Uncover 84+ Charming House Plan Of Minoan Crete Most Outstanding In 2023

House Designs and Room Layout in Minoan Crete

Archaeologists have uncovered information about the ancient Minoan civilization and its contribution to the development of art deco houses.

The ancient Minoan house architecture is based on a tiered layout with two or three storey structures and it is the oldest known structure to be found in Crete. The upper level was used for private living quarters while the lower levels were usually semi-public spaces where parties, or gatherings were held.

The Minoan architecture typically used orthogonal or grid like layouts, laying out the space as a series of rooms on one level with a central court.

The most typical room layout was rectangular rooms of various sizes with a larger main hall centrally located at the entrance. Other commonly used room layouts included semi-circular rooms, designed to accommodate a larger number of people.

In some houses, the main hall was present and decorated with a megaron – an artificial paving pattern and a cult table. This gave the structure a gracefully symmetrical and elegant facade.

The use of natural and geometric motifs, bright colours and simple shapes in the furniture, sculptures and artwork in these houses has been credited to the Minoan civilization as a reference to art deco designs.

Plan of Minoan Palace at Knossos

Knossos Palace is the most extensive of the Minoan ruins, which was discovered in 1894.

This Palace features a sprawling structure with many distinctive architectural forms and designs as well as sophisticated acoustical design. There is evidence that advanced techniques were used in terms of dividing the area with a specific plan in order to minimize noise and enhance the quality of the general spaces.

The main part of the palace, the Knossos Megaron, consists of four rooms which are arranged around a central court. The rooms are linked by a large porch, and the walls of the main building are constructed of massive stone blocks.

The presence of frescos around the walls demonstrate the level of sophistication of the Minoan court, which resembled art deco designs in terms of colour and geometric shapes. Furthermore, the structure is built on a stepped level, with each level featuring its own design style.

The palace also features the famous great doorway, which marked the entrance to the throne room.

Floor Plans of Minoan Houses

Minoan houses were planned according to a clear set of design principles, which can be seen from the detailed floor plans that have been unearthed.

The majority of Minoan houses had a common core which included the central room, or megaron, which was often located in the centre of the house. This room was often used for ceremonial occasions and was often designed with a raised floor, painted walls, and a throne.

The other rooms of the house would typically have been used for sleeping and served as a kitchen, dining room, and store room.

Other floor plans included workshops and storage rooms, which are evidence of the economy of the Minoans. The layout of these plans also reveals the level of care taken in designing the structure, with elements such as walls and roofs being carefully planned, and columns and supports being placed at specific intervals.

The detailed plans also demonstrate the level of beauty and detail of the Minoan architecture, which often resembled art deco designs, with geometric shapes and bright colours used to decorate the walls and floors.

Ancient Greek Domestic Architecture

The ancient Greek architecture was largely influenced by the structures of the nearby Minoan civilization. This was most evident in domestic architecture, with the main house of the Minoan Palace at Knossos being used as a model for many ancient Greek houses.

The houses were designed to be comfortable and practical, with floor plans often divided into two to three storeys. The upper levels were used as private living quarters while the lower levels often featured semi-public spaces for guests and gathering for parties or other activities.

The architecture was also heavily influenced by the use of columns and porticos, an element which is also present in art deco design. Additionally, the use of stone facing and terraces were common in ancient Greek architecture, making these houses beautiful, practical, and cool in the summer months.

The Minoan Megaron: Luxury Housing in Minoan Crete

The Megaron was a large public or ceremonial complex, associated with the Minoan Palace at Knossos. This building was typically found in the centre of the palace and was designed with three sections: the entry, the hall, and the hearth.

The hall was usually decorated with fresco paintings, which often contained geometric shapes and bright colours and featured a throne and benches. This was believed to have been an area for receiving guests, conducting ceremonies and other activities.

The hearth was located at the centre of the room and the walls were typically constructed with massive stone blocks.

The Megaron was an important part of Minoan culture and has been credited with inspiring art deco designs, with its symmetrical and geometric architecture.

