Lesson 4 (March 7): NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE

Objectives:
a. Analyze the elements and principles in the production of work following the style of
Neoclassicism and Romantic arts.
b. Identify representative artists from Neoclassic and Romantic periods.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE is a style that started in the mid-18th century. It turns away
from the grandeur of Rococo style and the Late Baroque. In its purest form, Neoclassical
architecture is a style principally derived from the architecture of Classical Greece and Rome and
the architecture of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio.
Types of Neoclassical Architecture:
1. 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.
2. PALLADIAN STYLE buildings were based on Andrea Palladio’s style of villa construction.
Some of the buildings feature a balustrade which is a railing with vertical supports along the edge
of the roof. There are vertical supports within a balustrade known as “balusters” or spindles”. It is
also a classical method of crowning a building that has a flat or low-lying roof.

• 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.

3. CLASSICAL BLOCK STYLE building features a rectangular or square plan, with a flat roof
and 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. It is also known as “Beaux-Arts style”, since it was developed
principally by the French École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts).

• HENRI LABROUSTE - His masterpiece is the Library of Sainte Geneviève.

• CHARLES GARNIER – He designed the most famous classical block of all which is the
Palais Garnier (a Neo baroque opera house).
• CHARLES FOLLEN MCKIM, 1895 -He designed the BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

(Note: watch the video lesson in MAPEH 9 Art Q3 about "Neo-Classical Architecture" in
You Tube)

ACTIVITY
1. What can you say about Neoclassical architecture?
2. What are the characteristics of each of the different style of Neoclassical buildings?
3. Give some examples of buildings that has the influences of the architectural style of
Neoclassicism in our country
(note: copy and answer in your activity notebook)