Spanish

Starting in the 15th century, the Spanish Renaissance came about thanks to local architects. In order to further understand the different architectural & decoration styles that would have been seen at this time, I will go into more detail about three main styles.

Plateresco
Also known as Silversmith's style. The delicate ornamentation was made as carefully as if it was the work of a silversmith, and decorated as richly. The decoration was mainly of plant motifs, but also had a lot of medallions, animal figures, etc. This style included a lot of various types of materials. In the picture, you can see the facade of the University of Salamanca.

Desornamentado
This style was a reaction to the Plateresco style. Instead of the profusely ornamentation, this style is much more simple. It's carefully defined proportions made it powerful and allowed it to be characterized by austerity. The Escorial is an example of this architectural style.

Churrigueresco
This style replaced the Desornamentado with something more passionate. It emphasized sculptures, wood carvers, and architectures because it was promoted by a family of craftsmen. Churrigueresco was mainly stucco decoration that was marked by extreme and expressive detailing, normally found above the entrance on the main facade of a building. This style can be seen in this picture of the Basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Merced.


Modern Examples
Along with the architectural styles, Spanish style interiors are also very recognizable. Below are some examples of current applications. 

Helpful Videos
Moorish Architecture in Spain | https://youtu.be/38kmLyWc2iw
Baroque Architecture Overview | https://youtu.be/H7YWPQ2hgVE

Peer Reviews
Nichole | I liked that along with the information that Nichole discussed she also added a video about the topics that she didn't cover in detail.
Paige | I really enjoyed all of the pictures that Paige provided in her post. It was very helpful in order to visualize the topics that were being discussed. 

Italian Renaissance

Over the period of the Renaissance, there was a progression from simple and functional to decorated. This can be seen in all aspects of style and design from this time period, whether it be architectural or on a smaller scale of furniture. 

Interiors
A Renaissance interior could be characterized with high contrast in color and surface articulation. Most walls were plaster, painted or featuring frescoes. More elaborate rooms may have had a treated wall with marble or wood paneling. Walls also often included wall hangings. Made of leather or fabric, these hangings could be relatively simple or embroidered and gilded. Floors were most commonly made of wood, but in more fancier rooms they had brick or tile. Marble and Turkish carpets were some of the extremely elaborate, rare options. Ceilings were very important to the interior of a Renaissance building. The ceilings became a space to be designed and were often considered a piece of architecture. Beams were used to emphasize the horizontal plane of the ceiling. The beams were painted and sometimes carved with classical details. 

Furniture
Many big Renaissance pieces of furniture resemble buildings. They have a base, multiple stories and columns, and an overhanging cornice. Elaborate beds with tall headboard could be found. The Renaissance bed differed from the Roman bed because it was no longer used for dining and was much more monumental in size, form, and decoration. Chests continued to play an important part of furniture that had multiple uses. A cassapanca was a chest that was often used as seating; it was slightly taller and had a back and arms. A credenza was a storage unit with a higher elevation than a chest. It was used for storage and display. Smaller furniture of this time was a continuation of the medieval period. Seating was much more simple when compared to the furniture around it. The most common seating found were stools, benches, and chairs. 

Modern Examples
The elaborate bed and ceiling design of the pictures below are aspects that relate to the Italian Renaissance design period. The more modern pieces can take on a much simpler form or continue to incorporate elaborate details.

Helpful Videos 
Renaissance Art & Architecture in Florence | http://youtu.be/8xSEamC-Qxo
Italian Renaissance Art Overview | http://youtu.be/rVQBVE9BzYk

Peer Reviews
Emma | I really liked the emphasis on architecture that Emma had on her blog. Since I focused more on the interior aspects of this time, it was very interesting to learn more about the exteriors. 
Shannon | I thought it was awesome that Shannon found pictures of a whole house that was decorated from this time period. It was really cool to see the style in so many different applications. 

The Americas

The Americas style period is most easily broken down according to the different cultures that inhabited it. As a whole, these empires had a deep connection to the metaphysical world and greatly understood the concept of how to relate buildings to the open space around them. Most of the empires were isolated and usually were ended by Spanish conquers.

Olmecs
The Olmecs were the first known dominant culture of the Americas. They inhabited Southern Mexico from approximately 2000 B.C. - 200 B.C. With religion being a key element of life for this culture, they had a temple oriented city type. Small ceramic figurines and stone carvings also showed the importance of religion. A distinctive feature of the Olmec culture are the colossal stone heads made from boulders that were found in their region.

Mayans
The Mayans were prevalent for almost 1,800 years, from 300 B.C. to 1520 A.D. They were vastly located Central America, among many highlands and lowlands. Chichen Itza was one of the largest Mayan cities. It houses the famous Castillo pyramid. This four-sided step-pyramid reaches 75 feet tall. An interesting fact about this pyramid is that each side contains 91 steps, totaling 365 (the number of days in a year).

