Arch 231 - Renaissance Architecture

6/20/2021
Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
LECTURE 18, 19, 20

RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE (15 th -19th C )
Dr Catherine Daisy Gomes, Professor, Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, April 2021
Renaissance In Europe Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
Period Time Location

Early Christian period 313-800 AD Italy, France, England, Germany
Byzantine period 330-1453AD Eastern Europe (Constantinople, Syria, Armenia )
Romanesque period 9th –12th C Western Europe
Gothic period 12th –16th C Western Europe
Renaissance period 15th –19th C Western Europe
Originated in Italy then spread to Germany, France ,Belgium.
Created a break in the continuous evolution of European architecture

from early Christian to Gothic .
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Reasons for the renaissance –rebirth

• Invention of gunpowder
• Mariner’s compass [1492-Columbus/1498-Vasco-da-Gama/1487-Diaz]
• Printing by movable typewriter- Gutenberg first used in 1450 which helped to spread knowledge and consequently
brought change in the thought and created a spirit of enquiry .Led martin Luther King and others (1483-1546)to
break away from the Roman Church influence.
Humanism in Renaissance
• Literally means devotion to human interest.

• A philosophy that believes in mankind’s ability to achieve happiness and fulfillment without the need for religion.
• Love of beauty and humanity becomes the substitute for supernatural beliefs of the Middle Age.
• In mediaeval period man was not important individually, individual was submerged in the community /church. In
Renaissance individual emerged from the impersonal social order and claims the right to express his ideas in his
own way.
Salient features of Renaissance Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
 Employment of classical orders

[Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan etc]_ standardized by Palladio, Vignola.
Orders were used:
• rationally - performing structural works,
• decoratively - for ornamentation only
 Renaissance was not an outcome of structural method, but a decorative

system derived from ancient source- open to personal interpretation .
Architecture was art of forms rather than art of construction.
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 Used domes raised on high drum above pendentives to accommodate

windows to bring in light and also for decoration with peristyle to appear
grand.
 Domes were of double layers ,inner one semicircular and outer one
pointed and high crowned with a lantern.
 Instead of Gothic Ribbed vaulting, Roman cross vault and barrel vault
were used.
 Instead of pointed arch semicircular arches were used.
Location: Florence Location: Rome Location: Rome

• Brunelleschi (1377-1446) • Bramante (1444-1514) • Bernini
• Michelozzo Michelozzi (1396-1472) • Michelangelo(1475-1564)
• Alberti( 1404-72) • Palladio (1508-80) • Carlo Maderna
Early Renaissance High Renaissance and Baroque

Proto-Baroque
1420 1500 1600 1760
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Early Renaissance
• A type of palace buildings evolved with rusticated masonry-

giving massive and rugged appearance.
ex. The Palazzo Ricardi, Florence (1444-60)
-- By Michelozzo Michelozzi
• Typical Palace was built around an internal court or Cortile

,surrounded by an arcade supporting the walls of the upper
stories.
• Absence of pillars – called Astylar---- as decorative façade.
• Boldly projecting roof cornice – which crowned the walls

and are proportionate to the buildings [ 1/8 th of height ]
• Columnar arcade with medallions became a decorative

feature.
Early Renaissance
1420 Location: Florence

1500
• Brunelleschi (1377-1446)
Works:
• Dome of Florence Cathedral(1420-34)
• Foundling Hospital,Florence(1421-45)
• Pazzi Chapel, Florence (1429-46)
• Michelozzo Michelozzi (1396-1472)

Work:
• The Palazzo Ricardi, Florence(1444-60)
• Alberti( 1404-72)
Works
• S. Maria Novella, Florence
• Pallazo Rucelli, Florence(1446-51)
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Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)
Entered the competition among the sculptors in 1401 for the

bronze door of baptistery of Florence Cathedral , where Lorenzo
Ghiberti was successful and executed the door between 1403-
1424. Brunelleschi left for Rome to study classical Architecture.
Returning from Rome to Florence his career as an architect began
in 1418. Most of his works were completed after his death.
Works:
• Dome of Florence Cathedral(1420-34)
• Foundling Hospital,Florence(1421-45)
• Pazzi Chapel, Florence (1429-46)
Dome of Florence Cathedral(1420-34 )
On 138’6’’ octagonal base 180’ above ground. Introduced Hoop-

tie Principal to prevent the outward thrust of the dome without
buttress. The hoops are made of timber pieces joined by iron,
binding the base of the dome.

