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June 8

What is the name of this architecture?

Here is an image of a building model from the computer game Age of Empires 2 Definitive edition (Rise of Rome expansion).
It is a Mesopotamian "Government Center".

https://ibb.co/YTZQVXG

What is the professional term in building architecture for such a building which is columned and roofless? Is that some sort of a "Patio"? Thanks. 2A10:8012:17:CDC6:6583:769E:1E14:FC47 (talk) 02:58, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

User:Lambiam might know the answer or tag the right user account ^__^

2A10:8012:17:CDC6:6583:769E:1E14:FC47 (talk) 03:18, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

A hypaethral perhaps? Abecedare (talk) 03:35, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

From the article and Google Images it seems to me that hypaethrals are single-storied while the building model I have presented is multi-storied so I believe another term is needed. 2A10:8012:17:CDC6:6583:769E:1E14:FC47 (talk) 04:05, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Hypaethral: "Opening to the Sun Above" or referring to an "open air" temple, or a temple without roof. A description of the architectural term can be found here. 136.54.99.98 (talk) 04:33, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Regardless of the term, the stacked hypaethral structure as depicted looks architecturally unsound. The upper-storey columns do not line up with the base columns but are placed more inwards. Their weight will induce an outward lateral force that needs to be countered by an inward lateral stress force delivered by the rim on which the upper-storey columns stand. The structure has no buttresses, so this rim will be subject to significant tensile stress that can only be sustained by using pre-stressed reinforced concrete – unless, instead, the lower columns are made of steel and anchored solidly deep in the ground. These considerations do not apply if the upper storey is fashioned from aerogel, or if the structure was erected on a low-gravity body such as perhaps Mars. --Lambiam 09:15, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

As pointed out by @Lambiam, this is static nonsense. The columns on the upper level have no vertical support and produce a major bending momentum on the cantilever. Unless the square frame were heavily reinforced, this edifice will have collapsed during erection.
I disagree with Lambiam, as I see no lateral forces and no need for buttresses. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:43, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

There appear to be inner columns on the lower level: we can see one at the rear inner lower corner, by peering through the hole in the top. Card Zero (talk) 23:28, 8 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

These columns don't appear to cast shadows. I now also notice the outer columns appear to be rather thin in the most important direction; their cross sections are like 1×4 oblong rectangles. --Lambiam 08:35, 9 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

The structure could be stable if you used a suitable beam joining each second column to its partner on the opposite side. You'd probably need pre-stressed concrete or an RSJ which might be a bit anachronistic! Martin of Sheffield (talk) 08:43, 9 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Somehow, people have managed to get jars and boxes up to the second floor (3rd floor in US?) gallery without the benefit of a staircase. This might indicate that the builders and users have access to anti-gravity technology, in which case all structural concerns may be irrelevant. -- Verbarson ^talk_edits 12:10, 9 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I believe ladders and ropes were invented before the advent of anti-gravity technology. 136.54.99.98 (talk) 23:58, 9 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Although this example seems to predate the invention of stairs. Alansplodge (talk) 11:48, 10 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

This appears to be an asset used in a series of strategic games, Age of Empires, which started out dealing with the Roman Empire in the 1990s. Our article implies that some effort was made to research the relevant historical eras.

Of course, the designers are / were neither art historians nor structural engineers. They may have looked at a few iconic buildings and added a pinch of artistic license plus a dollop of creativity. --Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM (talk) 17:33, 10 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Response from the OP

User:Lambiam, User:Abecedare, User: Cookatoo.ergo.ZooM, User:Card_Zero, User:Martin of Sheffield, UseR:Verbarson, and User:Alansplodge.

One or some of you may want to publish an answer on a follow up question regarding that model here

2A10:8012:17:CDC6:FF22:1F1C:21DF:9F6D (talk) 16:48, 15 June 2023 (UTC)[reply]