Architectural Styles: Evolution Until the Renaissance

By Angélica Varela Santa Cruz

The basic definition of architecture is the design of buildings and cites. That wouldn’t be wrong, but architecture is more than just that, it’s an art that’s been passed down from generation to generation. Since its beginnings it’s been morphed and transformed, taking the shape of the mind of whoever is practicing it. Who would’ve thought that humans could have come so far from designing things like the Stonehenge to creating massive, innovative skyscrapers like the Burj Khalifa.

There are so many variables that an architect has to take in mind when working on a project, things like math, geography, physics, aesthetics, and much more. It takes time, thought and a lot of work to develop a real structure that can withstand the many situations that could possibly damage or destroy it. The final project does not only reflect the architects talent, but also the culture, beliefs, values, and technological advancements of the time and place it was created.

In history, many different styles that have been applied to the architecture of cities, countries, and even whole continents, can be seen. Architectural styles throughout the eras take in mind the key features these buildings needed at the time of their construction.

Things like the environment of where it was being built, the cultural beliefs, what was aesthetically pleasing at the time and the dreams that the citizens had for their country are all prime examples of the features past and present architects have to take in mind.

Prehistoric Times (11,600 BC-3,500 BC)

Considering how the times were back then, it’s truly fascinating how early human societies could be so resourceful and ingenious. Old structures contained organic materials, like the earth and stone. Moreover, they have a sense of geometry embedded into them, whether it’s their formations or their alignment with the environment that they are set in. Although not much is known about these mysterious structures, what is known is that some of them were related to celestial patterns, trying to replicate the sun or moon. Megaliths, earthen mounds, stone circles and other structures were built during this period before history. The Göbelki Tepe is an archeological site in Turkey that is considered to be the oldest building on earth. It is made out of big circular structures supported by stone pillars engraved with carvings and drawings of a variety of animals. Archaeologists believe that it was built over 11,000 years ago and that it was used as a meet up spot before the people who resided there went to hunt and additionally as a temple for worship. A more famous example of a prehistoric structure is the Stonehenge in Salisbury, United Kingdom, which the most recent theories state that it was utilized as a burial monument, a meeting space for the chiefdoms or as an astronomical instrument.

Ancient civilizations (3,500 BC-476 AD)

Places like Egypt, Rome, and Greece have some of the bases that are present in future architectural styles. Without counting Prehistoric times, they were literally the OG’s who started it all.

Ancient Egyptian

One of the most famous ancient structures in the world are the pyramids in Egypt, which were made to honor pharaohs and their reign. Made with giant blocks of stone to last forever, and look very impressive, the pyramids served as a reminder of the rulers that served them beforehand. The Egyptians were very big on religion, so inside the pyramids tons of hieroglyphics and drawings of the many gods that they worshipped can be found. They also built temples in honor of their beloved gods, which were tall structures filled with decorations, statues and valuable items. The Egyptians weren’t the only religious civilization, the Romans and the Greeks also partook in different kinds of beliefs, so things like temples were seen a lot during each of their prospering times.

Classical

Both Roman and Greek architectural styles are now grouped into a category called Classical Architecture. These ancient civilizations made immense contributions that served as an influence for everything that came after them. Structures built in Ancient Greece were meant to represent beauty. These are characterized by their symmetry and proportions. They were mostly made out of materials like stone, wood and mud brick. The Greeks were very big fans of columns, which is clearly seen in a lot of designs during their time. They had three orders which they stuck by when making a new structure, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Each order has its own rules and principles which the architects stuck by when designing buildings and temples. In addition, the Greeks used the power of math to help make the structures more appealing to the eye. They went through two different architectural phases: the Greek Period, which focused on strong, simple Doric columns and elegant, slender Ionic columns that were used for temples. Then the Hellenistic Period, which produced more complex designs by adding ornate Ionic and Corinthian columns to already complicated temples and secular structures. The Parthenon in Athens, Greece serves as an example of an Ancient Greek temple. Its original design was a mix of the Doric and Ionic orders and was very proportionate, including columns that supported the roof of the temple.

On the other hand, the Romans were a tad bit more creative when it came to the designing process. They used things like domes, concrete and arches to add more to what they built. Some other significant inventions of theirs are aqueducts, roads and triumphal arches, which are all things we can observe in modern architecture around the world. The Romans’ style was a mix of Greek and of unique characteristics they applied, later on, contributing two other orders: Tuscan and Composite. A great example of what the Romans where capable of back then is the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Even though this ancient amphitheater isn’t perfectly preserved, the remnants of their contributions to architecture are still clear.

Medieval (5th-15th century)

The Medieval era was a period in which many architectural styles arose. Throughout this time, the rise of Christianity as a religion and it's significant increase in followers was seen, this being a heavy influence in the variety of structures being designed and built during the time. There were three styles that prevailed: Byzantine, Romanesque and Gothic.

