2. Context Post RenaissanceContext Post Renaissance
Baroque Era - beginning 1600 A.D.Baroque Era - beginning 1600 A.D.
Neo Classicism / 1750 – 1900Neo Classicism / 1750 – 1900
French Academic TraditionFrench Academic Tradition
Decline of NeoclassicismDecline of Neoclassicism
Nineteenth Century ConceptsNineteenth Century Concepts
Gothic Revival - Structural RationalismGothic Revival - Structural Rationalism
The industrial revolutionThe industrial revolution
3. BaroqueBaroque
The Architects of the Baroque Era wereThe Architects of the Baroque Era were
intent on extending the horizon of theirintent on extending the horizon of their
sources of inspiration beyond thesources of inspiration beyond the
Classical, and sought artistic freedom.Classical, and sought artistic freedom.
new emphasis was placed on boldnew emphasis was placed on bold
massing, colonnades, domes, light-and-massing, colonnades, domes, light-and-
shade (shade (chiaroscurochiaroscuro), 'painterly' color), 'painterly' color
effects, and the bold play of volume andeffects, and the bold play of volume and
void.void.
5. As an assault on orthodox RenaissanceAs an assault on orthodox Renaissance
conventions, Baroque Architecture alsoconventions, Baroque Architecture also
tended toward what was in many respectstended toward what was in many respects
a stricter geometrical and scientifica stricter geometrical and scientific
determinism - experimentation with formdeterminism - experimentation with form
and a greater emphasis on a geometricand a greater emphasis on a geometric
approach to design.approach to design.
6. Church of St.Mary, VeniceChurch of St.Mary, Venice
Salzburg CathedralSalzburg Cathedral
8. Neoclassical architecture andNeoclassical architecture and
the influence of antiquitythe influence of antiquity
In architecture, neoclassicism was the dominantIn architecture, neoclassicism was the dominant
style in Europe during 1750s-1850s, marked bystyle in Europe during 1750s-1850s, marked by
the imitation of Greco-Roman forms. Classicalthe imitation of Greco-Roman forms. Classical
architectural models were adapted or referencedarchitectural models were adapted or referenced
in a range of architectural forms, includingin a range of architectural forms, including
churches, arches, temple, house, terraces,churches, arches, temple, house, terraces,
garden monuments and interior designs. Later,garden monuments and interior designs. Later,
Neoclassical architecture became anNeoclassical architecture became an
international style, each country held someinternational style, each country held some
distinct characteristic in their style.distinct characteristic in their style.
10. Neoclassical, or "new" classical, architectureNeoclassical, or "new" classical, architecture
describes buildings that are inspired by thedescribes buildings that are inspired by the
classical architecture of ancient Greece andclassical architecture of ancient Greece and
Rome.Rome.
The over-elaboration of architectural language inThe over-elaboration of architectural language in
the Baroque era led to the search by architectsthe Baroque era led to the search by architects
for a true style through a precise re-appraisal offor a true style through a precise re-appraisal of
Classical Design Tenets. Their motivation wasClassical Design Tenets. Their motivation was
not simply to copy the ancients but to obey thenot simply to copy the ancients but to obey the
principles on which their work had been based.principles on which their work had been based.
11. Ancient Greek Architecture was studiedAncient Greek Architecture was studied
and emulated in terms of the qualities likeand emulated in terms of the qualities like
Harmony, Proportion, Rationality, Balance,Harmony, Proportion, Rationality, Balance,
etc.etc.
This was more than a revival, it was anThis was more than a revival, it was an
argument for a return to rational structuralargument for a return to rational structural
principles and their expression in buildingsprinciples and their expression in buildings
12. many of the first generation of neoclassical architectsmany of the first generation of neoclassical architects
received training in the classic French tradition through areceived training in the classic French tradition through a
series of exhaustive and practical lectures that wasseries of exhaustive and practical lectures that was
offered for decades by Jacques-François Blondeloffered for decades by Jacques-François Blondel
Zwinger Palace in DresdenZwinger Palace in Dresden
13. Neo Classicism / PalladianismNeo Classicism / Palladianism
Last phase of the Renaissance, when Ancient GreekLast phase of the Renaissance, when Ancient Greek
Architecture was studied and emulated in terms of the qualitiesArchitecture was studied and emulated in terms of the qualities
like Harmony, Proportion, Rationality, Balance, etc.like Harmony, Proportion, Rationality, Balance, etc.
The architecture of Neo-Classicism emerged out of twoThe architecture of Neo-Classicism emerged out of two
different but related developments which radically transformeddifferent but related developments which radically transformed
the relationship between man and nature.the relationship between man and nature.
A sudden increase in man’s capacity to control nature due to technicalA sudden increase in man’s capacity to control nature due to technical
advances of the Industrial Revolutionadvances of the Industrial Revolution
A fundamental shift in the nature of human consciousness, in responseA fundamental shift in the nature of human consciousness, in response
to major changes taking place in society, resulting in a new culturalto major changes taking place in society, resulting in a new cultural
formation that was equally appropriate to the life styles of the decliningformation that was equally appropriate to the life styles of the declining
aristocracy and the rising bourgeoisie.aristocracy and the rising bourgeoisie.
Neo Classicism was more than a revival; it was an argument forNeo Classicism was more than a revival; it was an argument for
a return to rational structural principles and their expression ina return to rational structural principles and their expression in
buildingsbuildings
14. Fanueil HallFanueil Hall
The Capitol, WashingtonD.CThe Capitol, WashingtonD.C..
American ExamplesAmerican Examples
15. Low Library, New YorkLow Library, New York
Massachusetts State HouseMassachusetts State House
Mount Vernon, VirginiaMount Vernon, Virginia
16. French Academic TraditionFrench Academic Tradition
Chiefly articulated byChiefly articulated by
Jacques Francois BlondelJacques Francois Blondel
Claude PerraultClaude Perrault
The founding of the Royal Academy ofThe founding of the Royal Academy of
Architecture in Paris in 1671 can be taken as theArchitecture in Paris in 1671 can be taken as the
starting point of modern European theory andstarting point of modern European theory and
practice. The purpose of the Academy was topractice. The purpose of the Academy was to
codify the principles of Classical Design and tocodify the principles of Classical Design and to
espouse them in practice.espouse them in practice.
Symbolically, the new academy represented, inSymbolically, the new academy represented, in
line with the political and cultural ascendancy ofline with the political and cultural ascendancy of
France, a declaration of independence from theFrance, a declaration of independence from the
Renaissance tradition.Renaissance tradition.
18. In response to the perceived architecturalIn response to the perceived architectural
excesses of the baroque period, theexcesses of the baroque period, the
academy’s foundation reflected theacademy’s foundation reflected the
tendency to provide a nationallytendency to provide a nationally
sanctioned forum for the consolidation andsanctioned forum for the consolidation and
rational reinterpretation of traditionalrational reinterpretation of traditional
conventions.conventions.
The question of whether contemporaryThe question of whether contemporary
culture could match or even exceedculture could match or even exceed
classical accomplishments led to the re-classical accomplishments led to the re-
evaluation of Vitruvius and Renaissanceevaluation of Vitruvius and Renaissance
theory.theory.
19. French Academic TheoryFrench Academic Theory
The theoretical developments that attended theThe theoretical developments that attended the
emergence of Neo-Classicism in France were chieflyemergence of Neo-Classicism in France were chiefly
articulated by Perrault & Blondel.articulated by Perrault & Blondel.
Claude Perrault questioned the validity of the ClassicalClaude Perrault questioned the validity of the Classical
Vitruvian proportions to his time.Vitruvian proportions to his time.
Instead, he elaborated his thesis of positive beauty andInstead, he elaborated his thesis of positive beauty and
arbitrary beauty, giving to the former the normative rolearbitrary beauty, giving to the former the normative role
of standardization and perfection and to the latter suchof standardization and perfection and to the latter such
expressive function as may be required by a particularexpressive function as may be required by a particular
circumstance or character.circumstance or character.
