The Greek civilization achieved significant progress in the fields of philosophy, science, art, architecture, and education alongside sports, mathematics, and theatre. These advancements have left a significant mark in shaping society and cultural evolution. This civilization, spanning from mainland Greece to Mediterranean regions, produced precise and monumental buildings that have shaped architecture for millennia. Their focus on perfection over novelty led to elegant and enduring structures that continue to inspire modern design.

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What is the Greek architecture?

In broad terms, Greek architecture encompasses the ancient constructions devised and crafted by the various Greek cities and civilizations, spanning regions like the Greek mainland, Peloponnese, and Aegean Islands alongside Greek colonies in Anatolia and Italy. The architecture of Greece can be subdivided into distinct periods.

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Mycenaean Age (1750 to 1050 BC)

Mycenaean Greece, the final phase of Ancient Greece’s Bronze Age featured palatial states, urban structures, artistic achievements, and a written language. Mycenaean Greeks brought innovations in engineering, architecture, and military infrastructure, relying on Mediterranean trade for their economy.

Greek Dark Age (1100 to 900 BC)

The prehistoric Dark Age followed the collapse of Mycenaean society, which lacked civilization and literacy erasing civilization and leaving a society without even rudimentary features like pottery. Lasting roughly 200 years, the Dark Age plunged society into obscurity, extinguishing all signs of civilization, including literacy. The Greek Dark Ages witnessed the transformation of farming villages into city-states, marked by the creation of agora (marketplaces) and central communal spaces, while people lived in primitive huts, had limited interaction with the outside world, and lost the ability to produce art, sculpture, or stone structures.

Greek Archaic period (800 to 479 BCE)

During the Archaic period, significant architectural advancements occurred as local communities expanded their territories to acquire additional farmland and resources, resulting in the creation of grid-planned settlements centered around temples and markets. This era introduced features like covered porticoes, sloped roofs, and stone column shafts. The most notable architectural innovation was the development of distinct column styles, known as the orders of architecture which included the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian order.

Greek Classical Age (500-336 BCE)

Classical architecture, originating in ancient Greece emphasized columns and pediments and utilized a post-and-beam system with columns as load-bearing elements marking a transition from timber to marble and stone construction. The Doric order, remained popular in the Greek mainland and western colonies, while the Ionic order emerged in the east and was used for smaller temples and interiors.

Hellenistic period (336 to 146 BCE)

Hellenistic architecture emphasizes dramatic theatricality and viewer experience, with public spaces and temples designed on a grand scale, featuring an increased prevalence of the Corinthian order, reflecting the dramatic tendencies seen in Hellenistic sculpture.

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Characteristics of Greek Architecture

Greek architecture is an integral part of classical architecture, including Roman architectural styles, characterized by its emphasis on uniformity, simplicity, proportionality, and harmony. Greek architecture is characterized by its tall columns, adherence to symmetry, square or rectangular floor plans, and the prevalent use of stone in its structures. Many iconic structures from this era were crafted from stone, although materials like wood and brick were occasionally used. Greeks constructed various public buildings, such as theatres and stadiums, but the most renowned achievements were the temples dedicated to the Olympic gods.

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What are the Greek Classical Orders?

The architectural orders represent classical architectural styles, with each order defined by its specific proportions, distinctive profiles, and notable details, and they are most easily identified by the particular type of column they use. These three architectural orders of Greek architecture include the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders.

The primary method for distinguishing architectural orders is through the analysis of their column styles and the entablature, which consists of moldings and bands positioned horizontally above the columns. The entablature can be subdivided into three parts: the architrave (a lintel or beam atop the columns), the frieze (a decorative band usually located in the middle of the entablature), and the cornice (a horizontal molding that crowns the structure).

• Doric Order

The emergence of the Doric order in Greek architecture dates back to the early 7th century BCE, leading many to consider it the oldest, as well as the most straightforward and imposing architectural style. Doric columns featured unadorned and uncomplicated smooth, round capitals and were more robust compared to their counterparts in the Ionic and Corinthian orders. Some of the examples of Doric columns in Greek architecture include the Parthenon, the Temple of Hephaestus, and the Temple of the Delians.

