Spanish Renaissance Video

This is a really good video that shows the influence that the Moorish culture had on Spanish architecture. Check it out!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUMsJ3d7RWE

Other Blog Discussions: Spanish Renaissance

Today I looked at Justine and Kristina P.'s blogs. Justine did a good job looking at the styles of architecture and the important building that came from the Spanish Renaissance. She also did a really good job of showing current applications in design today. Kristina's blog went into a lot of detail about the different castles and cathedrals from this period and showed a lot of really good pictures of exteriors and interiors, as well as current application.

Spanish Renaissance

The 16th century is considered one of the most brilliant eras in Spanish history. It was during this time that Ferdinand and Isabella ruled over the country and when Columbus acquired the title to the New World. With the conquering of civilizations came great wealth of silver and gold for the Spanish.


During the Spanish Renaissance there were two main schools of art including the Moors and the Spanish Christians. The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is known as the greatest achievements of the Moors before their expulsion in 1607. It has a plain exterior but inside is filled with courtyards, gardens, fountains, and pools.


There were two phases to the Spanish Renaissance. The first one was the Plateresco Phase, named after the Spanish silversmiths (platero) because of the minute and delicate ornamentation. This phase had heavily decorated buildings that were built using Gothic or Renaissance construction. The second phase was the Desornamentado Phase which came as a result of the Plateresco Phase. It was characterized by unornamentation and austerity. Examples of this style can be seen in many court and public buildings.

             

Like in the Italian Renaissance, residential design was very important to the people of this time. Palaces became extremely popular and many modest rural houses were also built. Residential design was highly influenced by the Moors and included elaborate decorations in galleries, patios, windows, and doors. The most artistic feature found in interiors is the iron grilles (rejas). The rejas is still an important feature in design today. Another key feature is the plaster work that surrounds the doors and windows of many buildings. Because Spain was the leading center in the leather world at the time, Cordoba leather was also a prominent feature. Often times it as gilded and painted. Fringes, braids, tassels, and decorative nail heads are also prominent features from the time.

Furniture was also important during this time and inlay work became one of Spain's finest achievements. The furniture was characterized by its simple and bold design as well as its heavy proportions. Walnut was popular as well as the ornamental wrought-iron under braces. Cabinet pieces were commonly found in homes and the most popular included the vargueno. It was a receptacle for documents and valuables and could be used for a desk. There were two bases, the puente (trestle base) and the taquillon (facade of drawers), that could be used with the vargueno. The other popular cabinet piece was the papelera which was similar to the vargueno without the drop front for a desk. It was also mounted on ball feet.  

Many characteristics from this period can still be seen in design today. Here are a couple of examples:

Italian Renaissance Video

This is a great video to learn more about the Italian Renaissance and to see some of the beautiful buildings from the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLHBHA0sVgE

Other Blog Discussions: Italian Renaissance

Today I looked at John's blog. He really talked about how the Renaissance focused more on interiors than previous time periods. He talked about the new innovations that were being made and why it was important to design today. He also included some good pictures. I also looked at Kristina P's blog. I enjoyed how much she talked about the Palazzos and the design features. She also included a lot of really good pictures from the time period and current applications.

Italian Renaissance

The Italian Renaissance lasted from 1400-1600 and began in Florence, Italy. The Renaissance was a shift from Romanesque and Gothic design to the rebirth of the classical Greek and Roman design. It was also a shift from a religious focus to a more secular one and residential design became very popular. Not only were there reforms within the field of architecture and design, there were reforms within the church. Everyone, no matter what class, was interested in the arts. Comfort, beauty, and convenience all became more important that safety, strength, and protection.

The Palazzo, the Italian palace, is a huge aspect of design from this period. It emphasized alternation and repetition as well as progression. It was composed of three divisions (stories), and a heavy cornice, and featured compound windows. It was structured similar to the Roman domus in the aspect that there were no hallways. All rooms were accessible from the central courtyard. The living areas were on the 2nd and 3rd floors above a store space. The ground floor featured a  grad staircase that led to the piano nobile, the main living area located on the second floor. The interiors of the palazzos included elaborate frescos, tapestries, and fireplaces. One of the most prominent palazzos belonged to the Medici family. It is located in Florence and was designed by Michelozzo di Bartolommeo. There were three main principles that they followed in the design of this palazzo including symmetry, public rooms that were accessible directly from the main entrance, and dividing the rooms into smaller "apartments" belonging to one person.

One of the most influential architects from this time was Andrea Palladio. Through his writing of The Four Books on Architecture, Palladio inspired many people including Thomas Jefferson. One of his greatest accomplishments was the Villa Rotunda. Each side of the villa featured a classical temple front with stairs, columns, entablature, and pediment. All of the rooms were arranged symmetrically around the central dome. Palladio recommended proportions in architecture that were based on buildings from the Classical world.

          

The features from this time can be seen in modern building especially in many American governmental buildings. By including the classical forms in design, buildings gain a feeling on importance and sophistication.

The interiors of this time included decorative moldings, elaborately coffered ceilings, painted walls, beautifully decorated fireplace mantles, pilasters, and floors decorated in geometric patterns. The furniture was portable with gilding and inlays of ivory, and beautiful stones.












Because the interiors were of such importance during this time, there was a rise in the amount of furniture from the period. Major pieces from this time include the cassone (chest), cassapanca (the influence for sofas), elaborate beds, the trestle table, and the Florentine table (seen in the French Empire and English Regency).  

Other Blog Discussions: The Americas

I looked at Katie's blog about the Americas this week. She focused on the Olmec civilization and talked a lo about their carvings and the art that they made. She included some really good pictures too.
I also looked at Jessica's blog about the Teotihuacan. She made a lot of interesting points about the city and the buildings in it and had some great examples of current applications.

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan, is an ancient city from 100-750 B.C. The city lies north of present day Mexico City in the Valley of Teotihuacan. It was a major center for agriculture, rituals, and trade. At the highest point of the civilization, Teotihuacan was home to approximately 200,000 people and was one of the largest cities in the world. The city is built around a central axis in a grid formation with one end leading to the 2 mile long ritual site. This site includes the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.


The Pyramid of the Sun is built on top of a four-chambered cave. It is the largest pyramid in the Americas at 705 sq feet and 206 feet tall.

The Pyramid of the Moon is at the end of the central axis and faces south. The temples have a basic construction of taluds (gently sloped base) and tableros (the raised panel).

The residents of the city lived in apartment style homes. The buildings all had rooms that opened off a central courtyard which contained alters and a temple platform. Central rooms in the apartments were dark due to the lack of windows. The courtyards have two steps followed by square piers which support the framed panel. The complexes were surrounded by a high wall and they were only accessible through a single entrance. Although they were not architectural marvels like the pyramids, they provided a good living environment for many of the people.

       












The influence the Meso-American cultures had on design can still be seen today through these pictures of current applications.