Byzantine

When the Roman Empire was split in two, its eastern side became Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople and modernly known as Istanbul, Turkey. Byzantine architecture served as a transitional period from the whole Classical scene to other forms that surfaced during the Medieval period. Even though it thrived during the rule of Emperor Justinian (527 AD-565 AD), it kept on going until the eventual fall of Constantinople in 1453. It was an ecclesiastic, classically inspired style that in addiction mixed Middle Eastern and Western traditions. The structures were made out of brick instead of the classic stone and incorporated domes. The domes were supported by pendentives, which are nothing else but a triangular area of a spherical surface. In these churches, intricate mosaics, different kinds of Christian narratives and lavish decorations were very common and a staple piece within. Additionally, the Byzantine style had an effect on many future churches, secular structures and even whole forms of Medieval architecture. A case of Byzantine architecture that can still be observed today is the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, a former church now mosque with many domes and golden, fancy interior decor.

Romanesque

Heavily inspired by Roman architecture, the Romanesque style began to rise around the 1000’s in, you guessed it, Rome. Focused on the ideas of thick, heavy stone walls, a basilica style plan, and rounded arches, this style contained elements from other types of architecture like Byzantine, giving it its unique personality. During Romanesque’s peak, lots of fortress-like buildings and basilicas were made, including small windows and different types of vaults in some parts of them. On the inside, they often featured art that depicted a variety of different biblical scenes and many geometric decorations. The Romanesque style is known to have paved the way for the well-known Gothic style and serves as a great example of transitional architecture, blending the old with new. The Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse, France is a Romanesque Basilica in which we can see many of the key elements that compose this style.

Gothic

During the early 12th century in France, the Gothic style began to emerge. It’s an evolved version of the previous style, Romanesque, but it also took inspiration from Spanish Moorish architecture for its pointed arches. It’s well-known because of all the famous sacred places that it has produced, since it’s a predominantly ecclesiastical style. New innovations started to arise, meaning that structures would start to reach for new limits. Gothic architecture is known for its taller and more graceful style, with elements that supported the evolution from simpler buildings to more complex structures. Things like pointed arches, flying buttresses, stained glass windows, ornamental statues, and heavy decor are all primary stylistic elements that most Gothic buildings incorporated. It focused on producing vertical, lighter designs that drew attention to height and light. Originally, the Gothic style was referred to as the French style, but after its falling off during the Renaissance, it started to be mocked and it was suggested that it came from the work of German barbarians (Goth). Even though this was false information, the name stuck for centuries, and that is why it's called it what it is today. The Duomo in Milan, Italy is a beautiful representation of Gothic architecture with its many noticeable pointed arches and flying buttresses.

Renaissance (15th-17th century)

The Renaissance period was all about showing off and looking impressive, so people’s main focus stopped being God and became humanity. Renaissance architecture brought back the Greek and Roman classical styles and implemented them into their own ideas. In Italy, architects began to use staple pieces from the classical style in their own designs, focusing on the symmetry and beauty of it all. Elements such as columns, arches, domes, straight lines, circles and decorative triangles were all things that were featured in Classical architecture that the Renaissance adopted. The architects used geometry to help them make everything look more balanced and proportionate. Unlike previous styles, Renaissance didn’t have much fancy decor, its decorations were classy and not too luxurious. It was fueled by commercial abundance, with many wealthy families like the Medici’s from Florence funding the projects so they can compete against other city-states. Even the Church began to commission grand designs, only to almost go bankrupt because the costs were too much. They might have taken a financial blow, but they sure did help shape the huge artistic rebirth period that was the Renaissance. Eventually, the works produced in this time spread across the continent and later made their way into the Western world where modern architects took lots of inspiration from them. Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the most renowned architects from this period, designed the Cathedral of Santa María del Fiore in Florence, Italy which is a gorgeous structure that still stands today in the center of the city.

Conclusion

From the ancient beauties of Greece and Rome to the post-medieval Renaissance era, architecture has grown steadily in all aspects. Today, we can still see the traces that past architects left in our modern-day designs. Just as art has different mediums and music has different genres, architecture has its own styles that evolve next to society. Things come and go, like many of the types of architecture mentioned that had their downfalls and resurfaces in the future. Trends have always been the basis of everything we call pleasant, including every man-made building that surrounds us. Although, this is just the beginning, many other styles come after those we now call history.

Sources:

https://architecturehelper.com/blog/architecture-styles-around-the-world-a-primer/

https://architecturehelper.com/blog/european-architecture-style-an-overview/

https://www.thoughtco.com/architecture-timeline-historic-periods-styles-175996 https://dozr.com/blog/5-oldest-buildings-around-the-world

https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-byzantine-architecture-4122211