- By Darshan Sumant Chintamani
‘A building is not just a place to be but a way to be. The mother art is architecture.
Without an architecture of our own, we have no soul of our own civilization.’
– Frank Lloyd Wright
Without an architecture of our own, we have no soul of our own civilization.’
– Frank Lloyd Wright
Wright, perhaps one of the best architects of his time, aptly defined the true essence of architecture. Architecture is an integral part of every civilization, an eternal mark on the earth’s face, of its people and their artistic genius. One can experience this for himself only while travelling through the different parts of Europe. For over the last two millennia, each civilization – small or big – has imprinted itself in stone and brick. The buildings in each city stand testimony to the continuous evolution of society’s artistic expression. It is therefore imminent to understand the main architectural styles, their history and the symbolism, to better understand the rich heritage of an entire continent.
Classical
Classical architecture is derived from the architecture of ancient Greece and ancient Rome. With the collapse of the western part of the Roman Empire, the architectural traditions of the Roman empire ceased to be practiced in large parts of western Europe. In the Byzantine Empire, the ancient ways of building lived on but relatively soon developed into a distinct Byzantine style. It places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts as they are demonstrated in the architecture of Classical antiquity and in particular, the architecture of Ancient Rome. Greek amphitheaters, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Roman Baths are just a small set of examples.
Classical
Classical architecture is derived from the architecture of ancient Greece and ancient Rome. With the collapse of the western part of the Roman Empire, the architectural traditions of the Roman empire ceased to be practiced in large parts of western Europe. In the Byzantine Empire, the ancient ways of building lived on but relatively soon developed into a distinct Byzantine style. It places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts as they are demonstrated in the architecture of Classical antiquity and in particular, the architecture of Ancient Rome. Greek amphitheaters, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Roman Baths are just a small set of examples.
Classical styles can be further classified into Ancient Greek, Roman, Herodian, Early Christian, and Byzantine which differ from each other with respect to the finer elements. The first conscious efforts to bring back the disused language of form of classical antiquity into Western architecture can be traced to the Carolingian Renaissance of the late 8th and 9th centuries. Classical styles of architecture re-emerged and dominated Western architecture for a very long time, roughly from the Italian Renaissance until the advent of Modernism.
Pre-Medieval
The Dark Ages generally denote the second half of the first millennia, from the end of the Roman Empire around 400 C.E. to 1000 C.E. The primary theme during this period is the introduction and absorption of classical Mediterranean and Christian forms with Germanic ones creating innovative new forms, leading to the rise of Romanesque art in the 11th century. The architectural styles during this period are therefore also called ‘Pre-Romanesque’. In most of Western Europe the Roman architecture tradition survived the collapse of the empire, The Merovingians (Franks) continued to build large stone buildings like monastery churches and palaces.
Pre-Medieval
The Dark Ages generally denote the second half of the first millennia, from the end of the Roman Empire around 400 C.E. to 1000 C.E. The primary theme during this period is the introduction and absorption of classical Mediterranean and Christian forms with Germanic ones creating innovative new forms, leading to the rise of Romanesque art in the 11th century. The architectural styles during this period are therefore also called ‘Pre-Romanesque’. In most of Western Europe the Roman architecture tradition survived the collapse of the empire, The Merovingians (Franks) continued to build large stone buildings like monastery churches and palaces.
The Merovingian dynasty were replaced by the Carolingian dynasty in 752 AD, which led to Carolingian architecture from 780 to 900 AD, and Ottonian architecture in the Holy Roman Empire from mid-10th century until the mid-11th century. These successive Frankish dynasties were large contributors to Romanesque architecture. Regional styles developed in Croatia, England, France, Italy, and Spain as per the influence of various other cultures from outside Europe. The major regional styles are Merovingian (France, Germany); Visigothic (Spain, Portugal); Asturian (North Spain, North Portugal); Carolingian (France, Germany) and Ottonian (Germany). This was the beginnings of a quintessential melting pot of varied architectural styles.