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• Ionic Order

The Ionic Order finds its origins in Ionia, a coastal region located in what is currently known as Turkey, from which it derives its name. Its distinctive features primarily include the scroll-like decorative elements seen on Ionic column capitals, referred to as volutes, and the presence of column bases, a feature absent in Doric columns. Some of the examples of Ionic columns in Greek include the Heraion of Samos and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

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• Corinthian Order

The term “Corinthian” pertains to an elaborate architectural column design. The Corinthian style is characterized by its intricacy and complexity, distinguishing it from the earlier Doric and Ionic Orders. In the Corinthian style, the capital, which is the uppermost section of the column, features opulent decorative motifs meticulously crafted to resemble leaves and flowers.

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Prominent examples of Greek architecture

Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens

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The Temple of Olympian Zeus also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, stands as a colossal relic at the heart of Athens, Greece. This majestic structure was dedicated to “Olympian” Zeus, a title reflecting his role as the chief deity among the Olympian gods. The construction of this temple started in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Athenian tyrants where their vision was to create the grandest temple in the ancient world. It was only in the 2nd century AD that this project reached completion 638 years after its inception under the rule of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. During the Roman era, this temple comprised 104 massive columns and earned the distinction of being the largest temple in Greece.

Parthenon, Acropolis

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The Parthenon, initially built to celebrate the Hellenic victory over the Persians, also served as a city treasury. Construction started in 447 BC, completed in 438 BC, with decorative work finishing in 432 BC. It later became the treasury for the Delian League and the Athenian Empire. In the 6th century AD, it became a Christian church, then a mosque after the Ottoman conquest. In 1687, it was damaged during a Venetian attack.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis

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Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a typical Roman theater, that finished sometime between 160 and 174 CE. Erected by the affluent philanthropist Herodes Atticus in honor of his wife, Regilla, this structure, in its initial design, featured a roof constructed from cedar and a front facade adorned with three stories of arches. Carved into the rugged southern slope of the Acropolis hill, this open-air theater stands as one of the world’s most ancient and remarkable. With a seating capacity of around 5,000, it underwent comprehensive restoration in 1952-1953 and now serves as the central location for the annual Athens Epidaurus Festival.

Erechtheion, Acropolis

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The Erechtheion is an ancient temple that is constructed on the north side of Acropolis and is dedicated to goddess Athena. Built during 421 to 406 BC on an irregular terrain, the temple is an asymmetrical composition that formed a religious center for worshipping the god Hephaistos, Erechtheus, and the hero Boutes, who was Erechtheus’ brother.

The Great Theater of Epidaurus

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Situated in the Greek city of Epidaurs and built in the late 4th century BC near modern Lygourio the ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is dedicated to Asclepius, the ancient Greek God of medicine. This theatre is renowned for its remarkable acoustics and aesthetics and is regarded as the most flawless ancient Greek theater.

Greek architecture successfully combines functionality and artistic expression that is reflected in the construction of public spaces, monumental temples and open-air theatres. Its architectural heritage is still replicated and incorporated into modern architectural designs and interior aesthetics.

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Those who enjoy spending time outdoors regularly or occasionally need to have a lot of tools with them especially if they will be spending the night camping. There are a lot of different products that they can bring along but if you’re just biking, you need some things that are more portable since you can only carry so much. There are also designers that are more into creating concepts and sometimes actual products to cater to this market.

Designer: Andrea Casagrande

The Leikki is a concept for wood-burning camping stove that is all about portability. The design is inspired by the Risuketin, a traditional Finnish stove found in homes that serve as heaters and as cooking stoves. The designer was also inspired by hexagon shapes since it is “the most efficient way to organize a space symmetrically”. What he came up with is a lightweight stove that is easy to assemble and bring around even if your transportation is only a bike.

The assembly process only takes three basic steps if you’re able to follow instructions easily. Open the gusset face, insert the different grills, and then close the whole thing with a pin. On paper it should be pretty easy and I assume that most hikers and campers are good at following instructions. There’s an upper hole where you can inser twigs and then to insert wood, lift the pan and then put it inside.

