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RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE - Principles, Phases, Features, Characteristics and Elements

RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE EXAMPLES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE PHASES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE FEATURES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLES OF THE RENAISSANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE

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327 views

RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE - Principles, Phases, Features, Characteristics and Elements

RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE EXAMPLES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE PHASES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE FEATURES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLES OF THE RENAISSANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE

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Anqa Parvez
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RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE

The Renaissance (Italian: Rinascimento, from ri – ‘again’ and nascere – ‘be born’), was
a cultural movement that spanned roughly from the 14th to the 17th century. This
movement started in Italy as a continuum of the classical Roman Architecture.
Italy was the birth place for the early Renaissance architecture, since the Gothic
architecture never had an upper hand in its heritage. Renaissance architecture; in spite it
helped to recover all the classical ideas, it remained fundamentally different. The Roman
historical precedent was followed with new combinations of classical elements that were
progressively developed. The Renaissance as an architectural style was not an outcome
of a structural method as the Gothic architectural style, but it is largely a decorative style
that evolved from an ancient precedent and thus opening the way to new ideologies and
forms.

As a cultural movement, The Renaissance in Italy encompassed a resurgence of learning


based on:
• Classical sources
• The development of linear perspective.
• Gradual but widespread educational reform.

Map showing the Renaissance Italy

The Early Renaissance flourished in the Republic of Florence, which dubbed itself "The
New Athens” indicating that the city-state identified itself as heir to the classical tradition.
PRINCIPLES OF THE RENAISSANCE :
• Humanism: With emphasis on human realm, Renaissance humanism was a revival
in the study of classical antiquity. For example,
The Vitruvian Man:
▪ Rather than using the complex, geometric transformations of medieval
master masons, Renaissance architects favored simple forms such as the
square and the circle.
▪ They made drawings of the human figure inscribed within the basic outline
of the circle and the square, thereby demonstrating that the human
proportions reflected divine ratios.

Illustration of The Vitruvian Man by Leonardo di Vinci

• Individualism: Promoted independence for people to make their own decisions


and follow what they wanted to believe. If people were divine, and one’s humanity
was nothing to be ashamed of, then striving for greatness was a valid goal.
• Secularism: Brought separation between church and state. For many artists like
Leonardo da Vinci, Michealangelo, Rapheal, secularism meant potraying the
human form in all its natural beauty.

PHASES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE :


• Renaissance (ca. 1400–1500); also known as the Quattrocento and sometimes
Early Renaissance: Study of classical antiquity and concepts of architectural
orders were explored. Space organization was based on proportions and
geometry.
Prime Architects: Filippo Brunelleschi, Michealozzo Michealozzi, Leon Battista Alberti.

• High Renaissance (ca.1500–1525) or Cinquecento: Concepts of antiquity


developed and used with greater confidence.
Prime Architects: Donato Bramante, Antonio da Sangallo, Raphael.
• Mannerism (ca. 1520–1600): Architects experimented with architectural forms to
emphasize solid and spatial relationships. Gave way to freer and more imaginative
rhythm.
Prime Architects: Guilio Romano, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Giacomo della Porta,
Andrea Palladio.

FEATURES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE:


• Renaissance architecture tends to feature planar classicism (i.e. ―flat
classicism).In other words, the walls of a Renaissance building (both exterior and
interior) are embellished with classical motifs (e.g. columns, pediments, blind
arches) of minor physical depth, such that they intrude minimally on the two-
dimensional appearance of the walls. Put another way, the walls of a Renaissance
building serve as flat canvases for a classical veneer.
• Planar classicism also tends to divide a wall into neat sections, with such elements
as columns, pilasters, and stringcourses. (A stringcourse is a thin, horizontal strip
of material that runs along the exterior of a building, often to mark the division
between stories).

Pallazo Medici Riccardi showing String cources

• The foremost Renaissance building types were the church, palazzo (urban
mansion), and villa (country mansion). While various great names are associated
with Renaissance church and palazzo design, the most famous villa architect by
far is Palladio. In England, large residences were called Elizabethan country
houses. In France, they were called chateaus.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE:


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, of which many examples remained.
• Inspired by Roman buildings, orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and
lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches hemispherical domes, niches and
aedicules replaced the more complex proportional systems and irregular profiles
of medieval buildings.

Temple of Vesta, Rome The Tempietto by Bramante

• Plans - Square, symmetrical appearance in which proportions are usually based


on a module. Interiors were placed on the basis of Roman principles and covered
with domes and pendentives.

Plan of St. Andrea by Alberti

• Facades - Symmetrical around their vertical axis, domestic buildings were often
surmounted by a cornice. Church facades generally surmounted by a pediment
and organized by a system of pilasters, arches and entablatures.

• Arches – Semi circular or segmental. Arches were often used in arcades,


supported on piers or columns.

• Vaults – Do not have ribs. Mainly semi-circular or segmental and on a square plan.
• Columns and pilasters - The Roman orders of columns : Tuscan, Doric, Ionic,
Corinthian and Composite were revised and used decoratively in facades.

Roman order of columns

• Domes – Domes were used frequently, both as a very large structural feature that
is visible from the exterior. Domes usually had internal plaster soffit or ceiling, and
painted with colored frescos.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ELEMENTS:
• Ceilings - Roofs were fitted with flat or coffered ceilings, frequently painted or
decorated.

Sistene Chapel Ceiling by Michealangelo


.
• Doors - Usually had square lintels, set within an arch or surmounted by a triangular
or segmental pediment.

• Walls - External walls were generally of highly finished ashlar masonry, laid in
straight courses, the corners of buildings were often emphasized by rusticated
quoins, basements and ground floors were often rusticated. Stucco or plaster were
often used as a facing material. Internal walls were smoothly plastered and
surfaced with lime wash.

Rusticated wall of Pallazo Medici Quoining of the corners of Pallazo Aragona Gonzaga

• Windows- Usually paired and set within a semi-circular arch. They may have
square lintels and triangular pediments.

Renaissance window

• Details - Courses, mouldings and all decorative details were carved with great
precision. Studying and mastering the details of the ancient Romans was one of
the important aspects of Renaissance theory. Stained glass was little used, all the
best effort at color being obtained by means of frescos and mosaics.

Palazzo Strozzi Detail of main cornice Pallazo Riccardi detail of main cornice
EXAMPLES OF RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE:

▪ Florence cathedral dome by Brunelleschi

▪ Sant’ Andrea by Alberti

Sant’ Andrea Elevation and plan


▪ The Tempietto by Bramante

Elevation Plan

▪ Villa Rotunda by Andrea Palladio

Elevation Plan
• Pallazo Medici Riccardi by Michealozzo

Elevation Plan

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