The Americas

"It is not a deficit in terms of high-quality objects for inclusion, but it is a deficit in the sense that these items have not traditionally taken a prominent role in design histories."

The Americas was from 2000 B.C.-1521 A.D. The very first Americans were hunter-gathers. There were 4 different groups within this period: Olmecs, Mayans-Toltecs, Incas, and Aztecs. 

The Olmec culture was from 2000 B.C. to 200 B.C. This culture was the first major civilization in Mexico, but came to a unknown violent end. Within there existence, they were known for the first example of the temple that focused on city type. These areas included ceremony centers for: ball court and burial grounds. The outdoor ball courts were a important part of the ceremonial center. 

The Monte Alban, Ball Court 

The Aztecs were in Mexico and took place during the Spanish conquest, and could be considered apart of the post-classic groups. These individuals created impressive pyramids. What led to the Aztec culture was the existence of the city of Teotihuacan. In many ways, these two cultures were very similar and valued many of the same ideas. The Aztecs were both a cultural and a political entity. The capital for the Aztecs was Tenochtitlan: within Tenochtitlan was the temple Mayor. A rare, yet important piece of furniture within this culture was the Throne of Montezuma. 

The Mayans-Toltecs were in central America and the existence of this culture is centered around the remains of the Mayans previously. 

The central pyramid at Chichen-Itza, now known as El Castillo. 

The Jaguar Throne

The Mayans-Toltecs culture used furniture such as the Jaguar Throne, which was a mid-height seat, with no back arms or rest. "Its chief function is to provide visual impact, with little obvious attention to comfort", This piece of furniture was not intended to be used everyday but a seat for ceremonial use. 

The Inca culture was in Peru and can be dated to 1438-1532. This culture is known for its stone-masonry. I thought that it was interesting how they "used outcrops of rock of rock as a foundation of the structures they built". They put much thought into their architecture, which were usually rectilinear in shape and planning. 

Inca ruins of Machu Picchu

Learning and researching the history of the Americas period was very interesting to look at. 

Current Applications!

This imaged remembered of the call courts that were very prominent during the Americas period.

The use of stone in both of these interiors,  compared to the Inca culture and their use of stone.

Peer Reviews!

I reviewed Tara and Haley H. blog this week.

I enjoyed Tara's description of the Americas period and her current application, especially the wall paper one. Her current applications related much to the Americas period. 

I also reviewed Haleys' blog and it was great as well. Her description of the period was right on. I also enjoyed her current applications and her addition research on the Machu Picchu, with her video.

Video! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZHmtTCDIMY

I was really interested in the Inca cultures stone techniques, so I found an interesting video that explores the stone from the Inca culture. 

Gothic

"The word Gothic was widely used in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to refer to art that was specifically not Italian and not Renaissance." Gothic architecture is known for its use of flying buttresses, stained glass, and ribbed vaults. Gothic architecture is important because it was a whole architectural system that consists of plans, sections, facades, and other details. We see the use of these elements in many structures such as the Notre Dame de Paris, Wells Cathedral, Regensburg Cathedral, Barcelona Cathedral, and many other ones. Compared to the Romanesque design, the Gothic period was more elaborate and comfortable. The Gothic period interiors were carefully planned to affect individuals mood and spirit, in regards to religion.

 

 

I really enjoyed looking at the interiors of these spaces, the attention to detail that went into these interiors is breathe taking. When thinking of Gothic style, I thought it would be dark and used colors such as blacks and reds. I was completely surprised by what we learned in class. I really think that this period was a time that individuals placed an importance to details, I see this in many examples. I also think that it was interesting how they built their structures as a way to reach God.

Much of the Gothic periods furniture used the arch as an element of design. The Gothic periods furniture seems to resemble its architecture. The emphasis on height and sized played an important role in the design of many furniture pieces. A chair in this period took on many functions such as it was used as a seating element and also storage. The use of chairs in this period was rare, many individuals used benches, chests, or stools to sit on.

I really enjoyed learning about this period!

Current applications:

Video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYhOaQhV6QE

This video was very interesting and gave a overview of the Gothic period. He started talking about how the Gothic period came about and its history. He went though multiple topics from the Gothic period such as it architecture, art, and even the use of light throughout this period.

Peer Review!

This week I reviewed Miryam and Shannon's blog.

Miryam gave a great overview of the Gothic period as a whole. Her distribution was very easy and interesting to read, putting detail in what elements were important during this period. I really enjoyed how she described cathedrals design, "Cathedrals had an unbelievable weightless feel to them". I thought the same thing when learning about this period.

I also reviewed Shannon,s Blog, which was great as well. You can tell she put much thought into her current applications. You use the use of multiple elements of the Gothic period, throughout her images. I also enjoyed how she pointed out key characteristics in this period.

Islamic

Just as Romanesque design, Islamic design is also centered around religion. "Without Islam there is no Islamic design, and with Mohammed, there is no Islam". After learning about the Islamic period, I was truly intrigued by numerous structures throughout this time period. The creation of the mosque is seen throughout this period, the first one being, Mohammed's farm.