The stove can fit different types and sizes of pots and pans and you need to place different support pieces depending on the size. If you don’t have wood to cook, you can take the ash pan, turn it upside down and then place on the top of the grate then use solid fuel or alcohol. It comes with a case which you can strap to your bike and also place other stuff inside that you may need to bring on your trip.

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Danish architecture studio Schmidt Hammer Lassen has adaptively reused a domed cement factory in Shanghai, China, to create a performing arts and sports venue.

Now named West Bund Art Center, the factory’s central curved structure has been converted into a 300-square-metre multipurpose hall for art exhibitions, music concerts and sporting events.

The renovated building, which takes its name from its site in the West Bund cultural district, has been adapted as lightly as possible in celebration of its industrial history.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen used historic documents to restore the dome’s orange-painted steel frame while adding an independent layer of steel internally to help accommodate the building’s new programme.

“We first visited the West Bund area around 2010, when the deconstruction of the former wet cement factory had begun, and the dome structure stood at the heart of the vast industrial site,” said principal design director Chris Hardie.

“Maintaining the dome structure as a historic relic that symbolised the memory of the site, sitting amongst a new part of the city, was an exciting proposition for us,” he told Dezeen.

“From the very start, our focus was on restoring the dome structure and, in a way, trying to do as little to it as possible.”

Originally China’s first factory for wet-process cement manufacturing, the building featured an asbestos sheet roof, no insulation and few access doors.

It was centred around a main mixing column in a windowless hall lit by hanging industrial lights.

Schmidt Hammer Lassen has introduced a secondary ring around the central hall, creating space for a large public foyer with multiple access doors on the ground floor. This is supported by public facilities, two ancillary halls and a rear loading area.

Above, the first floor contains office space, a lounge and a VIP box. These have views over the main hall, which is lit by a translucent roof and a lighting and services rig inserted below the original roof structure to preserve it.

West Bund Art Center forms part of the wider West Bund Cultural Corridor masterplan, which comprises several cultural buildings along Huangpu River. Among them is David Chipperfield’s West Bund Museum, which contains the Centre Pompidou’s first Chinese outpost.

To minimise the building’s operational carbon footprint, West Bund Art Center is partially powered with a photovoltaic array on an adjacent theatre.

“This zone is envisaged as a public park, primarily of landscape space and dotted with cultural facilities including museums and space for the performing arts,” added Hardie.

“The idea was that what once had been the mixing chamber for China’s first and largest cement production plant, could remain and transform into a cultural mixing chamber at the heart of the West Bund became the overriding philosophy and aim for the project.”

Schmidt Hammer Lassen was founded in 1986 and today it operates as the Danish branch of global design firm Perkins&Wills.

Other projects by the studio include China’s largest library, which features a marble-printed glass façade, and a 100-metre-tall housing block in Switzerland, which will be the world’s tallest timber building when it is completed.

The photography is by Tian Fangfang.

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Design studio IDEO has created a device for healthcare startup Teal Health that enables women to self-collect samples required for cervical cancer screening in the privacy and comfort of their own homes.

Teal Health‘s cancer screening service is based around its Teal Wand device, which the US company said enables people “to easily, comfortably and confidently collect their own vaginal sample”.

The proprietary device developed in collaboration with design agency IDEO allows the sample to be collected at home or a local health clinic, removing the need for invasive exams.

Teal Wand is based on a prototype created by doctor Avnesh Thakor, who co-founded Teal Health with marketing specialist Kara Egan to help ensure all women and people with a cervix are screened for cervical cancer.

Egan said she was motivated to start Teal Health to make it easier for women to access healthcare without taking time out to visit a doctor’s office.

“For me, the Teal Health at-home screening is a way to welcome a woman back into her healthcare,” she told Dezeen.

“This experience of screening at home is meant to build a relationship with a woman through every aspect of the experience – from ordering the screening to opening the box, collecting a sample and learning of our results.”

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, so long as people are regularly screened to check for the presence of high-risk HPV (human papillomavirus) that occurs before the cancer develops.

The standard method of screening, known as a Pap smear or smear test, is typically conducted by a doctor using stirrups, a speculum and a hard plastic sampling brush.

Teal Health wanted to develop a more private and less intrusive way of collecting a sample and called on IDEO to help develop an intuitive and comfortable product inclusive of all body types.

“Most people would not be able to identify what a cervix looks like or where their cervix is, let alone try to collect very particular cells from that part of the anatomy without contamination,” said IDEO senior design director Jason Robinson.

“When Kara first told us about the brief, that’s the first thing that came to mind – you’re asking us to find a way for people to do all that while blind and one-handed? Sure – let’s do it!”

Teal Wand’s design is based on feminine products such as tampons, with which users are likely already familiar. Its profile follows that of a standard tampon and the handle enables the process to be carried out one-handed and ambidextrously.

“We added a lengthened handle to make the device easier to manoeuvre, and a unique slider knob that makes it possible to use the thumb to deploy a sponge, which rolls to collect the cells from an opening in the cervix known as the os,” Robinson explained.

Once the sample has been collected, the sponge retracts back into the main body before the device is removed. The user then posts the Teal Wand to a lab where the sample is analysed using the same methods as current tests.

A dedicated Teal Medical Practice portal will communicate test results and offer direct access to women’s health providers and the opportunity to secure follow-up care if required.

“Teal’s approach is holistic, prioritising both the physical and emotional well-being of women throughout their healthcare journey,” said Egan.

“This includes the design of the wand itself, the thoughtful reminders and support systems in place, and the way results are communicated, emphasising both empathy and education.”

According to Teal Health, studies involving more than 800 participants showed that women were able to collect an adequate sample using the Teal Wand, with 97 per cent saying it was easy or very easy to use.

The same studies indicated that 94 per cent of women would choose to self-collect samples over the current standard procedure, while 87 per cent said they would be more likely to get screened if Teal Wand were an option.

The Teal Wand has been granted Breakthrough Device status by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which places it on an accelerated path to market. It is currently undergoing clinical trials, with the final study to be submitted to the FDA soon.

Global design and innovation company IDEO regularly collaborates with industry clients to develop products, services, brands and experiences. Its other projects include a vision for a shared self-driving car, a suspension lamp formed of multiple adjustable rings and a guide to help businesses design for the circular economy.

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Ahead of London Design Festival‘s 22nd anniversary, there’s still time to feature in Dezeen Events Guide‘s digital guide to the festival.

The 2024 edition takes place from 14 to 22 September, inviting hundreds of thousands of people to 11 districts in the UK’s capital city.

If you’re hosting an event as part of the festival programme – including an exhibition, workshop, product launch, talk, tour, fair or market – you can feature in our guide and festival map.

The London Design Festival (LDF) celebrates a range of disciplines, including craft, art, architecture and fashion, as well as graphic, interior and urban design.

There’s still time to be listed in Dezeen’s digital guide to London Design Festival 2024

Get in touch with the Dezeen Events Guide team at eventsguide@dezeen.com to book your listing or to discuss a wider partnership with Dezeen. There are three types of listings:

Standard listings cost £125 and include the event name, date and location details plus a website link. These listings will also feature up to 50 words of text about the event.

Enhanced listings cost £175 and include all of the above plus an image at the top of the listing’s page and an image in the listing preview on the festival guide homepage. These listings will also feature up to 100 words of text about the event.

Featured listings cost £350 and include all elements of an enhanced listing plus a post on Dezeen’s Threads channel, inclusion in the featured events carousel on the right hand of the festival guide homepage for up to two weeks and 150 words of text about the event. This text can include commercial information, such as ticket prices and offers and can feature additional links to website pages such as ticket sales, newsletter signups and more.

About Dezeen Events Guide

Dezeen Events Guide is our guide to the best architecture and design events taking place across the world each year.

The guide is updated weekly and includes virtual events, conferences, trade fairs, major exhibitions and design weeks.

For more details on inclusion in Dezeen Events Guide, including in our guide to London Design Festival, email eventsguide@dezeen.com.

The illustration is by Justyna Green.

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