Ancient Greek Homes and Architecture

The houses of the ancient Greeks were constructed with a grid-like layout, consisting of narrow streets and small spaces. This provided privacy, but also ensured safety for those residing in the building.

The houses were typically constructed with stone or lime floors, and were lined with either timber or stone walls. Walls were often whitewashed and decorated with frescoes, which usually featured geometric designs or other motifs. These frescoes often resembled art deco design, in particular the decoration of furniture in the interior of the houses.

The houses were often divided into separate rooms, with the andron, or private dining room, often located at the centre of the house. This was typically the largest and most important room of the house, and was symbolised by a set of columns or porticos.

Minoan Houses and Palaces Accommodating the Community

The Minoan civilization was known to have been a great builder of houses and palaces. This is evident from the ruins found in both Crete and Santorini.

The large palaces and public buildings served as homes for the upper class, while the houses of the lower classes were relatively small and simple. The majority of the houses were connected to each other, forming an entire residential block.

The architecture of the houses, palaces and public buildings often feature geometrical shapes, courtyards and grand entrances, elements which can also be seen in art deco houses.

The presence of frescoes, with patterns of geometric shapes and bright paints, is evidence of the level of sophistication of Minoan architecture. A great example of this is the tholos building of the Plaka section of Knossos, which was considered the “grand ceremonial centre” of the Minoans.

Plan and Architecture of a Minoan House

The typical Minoan house was structured to accommodate private living areas, with the floor plans arranged in a grid-like layout. It consisted of several rooms built around a central court.

The floor plans of these houses often consisted of semi-circular rooms, with a large main hall centrally located at the entrance. This was often decorated with a megaron – an artificial paving and a cult table.

The walls of the Minoan houses were always constructed with rectangular stones. The use of natural and geometric motifs in such houses has often been compared to art deco designs, with the bright colours, simple shapes and symmetrical layout reflecting this style.

The house plans also reveal the transition from a basic, single-storey building to a more complex structure, composed of multiple levels and courtyards. This demonstrated the level of care taken in arranging the structure, with elements such as columns and supports being aesthetically arranged within the court.

Architectural Evidence of Minoan Architecture

The ancient Minoan civilization is known to have been a great contributor to the development of architectural design and structure. This is evident from the large number of ruins around Crete and Santorini.

In particular, the ruins of Knossos Palace have revealed a great deal of evidence for advanced Minoan architecture and design. The stone facing and terraces that can be found in the palace demonstrate the level of sophistication of the Minoans, which can be seen in the presence of megarons in the palace and the use of stepped levels and courtyards.

The frescoes which decorate the walls of the palace also demonstrate the level of artistry of the Minoans. These artworks feature geometric designs and bright colours, giving the palace the same aesthetic as art deco designs.

Minoan Urbanism and Architecture

The Minoan civilization was known for its urban planning and architecture. This was reflected in the urban layout of the cities of Knossos and Santorini, which consisted of long and narrow streets lined with small and identical houses.

The urban layout of these cities was very similar to the layout of the houses, which were also designed with a grid-like layout and with the use of uniform rectangular stones. This was also evident in the use of columns and porticos in the houses, demonstrating the level of sophistication of the Minoans in terms of architecture.

The use of natural elements in the construction of the houses, such as the terracing of the land, and the decoration of the walls and facades with geometric shapes, have often been compared to art deco designs.

Minoan House Architecture: Summary

The Minoan civilization was a great contributor to architectural design. The Minoans were known for their advanced urban planning and the construction of terraced houses, palaces and public buildings.

The architecture of the Minoans was heavily influenced by the surrounding environment, and the presence of aesthetically pleasing elements such as the frescoes on the walls of the palaces, and the use of columns and porticos in the houses.

The Minoan architecture is also known for its use of natural elements and geometric motifs, which has often been compared to art deco designs. This is especially evident in the use of bright colours and simple shapes in the furniture and sculptures found in the houses of the Minoan civilization.