American Reflections

I read Rachael's blog post this week and she focused on the classic colonial style.  The American design period took place over a long period of time, but the colonial style was present throughout.  She discussed some of the historical aspects of the time and emphasized that early homes were built simply but had a European twist.

I also read Kristina P's blog and she also discussed some of the history of the early American colonies.  Her comment about the earliest of homes and colonies being about survival rather than the latest design styles struck me as very true and great insight.  She then went on the discuss the  major movements within the overall American design period.

American

Early design styles in America were influenced greatly by outside sources.  These outside influences include Dutch, French, German, Swedish, and Spanish.  Each home built in one of these styles has very distinct characteristics.

Dutch style homes are steep roofed with decorative brick work.  Dutch doors, that are split in two and can be opened at the top or bottom as well as opened as a whole, were also used.  Shutters and ornamental tiles were also distinct characteristics.  Most Dutch style homes can be found in the Hudson River Valley.

Colonial Dutch

Modern Dutch

French style homes can be found predominantly in New Orleans.  They are characterized by wrought-iron balconies, exterior stairs, full length porches, french doors, and were raised to avoid flooding.  There were also French Creole Cottages that are found along the Gulf Coast, that have full porches and are located close to property lines.

Colonial French

Modern French

German and Swedish style homes were located in Pennsylvania and are characterized by thick walls, exposed timbers, and beams throughout.

Colonial German

Modern German

Spanish style homes can be found in the South (Florida, Texas) as well as in the West (Arizona, California, New Mexico) and are characterized by the use of stucco and thick adobe walls.  They have smooth surfaces with heavy ornamentation on the doors and windows.  Spanish style homes also have tiled roofs, floors, and courtyards.

Colonial Spanish

Modern Spanish

English Renaissance Reflections

I looked at Kristina's blog this week and she focused her discussion on the development within furniture design during this period.  She included a lot of pictures to help explain the different furniture and their design details.  Furniture transitioned from being built based on decoration to being built based on comfort.  Upholstery also became popular during this time.

I also read Jessica's blog post and she discussed the Neoclassic period.  This was a time of revival for classical design.  She blogged about 3 different houses, the Chiswick House, Lansdowne House, and Syon House, and explained their importance during that time period and their major characteristics representing the English Renaissance.

Early English Renaissance

Because the English Renaissance encompassed such a long period of time and had many different smaller design periods within the renaissance as a whole, I decided to focus primarily on the earliest of the English Renaissance design styles.  Since England is somewhat isolated from the rest of Europe the renaissance took a long time before it was brought to England.  Their isolation, however, allowed them to develop forms and styles for themselves, without major influence from other countries that were deep into their renaissance styles.  Outside influences did have some influence on certain aspects of design styles in this time period.

The first style to appear during the English Renaissance was the Tudor style.  Characteristically Tudor style buildings have a timber framed construction.  There is a somewhat Gothic spirit to Tudor homes and other buildings.  Furniture was sparse and interiors were plainer than in future design periods.

The next style to appear was the Elizabethan.  Names of the design styles usually corresponded with the ruler of the time, in this case Queen Elizabeth.  The Elizabethan period was a time of great wealth in England, and this style serves to display that in furniture and interiors.  Formal gardens and other luxurious aspects were added to manors and country homes, which were built in abundance during this time.  

Finally, the last design period during the early renaissance was the Jacobean.  Plaster, as well as paneling painted white became very popular.  Carvings were abundant during this time period, as well as the use of upholstery, usually with a floral motif.

Examples of the modern Tudor style include the home below.  The architect used stone to mimic the timber frame on the facade, but incorporated timber into the window frames.  But you can see that the overall style of the house is very similar to what it was during the English Renaissance.

Jacobean influenced design appears to be popular today.  The use of carving and white plaster and paneling, especially in dining rooms, is found often.  As well as Jacobean inspired fabrics which one can find somewhere in almost every home.

French Renaissance

For this period I looked at Ali and Katrina's blog posts.  I liked how Ali talked a lot about how history and the ruler of the time played a much bigger part in determining the design styles than in any previous period. The styles were really determined by the taste of the particular ruler. She also talked about the focus on private residences rather than public buildings during the French Renaissance.  Katrina focused her blog post on the Rococo period during the French Renaissance. I liked how she tied in the Rococo period to design styles today, and the multiple ways details from that period are used today. She also discussed how interiors and furniture were made to impress, which I find very true because there was nothing simple about any aspect of Rococo design.

French Renaissance (Baroque)

I have always really enjoyed the French Baroque period.  All of the history, architecture, interiors, and art have been inspiring to me and being able to visit Versailles in person was an amazing experience.

