Mayan Architecture Research Paper

Mayan Architecture
The Mayans were one of the most advance and dominant indigenous societies of Mexico and Central America. The great cities of the Mayan civilization were constructed in a rainforest environment. The architecture that the Mayans used to build homes, temples and palaces is something unique considering that despite changes in times the buildings have managed to remain completely intact. The Mayan cities were also built in a disorganized way, so they would not flood during wet seasons.
The classic period of Mayan civilization is the time when they first stared to build great stone cities and monuments (History). They gained inspiration from past tribes in how to build their cities which resulted in a unique form of architecture. The Mayan temples were built of stone with platforms on the top where wooden and thatch structures could be built on. Mayan architects would use local materials in building homes, such as limestone, sandstone, and volcanic tuff (Cartwright). The limestone was used for construction of buildings while the volcanic tuff was used for tools and weapons. The modern-day descendants of the Mayans still use these materials to create their homes.

They have also inspired 20th century architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Robert Stacy-Judd to incorporate elements of Mayan architecture into their buildings (Cartwright). The modest Mayan homes that were built long time ago resemble the homes of present day Mayan descendants. A new concept project designed by architect Sordo Madaleno is to create a luxury hotel in Mexico that has unique architecture based on Mayan elements (Isla). The layout of the Mayan cities is the opposite of the layout in today’s cities. The residential areas radiate out of the city center and grow sparser the further they go from the center in Mayan civilizations