The alternatives unit was about expanding on the basic principles of design that was stated in the foundations unit and about the ancient world relating to the past. The alternatives unit takes place in the Renaissance and Baroque time period. One of the main concepts in the foundations unit was the principle of commodity, firmness, and delight. The alternatives unit really emphasized commodity, firmness, and delight in the cathedrals that were being built during this time as Christianity was spreading throughout Europe.
The duomo is Brunelleschi’s dome that is a part of the cathedral at Florence. The duomo overshadows the city and is the epicenter of Florence. It was thought to be a symbol for the city since it was like saying, “we can move beyond and make better.” It is the largest dome and has the effect of a wuwu because of its large and tall scale. The church was a prototype for another church, but the duomo made change instead of continuity because it went from medieval to gothic. The duomo had the effect of the idea that there is connectivity between heaven and earth.
Many churches had the plan of crossing east and west and it was very decorative element. The Greek cross plan is a symbol of the Christian cross that Jesus died on for our sins. Cathedrals also were decorative in the fact that they had mosaics that told stories and were very luminous. The Rose window in st. Sernin helps focus on the alter, the most important part in a cathedral. Geometry also played a big role in the alternatives unit as the contrast of dark and light were used a lot throughout the Renaissance. The crossing square in cathedrals and 90-degree angles was also very geometric.
Venezia, otherwise known as Venice, was and is the city of floating stone. The city was man-made and is slowly sinking due to the tree trunks that hold the city up. The water throughout the city was used for travel and borrowing. The Grand Canal connects west and east and gives a spirit of peace. There are many “squares” in Venice as well as a wuwu in San Marco Square. The Maria Della Salute salutes Mary from not bringing sickness (the black plague) to Venice. It is a celebration to the city of Venice.
The alternatives unit tells us that it is okay to break the rules outside the box and to test the boundaries. A great example of an artist and designer who broke rules was Michelangelo Buonarroti. Michelangelo broke rules by breaking through surfaces of walls making them appear to be illusions. He simplified from the old and made more height in his paintings that make them appear as if they are a part of the wall itself. In the Capella Sistina, Michelangelo makes it hard for us to tell if the floor is the ceiling or vice versa because it could go either way with the disintegrating walls and fluidity.
The Renaissance lead into the Baroque time period. The Renaissance was all about rationality and the Baroque was all about emotion. It was a time for thinking outside the box and revolution making that leads us into the next unit. Versailles was built specifically for the king because he was the ultimate ruler and he had to have everything bigger. He wanted a bigger house that had to relate everything to him. The sun outside radiates out and reflects to the king because all things come back to and reflect on the king. The revolution, however, interrupts the design process and slows it down. The Hall of Mirrors reflect on the inside of the palace making the space look bigger and linking the outside world with the inside world by mirrors inside and waters and landscaping outdoors.
No comments:
Post a Comment