce construction costs. It was one of the country's first religious
buildings to be constructed using reinforced concrete. In addition, the Second World War
would be a possible threat of destruction for the church, however, in 1945 during the battle in
Manila, Quiapo west and Quezon Boulevard were destroyed to ash and the church remained
as it is (Cucueco III, 2021).
Prior to its present state, this sacred basilica had been through tons of dreadful things
yet it still has the strength to stand to this day and in the future. With regards to the second
component, Utilitas, Quiapo church can accommodate a minimum capacity of 400 people per
mass. Although, due to the pandemic, the local government made the said number to be its
maximum rate (Agoncillo, 2021). The Quiapo Church has always been the home of devotees
of the Black Nazarene. As per this, one of the famous feasts and traditions of catholic citizens
is held in this sacred space known as Feast of the Black Nazarene or Traslación (Baclig,
2021). It is annually celebrated during the 9th of January traveling the image of Jesus Christ
from Quirino Grandstand to Plaza Miranda (Tuquero, 2020). Moreover, thousands of catholic
can be seen inside the basilica edging their knees towards the crucifix, praying for a favor, a
miracle, or forgiveness (Wagner, n.d.). It is evident that The Minor Basilica of the Black
Nazarene has been around for ages now, and it has always been useful for many catholic
people. (Wikipedia, 2021).
Moving on to the last principle, which determines the beauty of the historical place,
Venustas. Architect José María Zaragoza designs this Basilica with a Baroque architectural
style, he was the student of Juan F. Nakpil, the first person designed to renovate the church.
Its façade has distinctive twisted columns on both levels, and the second-level Corinthian
columns have a third of their shaft twisted at the base, while the top part is smooth. Balustrades
encircle the tops of the four-story belfries, which are enhanced with massive scrolls. A pair of
chalice-shaped finials adorn the pediment's tympanum, and urn-like vases indicate the
pediment's terminus near the raking cornice. In the late 1980s, a quatrefoil window in the
pediment was sealed and replaced with a relief of the Pope's crossed keys and tiara - a sign
of the Basilica's minor rank (Wikipedia, 2021). The sidewalls was designed with large walls to
enlighten the interiors of the church. The renovation occurred from 1984 to 1986.
 In the end, The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene proved its strength through time,
ability to utilize, and fascinating beauty that captures the heart of the Filipino people. It holds
one of the underrated historical analogies that the citizens should be knowledgeable about
because it is a significant embodiment of the Filipino sense of religiousness.

References
Agoncillo, J. (2021, January 09). Quiapo Church limits capacity to 400 people per Mass;
‘traslacion’ canceled. Retrieved from Inquirer.net:
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1381333/quiapo-church-limits-capacity-to-400-people-
per-mass-traslacion-canceled#:~:text=THE%20BLACK%20NAZARENE-
,Quiapo%20Church%20limits%20capacity%20to,per%20Mass%3B%20'traslacion'%
20canceled&text=Only%20400%20people%20will
Baclig, C. E. (2021, January 09). A look back at the celebration of the Black Nazarene feast
from the past 3 years. Retrieved from Inquirer.net:
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1381539/a-look-back-at-the-celebration-of-the-black-
nazarene-feast-from-the-past-3-years
III, A. C. (2021, January 10). The Evolution of Quiapo Church. Retrieved from Manila
Weekly: https://manilaweekly.wordpress.com/2021/01/10/quiapo-church-evolution/
Quiapo Church. (n.d.). Our HIstory. Retrieved from Quiapo Church - St. John the Baptist
Church: https://www.rcam.org/quiapochurch/about/
Reiner-Roth, S. (2015, September 10). Vitruvius Architecture’s Golden Rules: The Vitruvian
Triad. Retrieved from Kukun: https://blog.mykukun.com/vitruvious-architecture-
golden-rules-vitruvian-triad/
Tuquero, L. (2020, January 05). Procession route for Traslacion 2020. Retrieved from
Rappler: https://www.rappler.com/nation/procession-route-nazareno-traslacion-2020
Wagner, D. P. (n.d.). Quiapo Church. Retrieved from Fabulous Philippines:
https://www.fabulousphilippines.com/quiapo-church-manila.html
Wikipedia. (2021, October 06). Feast of the Black Nazarene. Retrieved from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Black_Nazarene
Wikipedia. (2021, October 01). Quiapo Church. Retrieved from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiapo_Church#Architecture
2. Draw one (1) architecture in the international setting that you think embodies the three
principles: utilitas, firmitas and venustas according to Vitruvius. In your own words,
explain your answer in a 500 word essay. Cite your sources accordingly. You may
draw using pencil, pen, ink or mixed media.

ATTACH RENDERED DRAWING HERE

Essay Entry 2.0:

“Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary”

Duomo di Milano also known as Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint
Mary, is a cathedral church located in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. This sacred place took nearly
six centuries to finish, from 1386 to 1965, making it the largest church in Italy, second in
Europe, and third in the world (Wikipedia, 2021). It is also the largest gothic cathedral and one
of the famous in the world (Taul, n.d.). This infrastructure holds a massive history from its
construction process and a story on how the architects and the people behind the design
incorporated all details. With regards to Vitruvius' principles of architecture, it is macroscopic
to the eyes of many how Beauty, Utility, and Strength amalgamate into one extraordinary
building.

