Romanesque works were inspired by Rome, but the results of the buildings, sculptures, and furniture were not exact copies.
The church plans of the Romanesque time were a development from the Early Christian church plans. They followed the form of the basilica with an apse, but the designers of this time took on significant step forward by adding a transept. This addition formed a crucifix shape and also allowed the space to have side aisles. A masonry barrel vault roof often took the place of a wooden timber frame at this time as well. Churches from this period fall into three categories including: urban pilgrimage sites, sprawling rural monasteries, and modest parish churches.
A feature of living in a Romanesque house was a lack of privacy. There was an overall scarcity of space, so many residential rooms were used for a variety of different functions. For example, there was usually one large living space. This area contained only one heating element that was used for general warmth and cooking. This room would have been used for cooking, eating, entertaining, and sleeping. There was also a very thin line between the separation of commercial and residential areas. These two spaces often resided in the same building; the upper floor being residential and the lower being commercial.
There was not much furniture from this time that survived. It is likely that there was a continued use of furniture that can be seen in previous design periods. The most important piece from this time period was the chest. Chests were adaptable, which is what made them the most indispensable article of furniture from this time. They were used for transporting and storing precious items. The horizontal surface was also occasionally used for sitting, working, and dining. Most of the chests were made of sturdy and common woods such as oak, walnut, poplar, and pine.
Modern Examples
Below you can see modern Romanesque-inspired examples of this design period. The chest is still very widely used today. Although not necessarily used to transport items, it is much more of a stationary storage piece. The large arches of the home also resemble residential architecture of the Romanesque period. The use of open rooms in modern space planning also is inspired by the residential homes of this time.
Helpful Videos
Romanesque Architecture (Brief) | http://youtu.be/rSiD5Jinpuw
Romanesque Architecture and Sculpture (Detailed) | http://youtu.be/CGIOuLh6axs
Peer Reviews
Miryam | I really enjoyed the many pictures of Romanesque architecture that Miryam posted. It really showed the variety of different monumental buildings there were at this time.
Katie | I liked how Katie showed both the plan view and an actual picture of Fontenay Abbey in France. It was helpful in understanding the basic idea behind the Romanesque buildings.
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