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Saint Paul's Cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. [Vitruvio.ch ©. Courtesy of Vitruvio Architecture on the Web]
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Born in East Knoyle, Wiltshire, on October 20, 1632, Sir Christopher Wren is considered by many to be the greatest British architect of all time. The sheer breadth and vision of his work has made its presence felt for more than three centuries and has helped define the London we know today.
The fact that Wren's legacy rests almost entirely upon his architectural work is somewhat surprising considering that it was not until 1663 that he designed his first building. Wren spent the first 30 years of his life consumed with science and math, specifically with astronomy, physics, and anatomy. In fact, Sir Isaac Newton included Wren, along with John Wallis and Christian Huygens, in a list of the three greatest geometers of the age.
Always tinkering with different inventions, by the time Wren entered Wadham College, Oxford, at the age of 17, he had already created (among other things) an instrument that wrote in the dark, a pneumatic engine, and a new language for the deaf. A working barometer, transparent beehives, and microscope improvements were just a few of the many projects that occupied Wren throughout his life. The physical and mental dexterity demanded by such work was clearly utilized when Wren found his true calling, architecture.
Shortly after completing his M.A. in 1653, Wren was appointed Fellow of All Souls. This fellowship, which freed Wren to pursue his own scientific research, remains one of the highest academic honors in England. In 1657, Wren was appointed Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College in London. It was during this time at Gresham that Wren, along with friends from his university days, formed the Royal Society of London for Promoting Natural Knowledge, a prestigious group that still flourishes.
By 1665 Wren had begun to make a name for himself as an architect for his designs for the Sheldonian Theatre, part of the University of Oxford, and for various buildings for Trinity College, Oxford. However, his big break came as a result of one of London's greatest tragedies. On the evening of September 2, 1666, sparks from the oven of the king's baker ignited a pile of firewood, starting the Great Fire of London. By September 5, when the fire was finally extinguished, nearly four-fifths of the city was at least partially destroyed.
In the aftermath of this catastrophe, Wren spent the next 46 years of his life helping design or restore 51 churches, as well as numerous theaters, libraries, hospitals, and royal palaces. Wren was knighted in 1673, in part for his role in the reconstruction of London.
Wren's design for the restoration of Saint Paul's Cathedral is considered his masterpiece. Thirty-five years in the making, Saint Paul's features one of the largest domes ever built, second only to that of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. On his death in 1723, Wren became the first person to be buried in Saint Paul's.
The birthday of Sir Christopher Wren is a perfect time to explore links between mathematics and architecture and to consider a variety of related classroom activities. The suggested activities and resources below can be used to develop math concepts that include geometric shapes, measurement, scale and ratio, perspective, and spatial relationships in two and three dimensions along with patterns, mapping, perimeter, area, and volume.
Many of the activities suggested in the Ready-to-Go Activities section below show how mathematics is applied as a tool in the real world of architectural design. Science can be integrated as students learn about material strengths and properties and explore principles of form and function within architectural design.
For a history link, students can find out more about Wren, or research and report on other architects. They could also explore the various styles of architecture used in different time periods and different countries. You might even consider taking the class on field trip in which you work together to identify the various styles of architecture found in your city.
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The American Architectural Foundation
These four curriculum supplements offer ideas for incorporating architecture-based activities across the curriculum. They cover topics that range from space and shape, to compression and tension, to architectural style.
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Architect: Sir Christopher Wren
Students can read about Christopher Wren, as well as view photographs of buildings he designed. Information about the buildings, such as style and materials used, is also provided. Part of the Great Buildings Online web site.
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Math to Build On
This web site describes math concepts relevant to the design and construction of buildings. Triangles, arcs, and trigonometry are some of the topics highlighted.
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Christopher Wren
A concise, informative introduction to Wren's architectural career.
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Sir Christopher Wren
This brief biography focuses on Wren's accomplishments in mathematics as well as his genius as an architect. It includes a number of math-related links.
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Sir Christopher Wren: Biography
A comprehensive guide to Wren's personal and public life.
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The Great Fire of London
This page provides a vivid account of the fire and its aftermath. You'll find excerpts from Samuel Pepys's diary and details of Wren's involvement in the rebuilding.
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Christopher Wren
A brief introduction to Wren's life, with an emphasis upon his later architectural work. Provides links to other sites about Wren's designs, particularly Saint Paul's Cathedral.
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3-D Drawing and Geometry
In this geometry unit, students view different types of 3-D drawings and learn how to do these drawings themselves. They can also explore many interesting careers that use these techniques, from architecture to movies.
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Build a Recreation Center Using Geometry
High school students do research and apply concepts in geometry as they work in groups to design specific parts of a recreation center.
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Architivity: Pasta Bridges
Students learn about the architecture involved in bridge building and practice problem solving in a hands-on cooperative group effort.
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Box City
This open-ended, interdisciplinary project offers students a chance to consider the design of their hometown and to design a model environment. A teacher's manual (ENC# 01645) is available.
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Floor Plan Your Classroom
(ENC#20680) This site provides step-by-step instructions for students to follow in order to make a floor plan of their classroom. The process takes them from a simple sketch, to a scaled drawing, to a computer-aided design using ClarisWorks. Be sure to check out the More 'Architivities' section for links to other activities in which students identify geometric shapes in architecture, design a futuristic bedroom, and walk through three-dimensional models.
