SPANISH RENAISSANCE: NEOCLASIC

During the Spanish Renaissance is where we really started seeing residential design. Interior design during this era was influenced by the Moorish design. One of the most iconic elements during this period is the Iron Grilles in widows. Even today, we can still appreciate this features in Spain and many other parts of the world

Another very important feature during this was the use of leather and wood in their furniture. During this era the use and design of furniture really improved a lot. Cabinets were carved and painted. Inlay work was  Spain's finest artistic achievements. The use of bone, ivory and wood pieces was very popular in this type of work

One of the reasons why there was an abruptly use of gold and precious stones during this era was because of the Spanish conquer over Latin America, the Spaniards started bringing all these materials back to their country

CURRENT APPLICATIONS:

Modern interior design inspired from Spanish Renaissance, in this picture we can appreciate the adorned ceilings, the earthy neutral tones, and the use of leather in the furniture

Plasteresco found in the Collegio de San Gregorio de Valladolid in Valladolid, Spain

Classic Spanish Renaissance inspired garden table. The table and chairs are very similar to what it was used in that era. The use of wood and the carvings in these furniture are very Spanish-Renaissance like

FROM PAIGE'S BLOG: Paige also mentioned the use of railings, decorative nails and the window grilles. I really liked all the modern application images she used. The second picture she used is very Spanish inspired. 

FROM RACHEL'S BLOG: Rachel mentioned the how many cathedrals and churches were inspired from the Gothic period, she also mentioned the use of leather and wood on many furniture pieces.

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE: NEOCLASSIC

The term "Renaissance" means rebirth, many scientific achievements took place throughout this time period. There was an increased attention to the "reality: of the human form in paintings and sculptures. The creation of one-point perspective also occurred during this era. 

Interior design started being more noticeable during this period in Italy. Walls, floors and ceilings started being more detailed and adorned. 

WALLS: The standard composition of a Renaissance residential wall divided it into horizontal bands and fields. Starting at the intersection of wall and floor, a wood work base made the initial transition from horizontal to vertical. Most walls were plaster, frescoes were representational or architectural and were also used to adorn walls. The most expansive options for treating a wall included marble or wood paneling. Wall hangings made of leather or fabric were also used. 

Elaborate tapestries with narrative scenes were the purview of only the wealthiest homes.

FLOORS: Floors were most commonly made of wood. More sophisticated rooms had brick or tilted floors; marble floors in houses were rare because of the heavy weight they would bring to the structure. Some houses had Turkish carpets, although it was not common.

CEILINGS: The ceiling became a field to be designed, yet it followed its own perimeters. Ceilings were also considered a piece of architecture. Joists running in one direction were virtually dominant, these parallel timbers spanned the length of the room and supported the floor above. An alternative strategy were the cross-beams, these made the ceiling into a plane of rectangular planes, this process was called "waffle-grid" or coffers. Some beams were carved with classical details, others were painted. Some plaster ceilings were non-literal representational, some others were covered up and then idealized and painted. 

CURRENT APPLICATIONS:

Luxury Modern carved ceilings

Italian Renaissance style, with carved waffle-grid ceilings

Adorned walls with gold trimming, and Italian Renaissance inspired furniture

Italian Renaissance inspired current architecture

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For those that need something more graphic in order to understand history better, myself included, I found this video explaining the Italian Renaissance with pictures and a song, its actually more like a story telling type of thing, very clever if you ask me. It goes over a lot of stuff we learned in class from the power points and the lectures such as the Medici family, the change in sculptures and how the Italian Renaissance started. I really really recommend this video!!

The Renaissance Man by Jeffrey Lewis

FROM NATALIE'S BLOG: The Palazzo is one of the most important and iconic buildings in Italy from this era. Also, during this era the furniture took a different role, it was now portable and sparse.

FROM DANA'S BLOG: She mentioned the customer-client relationships, I agree with the fact that today society does not value the customer-client relationships, which in this field is important. Also the video she posted about the Florence Cathedral was quite interesting!

THE AMERICAS: TEOTIHUACAN

Teotihuacan 

100 B.C.E - 750 C.E

Teotihuacan also known as the city of the Gods,  located at approximately 40 km north east of Mexico City was built by the Totonacs. It was a major ritual center, a center of agriculture and trade with a bustling market place. Teotihuacan had a population of approximately 200,000 citizens making it one of the largest cities in the world in this period.

The two major buildings are the Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun. The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest pyramid in the Americas. 

The Pyramid of the Moon even though it is smaller in size, it was perfectly constructed. It is the second largest pyramid in Teotihuacan. This pyramid was constructed prior to 200 A.D.

These two pyramids attract attention for their overall size, the surrounding buildings, smaller platforms, temples and palaces emphasize the horizontal orientation. 

Evidence suggests that Teotihuacan was a multi-ethnic city, occupied by Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya and Nahua tribes. It was also a polytheistic city, Teotihuacans, as the people of this area are called, spoke Nahuatl, and had cults and different religious beliefs. They believed in human and animal sacrifice. It is believed that these people offered human sacrifices as part of a dedication when buildings were expanded or constructed. The victims of this sacrifices were enemy warriors captured after battles.

Teotihuacan just like other civilizations we have studied, is composed of different residential and work areas. Upper class homes were usually housed by families, different generations, such as grand fathers, fathers and sons. 

CURRENT TEOTIHUACAN

Today Teotihuacan is one of the most visited places in the country. In 1987 this place was recognized as part of the world cultural heritage by the UNESCO. Today you can visit this archaeological zone everyday from 8 am to 5 pm. The cover fee is about $5 per person and the permit to videotape is about $4. Within this site there is a museum and many souvenir shops along the entrance where you can buy hand made artifacts from swords to masks and most of the stuff is hand made by locals. 

Something quite interesting about Teotihuacan its that, it is very popular for visitors and locals to visit this place the first day of spring, this year would be March 20th, it is said to bring positive energy and wellness for those who reach the top of the Pyramid of the Sun when the spring equinox occurs. This year thousands of people are expected to visit this site.

The following website contains current information of Teotihuacan, it even has a virtual tour for those that would like to see this place.

Teotihuacan

       

                     

   

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The following video explains this civilization and how everything took place in the "City of the Gods", its a little bit long but if you enjoy learning about different cultures specially this one you will get a lot from it.

FROM MARGARET'S BLOG: I LIKED HOW SHE FOCUSED A LITTLE BIT ON THE MAYAS, TEOTIHUACAN AND THE OLMECS. I FOUND VERY INTERESTING THAT THE OLMECS DEVELOPED THEIR OWN HIEROGLYPHIC WRITING, AND CREATED THEIR VERY FIRST CALENDAR FOR THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. THE OLMECS ALSO PRACTICED HUMAN SACRIFICE JUST LIKE THE TEOTIHUACANS.

FROM MEGAN'S BLOG: SHE ALSO FOCUSED ON TEOTIHUACAN, SHE EXPLAINED HOW THE RESIDENTS LIVED IN APARTMENT STYLE HOMES, IN ORDER TO HOUSE DIFFERENT GENERATIONS WITHIN THE FAMILY.