This unit was called “Reverberations.” To reverberate means to re-echo, recoil, rebound, or resound. The following paragraphs will explain the overall themes of this unit. Design concepts that have been around for centuries have been reused time and time again through the east and west design rules, the breaking of the rules, and world-wide revolutions.
The east and west have historically clung to certain design concepts. These two hemispheres have both differences and similarities in their approach to architecture. Both the Parthenon and the Colosseum are two architectural structures that have been looked back on by designers throughout history. Designers simultaneously utilize design of the past and slam it in order to make their design look better or more important. There are many unspoken, world-wide, design rules; one example is that everything should look like it belongs together. Another example is that columns, stacks, and symmetry are all significant. It was important to show your family's profile through an architectural facade. A good example of this is the Palazzo Medici. This was basically a family owned pottery barn where they sold stuff from all around the world. It's facade showed that the family's work was on the bottom floor, social home was on the second floor, and private home was on the top floor by utilizing architectural decor. Most architecture followed an “if you've got it, flaunt it” method of design. The east also focused on the 'delight of the dance.' Countless objects, spaces, buildings, and places possess a stronger sense of rhythm and movement than that found in most western architecture. The east's architecture was also different in that they did not knock down decaying buildings, instead they just fixed them to the best of their ability. Eastern philosophy shows that they were more sustainable than the west because instead of demolishing broken architecture, they replaced whatever was broken. The East and West both celebrate surface decoration. The decor was largely geometrical and based on nature. It was common because it adds emphasis, pattern, and interest to architectural structures.
In the late sixteenth century it began to be very popular to create edifices for the purpose of entertainment. These buildings were all about parties, power, and showing off. They were longer and spread out to maximize theatrical impact. A new architectural concept of fluidity became fashionable and buildings began to seem more animated. We subsequently entered into the Baroque time period of architecture. Baroque was a theatrical, dramatic, and the last great design movement. This time period was all about breaking the rules and making architecture look as though it was impossible. Baroque style structures were commonly water like or massively over thought and decorated. It made something look like something it wasn't and used material that created an illusion. Horizontal architecture became more available and represented our attempt to control the earth. The Baroque time period was all about liquifying the rules and making up new ones.
A revolution is defined by Miriam Webster Dictionary as "a sudden, radical, or complete change.” We have endured many revolutions, for example: the industrial, banking, sexual equality, civil rights, and the American revolution. Through revolutions, we break the rules and see the world through different eyes. The industrial revolution effected the design world considerably. A new time period began with sequential thought and the understanding of history. Scientific approaches were introduced to design through engineering. Practices were changed according to the new technology produced during the industrial revolution, thus beginning the quest for modernism. The pure styles of architecture started to become less clear and more muddled. When examining structure it is very helpful to apply the idea of 'the language of architecture.' This concept takes the semiotics and ideologies found in architecture and assists in uncovering the latent meanings that radiate through a subconscious shroud. Architecture commonly has an impure language and are mixed from different time periods and styles. Revolutionary designers tried to create architecture that looked different than the catholic counter parts. In doing so, they emulated churches and applied new design techniques to them, turning matters on end. The quest for modernism was followed by the pursuit of sophistication. Showing how sophisticated and gentile you were became important because people wanted to appear worldly. Revolutions have taken place all throughout history and will continue to take place, breaking down barriers and changing ideas and perceptions.
In conclusion, this unit focused on the east and west design rules, the breaking of the rules, world-wide revolutions, and the reoccurring themes throughout the years.
P.S ( I wanted to incorporate this but I couldn't find a place it would fit.) In this unit we also looked at both the architecture of happiness and the concept of looking at architecture as frozen music. Both of these ideas have changed to adapt to new time periods, collective opinions, as well as individual beliefs.
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