In the alternatives unit, we discussed reaching heavenward, community, the renaissance, and breaking the rules. In between the Classical period and the Renaissance there were the Middle Ages. During this time important building innovations took place. With the use of flying buttresses, buildings were dematerialized by adding large glass windows. The golden mean was still applied in the length and height. After the fall of the Roman empire, there was an emphasis on community and providing for the poor. But before that Christianity becomes a predominate western religion and a new building form takes place. At first followers had to meet in private. These meetings of course required space and eventually the cruciform shape came to be. At first the religion was practiced in Italy in the catacombs, after the fall of the empire it was able to flourish. It made its mark all over the European land scape in the form of cathedrals. This building form didn't happen over night. It took many years and failed attempts. There can also be seen Eastern influences in the building form of some cathedrals. With this blending comes a theatricality that the church uses to attract new converts. With the use of dramatic statuary and ornamentation, stories can be told in the architecture. This led to the Baroque styling of churches.
During the Renaissance the power of the church was given to the individual in the form of villas. The connection to heaven was now de-institutionalized. Building shifts from a grandeur practice to a practical one. During this period no building is one style. Architects and designers reinterpret classical style by using all the rules. These include man as the measure of all things, single decorative facade, separation of spaces, repetition and geometry. Patronage is also important as a lot of buildings and furniture items are commissioned by wealthy patrons.
During the Baroque period, boundaries were tested and rules were broken. One example of this is the use of dramatic angles. During this style period there was an opening up of civic spaces. An example would be the Piazza Campidoglio, which was built wider at one end to open up to and emphasis the house of representatives. There was also theatricality used to attract people and tell a dramatic story. Some structural elements were exaggerated to add strength or size to buildings.
With a switch to building for practicality there were a few unnecessary elements, like too many corner columns. At the begining of the Renassaince there was no one with an official title in charge of Florence. However the Medici family, through skillful diplomacy took on the role. They made it the duty of wealthy citizens to provied public and religous buildings for the citizens. There was a renewed interest in antiquity, scholars were no longer interested in scripture and church dogma. The Renaissance marked the reemergence as man as the measure. A numerous amount of Greek scholars arrived in Florence and this reinforced a return to antiquity. Once again man was the measurer of all things. This believe was best quoted by Giovanni Pico "it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he wills."
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