The strength or stability of the building is one crucial aspect of the planning process.
According to Vitruvius, the cumulative impacts of environmental and time-related difficulties
must be resisted by the flexibility of a structure (Reiner-Roth, 2015). In relation to Milan
Cathedral, upon constructing the church, three buildings were obliterated as a price for the
cruel governance by the then predecessor and lord of Milan, Barnabò Visconti (Wikipedia,
2021). The first phase of construction occurred from 1386 until 1402. Numerous controversies
had happened within the said year. This phase involved discussions, arguments, and
speculations of a combined subtotal of 40 architects and engineers (Wikipedia, 2021).
Although due to a lack of funding and ideas, the construction stopped. In 1805, Napoleon
Bonaparte helped to finance the construction. Flying buttresses, pinnacles, spires, and roofs
were built in this phase; however, a massive bombing destroyed the church, resulting in
another renovation (Taul, n.d.). At first, the cathedral was made of terracotta bricks, but the
material was switched to marble early on in the building process (Budowle. pl, n.d.). Marble is
a material with great strength and beauty. This valuable rock has long been utilized in art,
architecture, and building due to its unique characteristics, and it offers many advantages
(Easy Render, n.d.). This statement holds evidence that even though it took centuries to finish,
Duomo di Milano indeed has the strength to stand through conflicts between man or nature.

A building does not only requires strength, but also it should be useful for many
aspects. Utilitas, the second principle proposed by Vitruvius, stands as an analysis of whether
or not a structure was built according to its purpose. In accordance with the topic, the total
dimensions of the church are 158.6 m for the length, 92 m for the width, 16.75 m for the nave
width, and 108 m for its height. This structure can accommodate over 40,000 people within its
massive area (Wikipedia, 2021). The aim of this imposing structure was to upgrade the region
and commemorate the Visconti family's territorial expansion (Milan Museum, n.d.). There are
a lot of spaces that visitors can enter within the church's premises. First is the rooftop terrace;
tourists may ascend to the summit and stroll around the deck while taking in one of Milan's
most stunning panoramic vistas. Seeing the statues on the roof up close is equally interesting.
Second, are the Crypt and Treasures; these can be found in the Chapel of Saint Charles
Borromeo, where his remains are buried. Although the treasure is a little less attractive to visit
compare to the other mentioned spots. Lastly, the Baptistery contains the remains of Basilica
di Santa Tecla and the ruins of a Christian baptistery from the fourth century. Tourists can also
visit the ruins of a vast octagonal baptismal font that is evident in the center of the structure.
According to tradition, Saint Ambroise baptized Saint Augustin in 387 (Civitatis Milan, n.d.).
The cathedral served as a tourist spot, a home for catholic citizens, and the centerpiece of
Milan.

Beauty, a structure, wouldn't be complete without a stunning appearance—the last and

significant among the triad rule of Vitruvius, venustas. Duomo Milan has a beautiful stained-
glass window portraying visible biblical themes, casting an ethereal light on the church floor.
This magnificent undertaking yielded a one-of-a-kind architectural masterpiece that combines
the worldwide Gothic style with traditional Lombard architecture. In 1399, a French architect,
Jean Mignot, was summoned to examine and critique the structure. The need for the
suggestion was due to the masons required additional technical assistance to raise stones to
unprecedented heights. In 1774, Giuseppe Perego sculpted the Madonnina, a golden copper
figure placed at the temple's highest point and became the emblem of Milan (Wikipedia, 2021).
The interiors of Milan Cathedral were built with massive darkish marble slabs. Because of the
gigantic carved marble columns that rise to the ceiling, the interior looks beautiful and majestic.
Large murals depicting biblical events decorate the temple's walls, and the bones of different
saints lay in glass caskets around the structure, all dressed in their finest garb (Civitatis Milan,
n.d.).

All in all, the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary is one
enormous structure that screams beauty in strength. Facts and evidence prove that it carries
the three principles of architecture. With its massive dimensions, wide-range capacity, and
extraordinary beauty. It prides its people and provides one of the most historical backgrounds
that the world will be bewildered to know.

References

Budowle.pl. (n.d.). Milan Cathedral. Retrieved from Budowle.pl:

https://www.budowle.pl/building/milan-cathedral
Civitatis Milan. (n.d.). Milan Cathedral . Retrieved from Civitatis Milan:
https://www.introducingmilan.com/milan-cathedral
Easy Render. (n.d.). The Use of Marble in Architecture. Retrieved from Easy Render:
https://www.easyrender.com/a/the-use-of-marble-in-architecture-classy-material-for-
the-ages
Milan Museum. (n.d.). Duomo Milan Cathedral. Retrieved from Milan Museum:
https://www.milan-museum.com/duomo-milan-cathedral.php
Reiner-Roth, S. (2015, September 10). Vitruvius Architecture’s Golden Rules: The Vitruvian
Triad. Retrieved from Kukun: https://blog.mykukun.com/vitruvious-architecture-
golden-rules-vitruvian-triad/
Taul, S. (n.d.). Milan Cathedral: Architecture & Interior. Retrieved from Study.com:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/milan-cathedral-architecture-interior.html
Wikipedia. (2021, October 06). Milan Cathedral. Retrieved from Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_Cathedral