Renaissance Architecture

1350 – 1500 A.D.

The renaissance style originated in Florence, with Filippo Brunelleschi, but has spread to many other Italian cities, and also to France, Germany, England and Russia. Renaissance architecture was based around symmetry, proportion, geometry. Orderly arrangements and use of different pieces replaced the more complex aspect of medieval buildings.

The plan of a Renaissance building is square and symmetrical, and most commonly has the design to have a façade. One of the first true Renaissance façades was the Cathedral of Pienza. (below)

Aside from the facades, other characteristics of Renaissance architecture were the Roman orders of columns that include Tuscan, Ionic, Doric, Corinthian and Composite, which can be used for either useful (structrual) purposes, or just for decoration. More characteristics of Renaissance architecture are the semi-circular arches, semi-circular vaults, and domes. Dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

The style of Renaissance architecture can be seen through the ceilings, which were flat or coffered, the doors, which usually had square lintels, the windows, which may be paired and set within a semi-circular arch, and the walls, which were usually of highly-finished ashlar masonry, and the corners had rusticated quoins.

Church of San Lorenzo in Florence (you can see the use of the orders of columns)

House and Bedroom

My Bedroom Back of House

Front of House

Gothic Architecture

900 - 1500 A.D.

Gothic Architecture was in the time of the Medieval Period, and evolved from Romanesque Architecture; which makes Romanesque and Gothic very similar styles, with only few differences. The biggest difference in the Romanesque and Gothic styles is that Romanesque arches are rounded, while Gothic arches are pointy. Other more minor differences are that Romanesque churches tend to be darker than Gothic, becasue Gothic style churches have more and bigger windows; a result of newer technology like the groin vault and flying buttress. Gothic architecture originated in 12^th century France, and was known as “The French Style.” The most distinct characteristic features are its pointed arch, ribbed vault and flying buttress. Gothic Architecture is most commonly seen in cathedrals, abbeys, and churched of Europe, but also in castles, town halls, and universities.

Gasson Hall at Boston College

Gothic architecture was built from materials that were readily available, and in France, that was limestone of all different grades, the fine white limestone of Caen was a favorite for sculptural decoration. In England, coarse limestone, red sandstone, and dark green Purbeck marble were materials readily available.

Abbot Suger is the popular man who rebuilt the Church of Saint Denis. He was a friend and confidante of French Kings, Lois VI and Lois VII. This building has been said to be the first building in the Gothic Style.

Abbey of Saint Denis

Coutances Cathedral, France

Classical Architecture

Classical Architecture can be broken up into three groups, Greek Architecture, Hellenistic Architecture, and Roman Architecture. Classical architecture are styles that originated in post-renaissance Europe.

An example of architecture during the classical period is the columns, which had the three different styles of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

The materials used in Greek architecture consisted of wood (supports and roof beams), plaster (sinks and bathtubs), Greek architecture was less of Art for fun, and more of essential art. The architect would be hired by the state, or private client, and be in charge of the design and completion of the building. The most common type of Greek architecture was the temples, and tholos were a circular temple. One of the most popular examples of Greek architecture would be the Tholos of Theodorus at Delphi.

The materials used in Roman Architecture consist of concrete, which was a mixture of lime mortar, pozzolana, water and stones, placed in wooden frames and then molded into bicks. Another very common material used in Roman architecture was marble. Common buildings of Roman architecture were the amphitheatres, lighthouses, arches and aqueducts. Some of the most famous buildings consist of the Pantheon, Hadrian’s Wall, and the Aqueduct of Segovia.

Colosseum in Rome, Italy

Hadrian's Wall in northern England

Egyptian Architecture

The Egyptian Architecture period was from 3000 to 30 B.C. Since religion was a very important aspect of the Ancient Egyptian time, most structures had religious symbols, such as scarabs. Another key aspect of Egyptian architecture was the thick sloping walls, and the small doors and windows. Egyptian structures had these thick sloping walls for balance, and larger opening were just not possible with buildings made of stone. A common method for construction was the post and lintel, which was simply laying one object horizontally across two other vertical objects. The main materials used in Egyptian architecture were mud-brick, and stone (usually limestone). The Nile River and hot Egypt weather was of much convenience when making mud–bricks; because the mud was taken from the river, and then baked in the sun. This process was also used in the construction of houses, but the mud would be placed in molds and left out to dry. The walls of buildings, also columns and piers, were heavily decorated with hieroglyphics and frescoes, popularly in bright colors. A hieroglyph could either tell a story, or tell of historical events. In Ancient Egypt tombs and temples would be made from the stone; whereas, other buildings such as fortresses and palaces, were made from the mud-bricks. Two of the more famous Egyptian structures are the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Great Sphinx of Giza, but the most known Egyptian structures are all pyramids in general. Pyramids were made from big blocks of stone, which were placed in precise positions, and carried to their position by men using ramps, when it’s needed to be higher up on the pyramid. Like other Egyptians structures, hieroglyphics were in pyramids. Some Egyptian structures still standing today include the fortresses at Buhen, and the village Deir al-Madinah.

The Great Pyramid and Sphinx of Giza

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_architecture).

(http://library.thinkquest.org/10098/egypt.htm)

(http://www.aldokkan.com/art/architecture.htm)

Timeline and Neolithic Period

Timeline of Architectural Styles

Ancient:

Neolithic or “Stone Age” – 7000 – 3000 B.C.

Egyptian – 3000 – 30 B.C.

Greek – 1200 – 30 B.C.

Roman – 200 B.C. – 500 A.D.

Middle Ages:

Romanesque – 900 – 1150 A.D.

Gothic – 1120 – 1500 A.D.

Renaissance – 1350 – 1500 A.D.

Baroque – 1600 – 1750 A.D.

Romantism – 1750 – 1850 A.D.

Neoclassical – 1850 – 1900 A.D.

Modern:

Art Nouveau – 1850 – 1940 A.D.

Art & Crafts – 1870 – 1960 A.D.

International Style – 1910 A.D. - present

Bauhaus – 1925 – 1950 A.D.

Post Modern – 1925 – 1980 A.D.

This timeline comes from http://www.seemydesign.com/livingroom/elementsideas/archtrim/architectstyle.htm, but on other sites, most of these styles were apparent and commonly mentioned.

Neolithic Period; “Stone Age”: 7000 – 3000 B.C.

An example from this period, which is known by many, is the famous Stonehenge. Other stone circles and the begining of British Castles are also examples of Neolithic Architecture. Huge stones called Megaliths, weighing up to 4 tons, and Trilithons weighing about 45 tons were used in Neolithic architecture. (http://www.castles.me.uk/neolithic-architecture.htm) Other materials used are wattle and daub and mud-brick. Wattle and daub is used for making walls and is a woven lattice of wooden strips (the wattle) is (daubed) with a sticky material that is most commonly made of a combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung, and straw. Mud-bricks are just bricks made of a mixture of mud, sand, clay, water, and held together by a binding material of rice husks or straw. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wattle_and_daub) The structure of houses in the Neolithic times were huts, earlier on walls made of posts, and later on made of mud bricks, all built independently from each other. (http://www.fhw.gr/chronos/01/en/nl/housing/nl_arch.html)

Bedroom Floorplan