Unit Summary 2

This past unit was about reverberations. Rules were broken because of the reflections on the ideas of previous architecture. Styles after styles began to originate, but they did not stick in design so they can't truly be called styles. Rules that were created were broken immediately and many different ideas were experimented with.
    
The period began with the development of churches. This progression created expressions of faith through different materials such as, glass and stone. The form, space, and material that shaped let the eye move about the designs, grabbing the light and layers that are entangled into the architecture. Religion was very significant during this time, which resulted in the construction of churches more common. Designs that involved arches and lighting became the most dominant churches. The high ceilings of cathedrals were an extreme modification from the earlier churches. The towering ceilings resulted in the invention of the flying buttresses for additional support. 

 Florence Cathedral

Western design proposed that cathedrals would be the focus of the city. The cathedral would be the key structure in the cities skyline. The buildings throughout the city repeated the same form and structure that was in the cathedrals design. The material on the cathedrals would be more detailed on the front then behind.  The eastern designs had the same main concept, but the detailing was different. The western design influence opened the changes to the design of new buildings. But instead of ripping down the existing structures, they exchanged the parts they felt needed the transformation. 

 Palazza de te

When the layers began to multiply the rules began to breakdown.  Architecture began to look more staged and the Renaissance style was created. It was Individualistic, a architecture style that was not like any other, it was tranquil and peaceful. Soon after Renaissance, the Baroque style of architecture became popular. Baroque was classified as being theatrical and looked difficult to produce. The elements put into the Baroque style gave it the illusion of movement. The designs were built on an axis and instead of using one architect they used many different designers.

 Chateau de Chanonceau

After Baroqe, came the revolution, architecture and design went wild. Architects started to take a more systematic approach to architecture. Log cabins were introduced and landscapes began to contend with the main structure. The outside was balanced and brick became a new material. 

This unit, reverberations, taught us that design is everywhere and that rules were broken to obtain the modernistic approach we currently see today. 

  PHOTO CREDIT:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Florence_Cathedral,_front_view.jpg

http://www.all-art.org/Architecture/15-17.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau