2. Neoclassical Architecture
Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the neoclassical
movement that began in the mid-18th century. In its purest form it is a style
principally derived from the architecture of classical antiquity, the Vitruvian
principles, and the architecture of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio. In form,
Neoclassical architecture emphasizes the wall rather than chiaroscuro and maintains
separate identities to each of its parts. The style is manifested both in its details as a
reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural
formulae as an outgrowth of some classical features of Late Baroque. Neoclassical
architecture is still designed today, but may be labelled New Classical Architecture
for contemporary buildings. *Chiaroscuro is an Italian artistic term used to describe
the dramatic effect of contrasting areas of light and dark in an artwork, particularly
paintings.
3. Types of Neoclassical Architecture
Temple style building design was based on an
ancient temple. These buildings were
uncommon during the Renaissance as architects
of that period focused mainly on applying
classical elements to churches and modern
buildings like palazzos and villas. Many
temple style buildings feature a peristyle (a
continuous line of columns around a building),
a rare feature of Renaissance architecture.
4. Most famous Temple Style buildings of the
Neoclassical age:
La Madeleine de Paris
Pantheon, Paris
British Museum, London
5. Palladian Style
Palladian buildings were based on Andrea Palladio’s style of villa
construction. Some of the buildings feature a balastrude which is a railing with
vertical supports along the edge of the roof. There are vertical supports within
a balastrude known as “balusters” or “spindles”. It is also a classical method
of crowning a building that has a flat or low lying roof. One of the famous
architects in the era was:
Robert Adam (1728-1792) Britain
He was known as the Palladian architect of the Neoclassical who designed
two well-known American civic buildings- The White House and the United
States Capitol. He had also designed many country houses.
6. These mansions below illustrates that while Palladian architecture
shares certain basic features (derived from the villas of Palladio), it
takes diverse forms.
United States Capitol White House
7. Classical Block Style
The building features a rectangular or square plan, with a flat roof
and an exterior rich in classical detail. The exterior features a repeated
classical pattern or series of arches and/or columns. The overall
impression of such a building was a huge, classically-decorated
rectangular block.
Classical block aesthetic was also know as “ Beaux-Arts style,” since
it was developed principally by the French Ecole des Beaux-Arts
(School of Fine Arts). Classical block architecture also flourished in
the United States, particularly in New York.
8. Famous Architects of this architectural style
were:
A french architect from the famous École des Beaux-Arts
school of architecture. Born in Paris, Labrouste was one of five
children of fr:François-Marie-Alexandre Labrouste (in French),
Library of Sainte-
Genevieve
Henri Labrouste
a lawyer and politician from
Bordeaux and Anne-Dominique
Gourg (1764-1851), daughter and
granddaughter of cognac
merchants. His masterpiece is the
Library of Sainte-Genevieve.
9. PALAIS garnier “paris
opera house”
Charles Garnier was born Jean-Louis Charles Garnier on 6 November
1825 in Paris, on the Rue Mouffetard, in the present-day 5th
arrondissement. His father was originally from Sarthe, and had worked
as a blacksmith, wheelwright, and coachbuilder before settling down
in Paris to work in a horse-drawn
carriage rental business. He married
Felicia Colle, daughter of a captain in the
French Army. Garnier became an
apprentice of Louis-Hippolyte Lebas,
and after that a full-time student of the
École royale des Beaux-Arts de Paris,
beginning during 1842. He designed the
most famous classical block of all which
is the Palais Garnier (a Neobaroque
opera house).
Charles Garnier
10. Other buildings in classical block style:
New York public by: Carrere
& Hastings Architectural firm,
1895
Boston public library by:
Charles follen mckim, 1895
