The Renaissance Period

• The renaissance period started first in Italy , France and England.

• Renaissance means rebirth that is renewed interest in classical Greek
and roman cultures.
• This movement was inspired by classical antiquity that is old structures.
• It was characterized by artists, town planners, musicians, all in quest for
ideal.
• There was a search for symmetry, refinement, proportion and harmony.
RENNAISANCE IN ITALY– ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

• The renaissance movement proved

successful in creating interest in
allied field of architecture , like civic
design and landscaping.
• In Architecture it mainly produced
compositional techniques like –
• A) RUSTICATED MASONRY- A
method of forming stonework with
roughened surface and recessed
joints.
• B) BALUSTRADE RAILING- That is
series of pillars or columns
supporting handrail or coping
• C) PERISTYLAR HIGH DRUMS FOR
DOMES.
 SPECIAL FEATURES
• In terms of planning, form and construction renaissance is compared
to Gothic as follows-

• PLANNING-
• Gothic was structural style while the renaissance was a purely
aesthetic style.
• During renaissance axially symmetrical planning superseded
functional asymmetrical planning of gothic style. Further symmetry
about all the axes gave rise to the concept of centralized planning in
churches.
• Broad and few structural bays were preferred to narrow, oblong
numerous structural bays of gothic times.
• FORM-
• The spiky skylines of the gothic times was replaced by the smoother and
horizontal skyline occasionally focalized by dome. The overall stress was on
horizontality In keeping with classical traditions.
• Facades were rectilinear having right angled corners. Obtuse and acute
angles were strictly avoided.
• Overall emphasis was on square , rectangular and circular forms.
• Fresco paintings replaced replaced the glazed traceries of gothic period. As
a result the windows ceased to be prime elevational feature of the buildings
and therefore reduced in number.
• During renaissance there was profuse use of orders like TUSCAN , DORIC ,
IONIC , CORINTHIAN AND COMPOSITE.
• Columns were also placed in couples both for structural and decorative
purpose.
• LARGED SIZED STONE were used to
dignify structures.
• Pointed arches were replaced by Renaissance in Italy
semicircular arches.
• The openings were richly molded.
• The plans were quite symmetrical.
• All the openings were spanned by
semicircular arches.
• The doorways were not proportional to
human scale.
• Windows were small and were divided
into vertical mullions and horizontal
transoms.
• No painted glass were used.
• Buildings were arranged symmetrically,
churches were square in plan covered
with barrel and cross vaulting without ribs
over the large central dome.
• Towers were rarely used.
• EXAMPLES- St.Peter’s Rome , Palazzo
Riccardi, Florence , Palazzo Strozzi,
Florence.
 RENAISSANCE IN FRANCE
• The character of renaissance buildings in
France were deeply overshadowed by
strong gothic tradition.
• The overall production was more claimed
by secular than religious work.
• CHEATER & PALACES were the
buildings mostly planned in carpel manner
and also absorbed a general stress on
verticality treatment from gothic tradition.
• The buildings were symmetrically aligned
in contrast to gothic tradition.
• The column orders were used in
combination denoting story of building
deriving from Roman precedent of
colosseum.
• There was picturesqueness and verticality
in architecture and early buildings were
chateaux for nobles.
 • EARLY PERIOD- 1500-1600
• Combination of gothic and renaissance.
Periods in French • Renaissance details were grafted to
renaissance gothic features like buttresses and
pinnacles.
• Examples– Sebesterio Sertia, Iran
Bullant, Philibertla Dome

