BaRoquecoco Architecture - HSTARC2

When you say paintings and structures that gives the image of  light,shading, shadows, extravagances, drama, playfulness,  emotion, feelings, decorative, flourishing designs, wealth, power and richness. Then this architectural period is quite interesting to learn upon. Baroque and Rococo fall upon the same architectural period, Baroque as the early part while Rococo being the later and late part of Baroque architecture. Baroque initially was made to exemplify the wealth and power that the churches posses at that era. From there on it was developed to be an architectural style. What happened after the early part of this era, was that the style gave up their symmetry and focused more on the fluent designs and ornate ones. Rococo was the late baroque which was inspired by the shell like curves. In short, their styles got a lot of curves, it became curvy. Further more from all the curves, arts and designs all though out the structure was also added. The buildings were like a big blank canvass that was painted and decorated in curves and artistry in every aspect.  What I like most about this era is their emphasis on the colors by the use of dark and light contrast. "Chiaroscuro" is the term used for that definition. The curves and arts displayed in the period was quite development, not really in architecture but more of art. But never the less, it was still a development. This part of the history of architecture for me is like just one big playful time of art and curves.

Renaissance Architecture - HSTARC2

For a quick definition of the name of this architectural period, "Renaissance" is derived from a the term or word "la rinascita" which means is rebirth. From the word itself, it is evident that it brought back to life what was lost and what used to be. In this case, what was brought back to life or given rebirth to are the Greek and Roman architecture of the older ages. It was shown in the structure the stylish but efficient structure revivals. There was further development of the structures in the area of the renaissance and this period. The proportion and symmetry was also a factor to this period of the history of architecture, which was shown trough the use of Greek/Roman pillars. Aside from these, it was also considerable factor to show and use those only simple geometry in the building of the structures. Simplicity was shown at its best and according to the principles of what was being revived or rebirth. Renaissance is usually divided into three periods. Mainly, "Early Renaissance" or "Quattrocentro", "High Renaissance" and "Mannerism". "Early Renaissance" or "Quattrocentro" did not much develop the architectural part of the period, but rather it was the starting point of it. Orders, ideas and concepts were found in this part. It was the start of the rebirth. "High Renaissance" now applied and used the classical concepts and ideas from the previous. And lastly the "Mannerism" somewhat perfected the concepts and now proceeded to the experimenting of how the concepts and ideas and previous form can futher be developed, in an architectural way. So, What caught my attention in this period of architectural development was the proper and simple show of the orderliness of the structures being made. It was simple but magnificent. Another was the building of the domes which was usually seen in large structure and bassilicas. It was used in large structures which gave it a big statement. Anyway, for me Rennaissance was just building rebuilding the buildings from the concepts of the past. Thats the way I see it and how it is.

Gothic Architecture - HSTARC2

When you say "Gothic", I cant help but think of a lot of things. Say I think about people who are emo and goths. Bringing in the color of black in their style, theres a strong sense of negative emotions in them. Me, being a casual reader of comics, I cant help but also think of Gotham City, a city of crimes.. and of course Batman. haha
But anyway, if we take a closer look at what the real meaning of "Gothic" is, it would say that it was a term used to people who are crude and barbaric. Ironically, "Gothic Architecture" later became the term for the style the churches used during those times. So did that mean that religion was crude and barbaric such as the ones they rebuke? Or maybe its just the name, or theres something more to it. For a brief history, The "Gothic Architecture" style flourished during the medieval times on which religion and feudalism was on a high. And by that I mean that most of the structures were churches and keep or castles. And it is evident and we can say that Gothic was the upgraded style for Romanesque architecture. Regarding the features it had, most of them were the upgraded parts of Romanesque. The addition of pointed arches was quite an iconic symbol for Gothic. We can see that from these pointed arches, we can easily identify Gothic from Romanesque and other styles. The pointedness of the arches complemented the idea that the structures they are making are going up/vertical. Another would be the ribbed vault which is much more complicated from the previous ones. Another thing that amazed me from this time is that even at that time, these architecture showed that they are thinking and they are applying physics to their structures. It can be seen in the flying buttresses made. Not only did it solve the problem for the thick walls and no windows problem for the old buttress but it also added much support to the structure itself. The pinnacle is also an additional factor that I noticed. It was not only made for design, but also because of the pinnacle, it adds a vertical downward force or what you should call it to the weight going down the flying buttresses. And thats some amazing calculating and imagination feat displayed. The fact that religion had a somewhat own style or identity of architecture, showed how much power, popularity and respect it had.