Foundling hospital (1421-45)
First of the renaissance style. Famous for arcaded loggia( comunicating passage or wide corridor). Corinthian
columns supporting the semicircular arches with glazed terracotta medallions in the spandrel.
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Pazzi Chapel (1429-46) Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
An architectural gem which inspired many

later buildings.
Plan:
Rectangular in plan 59’9”X 35’8”
Central area is covered by a dome on

pendentives flanked by barrel vault with
coffered rosette decoration –
barrel vault - classical Roman
Dome on pendentive- Byzantine
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Michelozzo Michelozzi (1396-1472)
The Palazzo Ricardi, Florence(1444-60)

Rooms are arranged about a cortile.
Rusticated stone work
Astylar treatment
Bold projecting cornice creating
horizontality.
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Leon Batista Alberti( 1404-72)
Wrote first architectural book “De Re aedificatoria” meaning

Concerning building, printed in 1486.
Style: applied pilaster to create “stylar “ treatment and rhythmic
effect.
Work:
S. Maria Novella, Florence: A gothic church external treated
by Alberti. Flanking scrolls were used to connect aisles and
nave into one composition.
Pallazo Rucelli, Florence(1446-51)- first building in
renaissance with rusticated stone work.
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High Renaissance Architecture

Lecture 19
Location: Florence Location: Rome Location: Rome

• Brunelleschi (1377-1446) • Bramante (1444-1514) • Bernini
• Michelozzo Michelozzi (1396-1472) • Michelangelo(1475-1564)
• Alberti( 1404-72) • Palladio (1508-80) • Carlo Maderna
Early Renaissance High Renaissance Baroque

1420 1500 and Proto-Baroque 1600 1760
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General Characteristics
• Used classical orders in tiers on facades. Afterwards using Giant orders extending the whole building became the style.
• Church plans followed centralized plan like the Byzantines.
• Generally Astylar Plans became symmetrical with use of axis, staircase and often pure forms like ellipse, circle were
used in landscape.
• Civic buildings public open spaces were created in the city.
• Monummental, formal expression of layout.
• Architects:
Bramante (1444-1514)
Michelangelo(1475-1564)
Palladio (1508-80)
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Donato Bramante (1444-1514)

Rome’s first outstanding Architect of Renaissance.
Born in Urbino (near Florence)-Began as a Painter from 1467-72
.
Works:
S.Maria delle Grazie,Milan:
15 th C church to which Bramante added the choir, transepts and

crossing, covered by a dome of 65’-0” dia, concealed externally by
a 16-sided galleried cupola with sloping roof and lantern.
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The Tempietto at S.Pietro, in Montorio, Rome(1502-10):

Erected to mark the spot where St.Peter was Martyred.
A perfect architectural gem by Bramante- resembling a small roman
circular temple.
29’ outside and 15’ inside diameter surrounded by doric peristyle.
Behind the peristyle rises the drum pierced with windows and dome
above it.
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Antonio da Sangallo(1485-1546)
Assistant of Bramante-for a time

Work: The Pallazo Farnese, Rome
Was built for Alessandro Farnese (1517).In the

field of domestic architecture the Farnese palace
illustrates certain features of high Renaissance
style.
Plan: Rectangular ,symmetrically arranged on
axial lines with main entrance ,vestibules and
side colonnades. The central court/cortile is 81’0”
square and surrounded by arcades.
The front facade is Astylar without any break 185’
0” long and 96’6”high in 3 stories of nearly equal
height of Brick ,covered with stucco.
The ground story has a central entrance flanked
by windows.
The first floor has a pedimented windows
alternately triangular and semicircular carried on
pillars—a regular characteristics of this time.
Top story ,added by Michelangelo, has windows
with columns on brackets, surmounted by
triangular pediments.
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Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola(1507-73)
Worked in Rome,France
Author of The Five Orders of Architecture published in 1562
Works:
The Palazzo Farnese ,Caprarola(1547-9)
Pentagonal form,
situated on a mountain.
each side 150’ long ,
paired steps and staircases of varied patterns.
Circular cortile of 65’ diameter.
The grand layout with entrance portal, circular ramp, stairs
and moat makes a symmetrical and monumental group.
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Michelangelo(1475-1564) Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
World famous Florentine sculptor and painter, architect.

Mannerist or proto-Baroque leader.
• re discovery of stucco
• Love for ornamentation
• Sculpturesque quality
• Vivid (vibrant)and restless.
Works:
Paintings : Painting on the ceiling of Sistine
chapel(1508-1512)
Sculpture : The David, Bound Slave
Architecture :The Capitol ,Rome , S. Peter’s , Rome
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St. Peter’s , Rome Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
Outcome of many architects over 120 years.

• 1505- Pope Julius II demolished the old Basilican church of
St. Peter. Bramante’s Greek cross plan was selected in
the competition.
• 1513-After the death of Pope Julius II ,Bramante’s work
was superseded by Raphael who proposed a Latin cross
plan.
• 1520- after Raphael’s death Baldassare Prozzi reverted to
the greek cross plan.
• 1536 - after Prozzi ’s death Sangallo participated in the
process
• 1546- ten years later Michelangelo participated.Reverted to
the greek cross plan, Strengthened the piers of the dome.
Redesigned the surrounding chapels and
apses. Dome was designed by him, only the
drum was constucted before his death.
rest was done by Giocomo della Porta and
Dominico Fontana from Michelangelo’s
drawings of the dome.
• 1564- Vignola added the side chapels.
• 1606-12- Carlo Maderna lengthened the nave and added
the gigantic façade.
• 1655-67-Bernini added the entrance plaza.
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Plan:
A Latin cross plan with
an internal length of 600’-0”and
width across the transept 450’- 0”
Total external length 700’ 0”
The nave is 84’ 0” wide and consists of
four immense bays. Nave is flanked by
great piers (83’-6” high and 20’ 0” high
entablature surmounted by a barrel vault
,coffered, gilded and frescoed, 150’0”
above the marbel pavement.
The crossing is covered by a majestic
dome 137’-6” dia(internal). Dome is
335’0” high decorated with coloured
frescoes and mosaic. Dome is formed of
two layers with a lantern (23’ 0”dia).More
than 10 iron chains are inserted at
different times to prevent the dome from
spreading (Hoop-tie_principle)
while the short transepts and sanctuary
are terminated by semicircular apses.
The exterior has a giant order of
Corinthian pilasters round the entire
building.
Giant order of double storey was used .
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The Capitol, Rome

