I really enjoyed Karri's post and the photos that she found for modern examples of the Spanish Period. They were really creative applications of this style, and I especially liked the wrought iron VW Bug.
I also reviewed Katie's post. I thought she did an excellent job of explaining the main components of Spanish design, particularly for the residential side of it. She also chose a lot of great pictures to illustrate these features.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Spanish Period Design
The Spanish period of design began in the 16th century and was heavily influenced by 
the
Moorish, Early Christian, Medieval, and Italian Renaissance. The first phase of this period was the Plateresco phase. It follows the Gothic and Renaissance style and included incredibly intricate details and designs that resembled the work of a silversmith, giving it its name. This style can be seen on the exteriors, public buildings, churches, patios, furniture, and accessories from that time. One of the most famous examples of this style is the University of Salamanca.
The Desornamento phase followed the Plateresco and was a very powerful and severe style. It was mostly seen in court, church, and public buildings. It focused on defined proportions and creating an impressive appearance. One example of this is El Escorial, which was designed to imitate the Temple of Solomon. Although it was known for it's simplicity and plain style, it is still regarded as a moral and extraordinary building.
The final phase of the Spanish period was the Churrigueresque. This style focused on bringing passion to design and was headed by sculptors, wood carvers, and architects. This style used natural objects as surface decoration on doorways, interiors, and churches. The Cathedral of Toledo is a prime example of this. It features El Transparante, an ornate and beutiful altarpice build by Narciso Tome.
Interiors of this time included a great deal of ironwork in grilles, handrails, and furniture. They also had colored tiles, painted and carved pine-paneled ceilings, and plasterwork around doors and windows. Decorative items became much more lavish, with massive gold frames for paintings, cut pile carpets and rugs, and fringes, tassels, cords, and nailheads featured on furniture. This furniture was otherwise fairly simplistic in design, but had a sense of boldness and ornamentation.
The Desornamento phase followed the Plateresco and was a very powerful and severe style. It was mostly seen in court, church, and public buildings. It focused on defined proportions and creating an impressive appearance. One example of this is El Escorial, which was designed to imitate the Temple of Solomon. Although it was known for it's simplicity and plain style, it is still regarded as a moral and extraordinary building.
The final phase of the Spanish period was the Churrigueresque. This style focused on bringing passion to design and was headed by sculptors, wood carvers, and architects. This style used natural objects as surface decoration on doorways, interiors, and churches. The Cathedral of Toledo is a prime example of this. It features El Transparante, an ornate and beutiful altarpice build by Narciso Tome.
Interiors of this time included a great deal of ironwork in grilles, handrails, and furniture. They also had colored tiles, painted and carved pine-paneled ceilings, and plasterwork around doors and windows. Decorative items became much more lavish, with massive gold frames for paintings, cut pile carpets and rugs, and fringes, tassels, cords, and nailheads featured on furniture. This furniture was otherwise fairly simplistic in design, but had a sense of boldness and ornamentation.
Current Examples
A modern Spanish kitchen, with the traditional splayed leg table and tile flooring
A room featuring wrought iron work, chest, and tile flooring
A Spanish inspired kitchen that incorporates wrought iron work, simple rectangular chairs, and a bench with a rectangular back
Check out this video on the architecture of the Cathedral of Seville:
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Italian Renaissance Peer Review
Alexandra included some really interesting information in her post, including the fact that most of the furniture was designed to look like buildings and that ceilings began to be seen as a very important piece of architecture in the design of buildings.
I also enjoyed Katie's post and the detail she went into about how important design became during this time, so that it was even seen as a point for theoretical discussion. She also mentioned how important symmetry and geometry were during this time, which really makes sense considering that thinking during this time shifted towards more scientific and mathematical thinking.
I also enjoyed Katie's post and the detail she went into about how important design became during this time, so that it was even seen as a point for theoretical discussion. She also mentioned how important symmetry and geometry were during this time, which really makes sense considering that thinking during this time shifted towards more scientific and mathematical thinking.
Italian Renaissance
The Renaissance, or "Rebirth", developed in Italy. During this time, there was a shift in focus from religious to secular ideas. The arts were popular among all people, whether rich or poor, and residential design became popular. The designs of this time began to focus more on comfort, convenience, and beauty rather than safety, strength, and protection as had previously been the case.
One of the most famous buildings from this time is the Florence Cathedral by Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi was the first recognized architect of the Renaissance. The Florence Cathedral was inspired by the Pantheon and served as the main church in Florence. Another typical structure of the time was the palazzo. Palazzos were comprised of three divisions, with housing on the 2nd and 3rd floors and store space on the 1st floor. They also featured central courtyards and walls with niches. Inside, they had frescos, tapestries, and fireplaces.
The most influential architect of the Renaissance was Andrea Palladio, who also authored The Four Books on Architecture. He also designed Villa Rotondo, which had rooms arranged symmetrically around the central dome. Each side had a classical temple front, which included stairs, six columns, entablature, and pediment. His architectural proportions were based on the models from the Classical world and has served as an inspiration for hundreds of years.
Perhaps the most famous individuals from the Renaissance period were Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo. Da Vinci excelled as a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer and was responsible for pieces like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Michaelangelo was a sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer and created famous works like David and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Interiors of the time used contrasting light and shadow through 3D moldings, paneling on furniture and surfaces, and frescos. They also created very elaborate ceilings, fireplace mantels, pilasters, and floors of brick, terra-cotta tile, or marble in geometric patterns, Furniture featured ivory, marble, onyx, and stone inlays, gilding, and used walnut for the finest furniture. Seating was comprised of sedia chairs, sgabellos, the x chair, cassapanca, and savonarola chairs. Cassone chests were also popular during this time, as were trestle tables and Florentine tables.
One of the most famous buildings from this time is the Florence Cathedral by Brunelleschi. Brunelleschi was the first recognized architect of the Renaissance. The Florence Cathedral was inspired by the Pantheon and served as the main church in Florence. Another typical structure of the time was the palazzo. Palazzos were comprised of three divisions, with housing on the 2nd and 3rd floors and store space on the 1st floor. They also featured central courtyards and walls with niches. Inside, they had frescos, tapestries, and fireplaces.
The most influential architect of the Renaissance was Andrea Palladio, who also authored The Four Books on Architecture. He also designed Villa Rotondo, which had rooms arranged symmetrically around the central dome. Each side had a classical temple front, which included stairs, six columns, entablature, and pediment. His architectural proportions were based on the models from the Classical world and has served as an inspiration for hundreds of years.
Perhaps the most famous individuals from the Renaissance period were Leonardo Da Vinci and Michaelangelo. Da Vinci excelled as a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer and was responsible for pieces like the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Michaelangelo was a sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer and created famous works like David and the Sistine Chapel ceiling.
Interiors of the time used contrasting light and shadow through 3D moldings, paneling on furniture and surfaces, and frescos. They also created very elaborate ceilings, fireplace mantels, pilasters, and floors of brick, terra-cotta tile, or marble in geometric patterns, Furniture featured ivory, marble, onyx, and stone inlays, gilding, and used walnut for the finest furniture. Seating was comprised of sedia chairs, sgabellos, the x chair, cassapanca, and savonarola chairs. Cassone chests were also popular during this time, as were trestle tables and Florentine tables.
Current Examples
A box-like four poster bed with a paneled head and footboard, similar to Renaissance beds
A modern bench similar to the cassapanca, including the back, arms, storage seating, and legs
A modern coffered ceiling like the elaborate ceilings of the Renaissance
Check out this video on the influence that the Classical styles of the Greeks and Romans had on the Renaissance:
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