Louis XIV created a national style of art, largely through the design and construction of Versailles, which is located 12 miles outside of Paris.  Versailles began as a hunting lodge but expansions allowed for an eventual capacity of 10,000 people.  Multiple people were responsible for the construction of different aspects of Versailles, including Le Vau, Andre Le Notre, Charles LeBrun, Puge, and Jean Berain.  The actual structure itself incorporated the classic orders, rectangular shapes (most prominent in the garden facing facade), and symmetry throughout (for example, The Hall of Mirrors).  Louis XIV used a double "L" as his monogram and this was used throughout Versailles.

Rectangular Facade

Hall of Mirrors

The gardens are perhaps one of the biggest achievements at Versailles.  They go on for what seems like forever, and even though I was there in February and none of the flowers and trees were in bloom, it was still beautiful to see. The way that the fountains and grounds are laid out is so intricate and I can only imagine how amazing it would be to see the gardens when they are in full bloom.  The man who designed the gardens made sure that they tied into the architecture of Versailles, and many of the pools reflect the buildings, creating a very cool effect. 

Versailles is on a sprawling property that has grown throughout the years as new monarchs have come and gone to now include multiple estates that were built to serve multiple purposes.  The Grande Trianon was built, as well as a small estate for Marie Antoinette, to name just a few. 

Marie Antoinette Estate

French Baroque design is still used as inspiration for modern interior design.  Some characteristics of the modern designs include heavily decorated interiors, patterned walls and textiles, and use of certain colors.

French Baroque inspired furniture

Wood flooring detail and ceiling detail

Furniture and decor styles

Spanish Renaissance Reflection

I read Chanel's blog this week and really liked how she compared and contrasted the Italian Renaissance and the Spanish Renaissance. It is important to realize that they share similarities but are still different in some aspects. She also talked about the 3 styles of this period which I found interesting.

Melanie's blog also discussed two Spanish Renaissance styles in some detail. First she described the Plateresque period and then moved on to the Desornamentado period. I really liked that she put pictures of each style to help to visually show the differences between them. What I enjoyed most about her blog was the use of her own pictures to show applications of design elements during the Spanish Renaissance.

Spanish Renaissance

Although the Spanish Renaissance was influenced in part by the Italian Renaissance, the artists and architects at the time created a style that was all its own and unique to the Spanish culture.  Many of the art, interiors, and buildings during this time were a fusion of Spanish and Moorish cultures, which contributed to the uniqueness of their style.  It wasn't until the Moors were finally expelled from Spain that Moorish design fell into disuse.

Alhambra - last palace built by Moors before their expulsion

Spain has more castles than any other country in Europe, and their castles have all of the qualities you think of when picturing a castle.  Moats, drawbridges, huge fortresses, you name it and the Spanish castles of this time have it.  Spain was never a place that I pictured to have castles, usually I think of England, Ireland, or other European countries in that area, so I found it very interesting to learn that castles were so prominent within the Spanish culture during their Renaissance. 

La Mota

Cathedrals were a mix of Gothic and Renaissance, with features of both used to create a cohesive space that fused together two very different time periods.  The Spanish, especially during the Plateresco phase, when these type of cathedrals were built, created elaborate designs through the use of carvings, plaster, and grille work.  In fact, grille work would become a major factor in all facets of Spanish design, and would have a lasting impact on design style throughout the centuries and the globe.  The Plateresco phase differed greatly from the Desornamentado phase, which was characterized by austerity and defined proportions.

Cathedral of Seville Facade

Cathedral of Seville Interior

Spanish design is still widely used today, and could probably be called one of the top used styles around the world.  I found the video we watched about modern Spanish design to be very interesting, because I recognized many of those products but didn't know that they were all from Spain.  There is something about Spanish design that is extremely appealing, and whether it is home, commercial, or product design you can see Spanish influenced design all around.

Rectangular Wood Furniture and Nail Work

Geometric Shapes, Grille Work

Tiles are Very Popular in Spanish Influenced Residential Design

Italian Renaissance Reflection

I read Flor's blog and liked how she started off the post focusing on the renaissance as the "rebirth." She discussed the developments in science and the creation of the one-point perspective. What I found most interesting about her blog post was that she broke down the major interior details walls, floors, and ceilings and went into detail about what each part consisted of.

I also read John's post and I found it really interesting how he broke down all of his descriptions into people who had a major impact during this time period.  It was a clever way to talk about the developments, art, and architecture of this time period and it made it information that was very easy to understand.

Italian Renaissance

Architecture and art of the Italian Renaissance is what I picture when I think of Italy.  It seems that elements from that time period have become deeply ingrained in the Italian culture and history.

During this time period interior architecture became very popular.  Homes had a central courtyard with rooms surrounding that.  Shops were located on the ground floor and living quarters were on the second and third floor.  Italian Renaissance homes were focused on symmetry, with public rooms where guests would enter and then smaller apartments in the private areas of the home.

Facades also developed a certain style during this time period.  They were split into three divisions with compound windows and heavy project cornices.  The facades took on a rustic feel made of brick and stone and appeared simple and plain compared to the interiors of the home.