Known as the Campidoglio-on the
Capitoline Hill.
Michelangelo’s successful civic work.
Composed of three buildings
• Palaza del Senatore
• Palazzo del Conservatory
• The Capitoline Museum
He remodeled
 the symmetrical lines and
approaches to the plaza.
 Designed the great palace facades
on three sides.
 The approach stair way.
 The monumental double flight of
steps
 The statue of Marcus Aurelius.
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Andrea Palladio Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka
Born in Padua. At first trained as a

mason. He twice moved to Rome to
study ancient remains, which led to the
publication of his famous book’ Quatto
Libri dell Architecttura (Four Books of
Architecture) published in 17th & 18th C.
Of Purist school
-logical/geometrical/bold/simple
Forms-geometry based pure forms,
simplicity, rhythm
Works:
• The Basilica ,Vicenza
• The Rotunda
Villa Capra at Vicenza/ The Rotunda:
Built for Capra Family.
Location: Vicenza, Italy
Date: 1566 to 1571
A major classic of the Pantheonic type,
often known as the Villa Rotonda.
Very symmetrical quartet plan.
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The Basilica Vicenza(1549)
Famous for the renaissance arcades added by Palladio to the

Medieval Structure erected in 1444.
Plan Large hall of 173’X 68’
Palladio added the arcade consisting of superimposed Doric(lower
level) and Ionic(upper level)
Arches rests on smaller free standing twin columns.
Circular medallions in the spandrel
This grouping and combination of columns and arches has been
termed as the Palladian Motif
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References:
•Fletcher, Sir Banister. A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method, Publisher-Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York,
Seventeenth Edition, 1967.
•Myers Bernard S., Art and Civilization, McGraw-Hill Book Company, NY. 22.Maria A. Bantel, AIA & Fredrick R. Bentel, AIA,
•Time Savers Standards for Building Types, 3rd edition, McGraw-Hill International Editions, 1990.
•Robb, David M. & J.J. Garrison, Art in the Western World Harper &Row, New York, Evanston & London and John Weather hill,
Inc., Tokyo, 1966
•Pevsner, Nikolaus . An outline of European Architecture, pub. Penguin books, 1968.
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6/20/2021

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

LECTURE 18, 19, 20

Period Time Location

Originated in Italy then spread to Germany, France ,Belgium.

Created a break in the continuous evolution of European architecture

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Reasons for the renaissance –rebirth

• Literally means devotion to human interest.

 Employment of classical orders

 Renaissance was not an outcome of structural method, but a decorative

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

 Used domes raised on high drum above pendentives to accommodate

 Instead of pointed arch semicircular arches were used.

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Location: Florence Location: Rome Location: Rome

Early Renaissance High Renaissance and Baroque

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

• A type of palace buildings evolved with rusticated masonry-

• Typical Palace was built around an internal court or Cortile

• Absence of pillars – called Astylar---- as decorative façade.

• Boldly projecting roof cornice – which crowned the walls

• Columnar arcade with medallions became a decorative

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

1420 Location: Florence

• Michelozzo Michelozzi (1396-1472)

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446)

Entered the competition among the sculptors in 1401 for the

Dome of Florence Cathedral(1420-34 )

On 138’6’’ octagonal base 180’ above ground. Introduced Hoop-

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

An architectural gem which inspired many

Central area is covered by a dome on

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Michelozzo Michelozzi (1396-1472)

The Palazzo Ricardi, Florence(1444-60)

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Leon Batista Alberti( 1404-72)

Wrote first architectural book “De Re aedificatoria” meaning

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

High Renaissance Architecture

Location: Florence Location: Rome Location: Rome

Early Renaissance High Renaissance Baroque

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Donato Bramante (1444-1514)

S.Maria delle Grazie,Milan:

15 th C church to which Bramante added the choir, transepts and

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

The Tempietto at S.Pietro, in Montorio, Rome(1502-10):

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Assistant of Bramante-for a time

Was built for Alessandro Farnese (1517).In the

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

The Palazzo Farnese ,Caprarola(1547-9)

World famous Florentine sculptor and painter, architect.

Outcome of many architects over 120 years.

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka

The Capitol, Rome