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

Modern Islamic Style Rendering

Islamic Reflections

In her blog, Rachael talked about how Islamic design is unique to the other styles we have learned about thus far. Unlike many others, Islamic design created many of their own features and styles for building instead of taking things used before them and using that as a basis for their design. She also commented about how outdoor space was extensively used, such as at the Taj Mahal, which I thought was an interesting point that I had not considered before.

Sammy discussed how mosques during this time period used brighter, lighter colors throughout, and were specifically concerned with texture rather than the rich, dark materials that had been seen previously. I really liked the pictures she chose for examples of current applications. They showed the use of color, texture, and pattern that was so important and were great representations of this time period.

Romanesque Reflections

Justine's blog began with a discussion on the development of the civilization during this time period, which I thought was really important. Schools and monasteries were developed, and at the same time learning and building were being encouraged. She also talked about how the church changed and it began to change more toward how it is today, with large areas for the growing congregation and a space for the choir.

I also looked at Natalie's blog which discussed how the churches and buildings during the Romanesque period used Roman technology. Throughout many time periods Roman building types and styles have remained as the basis for construction. She also stated that the architectural style is similar to what we will see in Medieval Europe, because the Romanesque and Medieval/Gothic style are very similar.

Islamic

Many radically different architectural styles came into popularity during the Islamic design period.  Islam began to spread throughout Europe, from Spain to Turkey and also in India. Some of the architectural features that can be found in most mosques, even to this day, include the horseshoe arch, ogival arch, and muqarnas-filled niches and domes. Islam also differed in the art that was popular. Unlike Christianity, Islamic arc focused on geometric designs and almost no representational art can be found from that period.

I was really impressed by the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed. Mosques are exquisitely decorated and extremely detailed, especially this one. There are over 20,000 handmade tiles, 50 different tulip designs, and 200 stained glass windows. That is amazing and looking at pictures of the interior I cannot even imagine what it would be like to see that in person. I find all the little details very interesting and I love how it all comes together to form a cohesive look even though there are so many different things going on.

Another mosque that I found extremely interesting is the Taj Mahal. I had heard of it before but had never heard the story behind its construction and design. It is a huge complex and a massive structure and the fact that it was built as a tomb for his deceased wife is just amazing. I never realized that the entire exterior was covered in geometric designs, I always assumed that it was plain white stone, but seeing pictures of it up close I cannot believe the time and patience it must have taken to get all that design exactly right. 

Islamic design is still very popular today, in both interior design and textile design. 

Wallpaper featuring a horseshoe arch motif

Textile fabric featuring the same type of motif

This is a table lamp featuring a muqarnas design

Horseshoe arches, the colors, and the materials all exemplify modern Islamic design

This interior has great detail, again the materials used give a sense of Islamic design, and the geometric design over the windows also signifies Islamic inspiration

Romanesque

During a 100 year time span 1,587 churches were built, that is over 15 churches a year! This really represents the growing popularity of Christianity. Churches were becoming larger to accommodate the growing masses.

Semicircular arches, as well as vaulted ceilings, became extremely popular in the new churches being built. Many aspects were changed or added to these churches as builders adapted to the needs of the congregation. Churches during this time were built and decorated using precious and expensive materials. The colors most prominently used were greens, blues, purples, and gold, all of which have a royal or elite feel about them. Bibles were also adorned with precious stones and materials. They would be made of gold, silver, or ivory and set with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and pearls. We also see tapestries begin to become popular as well during this time period.

In stark contrast with the extravagance used in some church decoration were the living conditions of the time. Most people lived in relatively primitive housing. Made of wood, mud, or twigs and with dirt floors these homes accounted for a majority of the living quarters for the population, but because of their construction materials they do not survive to this day. While nobility lived in castles made of brick they still had to deal with the draftiness, wetness, and darkness of those structures so it does not seem that anyone was living in luxury during this time period.

Today the semicircular arch is still very popular and used in many different aspects of design, from windows to doors and even over fireplaces as shown in Frank Lloyd Wright's home in Oak Park.

Vaulted ceilings are also immensely popular, especially residentially. Whether those ceilings form an arc or a triangle, with or without beams, or in some other way decorated, you can see vaulted ceilings all over. The photo below even uses the semicircular arch along with the vaulted ceiling in a commercial setting. 

Pompeii Current Applications

Frescoes, which were immensely popular during the time of Pompeii, are also still used in design today. Although the themes and look of the frescoes may have changed the general idea and art form remain the same.

In Pompeii ceramics (vases, bowls, pots) were also very popular. Today those are still used extensively as well. Some for practical purposes and others for decoration.