Another piece of architectural in this period was the Great Mosque of Kairouan. 

Islamic design and mosque began to spread throughout many regions. In Saharan and sub-Saharan Africa, Islam worked within he traditions of Africa. They used local materials and everything used to construct these structures came "from and return to the earth. The mosque created in Saharan were made of materials such as mud specially sun-dried mud bricks skim-coated with an outer layer of mud. A familiar location that we are all familiar with is Hagia Sophia in Anatolia. This mosque did not begin as one, but was later converted into one. In Persia "mosques accomplished a form of architectural appropriation of a different sort". One of the key aspects of the Islamic design in Isfahan was the "vertical architectural surfaces that resemble carpets".This made walls look carpet of the floor and floors like like walls. The Mughal Empire was another location that Islamic design is seen throughout, What makes this location different is the that standards for Islamic luxury design, was set in The Mughal Empire.

The minbar

Islamic Interiors and Furniture were focused on the mosque. Furniture pieces such as the minbar were essential for the mosque. The use of geometric designs is seen throughout Islamic interiors. 

Current Applications!

The use of the horseshoe arch is seen in this interior. 

The decoration on the walls of this interior reminds me of the concept of walls resembling floor carpet. 

This is an example of a modern day, interior of a mosque. 

Peer View!

I reviewed Miryam and Alexandra Blog on the Islamic period.

Miryam did a great job on her current application. Her images really showed Islamic design off well. After reviewing her blog, I noticed that we had an current application in common, which was interesting to see the similarities. 

Alexandra blog was great as well. She went into detail on the residential architecture in this period and showed how it was placed a certain way and reason behind it. 

Romanesque

A period that was considered to be based on Roman architectural elements, The Romanesque period was from 800-1150. Elements such as the Roman arch inspired much of this periods design. "KNown for its functions and general shift toward feudalism". Biocolored stone work was one of the Romanesque period dominant features. Other materials such as masonry was used, as well as colors such as rich greens, blues purples and golds. 

The Throne of Dagobert and the Charlemagne's throne were two popular pieces of furniture that led to the different designs seen throughout this period. Both of pieces of furniture were named after to figures of authority. The Throne of Dagobert was made out of metal, this chair was both ecclesiastical and secular. It was able to fold and very portable. By looking at this throne, in my opinion it seems to look very unconformable and I personal do not think I would be able to sit in it for a long period of time. Placed on a raised platform the Charlemagne's throne was because who sat in it. This chair was constructed of marble sheets. The original Charlemagne's throne is currently located in,one of the key structures of this time period the Odo von Metz, Palatine Chapel, Aix-la-Chapelle.

Romanesque church plans were a development of the Early Christian period. These structures followed closer around the form of the basilica with an apse. The difference of the structures constructed within this period was the transept. Adding this put much focus on the alter within the church. This new plan now resembles and took on the shape of a crucifix. The church throughout this period added many other parts that defined it as the church during the Romanesque period. There were three different categories that a Romanesque church could have fell into; Urban pilgrimage sites, sprawling rural monasteries, or a modest parish church. 

Houses during the Romanesque Period lacked privacy, and were simple in design. Furniture such as the chest had multiple purposes in the Romanesque period, they were used as both a chest in the home and also a piece of luggage. The chest was a very significant and useful piece of furniture, it is cool to see how functional furniture during this time period were.

Current Application!

Recently Shannon and I visited Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Before I even learned about the Romanesque period, this location screamed "Roman". This is a photo I took while walking into Caesars Palace. After learning about the Romanesque period I saw many key features that depicted this period, such as the tile work.

Video!

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/romanesque-architecture-characteristics-examples-history.html

This video I viewed was very cute and just gave belief description on the characteristics, examples, and history of the the Romanesque period!

Peer View!

I reviewed Paige S. and Alexandra F Blogs on the Romanesque Period.

I enjoyed how Paige focused much on the churches during this time period, and gave details on how many churches were constructed and the materials used within them. I also really enjoyed Paige current application of a church in Denmark, it was an excellent example!

Alexandra F. Blog was also very enjoyable to read and look through. She gave details on the churches, houses, and furniture of this period. I also liked how she compared the chest during that time to a modern application of a stationary storage piece. 

Byzantine Peer Review!

Haley H. gave an excellent and interesting description of the Byzantine period. She put lots of facts throughout her blog, that gave much details on this period. I was also intrigued by her modern application the use of arch and mosaic tiles was shown nicely.

I also reviewed Miryam's blog and thought that her current application images connected very well with the Byzantine period. I saw this through the use of mosaic tiles in her images. That's how I personally connected the Byzantine period to current applications, though its use of certain materials.

Byzantine

"The word Byzantine itself, in modern parlance, is sometimes used to connote confusion, difficulty in understanding, remoteness and mystery."