• CLASSICAL PERIOD- 1600-1750

• notable period for the dignity, and
masculine quality of buildings.
• Buildings were in combination of stone, or
stucco for quoins and dressings.
• Central framed ornaments or niches were
in filled with patterned brick work.
• Windows were increasingly large . Stone
mullions and transoms were replaced by
wood.
• Roofs were steep , unified pitched or flat
roofs were constructed.
• Furniture and fittings were also
ornamented.
• Examples- Jaque Lamerius, pies de mirel,
francois mossort.
• LATE PERIOD—
• Exterior façade became more simplex whereas interiors became heavy.
• Forms were decent , classical grandeur, domestic planning and interior
design.
• Buildings were interlocked in compact arrangements circular, oval, polygons
to compress and produce diverting visual effects.
• Less classically pure orders were replaced by pilaster chain of rustication.
• Windows were larger and were major part of the wall.
• Examples- Dome of invalidis, Pantheon, Cheatue de Chambord.
 CHATEAU-DE-CHAMBORD
• Designed by Italian architect Domenico Da
Cortona and modified by french masons.
• Semi-fortified in character & plan reminiscent
of medieval ‘concentric’ castle.
• There were two rectangles, one inside the
other.
• Façade of the smaller on the same line as that
of the outer court, thus it protects on the three
sides, 4th side protected by moat.
• Built up of in a cage of stone crowned with
storied lantern –central feature of the exterior.
• Many gothic features along with renaissance
are detailed.
• Vertical gothic effect- Wall pilasters with
unique carved capitals, angle towers with
domes, conical roofs.
• High pitched roof with ornate dormers, lofty
chimneys and variegated skyline.
 Some important features
• PIANO NOBILE-
• The principle floor of a Italian palace, raised
one floor above ground floor containing the
principle social apartment.
• PARAPET-
• The portion of the wall above the roof gutter
sometimes battlemented, also applied to the
same features, rising high is balconies,
platforms and bridges.
• NAVE-
• The western limb of a church as opposed to
the longer choir, also the central aisle of the
Bascillican, Medieval or Renaissance church,
as opposed to the aisles.
• PILLASTERS-
• A rectangular feature in the shape of a pillar
but projecting only about on sixty of its breadth
from a wall and the same design as the order
with which it is used.
• CORNICE-
• In classical or renaissance architecture, the crowning or upper
portion of the entablature also used for any crowning projections.
• CORBELL-
• A block of stone often elaborately carved or molded.
• Projecting from the wall, supporting the beams of roof, floor, vault etc.
• PALAZZO-
• These are palace buildings.
• The have open to sky courtyard surrounded by rooms and façade
had plain horizontal windows.
 ENGLISH RENAISSANCE
• English renaissance is divided into-

• Early Renaissance-
• 1) Elizabethan- Under the reign of queen Elizabeth.
• This was communal and artistic century .Various workers, craftsmen,
artisans from neighborhood came to give their best.
• For the mansions new construction of towers, gables, balusters, chimney
stacks were done. Same style implied to the furniture and decoration.
• Decorative gateways, pavilions, formal gardens, central fountains.
• JACOBEAN-
• James first inherited Elizabethan tradition but roman literature and models
became better known.
• Subtle change, sober regularity in colossal column, entablature replaced the
irregularity in the Elizabeth architecture. But the main liner remained the
same.
• LATE RENAISSANCE-
• 1) Stuart architecture-
• There are two phases dominated by Inigo Jones and C. Wren. First
influenced the architecture followed by Jacobean style.
• Designers were working masters of respective classes, various classes of
workers, carpenters, masons, brick worker etc.
• Master brick layer with stone dressing popular stone and brick mullions
were replaced by wooden windows.
• GEORGIAN RENAISSANCE-
• Greek revival and formative stage of gothic revival because of published
work confusion created the more recent work superficially imposed on those
of longer standing twisted columns.
• Designer mason John Jackson.
• Churches for congregational worshippers were erected because of lacking
trancepts, galleries inside axial w tower, bell tower.

• EXAMPLE- St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.

 ST. PAUL’S CATHREDRAL , LONDON

• Site of medieval cathedral was destroyed in the great fire.

• The design was Greek cross in plan with projecting vestibules but the
clergies' desired a long nave and choir for the rituals.
• DESIGN OF THE CATHEDRAL--- Greek cross in plan with projecting
vestibules but the clergies desired a long nave and choir for the rituals.
• The plan was converted in a Latin cross
• Interior length 141 m including apse, breadth was including aisles.
• Nave at the crossings had great central space for congregations crowned by
a painted dome.
• Choir and nave in 3 bays.
• DESIGN OF THE CATHEDRAL--- Greek cross in plan with
projecting vestibules but the clergies desired a long nave and
choir for the rituals.
• The plan was converted in a Latin cross
• Interior length 141 m including apse, breadth was including
aisles.
• Nave at the crossings had great central space for congregations
crowned by a painted dome.
• Choir and nave in 3 bays.
• Corinthian pilasters used to support an the aisle roof.
 Dome

• Triple construction—
• Inner dome of brick is 65.3m above the floor,
• Intermediate conical dome 18 inch thick is strengthen by a double
chain of iron, supports the stone lantern ball and cross.
• Outer dome rests on this intermediate cone formed of timber
covered with lead.
• 8 openings on the outer dome to admit light into the inner dome.
exterior
• Exteriors were
effectively grouped
with prominent
central dome.
• Facades have 2
orders.
• Lower one is
Corinthian and upper
one is composite.
 aisles
• Aisles are one storey high, part above them is screened
wall to give dignity and act as a counter weight to the
flying buttresses concealed behind it
• Flying buttresses receive the thrust of nave vault.
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