Sculpture and art came to a forefront during the Italian Renaissance.  Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci created some of their most famous works during this time period, including the David, the Last Supper, and the Mona Lisa.

In the modern day Italian Renaissance design and architecture still plays a big part. Residential and building design is greatly influenced by this time period. Whether it is in the architectural elements or the decorative interiors you can see Italian Renaissance influence all around.

Americas Reflection

I really like how Desiree called this the "era of disappearance," because that could not be more true and it is a really clever way to remember it. There is a mystery surrounding so many of the civilizations that we talked about in class. She also shared a link to the movie Apocolypto, which I had not heard of before, but it sounds like an interesting film and really ties into what we talked about in class this week.

Similar to my blog, Samantha drew a parallel between the Olmecs and Egyptian civilizations. She also discussed how the Mayans were the only civilizations from the Americas to record their own language, which I thought was very interesting. Lastly, she talked about how she is so interested in these civilizations because of the mystery surrounding them, which I think is what draws a lot of people to them. The fact that they cannot be explained only makes people want an explanation more.

The Americas

I found this week to be really interesting, because it focused on architecture and art outside of Europe.  We usually think of European countries as the birthplace of many architectural elements and design, which they are, but great influence has also come from other areas of the globe. The Aztec civilization is said to have rivaled that of Rome, which I find amazing. Many parallels run between American civilizations and those in Europe and elsewhere. For one, pyramids similar to those built in Ancient Egypt, were also being built by the Aztecs and Mayans. Temples and polytheistic religion was also popular in the Americas as it was in Europe during this time period. It is unfortunate that almost all of these civilizations were conquered by the Spanish or mysteriously vanished so we do not know more about them and how/why they came to an end.

When I was younger my family and I went to visit Tulum, which is a site of Ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico. It was the first time I was exposed to that kind of architecture and history and it really impressed me. The buildings are massive in scale and are actually pretty well preserved. Tulum is located right on the sea, almost on cliffs above the sea, which probably gave it some protection, but I found it interesting in class when we talked about the civilizations not having walls around their cities, so there must not have been fear of others trying to come and conquer them which is quite different then in Europe. 

Today aspects of architecture and art from the Americas are still used in interior design. In fact there is a whole design motif called Aztec design, which is quite popular, so these civilizations have had a major impact throughout time.

Aztec Design

Aztec inspired bedroom

Trapezoid door

Gothic Reflections

I really enjoyed a lot of the things the Dana said in her blog.  She commented about how amazing it is that these beautiful and immensely detailed buildings were created so long ago, which I completely agree with.  I am always amazed and baffled by the fact that with so little technology they could still create such structures.  Her comment on how thinking of the Gothic period kind of brings to mind feelings of darkness and depression was also very relatable, because before seeing Notre Dame and other Gothic structures I felt the same way, but now I don't associate those feelings with Gothic as much.

This week I also looked at Emily's blog.  She talked about how churches were the center of city life, which is why they are such a great example of Gothic architecture and why they are so detailed and constructed with such care.  This is also the reason that today we see churches and cathedrals as the best examples of old Gothic architecture.  Emily also discussed that the churches were built in a vertical style because the goal was to have a person's eyes and soul lift up toward God, which I thought was a very interesting concept and something I didn't think about before.

Gothic

Gothic art and architecture evolved from the Romanesque period, and served as a bridge from the Romanesque to the Renaissance.  Gothic architecture is known for its pointed arch, ribbed vault, and flying buttress.  In terms of buildings, Gothic architecture is most prominent in churches and cathedrals, although it can also be seen in other building types.  For the most part Gothic architecture was embraced in Northern France, England, and Spain, although it can also be found elsewhere.

I personally feel that Gothic architecture is beautiful.  When I spent a semester abroad I went to Paris and got to see Notre Dame firsthand.  It is an amazing cathedral, and even though I studied in Rome and got to see innumerable beautiful churches, I think that Notre Dame in Paris is one of the most stunning.  The outside is intricate and there are details, gargoyles, and carvings everywhere, but the real masterpiece is the interior.

As soon as you walk in you are struck by a feeling of massiveness.  As I talked about in class I was mesmerized by the stained glass windows.  There are so many inside the cathedral and each is unique and exquisitely detailed.  I cannot fathom the time and concentration it must have taken to create those windows, but it definitely paid off because they are extremely beautiful.  I would go back in a heartbeat, because there is so much detail inside this place that there is no way to take it all in at once. I am sure that it would be equally as stunning to see again.

Gothic architecture and design can still be seen today in numerous applications.  When I was thinking of current applications I immediately thought of university campuses.  I found pictures of countless universities that have utilized Gothic architecture in the design and construction of some of their buildings.

Boston University

Duke University

Gothic design and certain architectural elements can also be found in modern interior design.  Although more subtle it is still quite clear where the inspiration came from.

Here you can see the pointed arch and stained glass windows

The furniture pieces in this room drew on Gothic architecture and furniture