These ancient cliff dwellings, found in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, were seasonally inhabited by a group of nomadic Paleo-Indians for nearly 900 years. They were built between A.D. 450 and 1300. These dwellings are at an altitude of about 8,530 feet, nestled almost perfectly into the cliff, with more than 4,000 known archeological sites within this area.
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado
These caught my eye because of how intriguing the idea of building things in a cave on the side of a cliff is, but also because people could transport materials into this place. The ruins may not be the most grand or extravagant, but I think the innovative techniques that had to have taken place to make this possible are quite unique.
I also think that this is a new way of looking at how people used to live and how people used to adapt to their surroundings. A big architectural concept is deciding whether to follow and work with the site or to work against it. I think this is a great example of architects at the time deciding to work with what they had and to create something that fit perfectly into the side of these cliffs.
This example is incredibly interesting and demonstrates a perfect way to implement structure into an existing landscape/environment. I am intrigued to learn how this space was constructed, specifically the transportation of materials like you’ve mentioned being that it was built roughly 8,500 feet in the air. It also fascinates me that this piece is still standing since it’s embedded in a cliff and landslides can occur.
Regarding material from the lecture, this ruin perfectly demonstrated the idea of nostalgia and periods from the past. This vernacular structure may have influenced architecture in later years. Although it wasn’t built anywhere near the 19th century, it definitely holds some of those fundamentals. For instance, taking a rationalized approach, thinking of structure and climate.
This type of ruin really shapes our views on architecture and allows us to see how vastly styles and techniques have changed. This structure must have taken ages to complete due to the transportation of materials. I would be interested to see how this piece has developed as a ruin over time, and what it looked like when originally built, as well as how many inhabitants it had.
I love this example. I think it highlights how civilization can be reflected into nauture and not take away from it. I think it is so cool how they used technology and natural resources at the time to be able to carve a city within a cliff. It is truly fascinating and cool that you can visit something like that so close to us.
In regard to this week’s lecture it fully embodies Lagiers essay on architecture. He really emphasized architecture as something that should be found in nature and express logic. I think your example really shows a civilization/ruin of one using the landscape around them and reflecting/enhancing it instead of taking away from it. I think it also shows logic in the way that it has the buildings set a little further back from the cliff side almost providing a cover or shield for its occupants.
This type of ruin has such a big emphasis on architecture today because it embodies logic and reason. It shows how at the time this was the best use of the technology to create something beautiful and innovative. It also highlights how architecture has changed and advanced drastically by being able to use not only local materials but foreign ones as well.
This is such an interesting way of life, that they integrated into the sides of cliffs. It shows value that this civilization had, of nature, security, innovative building, supporting traditions, and ways of life. There is so much logic used in these designs, even though it seems quite un-logical to build into sides of cliff faces. There is security from weather, animals, other tribes. These people also built in unison with nature, using mud, water, sticks, stones, and more to support their ways of living. As I have learned, vegetation is scarce in that area, and growing things was difficult due to drought, but never the less, nature is integrated into their life where it can. This reminds me of the Rationalist thinking of early Neoclassism, where Marc Laugier, pushed architecture to align with natural and logical laws and ways of thinking.