Reading Reponse 7: Baroque Architecture

" Renaissance buildings existed to be admired in its splendid isolated perfection. The Baroque building can only be grasped through one's experiencing it in a variety of effects...Baroque unity is achieved- at the expense of the clearly defined elements- through the subordination of the individual elements to invigorate the world. Baroque space is independent and alive- it flows and leads to dramatic culminations"

                                                                                                    HENRY A. MILLON
                                                                                            Baroque and Rococo Architecture, 1961


     Baroque Architecture began in the late sixteenth century  Italy. Baroque architecture is often characterized by elaborate, grandiose, and ambiguous in nature. In fact, Baroque architecture was deliberately made complex ( Roth,p. 398). Another principle associated with Baroque architecture is a sense of movement.


Early Baroque Architecture first emerged through the works on the Saint Peters Basilica, Vatican City, by the architect Carlo Maderno.

St. Peter's Basilica, Vitican City

•  Outter Facade- cornitium orders apear to be symmetrical
• Statue of St. Peter and St Paul 

St. Peter's Basilica, Vitican City

•  Large play on light 
• inner facade use of broader nave
• Ornate decor                                                           

 

Church of Gesu

• first truly baroque facade  
• Scroll design give movement
• Ornate entrance

                  



 Late Baroque Architecture

Church of Vierzehnheiligen, Germany

Church of Vierzehnheiligen, Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•   Last building to adhere to Baroque principles   
•  external facade dramatic central projection   

  




      

• Inertior is a palatte for art work
• Large-scale ceiling frescoes
•  Dome ceiling

NEO- BAROQUE

Sadly, architecture today is not influenced on Baroque. I found that Baroque style is more influential in furniture and interior design. I was able to find a picture of a twentieth century Baroque influenced building. I love the mix of modern technology infused with the classic form of the Baroque architecture.

Chicago theater, Chicago, Illinois, 1920

Resources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_architecture
• http://www.learn.columbia.edu/ha/html/baroque.html
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Vatican-StPierre-Int%C3%A9rieur1.jpg
• http://0.tqn.com/d/goitaly/1/0/r/3/-/-/st-peters-basilica.jpg
• http://www.vierzehnheiligen.eu/de/vBilder/basilika_001.jpg
• http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1600&bih=1005&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=xbfVjQTVbeF4DM:&imgrefurl=http://www.lessing-photo.com/search.asp%3Fa%3DL%26lc%3D2020202063A4%26ln%3DChurch%252C%2BVierzehnheiligen%252C%2BGermany%26p%3D1&docid=3XA-db0JCZBWnM&imgurl=http://www.lessing-photo.com/p2/150407/15040741.jpg&w=245&h=330&ei=8uFLT8mMD8S4twfPgpHvAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=515&vpy=128&dur=2659&hovh=261&hovw=193&tx=98&ty=147&sig=112019385053359004504&page=1&tbnh=158&tbnw=114&start=0&ndsp=42&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0
• http://www.frontdoor.com/city-guide/chicago-architecture/pictures/pg169
• Roth, L.M, Understanding Architecture4th ed, 2007

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Reading rsponse 6: Architecture of the Renaissance

         Architecture of the Renaissance was a start of a new age in architecture. Architecture which expressed mathematical clarity and  the rationality of the divine order of the Universe( Roth p353). Balance and proportion became important design elements. The new architectural style of the Renaissance first appeared in Florence at the Ospedale degli Innocent, as known as the Founding Hospital, designed by the archiect Filippo Brunelleschi.

Ospedale Degli Innocenti · Florence, Italy

 

 

• Circles, Stacks, and groves are still being used
• Balance and proportion -symmetry
• Corinthian columns appear

          Architecture of the Renaissance no longer had to be a massive vertical form which reached upward toward Heaven (Roth,p 353). Instead, the desire to produce massive structures was now being tested and  seen in the form of the dome.The largest dome built in the Renaissance was the dome located over the crossing of the Santa Maria della Fiore.

Santa Maria del fiore ( Duomo), Florence, Italy

 

 

 

 

•  Architects were still testing the  human limitations of architecture.
• Balance and Proportions- Asymmetry

• Grand scale of building  represent  importance.

      During the Renaissance, the circle was seen as the representation of  God's perfection.Therefore, circles were seen in some form in almost every building of the Renaissance. However, architecture was not the only aspects in which circles were seen.In fact, city planners even applied the circular form in plans of new cities. Antonio Averlino was the first Renaissance planner to use the ideal form of the circle in city plans ( Roth, p361).

Vincenzo Scamazzi, Palmanuouva. Italy

 

 

 

• Plan still consists of a Cardo and a Decumanus
• Strong center
•  Geometrically proportional shapes

Resources:

•  http://www.tslr.net/2007/07/functional-forts.html
• http://www.florencedesignacademy.com/duomo_eng.html
• http://www.greatbuildings.com/cgi-bin/gbi.cgi/Ospedale_Degli_Innocenti.html/cid_2461905.gbi
• L.M Roth, Understanding Architecture 2nd ed, 2007

Unit Summary 1

Unit Summary 1

Objects, places, buildings and spaces have all emerged from the development of civilizations. In the book Understanding Architecture, Roth states, “Architecture is shelter, but it is also symbol and a form of communication( Roth, p 159). First human inhabitants, which started in the Middle East, used elements such as circles, stacks and groups as symbolic representation in their architecture. Circles were symbolic representation of the sun, the moon and even Gods associated with such elements. Architecture that was stacked was representative of the mountains. Finally, groves or groups were representative of groves of trees and even groups of people. Roth further states, ” what we build is shaped by the private need to provide a particular function. Roth hypothesis that the earliest architecture may have been built as a symbol of common belief ( Roth, p11)

The act of building for the purpose of memorializing an event or religious ideal was the major function of early architecture. In Greece, large temples were built to honor their polytheistic beliefs. Previous elements such as circles, stacks and groups continued to be echoed in Greek architecture. To further expand on such prototypical elements on a grander scale the Greeks invented the orders. The three major orders invented by the Greeks were Doric columns, ionic columns and Corinthian column. I believe that such grandness or idealization for perfection was a positive and constant driving force for the development of archetypical architecture still used today.

