Atrium is the central part of the ancient Roman dwelling, the inner court of light, into which the rest of the rooms went. The etymology of the word comes from the Latin atrium, which means "smoky", "black". In ancient dwellings, a constantly burning hearth was located in the atrium; due to the small size of the courtyard, it could be smoky, hence, most likely, its name came from. There was also a reservoir in the center of the atrium to catch rainwater.
This construction of a characteristic ancient Roman house arose under the influence of the compositions of the folk meetings of the Greek agora and simple folk dwellings. The influence of Etruscan buildings is also felt. For several centuries, the house of the Romans had no further development. Even in the era of the prosperity of the empire, the atrium remained an essential part of the house. This predominant type of dwelling construction is called atrium-peristyle.
The atrium is the center of a Roman house, an open rectangular space, the compluvium. The roof of the atrium, four parts of which fell towards the middle, left an open space in the very center, from which rainwater flowed into the impluvium pond, arranged in the floor. The roof was usually based on fourcolumns that stood at the corners of the impluvium.
It was the atrium that gave a peculiar individuality to the Roman house. Its scheme according to Mark Vitruvius, a Roman architect, could differ in two types: a cavedium, or an open-air atrium, the roof of which ran along a circle, and an atrium with a gallery with a solid ceiling.
Cavedium was divided into 5 types:
- Atrium tuscanicum is the most common type, also known as the Etruscan. It is characterized by a concave roof with a rectangular hole in the middle, its slopes descending to the compluvium. The roof rested on 2 transverse beams located along the edges of the compluvium.
- Atrium tetrastylum was used for larger rooms. This type was distinguished by partitions perpendicular to the walls, which formed a series of rooms around the courtyard. The roof of the building was based on four columns placed at the corners of the compluvium.
- Atrium corinthium is similar to the previous one, but had a larger compluvium and, accordingly, more columns. The Corinthian type was an open courtyard with a colonnade supporting a roof that sloped inwards.
- Atrium displuviatum had a roof with a gap in the middle. The skylight was usually protected by a special canopy from the rain.
- Atrium testudinatum - the atrium was completely vaulted.
The open atrium, created in the form of a basilica, with a covered courtyard, was bordered by two side porticoes. At the back of the courtyard was a tablinium (wooden gallery) with an openfront facade. The tablinium was connected to the inner chambers by a wide span (fauces).
Initially, the courtyard of the atrium was separated from the street by a door, which, according to custom, was open. But later they began to lock her up for constipation. Entrance doors, usually double doors, opened inwards. A hearth was usually located opposite them. In this part of the house the household gathered. Slaves spun here, with whom the mistress herself often worked.
Later the atrium is already a peculiar face of the house. It began to be divided into official (tablinum - study, atrium, triclinium), front and private part (cubicles, peristyle - bedrooms). The walls of the light courtyard were decorated with frescoes, the floor was laid out with mosaics, and the hearth was replaced with a pool. Marble columns and statues began to decorate the atrium. The house became more pompous.
The passion for colossal structures that gripped the Romans during the heyday of the empire led them to the idea of arranging atriums in public buildings and temples.
In modern architecture, the meaning of the term "atrium" is somewhat different. The atrium is an open space with translucent ceilings inside the building, several floors high. In the construction of exhibition complexes, hotels, business centers, offices of the largest companies, this is one of the most common elements of architecture.