Aztecs
The Aztecs lived from 1150 - 1520 A.D. geographically in Mexico. Their population grew from 500,000 to over 3 million and rivaled Rome. Architecturally speaking, the Aztecs are most known for Templo Mayor. Templo Mayor consisted of seven total pyramids. There were two distinct pyramids - one temple dedicated to the god of war and the second to the god of agriculture. These pyramids were made of stone and brick and were destroyed by the Spanish, but were magnificent in their time.

Incas
The Incas were the largest empire of the Americas. They lived in Peru during 1200  to 1572 C.E. They are most known for their architecture. With an emphasis on trapezoid shapes and stone cutting, the Incas had a very unique architectural style. Machu Picchu shows the perfection of their skills. This city contains buildings that were built without mortar and many trapezoid shaped openings.




Modern Examples
The trapezoidal shape of the first picture is a great example of the style that would correlate to the Incas. The way that the structure in the middle picture blends in with its surrounding made me think of how many of the cultures during this time focused on the concept of the buildings and open space. Finally I thought the last picture puts a modern spin on the use of stone that was very prevalent in the Americas style.

Helpful Videos
The Innovation of Aztec Architecture | http://youtu.be/rY5rVgTxU-k
The Mayan Sacred Sites | http://youtu.be/B7hkqwhLIP4

Peer Reviews
Karri | I really liked the video that Karri posted about the tunnel found in the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent. I often get lost in the beauty of the outside of these ancient pyramids that I forget that the insides are just as sacred.
Miryam | I enjoyed the Miryam's current application pictures. I especially liked the first structure that was built from the trapezoid shape. 

Gothic

Timeline: 1140 - 1500

The Gothic style was the bridge between the Romanesque period and the Renaissance. Religious expression was the center of Gothic design.Cathedrals from this time are oftentimes known as one of the high points in the history of architecture.

Architecture
Three key features of Gothic architecture include: pointed arch, ribbed vault, and flying buttress. The pointed arch was important because it allowed width to be manipulated more freely. Ribbed vaults were the basis of the Gothic system to oftentimes have an umbrella like underside of a roof. Flying buttresses allowed for walls to be less load-bearing and for the development of an all-glass or nearly all-glass walls. The interiors of the Cathedrals from this time focused on height and light. There was also a focus on the lateral facades of the nave. The sanctuary of Gothic cathedrals are highlighted because of the light that reaches the apse unobstructed. But despite all the attention to glass and light, many cathedrals are quite dark. Much of the light had a delicate quality to it. 

Domestic Interiors
There are very few domestic structures from the Gothic period, so paintings are important source of knowledge while learning about the domestic world (much like the Greek Vase). It was common of this time period to try to make the masonry buildings they lived in more comfortable. Hanging tapestries and constructing paneling were a couple ways of achieving this. Windows almost always had heavy bars lining them. This was to not only light in air and light, but also prevented outsiders from getting in. The defensive nature of the houses aligned with the heavy fortification of the cities. Carpentry and textiles were also very important to a Gothic interior. The linenfold motif is an infallible way to distinguish the Gothic period. 

Furniture
Pieces of furniture at this time were either very straightforward or extremely elaborate. Gothic chairs were rare; most sat on benches, chests, or stools. Their simplicity was a testament to their utility. The Gothic chairs that you would see would be very grand. Because of their religious importance, they were exaggerated in scale. There was an emphasis on height and included elaborate Gothic decoration. The most obvious observation from this time is that Gothic furniture has a remarkable continuity with Gothic architecture. Oftentimes, pieces of furniture such as choirs, buffets, and display cabinets were designed like miniature Gothic buildings. 

Modern Examples
The modern examples of Gothic design below show some of the key features from this period. The pointed arches and ribbed ceilings are evident in the designs. 

Helpful Videos
Gothic Architecture (Brief) | http://youtu.be/t8g1e-JLrhM
Gothic Architecture (More-Detailed) | http://youtu.be/uYhOaQhV6QE

Peer Reviews
Stephanie | I loved the modern pictures of the Gothic style that Stephanie posted. I could definitely see the features that categorize them into this style from her summary of the Gothic style. 
Alecia | It was interesting to read how Alecia compared and contrasted Romanesque and Gothic design. Since Gothic design bridged off of Romanesque, it was cool to see what features were similar and how Gothic made them its own. 

Islamic

Islamic architecture and design varies depending on the region. An explanation for the widespread success of Islamic design into Africa, Europe, and Asia was its ability to incorporate local architectural and decorative trends. Although the design varies, there are many recurring forms that can be found. Islamic decoration is largely geometric, nonrepresentational and often formed by tiles or mosaics. The vertical architecture surfaces often resemble carpets. The Islamic arch is also a key figure of this design period. The features of arch include a pointed top and an angle that exceeds 180 degrees. It is very similar to a horseshoe shape.