A continuation of the Early Christian period, The Byzantine period was from 330-1453 C.E. There was three major Byzantine cities: Constantinople, Venice, and Ravenna. The Constantinople was were the capital and administrative center was located. Venice was a "bustling and vibrant center of trade. The city of Revenna was were the seats of the emperor's interests in the West. 

San Vitale located in Ravenna. It was built as an attempt to prove that a centrally planned church, "if large enough, could hold a sizable congregation". 

As in many architectural places built during the Early Christian and Byzantine period, the numerous design elements is breathe taken when looking at the interiors of these structures. San Vitale is based off a centrally planned, and includes a cupola supported on a tall drum. Also there is a octagon. The mosaic throughout this space is amazing to look at as well. 

Another famous architectural monument during this time period was the Hagia Sophia. 

"The most visited museums are located between the Hagia Sophia; in terms of art and architectural history is one of the world's prominent monument is shown as the world's 8th wonder." 

I personal really find this space extremely interesting and wish that I could have seen how it looked before it got redesigned/converted into a mosque. It was considered the "world's largest cathedral" until 1520.  Since I was very interested in the Hagia Sophias after we learned about it in class , I did further research and found some really interesting facts.  

Vital Statistics:
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Completion Date: 537
Diameter: 102 feet
Type: Ribbed
Purpose: Religious
Materials: Concrete
Engineer(s): Anthemius of Tralles, Isidorus the Elder

Considered the finest example of Byzantine architecture in the world, the church of Hagia Sophia was constructed on a scale unprecedented in human history. Under the rule of Justinian the Emperor, and with a force of 10,000 workers, the dome atop the church of Hagia Sophia was built in record time: it took just five years, ten months, and four days to complete.

But when construction began, Anthemius found himself in a geometric fix. How would he build a circular dome atop a square base? Anthemius arrived at a revolutionary solution. He built four massive columns at the corner of each square. On top of the columns, he built four arches. He then filled the spaces between the arches with masonry to create curved triangular shapes called pendentives. The pendentives and the tops of the arches combine to form a strong base for the dome.

But it was the dome that made Hagia Sophia the most complex building of antiquity. The shallow dome was made from 40 equally spaced ribs. Forty windows were then set at the dome's base, creating the sensation that the dome actually floated over the church.

In 559 A.D., an earthquake tumbled the dome. It was rebuilt to a smaller scale, and the whole church was reinforced from the outside. After the Turkish conquest of Constantinople (1453), Hagia Sophia became a mosque, and the ornate interior mosaics were obscured by layers of plaster and painted ornament. Today, all plaster removed, Hagia Sophia is a museum of Byzantine Art.

- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/hagia_sophia.html


Furniture that was used during this period was similar to those seen in previous periods. The throne of Maximian was a high point of Byzantine furniture.

There was also the Medieval stool, and many other amazing pieces of furniture.

Current Applications!

The use of mosaic tile throughout these modern interiors reminded me of the Byzantine style throughout their period. 

Video!

This website includes multiple interesting videos of the architecture during the Byzantine Period.

http://12byzantinerulers.com/

Early Christian Peer Review!

I reviewed two excellent Blogs this week Katie K., and Sammy V.

Katie K.- I really enjoyed her description on the Early Christian period and she described the connection between the architecture and God. I also enjoyed her current applications, you can clearly see the connect to the Early Christian Period.

Sammy V.- Sammy's Blog really drew me in from just reading her history and how she talked about the Early Christian period. She was very detailed and used great images to depict this period.

Early Christian

I really enjoyed learning about the Early Christian period because I thought it was really cool how many of their structures during these time period were so connected to religion. I was able to relate to much of the information that went behind these creations.

"The decline of Rome and the Rise of Christ" was an important factor to look at when discussing  The Early Christian period, which was from 330-800. Although we see the decline of the Roman period, form and style continued on throughout Early Christian dress, paintings, sculpture, and furniture. Another element that was passed done from the Romans was two architectural forms: the straightforward basilica and the centrally planned domed space.

Centrally planned domed space

 

Straightforward Basilica

Many of the various elements that went into these structures were because they wanted to represent the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Early Christian started around Western Europe. This is important while we begin looking into the Byzantine period. Although the Early Christian period was located around Western Europe, we see Early Christian churches throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. 

Sant' Apollinare in Classe, Ravenna is an example of a Early Christian church. We talked and watched a video about this structure in class, and I was completely fascinating by this church. I would really like to go view this structure one day. 

There weren't many examples of furniture in the Early Christian period but we do see some pieces such as the throne and stool. Storage was the most important element in the Early Christian period. 

Still to today we see churches designed in similar ways as in the Early Christian period.

Current Applications.

We see the use of the inward shape in this modern church.

These two churches reminded me of the idea of the Centrally planned domed space.

When I was younger, I attended Catholic school (St.Sabina) and this is an image of the church we had Mass in every week. When we were studying the Early Christian period, I was able to compare this church to churches from the previous time period discussed.

Video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p17bBVA4EWA

This video is a great depiction of structures in the Early Christian period. It is detailed and displays the different parts, of the church.