Architecture: Past Versus Present

Architecture in the classical tradition is an area of study in art history which has been studied and debated by scholars for many years. Specifically, Greek architecture in the classical tradition speaks deep sophistication, are flawless in construction and design, and the use of geometric shapes to the idea of symmetry helped to give way to many historical structures. Many buildings today all across the world have imitated the designs of Greek structures because of their unparallel designs. This comparative essay will serve the purpose to compare and contrast one modern day building in Kingston, Ontario and one building in Greek times. Although one building was built in Ancient Greece and the other built in present day Western society, the Ann Baillie Building in Kingston, Ontario and the Temple of Hephaestus in Olympia, Greece both represent architecture in the classical tradition that are universal and timeless and share similarities in terms of their structural connotations, but also contrast in many other ways, specifically in the order of architecture that was utilized, which ultimately adds character and individuality to their structure.