US #2

    The unit was entitled Reverberations; throughout history design in architecture has been reflected upon, reused, copied, and enhanced. The unit opened up with expressions of faith in stone and glass. Throughout time many structures have been constructed for the purpose of serving and celebrating one’s faith; for instance, the Parthenon was created to be a universe on Earth. It showed the Greek’s faith by incorporating the “golden section” into the basic layout. Also, the Pantheon built in Rome, Italy to show the Roman cosmos. It features a perfect sphere and contains the whole universe inscribed inside. The sphere contained an opening that allowed light to shine into the building, as well as, enabling one to see out towards the sky; this was the Roman’s way of making it easier for people to become closer to the heavens and the God(s). Both of these structures was constructed using stone sculptures that depicted certain religious events and glass as much as possible to let light shine through. Light was very important to the people because it was cheap & efficient and seen as way of experiencing the divine. Each building was specifically designed to cause one’s eyes to dance/move across the surface without rest; the purpose of this was to keep your mind active and experience the world in a whole new light. The idea of architecture being “frozen music” was also introduced. Basically saying that architecture is like music in space. David Bryne spoke on how architecture helped music evolve, and that music did not influence the evolution of architecture. Meaning music can be added to a specific place and it seem as if that piece was meant to go with it, as if it evolved from that place.
    As the first millennium ends, the modern world map unfolds. The cognitive/mind map comes into play, which is, a mental processing by which and individual can acquire, code, store, recall, and decode information about the relative locations and attributes. The Eastern and Western maps contain different outlooks on the perceived world. Mappa mundi drawn by Ebstorf is an example of a medieval Europe map. Created in the 13th century CE, it features the face of Christ at the top, hands on the sides and feet at the bottom, resembling a compass, symbolizing that God is at the top of the country and his presence is all around. Many churches of this time accentuate a similar idea in their basic blueprint labeled as the “golden section”. The Amiens Cathedral was designed in the measure of man and Heaven, composed of the “golden section” with the main space in the cruciform shape. Heaven was encoded in the central space by making it 50 feet based off the dimensions of Noah’s ark. 
    Upon entering into the Renaissance period, we notice the making of new rules to break with Gothic ideas and re-link to the ancients of the western world. We also observe continuities with the past in the east. The view of the globe begins to shift due to explorations and the western people meet up with the eastern people, which causes their views and ideas to clash. This occurrence lead to the Great Eastern and Western rulebook, v. 1.0. From this came the ten ideas of architecture: 1) Revive the past using classical language ---> e.g. Santa Maria del fori, noted for having a double dome, one that looks correct from the inside and one that looks correct from the outside. Says that the church is more important that the city and that the people are smart and rich due to size and ornamentation. Reflects the past in that the Pantheon’s dome was used as a model. 2) Strive for harmony and order in all things. 3) Layer groves and stacks when possible ---> e.g. Palazzo Medici, emphasized the family’s wealth with its three layers of different textures and designs, shows separation. 4) Emphasize surface through materiality ---> Samaria Novella, only the front of the building is decorated to show the significance of the entrance and where the money was spent. 5) Follow the rules ---> e.g. Palazzo Farnese, used diagonals in the layout to figure out where the windows would be located; things were also written down to help perfect the structure. 6) Place man at the center. 7) Strive for position through patronage ---> e.g. Pazzi Chapel. 8) Move forward the secular [not just religious] agenda. 9) Get some perspective [in representation] ---> perspective drawing was invented. 10) Expand your physical world ---> Explore!
    As the western rules were made and written down, designers began work to bend and break them. Andrea Palladio is introduced to the scene. Palladio wrote everything down and as a result of the printing press it was all printed into books. He soon becomes the most influential architect from this time period for his books, specifically his rulebook of architecture, modeled after Vitruvius, which is composed of measurements of the ancient buildings taken by Palladio himself. Palladio's most famous building the Villa Rotunda was borrowed directly from the Pantheon, but he designed a porch on all four sides. Proved to be a problem ---> the sunlight did heat all four sides the same therefore sustainability was not used very well. In the Palazzo del te by Gulio Romano, many of Palladio's ideas can be seen, including the Palladian windows. It also features exaggeration in the keystone design which is the beginning of breaking the rules. Furthermore, rules continued to be broken in the Chateau Fountainbleu fluidity was incorporated into the stairs. And in the Laurentian Library Vestibule when the steps were divided into three pathways and the columns were pushed backed into the walls, giving it a feel of movement. The Baroque period was about theatricality and dramatic lighting, round and livid forms, engagement with all the senses, and standing as a player in the scene. The Giardino di Boboli hit all the main points; it encompasses art, planting material, and water; as well as, embracing the belief of eating and drinking as much as you want, just having a good time. Eastern designers, on maintained a continuous approach in their work.
    Colonial expansion brought forth new ideas and people around the world. With the Panthéon created by Ange-Jacques Gabriel the French shaped and changed architecture in four ways: 1) Sequential understanding of history. 2) Engineering mentality = scientific approach. 3) Notion of rational and logical system of thinking (different way of thinking other than the church). 4) Notion of changing practices, due to the Industrial Revolution. People began to become more focused on thinking and writing things down and less about actually building a structure. As a result, we enter into the Enlightenment period. The works of Christopher Wren really emerged at this time; such as, the Greenwich Observatory and St. Paul’s Cathedral. In addition, Christ Church, Spitalfields by Nicholas Hawksmoor began to break rules with its proportions. Architects and designers argue between the designs and rules; everyone decides to do their own thing and incorporate whatever styles they desired.
   Architecture and design start to experience significant change in the political, social, and cultural sense on account of the Industrial Revolution and inventions throughout the world. Bricks are presented as a building material in Carter’s Grove Plantation in 1751. Also, the design cycle begins: cycle, rotation, revival, renaissance, reform; each time the end of one design is reached another one is begun. Because of this Greek ideas were brought back and seen throughout the South in porticos and columns, one example is Drayton Hall in Charleston, South Carolina. th The Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, the first in a series of World’s Fair exhibitions, was put together as a celebration of modern industrial technology and design. It was here that many inventions were first introduced publicly. These events were a big hit during this time as they brought about new products and ideas that influence everyday life, people bring back new ways of seeing, new transportation modes, impacts on cities and new foods. Wrigley’s gum, Cracker Jacks, the Ferris Wheel and Aunt Jemima syrup, all still popular today, were announced at World’s Fairs.