Exercise 7

Read and translate the text.

Architecture of industrial and civil constructions

Architecture is an art and the science of building. Without consideration of structural principles, materials and social and economic requirements a building cannot take form but unless aesthetic quality also is inherent in its form the building cannot be considered as a work of architecture. Architecture is an art, its contemporary expression must be creative and consequently new. Nearly two thousand years ago the Rome architect Vitrivius listed three basic factors in architecture – convenience, strength, and beauty. These three factors are always present and are always interrelated in the best structures. This triple nature of architectural design is one of the reasons why architecture is a difficult art.

Part of the natural achievements result from the efforts of architects, specialists in designing blocks of flats, industrial enterprises, schools, shops, hospitals and so on. Every year a lot of citizens hold housewarming parties. Russian architects preserve and enrich the best traditions of national and foreign architecture. Many projects of Russian architects were praised at reviews of architectural achievements, for instance, architectural ensembles and constructions in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities.

The chief task of Russian architects is to improve the quality of their creations, both artistically and technically. Technical skill consists in the architect’s comprehensive approach to his task, the ability to make buildings comfortable, lasting, economical and attractive.

Russian architects and builders are trying to make new houses comfortable to live in, and convenient for carrying out domestic duties. The requirements for arrangement of interiors have been made more stringent. New criteria of comfort have been established and new standard projects take a better account of climatic conditions and the regional style. The list of standard flats has been extended and their planning has been improved. The search for newer and even better types continuous.

Present- day designs for residential construction envisage all modern amenities for a dwelling, they advocate larger, better built and better equipped flats and houses. There is a market improvement in the heating and ventilating systems as well as in hot- water supply, kitchen and sanitary fittings. Many tenants now can afford better furnishings, refrigerators, washing machines, etc. A house which is a physical environment where a family develops is acquiring a new and modern look.

Industrial buildings comprise another significant type of construction. This type of construction involves factories, laboratories, plants, mines, garages, hangers, exhibition halls, etc. Modern industrial buildings have demonstrated the advantages of reinforced concrete arches, metal frames, glass walls and prefabricated standardized mass produced parts. Steel was gradually substituted for iron and permitted wider rooms and larger windows. Windows can be enlarged to the extent that they constitute a large fraction of the wall area.

Type of buildings depend upon social formation may be classified to the role in the community. The type and the function of a building govern its design, building materials and techniques. Although the industrial element of the city was occupying more space and in the form of gas tanks, factory chimneys and power stations was dominating the skyline with increasing emphasis, no satisfactory architectural solution for the grouping of these new units was offered. History shows that industrialism when left to itself did not produce even mechanical order.

Notes to the text:

block of flats многоквартирный дом

housewarming party новоселье

exhibition hall выставочный зал

residential construction жилой дом

heating system система отопления

water supply водоснабжение

sanitary fittings санитарное оборудование

physical environment материальное окружение

reinforced concrete железобетон