Architectural icons of the Renaissance

‘Rebirth’. A sense of change and transformation with new perspectives from Architect’s such as Brunelleschi and Alberti beginning to unfold. This is The Renaissance as it began to transform Italy in the early 14th/15th century. With Florence being the central place in which Renaissance humanism began to flourish (architecture based off of classical works of the Greek and Romanesque).


https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.britannica.com%2F81%2F137681-004-1B1F5045%2FFlorence-Italy-World-Heritage-site-1982.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fplace%2FFlorence&tbnid=ytxUcHFmSgmkwM&vet=1&docid=-8JX_7FVnX-BFM&w=501&h=392&source=sh%2Fx%2Fim


The world and it’s environment surrounds us. We transform it, manipulate it, work with it and, in my opinion, it is our obligation to care for it. The perspective invention embraces this, with man being central in the universe. Brunelleschi (1377-1446) was one of the first architects of the Renaissance movement who embraces this through Architectural Harmony: 

Light - Space - Rythmic - proportions

As well as the constructional principles of Roman ruins + technical considerations: 

-herringbone brickwork technique

-Double shell, 

-Gothic Rib construction and 

-Pointed arch profile

Brunelleschi (1377-1446)


                                           https://images.app.goo.gl/xhGQQvk8u3hG1WvF8

Another architect of which embraces harmony is Leon Battista Alberti: 

However, Alberti was more interested in the principles of design with a more theoretical thought process. In his 'De re aedificatoria' he declares that the appearance of the building contains two elements Beauty and Ornament, forming a sense of harmony within the design whilst linking to the use of columns. 

Alberti also formed Harmony through centrally planned churches where they were based off of a circle with 8 others (recommended). His inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci is evidential as da Vinci’s work appear like illustrations to Alberti's theories.


A brief mention of the High Renaissance (starting in 1500) period is also extremely important. Briefly appearing in Rome and Venince for 30 years, the artists of this era themselves as creative beings, not artisans. Donato Bramante, inspired by Leonardo's step from design to build form, moved to Milan and built several new churches in this new Antique style, combining perspective and Roman detail.

An example of this is the centrally planned design of St. Peter’s Cathedral (1506) 


                                           https://images.app.goo.gl/7WySe24xSKT9hkqB8

It is fascinating to observe the sense of a central presence within the Renaissance period and how this style has been developed by different architects over time. I especially love the details within each design and the meaning behind churches, how they were known to be the center of the world and the Christian faith for many people. I was particularly intrigued by the High Renaissance architecture, with Bramante's move to Rome and how Leonardo has made such an impact on these designs from as early as Brunelleschi's Architectural ideas.

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