Age of Revolutions Flashcards
Characteristics of Rococo Architecture
- ornate
- asymmetrical designs
- curves
- light colors
- gold
Vierzehnheiligen
in Franconia, Germany
built in 18th c.
the name of the building means “The 14 Holy Helpers”
the elements of the buildings are purely ornamental an not functional
Revival Architecture
- A desire to return to clearer forms and proportions from Baroque
- A manifest on Modern Architecture
- pure and unadorned architecture
Examples of Revival Architecture
- Chiswick House in London, 18th c. (Inspired by Palladio’s Villa Capra)
- Church of Sainte-Genevieve by Jacques-Germain Soufflo, in France, 18th c.
- Barriere de la Villette by Ledoux, in Paris, 18th c.
- Salines Royales by Ledoux, in D’Arc-et-Senans, 18th c.
Church of Sainte-Genevieve
in Paris, by Jacques-Germain Soufflot
- used new mathematics of architectural statics to calculate the pressure and thrust
- use of Classical elements, but they are functional
- the plan is a Greek cross, with a Classical temple portico on the front facade
Claude-Nicolas Ledoux
- Baroque and Neo-classical architect
- tried to break away from the traditionalism with somewhat eccentric design, using globes, cylinders and pyramids.
- but his designs were too “Futuristic” at the time
Etienned-Louis Boullee
He developed distinctive abstract geometric style inspired by the Classical forms.
He did the Cenotaph project for Isaac Newton in 18th c.
He did the Metropolitan Church in the 18th c.
English Gardens
- 18th c., the English gentry started to enhance natural contours, created lakes, planted asymmetric groups of trees to create an aesthetic of the “picturesque”
- These gardens are an expression of a different view of the world: Romanticism
- They were the reaction to narrow views and mathematical models of philosophers in favor of feeling and imagination
- EXAMPLE: Stourhead Garden in England, 18th c., by Sir Henry Hoare
2 types of Ecclecticism
- Associational Ecclecticism (EX: Virginia State Capitol)
- refers to the connection between the form or ornamentation of contemporary building with model from the past or far away
- Synthetic Ecclecticism (EX: Strawberry Hill, and Sainte-Genevieve)
- various styles from different times and location combined in one single building
Virginia State Capitol
in Viginia, by Thomas Jefferson
- it was designed to provide “appropriate association” to reinforce function
- modeled after La Maison Carree, which is smbolic of superior Roman Republican architecture
Church of Sainte-Genevieve
in France, by Jacques-Germain Soufflot
- Greek structural corinthian columns inside
- Roman portico
- plan is contemporary
- saucer dome is Byzantine
- Resolution of forces from Gothic
Strawberry Hill
by Horace Walpole, in Twickenham, England, 18th c.
- library is in a new Gothic style, influenced byn the craze of Chinese design
- 12th c. battlements
16th c. Tudor moldings
Development in agriculture
- iron plowshare was introduced
- farming practices were refined
- new food sources from the New World
Changes in economics and industry
due to the developments in agriculture, there was a rural migration to the urban middle class working shops and factories MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: Use of machines instead of skilled labours
Development in materials (IRON)
the burning of mineral coal allowed for larger furnaces at a higher temperature and produced better modern iron and bigger pieces, which can be used to produce everyday items in large quantities.
Coalbrookdale bridge
outside of London, by Wilkinson, Pritchard and Darby III
- 1st demonstrations of the potentials of cast iron used as structural elements
Development in material (GLASS)
- only reserved for churches, until the early 18th c., where blown glass was replaced by the method of casting glass, which allowed costs to reduce, and sizes to increase.
Changes in power sources
steam engine was developed by James Watt, that allowed factories to be run by coal, rather than wind and water, and resulted in the freedom of factories to be located anywhere.
How were Revivalism and Nes-Classicism born?
due to the need to accommodating new building types in the early 19th c., such as:
- covered markets
- railroad stations
- hospitals
- office buildings
- housing
Architects started to study history (by looking at portfolios and traveling) and looked at similar ancient examples for contemporary and new types of buildings
What is Revivalism?
3rd phase of Ecclecticism ==> ARCHEOLOGICAL ACCURACY
2 criteria of success of design:
1. how well historical allusion conveyed image of the interior function
2. how archeologically correct the form and details are
What is Neo-Classicism
image of Classical order came to be strongly associate with public buildings, whose role was to elevate public virtues and educate
Examples of Revivalism
- Glyptothek by Klenze in Munich, 19th c.
2. Altes Museum by Schinkel in Berlin, 19th c.
Example of Associational Ecclecticism
Bank of Montreal by John Wells, 19th c.
BMO wanted to depict a solid image of power and wealth to attract investors ==> Roman Empire
House of Parliament
in London, by Barry and Welby, 19th c.
- Gothic Revival ==> use of English Perpendicular gothic details.
- they used identical small bays for construction simplicity (cutting of repetitive details)
- the plan is symmetrically classical and rationally clear.
- iron roof structure
Creative Ecclecticism
- reusing the already established architectural forms by integrating historical details in buildings, planned strictly according to the functional requirements
- details were used with greater restraint and archeological accuracy in proportion and detail
Industrialism
- Mass production of building elements to accommodate the requirements of train station sheds
- EXAMPLE: Crystal Palace
- Use of iron technology
Crystal Palace
by Joseph Paxton, in London, 19th c.
- structure was made of identical cast iron columns and beams
- skin was made exclusively of glass panes
- the entire project was completed within 13 months, starting from preliminary sketches to opening of the building.
- Paxton was able to innovate prefab of standardized parts and methodical organization of building process
Arts & Crafts movement
Founded by John Ruskin and William Morris
- Manifestations of how architecture was transformed into machines (because of Crystal Palace and Palais des Machines)
Ecole des Beaux-Arts
- Established by Louis XIV
- Initially “The Royal Academy of Architecture” and changed to Ecole after the French Revolutions
- Architecture, painting and sculpting were taught
- taught functional planning and character expression
Bibliotheque de Sainte-Genevieve
by Henri Labrouste in Paris, 19th c.
- 1st library illuminated by gas ==> regular opening hours
- daylight through window arcades all around the buildings
- 2 barrel vaults carried by the open web transverse arched of the cast iron
- arched are supported by stone piers of perimeter walls
ECCLECTICISM
Main technological innovation that allowed for taller buildings
- Fireproofing, using plaster, oak and terracotta
- Improvement of elevators
- Development of Steel structure
Louis H. Sullivan
“FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION”
- 1s architect to address tall buildings
- he divided the buildings into 4 parts:
1. Basement with mechanical equipment
2. ground floor with shops at the perimeter, public entrance and elevator lobbies
3. tacked identical office cells, along with hallways radiating the elevators
4. terminating zone with some offices, elevator machinery and other utilities
Home Insurance Buildings
- by William le Baron Jenney, in Chicago, 19thc.
- thought to be the first skyscraper
- initially of masonry construction but turned into metal structure, wrapped around with bricks due to masons strike
Chicago School of Architecture
- it’s a culmination of structural developments of the previous 100 years
- main features:
1. use of steel-frame buildings with masonry cladding
2. large window areas and use of limited amounts of exterior ornament
3. some elements of neo-classical architecture
4. the 3-[art “Chicago Window”