Mosques
Mosques were used as a central facility for prayer and worship. All mosques owe their form to the Prophet's farm in Medina and are in fact representations of it.The important features of all mosques are the perimeter wall, the covered hall of columns that becomes the prayer hall, and the courtyard (which acts as both forecourt to the prayer hall and overflow space). A mosque is a space designed around an individual, on a carpet, facing Mecca and praying to God. To the left you can see a picture of the Great Mosque of Kairouan.


Residential Architecture

The typical house was oriented inward; this angle marked the transition from the outside world to the home. Entrances didn't usually align with houses directly across from each other to maintain privacy. Rooms were often arranged around a central courtyard. Islam design was concerned much more about the interior aesthetics of the home than the exterior. Houses were very often outfitted with a protruding bay window called a roshan. A roshan created a barrier between the public world of the street and the private world of the house. It also created a space for women to observe city life while being shielded from public visibility. This reasoning is the result of the cultural beliefs of many (but not all) Islamic people.

Furniture

Islamic furniture is pretty much an oxymoron. Many of the functions that were typically accomplished with chairs and couches were taken care of with cushions, pillows, carpets, mats, etc. This was a cultural response to living in a warm climate where it was less necessary to distance oneself from the ground. Furniture such as the minbar and stools were used for religious purposes. A minbar was created for the Islam religion; it is a hybrid of a stair, a chair, and a pulpit used for preaching. Stools used at this time were often collapsible and portable. They were intended for use when reading the Koran.

Modern Examples

Islamic design can inspire modern spaces in many different ways. Below you can see the Islamic arch and mosaic playing a role in a small seating area. The geometric patterns on the wall installations also are representational of Islamic design.

Helpful Videos

Ancient Islamic Architecture | http://youtu.be/WdzTuMbH2LM

Islamic Arts & Architecture | http://youtu.be/D9Z5wZvjpk0

Peer Reviews

Alex R. | I enjoyed how Alex went into detail about the different variations of Islamic design around the world. Since it was so widespread, it is interesting to learn how different it is depending on the region.
Paige S. | I liked the modern application pictures that Paige posted. I find it very interesting how distinguishing the Islamic design features are.

Romanesque

Time Period: 800 - 1150

Romanesque works were inspired by Rome, but the results of the buildings, sculptures, and furniture were not exact copies.

Churches
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.

Houses
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.

Furniture
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. 

Byzantine

Time Period: Years 330 - 1453

The Byzantine design period focuses much more on the interiors of the buildings that were built in the Early Christian time. This period inherited Roman forms and for centuries put them to contemporary use, in the process making them their own. The artists of this time developed vibrant traditions of art, architecture, and the decorative arts. 

Byzantine Art
Byzantine artists distanced themselves from the previous Roman artistic practices. Many Christians wanted to avoid claims of worshiping idols, so artists stepped away from the common trend of creating statues. They focused their attention more so on using wall motifs to tell a story. This was often done with mosaics. Moving the mosaics to the wall allowed for them to increased the appreciated of the affect of the colors and light. Artists would often incorporate glass, stones, and metal into their mosaics as well. Along with showing stories of Christ, Byzantine artists also had a focus on geometric patterns and floral design. 

Byzantine Furniture
Unlike art from this time, the furniture remained closely related to Roman forms, sometimes unchanged. Although there was an increasing amount of invention and adaptation over time. 
The Throne of Maximian is well-known as an ensemble that incorporates magnificent examples of ivory carving. The chair's form is like a barrel chair, curved on all sides with a rounded back. Because of its shape, it is suggested that it was not placed against a wall but instead was a sculptural piece. It's exceptional nature is not from height or form but rather from the ivory carvings. The panels on the front of the throne show detailed images of St. John the Baptist and the other panels show detailed patterns. 
Pieces like boxes, chests, and caskets can be found made of ivory. There were probably some simple wooden pieces as well, but few examples survive. There can be furniture such as chairs, footstools, and tables found in paintings from this time period. 

Modern Examples
The Byzantine period is often resembled today through fashion. The use of metals and mosaics are inspiration for many of the pieces below. 

Helpful Videos
Review of Byzantine Art | http://youtu.be/UpGsouOnxOU
World History Crash Course: Fall of the Rome | http://youtu.be/3PszVWZNWVA

Peer Reviews 
Miryam | I really appreciated the pictures that Miryam posted of the Byzantine furniture. I thought they represented the period very accurately.
 Haley | I also really liked the pictures that Haley posted of the furniture and modern designs. It was interesting to see the mosaics being incorporated into modern designs.