Renaissance+Architecture

Architecture is an art. There is freedom of expression and it can start a trend to make people open up their mind and view things differently. It started out plain and simple as Neolithic Architecture, but as time went on, it evolved into what we have today

Renaissance Architecture is a turning point in history when buildings became full of detail and really made an impression not just in Rome, but also throughout Europe. The architecture of this era “[d]emonstrated a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance architecture followed Gothic architecture and was succeeded by Baroque architecture ” (Wikipedia). It was inspiring and gave people new ideas for the future. It had its beginning “[i]n Florence, with [|Filippo Brunelleschi] as one of its innovators”, and the Renaissance style “[q]uickly spread to other Italian cities” (Wikipedia). Because of this, architecture was improved and eventually evolved into the buildings we have today. This reshaped the way that many future architects would build because “Renaissance style places emphasis on symmetry, proportion , geometry and the regularity of parts as they are demonstrated in the architecture of classical antiquity and in particular ancient Roman architecture ” (Wikipedia). Since the architecture in this era focused on symmetry, proportion, and geometry, buildings began to become more prominent and also eye-catching.

The Beginning
“The Renaissance- the revival of the classical world of Greece and Rome- began in Florence, Italy, with architecture playing a key role. […] [f]rom this point onward, models drawn from classical antiquity determined architectural design: the Middle Ages ha[d] finally been overcome” (Toman 148). After the Middle Ages, the Renaissance Era began and it erupted into a cultural movement. With this eruption came advancements in art, architecture, writing, and science.

Florence, Italy was the beginning, or starting point, of Renaissance architecture and also home to the Renaissance (Wikipedia). Italy was a place of influence during this time. Since it was a time of rebirth and revival, there were many key factors that led to an influence in architecture and also to the development of Architectural Theory. Some of these influences include: architectural, political, commercial, religious, philosophic, civil, and patronage (Wikipedia).

Architectural influence was based on the architecture already in Italy during this time. Since “Italy had never fully adopted the Gothic style” (Wikipedia), aspiring architects and designers saw this as a chance to make a change. Since other ideas influenced a new style of architecture, these architects were not only trying to make their designs tasteful but useful, sustainable, and efficient. Architecture became “[n]ot only a question of practice, but also a matter for theoretical discussion” (Wikipedia). This means that if architects wanted to attempt something never done before, or never successfully done before, they needed to have a set plan in which they could achieve their visions.

The Architects
There were three main architects who stood out the most during this time period: Filippo Brunelleschi, Leon Battista Alberti, and Michelozzo Michelozzi. As stated previously, @Filippo Brunelleschi was one of the main innovators during the Renaissance period. His main focus when designing was to use order. He studied different buildings and realized that most of them followed a mathematical structure. Gothic buildings didn’t have a mathematical order compared to the building designed in the Renaissance; one major thing that set these two styles apart was the lack of proportion used during the Gothic Era. Brunelleschi was fascinated with proportion. He noticed this and decided he would use symmetry and proportion in his designs. He gained popularity and support from many wealthy people in Florence, including the Medici family.

His most famous work and first major architectural building was at the Florence Cathedral. He designed the dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore.

Leon Battista Alberti was a Humanist theoretician (Wikipedia) who wrote a book, //De re Aedificatoria,// which focused on the overall architectural design to be lasting. His emphasis was on the anatomy of nature but focused more on the human body. He did not see himself as a builder though he designed a number of buildings, including the Church of //Sant’Andrea in Manua// and redesigning the Church of //San Francesco in Rimini//.

His most famous buildings are in Florence. He used a Classical approach in both the //Palazzo Rucellai// and //Santa Maria Novella.//

Michelozzo Michelozzi was also an architect who was supported by the Medici family. He built the Villa Medici at Fiesole and was also a successor of Brunelleschi. Cosimo de’ Medici was later exiled to Venice and brought Michelozzi with him. Micgelozzi is also the first person to bring the Renaissance style of architecture outside of Italy when he built a palace in Dubrovnik, Croatia (Wikipedia).

“Filippo Brunelleschi and the Dome.” //Wordpress.com.// 6 Oct. 2010. Image. 24 Nov. 2013.

“Renaissance Architecture.” //Wikipedia.org.// 23 Nov. 2013. Image. 24 Nov. 2013.

Scott, Leader. “Brunelleschi.” //The New York Times//. New York: The Macmillan Company. Print. 7 Dec. 1901. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Toman, Rolf. //History of Architecture from Classic to Contemporary.// Bath, UK: Parragon, 2013. Print.

Wikipedia contributors. "Renaissance architecture." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 6 Sep. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.