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Building Big
(An ENC Digital Dozen selection, ENC#018205) Grades 5-12. Students have online opportunities to explore some of the science, mathematics, and engineering used in building bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels.
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Create a Co-op City: a cooperative adventure using architecture and design
  Featured in ENC Focus
Date: 1997 Grade(s): 4 - 12 Cost: $9.95 ENC#: 016415
This teacher's guide provides step-by-step instructions for designing and building a scale model city. It describes a classroom project that integrates architecture and design with math, social studies, science, and language arts. Students learn about one-quarter-inch scale drawings, floor plans, and drawing elevations for windows. Working in groups or individually, students design and build a complete house using one-quarter-inch scale.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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Investigating buildings
Date: 1996 Grade: 6 Cost: $9.99 - $15.99 ENC#: 004951
In this module, students examine the structure and design of buildings to learn how the purpose, the design, and the materials and strength of materials are considered in constructing a building. They also are given ways to research and test the effectiveness of their school design in terms of its intended purpose.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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Architecture
Featured in ENC Focus
Date: 1996 Grade(s): 4 - 6 Cost: $25.95 ENC#: 010254
Through hands-on activities, students explore a construction site, examine building materials, and discuss why the shape and the function of a building are important. They also investigate forces on buildings and learn how environment and people influence the development of architecture.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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From the ground up: modeling, measuring, and constructing houses
Date: 1994 Grade(s): 7 - 8 Cost: Out of Print ENC#: 005747
With this book, students can discover the mathematics of architecture as they design and construct a model home. Students take on the role of architects, progressing from drawing floor plans and site plans to building walls and roofs for their scale models as they explore the mathematical themes of scale and proportion, geometric representations, and area measurement. The book is out of print, but it's definitely worth tracking down if you can find it.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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Why do buildings stand up?
Date: 1988 Grade(s): 3 - 8 Cost: $12.00 ENC#: 005217
This pamphlet offers classroom demonstrations and activities that explain principles of structural design. Students learn about compression and tension, columns and beams, trusses, and loads.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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SPACES (Solving Problems of Access to Careers in Engineering and Science)
Featured in ENC Focus
Date: 1982 Grade(s): 4 - 10 Cost: $18.95 ENC#: 017010
This book contains 32 activities designed to strengthen problem-solving skills and to increase students' awareness of the use of problem-solving skills in many careers. It has a section of activities related to building design and construction.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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Designing environments
Featured in ENC Focus
Date: 1998 Grade(s): 5 - 8 Cost: $21.95 ENC#: 014438
In this set of six activities, students learn mathematics while working in groups to design facilities for an environmental camp. Students explore design options and learn how perimeter and area relationships can influence design decisions and cost-effectiveness. A scale model is the final product of the process.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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The mathematics of architecture: building by numbers
 Featured in ENC Focus
Date: 1996 Grade(s): 9 - Post-Sec. Cost: $129.00 ENC#: 016498
Through interviews with historians and architects, this video describes how architects use mathematics in their designs. For example, Palladio used the geometry of squares and rectangles to achieve harmonious proportions in his structures. Tschumi discusses how the incorporation of chaos theory into his design of a Paris park helped him represent the disorder of modern life
(For more details see ENC Record)
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The medieval castle
Date: 1998 Grade(s): 6 - 9 Cost: $15.96 - $23.70 ENC#: 012395
This book describes how medieval castles were built and examines the daily lives of those inhabiting them.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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The Dorling Kindersley visual encyclopedia
Date: 1995 Grade(s): K - Post-Sec. Cost: $44.95 ENC#: 003499
This illustrated encyclopedia contains more than 50,000 facts and more than 15,000 photographs. It includes a detailed history of the development of architecture, with illustrations and text describing many building features.
(For more details see ENC Record)
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Architecture and engineering: an illustrated teacher's manual on why buildings stand up
Date: 1983 Grade(s): 6 - 12 Cost: $20.00 ENC#: 006078
Here you will find background information and lesson ideas.
(For more details see ENC Record)
Find more materials by searching Curriculum Resources on ENC Online using these terms: Architecture, Geometry, or Mathematics.
Realizing that there are many ways to use this Classroom Calendar entry, we chose these standards because they relate to the entry, in full or in part. If you want to explore the standards further, please use the link(s) provided.
Connections to NCTM Standards
Geometry: Analyze characteristics and properties of two- and three-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships
Geometry: Specify locations and describe spatial relationships using coordinate geometry and other representational systems
Geometry: Use visualization, spatial reasoning, and geometric modeling to solve problems
Measurement: Understand measurable attributes of objects and the units, systems, and processes of measurement
Measurement: Apply appropriate techniques, tools, and formulas to determine measurements
Problem Solving: Build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving
Representation: Use representations to model and interpret physical, social, and mathematical phenomena
Connections to NSES
Content Standard B: Physical Science: Properties and changes of properties in matter (5-8)
Content Standard B: Physical Science: Motions and forces (9-12)
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Judy Spicer
Instructional Resources
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First posted: 8/21/2001
Last modified: 10/15/2003 |
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