Ancient Architecture for Civilizations that develop in Western Europe

What should I base the architecture on if we have a pre- roman POD where a Proto- Germanic or Proto- Celtic Tribe or Proto- Balkan develop advanced civilizations and cities what would their buildings look like ? What should I model them off of ? Is there a basic design from the neolithic period that all cultures share ? What building materials would be common out side of Italy and Greece in Northern and Western Europe ?
 
Wood and stone would probably be dominant, because they were just at hand and present everywhere. I won't see it being a monumental architecture civilisation, at least for urban features.
As for the general form, I don't think that circles or square would be either that of a distinct matter, rather than the general organisation, made of a surrounding wall (symbolic or not) around (not always geographically speaking) the aristocratic or leardership presence.

SOmething like an oppidum or a gord.
 
I think it depends a lot on the area. A native civilization in the British Isles is probably going to look a lot like iron age Scotland- round structures, possibly interlocked to create larger buildings- with tall towers or Brochs, defensive walls and earthworks. Monumental architecture (like Stonehenge) was largely on its way out by that point, but its possible that standing stones and small henge ditches would be used to mark sacred sites.
 

Driftless

Donor
Is the circular nature of the structures a by-product of the need for strengh against attack (same with the doors on the roof), or is that off-base?

I also think of the towers in Ireland with the entry point 3-5 meters off the ground.
 
Domestic architecture would be wattle/daub or timber with thatched roofs. "Richer" residences would feature stonework or fired brick. Cities would probably not be grid organized but roads woud follow terrain, etc. Circular plans might be more common

I think Religious and Civic architecture would feature a circular ground plan more frequently than in the mediterranean. No reason that the early neolithic and bronze age emphasis on circular tumuli, platform mounds, henges, etc would not continue, but fitted/mortared stone, stucco facing, possibly metal cladding, might replace simple earthworks. Lots of woodwork also, both for supporting structures, cladding, and ornamentation.
 
The celts where more advanced a bit than generally given, at least for the continental ones... some roads attribuated to Rome where actually made by celtic 'states' we found, there was the opidium forts-castles things, early urbanisation even... AND there was contacts with greeks and etruscans, etc at places as modern Midi of France, so...

Same similar remarks perhaps to groups as Thracians...

Maybe less distant from what Rome made finally - and there was not always moves to assimilate the natives anyway in OTL so... maybe not that much different than OTL in some precise areas.
 
Maybe greater use of cob, with a circular floor plan like this superadobe house?

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Would they be circular or would they develop square like as Roman or Greeks

Square.
The neolithic farmers in Europe already lived in longhouses thousands of years before the Romans and Greeks.
With the small side facing the dominant wind direction.
Some pictures of Germanic longhouses here and here.

However the size of the longhouses varied between the regions. Some went for really gigantic ones, around 60 meters long. With everything under one roof. While other regions preferred smaller ones. One for the extended family, one for the farm animals, one for storage.
No windows (no glass), only some portholes which could be closed with wooden hatches. Wooden or stone floor in the family rooms.

For building they used the materials easily available. Wood of course, stone when possible (like for the lower walls so that the wooden walls wouldn´t touch the earth.). At the coasts, reed for the roof.

Generally I´d say look at the climate in a region.
In warmer regions (Mediterranean, Middle East) you end up with "white" buildings and many large windows and doors to capture the wind for cooling.
In colder wetter regions the first primitive houses probably will look a lot like those longhouses. Small side to the wind. Roof almost reaching to the ground, small, easily closed "windows". Optimized to withstand heavy rain or snow.

How you then use those origins once they develop an advanced civilization is then up to you. :)
Simply the invention of glass for windows or iron stoves would change constructions. Or mortar.
 
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