Around 25 BCE the ancient Roman Architect Marcus Vitruvius formed the basic definition of Architecture( Roth, p11). Vitruvius believed that be considered a well built design that architecture must posses three basic elements he referred to as commodity, firmness and delight(Roth, p11). Vitruvius's term for firmness describes structural foundations that are solid, as well as, use appropriate building materials. In fact, it was around this time that concrete was developed and was being applied to architecture. His defines delight as the being visually appealing and even evoking a sense of delight Vitruvius referred to commodity as serving a specific function. Much of the architecture seen up until this point was built solely to serve a function- mainly religious in nature.

Another archetypical element founded in Greek architecture was the basic building form referred to as the megaron. The basic building form in Greece was comprised of three basic parts: a porch, hearth and court. The porch, much like that today, was a place to greet the outside world. The Court was a great room to gather with the public- similar to a living or great room in present time. Lastly, the hearth was the heating element within the space. The hearth was usually a private internal room within the space.

Migration, as well as, free trade led to the expansion of the archetypical Greek Architecture throughout the world. In fact, if you look around you can see many of the same elements and principles in today's architecture. Today's architecture is made up of circles, stacks or/ or groups and contains a hearth, court and porch. Architecture today is still influenced heavily on the basic ideas of commodity, firmness and delight proposed over two thousand years ago!

Reading Response 5: The Early Medieval Castle

The Early Medieval castle construction echos the dark and depressing mood of the Era.The first Medieval Castle, roughly eleventh century,  was made up of two structures referred to a a motte and bailey. The motte was a large mound of dirt. Atop the motte a wooden structure, referred to as a keep, was built to house the lord. Attached to the base of the Motte would be a Bailey- or wall en-closer that contained the remaining residents and businesses. Often , the Motte- and Bailey was protected by a surrounding ditch and/or palisade.I found it interesting to learn that the ditch was sometimes left unfilled by water. When I think back to what I believe to be a true castle- and even the castles I used to build in the sand by the ocean- all had a moat!

                                           Motte- and Bailey Archetype
            

Plan of Topcliffe Castle, England

• Remember an Archetype is an ideal structure so from here on out the castles of the Medieval era will consist of this basic structure.

• The plan depicts perfectly how simple the construction was.
• Topcliffe Castle was built 1071

                          Diagram of Medieval Castle Archetype

  

• The castle is stacked on two mottes and is surronded by a single bailey

Launceston Castle, England

• Notice that the castle is constructed of stone. Around 1000 decaying wooden structures were replaced by stone increasing not only the security of the castle, but also the longevity.
• Example of early form of Donjon.

 As the economic conditions improved- so did the construction of the Medieval Castle. Wooden keeps were pulled into the fortified perimeter and were replaced with donjon- or cylindrical stone walls( Roth, Understanding Architecture, p. 306). Donjons began adorning castles around the twelve century and  helped establish the standard look.

Beaumaris Castle, North Wales

After looking at the  construction of the early medieval castle do you notice that the elements CIRCLES, STACKS, and GROUPS are pretty influential in the design. Just to review, notice how the circular fortress was built on a stack of mounded earth and consisted of vertical wooden slabs grouped together. If you look they really are everywhere!





                      

Project 3: 1st Year Studio Plan and Elevation

1st Year IARC Studio Plan

West Elevation

North Elevation

Blog post 5:My thoughts, My feelings, My poem

beneath the LAYERS i ride.
up and down- no parent by my side.
the COLORS, the FORM, the SIZE.
Freedom ( it seems) to me a winning prize.
on my face i beam with pride!

Hyde Park, London 2010

Reading Response 4: Evolution of Architecture and Churches

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST TEMPLE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Göbekli Tepe, Turkey, 10,000 BCE

• World's first temple
• Built by nomads for worship
• Worshiped multiple God/ Goddess
• Predates StoneHenge by 7,000 yrs

                                                               TEMPLE PROGRESSION


The Earliest temple were simple boxes with an alter at the backand an oven outside at the front where offering were made. Over time, temples began to be built on a larger scale.

Temple XVI at Eridu, Iran

• Positioned on a stone platform- starting to be raised higher
• Alter
• Offering Tables

Blog Post 4: Commodity, Firmness , and Delight on UNCG Campus

College Ave, UNCG

• Commodity - Located on an axis containing the cardo and the decumnus that informs the pedestrian of important locations pertaining to the UNCG campus.In this case for example, the Library is centrally located on this axis. 
• Firmness- The bricks that are used are appropriate material to stand up to heavy traffic.
• Delight- The alternating repetition of the brick work, as well as, the contrasting color of the brick to grass is not only very appealing esthetically.