History of Interior Design 1: Classical Civilization Greece

Greek civilization was the beginning of western culture. They had democracy and independent governments which fueled trade and competition among the communities. Their developments in art, architecture, literature, philosophy, and music served as a source of design inspiration. Marble was the people main resource in architecture but they also utilized wood, stone, and other natural resources. The Parthenon, an ancient temple on the Athenian Acropolis, is the most important building of ancient Greece. The Grecian people were obsessed with their architecture being aesthetically pleasing and the idea of visual perfection. They were very aware of how the eye would perceive the structures. For example, the columns making up the Parthenon would incline inward, the shafts were tapered, corner columns were heavier, and the space between them would vary all around the building but it looked very symmetrical and balanced. There are many parts to a temple, but the columns are one the most recognized elements and were used in all types of architecture. Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns are the three styles used.

Homes were constructed of mud brick, stone, wood, and terracotta tiles and inwardly oriented. Decoration included patterned floors and red, white, and yellow on the walls. Eggs & dart patterns and the Greek fret or key patterns were very popular in the home and furniture. Because Greece is surrounded by three seas, marine life motifs were very common as well as the color blue.