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Key Concepts of Renaissance Architecture

Geometric Foundations

• Renaissance architects introduced geometry into designs, emphasizing squares, cubes, and circles as perfect forms.

• Proportions were based on measurements reflecting geometric shapes.

Proportional Systems

• The architecture of the Renaissance is defined by symmetry, proportions, and centralized designs.

• Early Renaissance (Quattrocento, 1400-1500) and late Renaissance periods followed by Mannerism.

• Use of geometric forms to achieve proportional understanding, influencing both early and later designs.

Notable Structures

Hospitale Degli Nazenti

• Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, marked the introduction of geometric proportions in the facade.

Sagrstia Vecchia

• Another of Brunelleschi’s works, showcasing a centralized dome over a square plan, emphasizing harmonious proportions.

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

• Designed by Leon Battista Alberti, incorporated classical elements and introduced ideas of proportion and harmony into existing structures.

Transition from Gothic to Renaissance

• Gothic architecture valued proportion but typically focused on verticality and reaching towards the heavens.

• Renaissance shifted to a more balanced, centralized approach, incorporating domes and engaging geometrical organization.

• Contrasts exist in vertical vs. horizontal elements; Renaissance aimed to resolve these tensions through integration.

Brunelleschi's Dome Innovations

• Brunelleschi’s dome for the Florence Cathedral was a significant achievement, featuring:

  • A unique construction method that did not rely on scaffolding.

  • The use of a double shelled dome design, reminiscent of eastern architectural techniques.

  • Innovations like the herringbone brick pattern contributed to structural efficiency.

Centralization in Design

• Movement towards centralizing domestic and ecclesiastical structures became prominent in Renaissance architecture; evidenced by:

  • Use of domes as dominant features in buildings, countering the basilica style.

  • Introduction of significant structural elements that were both functional and aesthetically integrated.

Mannerism and the Evolution of Baroque Architecture

• Late Renaissance saw the emergence of Mannerism characterized by experimentation with proportions and forms, leading into Baroque ideals.

• Key aspects included:

  • The integration of classical vocabulary while playing with its established norms, yielding irregular forms and variable proportions.

  • Introduction of dramatic volumes and surfaces, diverging from past architectural rigidity.

Conclusion

• The Renaissance marked a significant shift in architectural philosophy; moving from the ornate Gothic toward a geometric harmony, centered on the human experience and proportionality.

• Architects like Brunelleschi and Alberti paved the way for subsequent architectural evolutions culminating in Baroque artistry.