responses

Angie- I like how Angie mentioned the weather in France and how the structure was built accordingly. 

Rachel- She included so much information in her blog. I thought it was helpful how the bullet points were ordered by years, peoples and events.

French Period

The Chateau de Chambered is one of the most famous pieces of architecture in all of France. It is also the largest Chateau of the Loire Valley. The construction began in 1519 and took twenty-eight years to complete, it was built as a hunting lodge for Francis I. The chateau was designed with many walls, towers, and even has a moat but was never designed with the intention of being a defense against enemies. Other design features include are large open windows, a large outdoor area on the top, 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases. Styles from both the Italian and French were used when designing.

The centerpiece of the Chateau is the double helix staircase that is three stories high. Although it has not been confirmed it is said that Leonardo da Vinci designed the staircase for the structure. 

After Francis I died in 1547 the chateau wasn't used for a century. The building was abandoned and started to decay until 1639 when King Louis XIII and his brother Gaston dOrleans started restoring it. They added furnishing fit for the royals and added in 1200 horse stables. The Chateau was then abandoned again in 1685.

extra credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HziwBRrFqY4

responses

Emma- I think Emma chose great example of modern day applications for the Spanish style. They display the simple brick and concrete exteriors like the castles.

Lisa- I like how Lisa went into detail about the interiors of the spanish design like the iron work, plasterwork, and tapestries.

spanish period

The classical Spanish design was influenced by the Moorish, early Christian, midivil and Italian renaissance. Until this unit I had not heard of the Moorish people and was interested in finding out more about them.

During the middle ages the Moors were Muslim people of Maghreb, Iberian Peninsula, Sicily, and Malta. The name Moors was applied to those from sub-saharan africa, Arabia, Berber people and Muslim Europeans by medieval and modern Europeans.

In Medival European decor the Moors were often displayed in crowns. There are also instances where the Moors were represented as blindfolded heads, this is said to represent the Moorish emirs who were killed in the 11th century by Peter I.

Moorish architecture is Islamic architecture from North Africa, Spain and Portugal where the Moorish people lived from 711 to 1492. The Alhambra of Grenada and the Giralda in Seville are the best examples of this style. 

Extra credit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEseJViidy8

responses

Katie- I thought your information on "the Renaissance man" was interesting.

Keira- I liked how you went into detail about the palazzos.

Italian Renaissance

The architecture design during the Italian Renaissance period was based off of the Classical Roman style. Most famous Italian Renaissance architect and engineer was Filippo Brunelleschi of Florence, Italy. He was the master mind behind the dome of the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore also known as the Duomo. The building was built with machines that he invented just for the project.

Brunelleschi also known for designing and the rebuild for military fortifications in Pisa, Rencine, Vicopisano, Castellina, and Rimini. He also designed a mechanism that helped hoist things around stages in Florentine churches during theatrical religious performances like flying angels.

The dome of the Florence Cathedral is made up of 4 million bricks. The dome doesn't rest on the roof but on a drum. This made it so that there was no need to have scuffling from the the ground. The work on the cathedral started in 1420 and ended in 1436.

extra credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JRoa47D3NQ