Medieval
The most important architectural style that developed in Medieval Europe was the Gothic style. It evolved from Romanesque architecture. Originating in 12th-century France and lasting into the 16th century, Gothic architecture was known during the period as Opus Francigenum ("French work") with the term Gothic first appearing during the latter part of the Renaissance. The Gothic style, when applied to an ecclesiastical building, emphasizes verticality and light. Its characteristics include the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. Other characteristics of early Gothic architecture, such as vertical shafts, clustered columns, compound piers, plate tracery and groups of narrow openings had evolved during the Romanesque period. The dominance of the Church over everyday life was expressed in grand spiritual designs which emphasized piety and sobriety. The Romanesque style was simple and austere. The Gothic style heightened the effect with heavenly spires, pointed arches and religious carvings.
Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities and to a less prominent extent, private dwellings.
Medieval
The most important architectural style that developed in Medieval Europe was the Gothic style. It evolved from Romanesque architecture. Originating in 12th-century France and lasting into the 16th century, Gothic architecture was known during the period as Opus Francigenum ("French work") with the term Gothic first appearing during the latter part of the Renaissance. The Gothic style, when applied to an ecclesiastical building, emphasizes verticality and light. Its characteristics include the pointed arch, the ribbed vault and the flying buttress. Other characteristics of early Gothic architecture, such as vertical shafts, clustered columns, compound piers, plate tracery and groups of narrow openings had evolved during the Romanesque period. The dominance of the Church over everyday life was expressed in grand spiritual designs which emphasized piety and sobriety. The Romanesque style was simple and austere. The Gothic style heightened the effect with heavenly spires, pointed arches and religious carvings.
Gothic architecture is most familiar as the architecture of many of the great cathedrals, abbeys and churches of Europe. It is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, guild halls, universities and to a less prominent extent, private dwellings.
While many secular buildings exist from the Late Middle Ages, it is in the buildings of cathedrals and great churches that Gothic architecture displays its pertinent structures and characteristics to the fullest advantage. A Gothic cathedral or abbey was, prior to the 20th century, generally the landmark building in its town, rising high above all the domestic structures and often surmounted by one or more towers and pinnacles and perhaps tall spires.[8][20] These cathedrals were the skyscrapers of that day and would have been the largest buildings by far that Europeans would ever have seen.
Rennaisance
The Renaissance began in Italy and spread through Europe, rebelling against the all-powerful Church, by placing Man at the centre of his world instead of God. The Gothic spires and pointed arches were replaced by classical domes and rounded arches, with comfortable spaces and entertaining details, in a celebration of humanity. The Baroque style was a florid development of this 200 years later, largely by the Catholic Church to restate its religious values.
Renaissance style places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts as they are demonstrated in the architecture of classical antiquity and in particular ancient Roman architecture, of which many examples remained. Orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aedicules replaced the more complex proportional systems and irregular profiles of medieval buildings. The obvious distinguishing features of Classical Roman architecture were adopted by Renaissance architects. However, the forms and purposes of buildings had changed over time, as had the structure of cities. Among the earliest buildings of the reborn Classicism were churches of a type that the Romans had never constructed. Neither were there models for the type of large city dwellings required by wealthy merchants of the 15th century. Conversely, there was no call for enormous sporting fixtures and public bath houses such as the Romans had built. The ancient orders were analyzed and reconstructed to serve new purposes.
Rennaisance
The Renaissance began in Italy and spread through Europe, rebelling against the all-powerful Church, by placing Man at the centre of his world instead of God. The Gothic spires and pointed arches were replaced by classical domes and rounded arches, with comfortable spaces and entertaining details, in a celebration of humanity. The Baroque style was a florid development of this 200 years later, largely by the Catholic Church to restate its religious values.
Renaissance style places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts as they are demonstrated in the architecture of classical antiquity and in particular ancient Roman architecture, of which many examples remained. Orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aedicules replaced the more complex proportional systems and irregular profiles of medieval buildings. The obvious distinguishing features of Classical Roman architecture were adopted by Renaissance architects. However, the forms and purposes of buildings had changed over time, as had the structure of cities. Among the earliest buildings of the reborn Classicism were churches of a type that the Romans had never constructed. Neither were there models for the type of large city dwellings required by wealthy merchants of the 15th century. Conversely, there was no call for enormous sporting fixtures and public bath houses such as the Romans had built. The ancient orders were analyzed and reconstructed to serve new purposes.
Darshan Sumant Chintamani is a PGP student at IIM Ahmedabad and a member of Finesse