Jacques – Francois Blondel, after opening hisJacques – Francois Blondel, after opening his
architectural school in Rue de la Harpe in 1743 becamearchitectural school in Rue de la Harpe in 1743 became
the master of a ‘visionary’ generation of architectsthe master of a ‘visionary’ generation of architects
Blondel’s preoccupation was an appropriateBlondel’s preoccupation was an appropriate
physiognomy to accord with the varying social characterphysiognomy to accord with the varying social character
of different building types.of different building types.
20. Jean Baptiste RondeletJean Baptiste Rondelet
French theory took a new direction in theFrench theory took a new direction in the
nineteenth century when Jean Baptiste Rondelet,nineteenth century when Jean Baptiste Rondelet,
famed for saving the collapsing church of Ste.famed for saving the collapsing church of Ste.
Genevieve in Paris (now the Pantheon) publishedGenevieve in Paris (now the Pantheon) published
his volume ‘Traite theorique et pratique de l’art dehis volume ‘Traite theorique et pratique de l’art de
batir’, a work that is remarkable simply because itbatir’, a work that is remarkable simply because it
contains almost no theoretical discussion.contains almost no theoretical discussion.
Rondelet was one of the first modern architects toRondelet was one of the first modern architects to
argue that the art of building should emulate theargue that the art of building should emulate the
science of engineering, that was based on thescience of engineering, that was based on the
principles of mathematics and physics.principles of mathematics and physics.
21. Jean Nicolas Louis DurandJean Nicolas Louis Durand
Jean Nicolas Louis Durand taught a course onJean Nicolas Louis Durand taught a course on
architecture at the Ecole Polytechnique whicharchitecture at the Ecole Polytechnique which
was without academic precedent. The classicalwas without academic precedent. The classical
Orders, he argued, were not the essence ofOrders, he argued, were not the essence of
architecture; rules for proportion should bearchitecture; rules for proportion should be
derived from the nature of the material and itsderived from the nature of the material and its
use. Convenience, rather than beauty, was theuse. Convenience, rather than beauty, was the
reason for making architecture, thus thereason for making architecture, thus the
architect had two problems to solve : how toarchitect had two problems to solve : how to
design and build a private building with thedesign and build a private building with the
greatest convenience within a given budget; andgreatest convenience within a given budget; and
how to design and build a public edifice with thehow to design and build a public edifice with the
greatest possible economy.greatest possible economy.
22. Durand sought to establish a universal buildingDurand sought to establish a universal building
method by the application of a normativemethod by the application of a normative
building typology with which economic andbuilding typology with which economic and
appropriate structures could be created throughappropriate structures could be created through
the modular permutation of fixed plan types andthe modular permutation of fixed plan types and
alternative elevations- an interchangeablealternative elevations- an interchangeable
typology of compositional parts that could betypology of compositional parts that could be
assembled or organized in variousassembled or organized in various
combinations.combinations.
Durand’s compositional methodology proved toDurand’s compositional methodology proved to
be enormously influential throughout Europe,be enormously influential throughout Europe,
especially in Germany. Economic factors, suchespecially in Germany. Economic factors, such
as the injunction that maximum floor area beas the injunction that maximum floor area be
obtained with minimum perimeter construction,obtained with minimum perimeter construction,
became the overriding criteria of design.became the overriding criteria of design.
23. Decline of NeoclassicismDecline of Neoclassicism
During the second half of the 18th century theDuring the second half of the 18th century the
the interaction of a number of a number ofthe interaction of a number of a number of
unprecedented technical developments andunprecedented technical developments and
socio-economic forces gave rise to a newsocio-economic forces gave rise to a new
context. In the space of a century the finite citycontext. In the space of a century the finite city
was totally transformed.was totally transformed.
The rapid decline of Neoclassicism was due to aThe rapid decline of Neoclassicism was due to a
progressive functionalism propelled byprogressive functionalism propelled by
technological developments of fireprooftechnological developments of fireproof
construction, gas lighting, central heat andconstruction, gas lighting, central heat and
ventilation, and exposed cast-iron structure.ventilation, and exposed cast-iron structure.
