Gothic

General: the later Gothic period lasted for nearly a century. the Gothic style is similar to the Romanesque architecture. there are distinct differences. the Gothic style is more detailed and had a dark tone.

Motifs and Characteristics: pointed arches, trefoils, (three-lobed form), quatrefoils (four-lobed forms), dwarfs and gargoyles, bird foliage, oak leaves, and geometric shapes. 

Foil diaper

Architecture and Buildings: Cathedrals and parish churches are the most common public building types. their churches were build in monumental size and height. Around this time, it was almost a form of competition between cathedrals to build their structures as high as they can. this was a way to state to others how holy their architecture was. this also resulted in a few places collapsing because of the height.

their cathedrals were essentially the same with Romanesque architecture when it came to floor plan. central floor plan and basilica type of floor plan.

Materials: cathedrals were primarily made up of masonry. these stones were all local because it was difficult to transport heavy stones across vast distances.

Structure system: they had buttresses, pointed arches, and ribbed vaults. this allowed less ceiling structure.

ribbed vaults

They often had rose windows. the doors were carved decorations. The roofs on houses were gabled, trussed, and often thatched.

Interiors: in private buildings the windows were small and had small casement. the floors were usually dirt, stone, brick, or clay. the doors were surrounded with Gothic motifs. fabric hanging from walls were common  at the time. the textiles were usually decorate with millefleurs (thousands of flowers).

Furniture: the materials were typically oak, walnut, and pine. these were brightly colored. thrones are limited in quantity and are generally reserved for ceremonies.

Romanesque

General:  it is derivative from the Roman architecture. the notable styles that were integrated were the rounded arches and the separate parts that were actually unified. this was a time when Christianity was prevalent amongst the Europeans. Romanesque architecture not only pulled from Rome, but also the Byzantine and early Christian elements were involved.

Motifs and characteristics: Typical motifs are rounded arched, figures, corbel tables, animals, brackets, geometric forms, zigzags, and diamond shaped ornamentation.

Architecture and Buildings: Most of the churches had two types of floor plans. the centralized floor plan and the basilica. 

These type of floor plans are primarily masonry. they made them this way to prevent fires. they may have made their roof and ceilings wood (for practical reasons involving weight).

common facades are rounded arches. the entrance may have three parts that lead into the building. The front and side walls were usually divided by columns columns, buttresses or pilasters.

buttresses

The doors, arcades, and windows were usually rounded. (not in the sense that they were complete circles). some of the elements on the arcades usually involved biblical illustrations. the biblical illustrations were meant to educate non believers rather than for detractive purposes.

Interiors: these usually involved round arches, repeat modules, ribbed vaults, thick walls and masonry ceilings. the floors were usually brick or stone. Nave walls features rounded arches.

Furniture and Decoration: Church furnishings were usually altars, canopies, and shrines. The materials were woods. these mainly were oak, walnut, and elm. the seating was limited with the exception of throne chairs.

Byzantine

General: the Byzantise era had great influence from Roman society. (Even after the fall or Rome for nearly 1,000 years). Emperor Constantine relocates to to East to escape Germanic tribes. He settles in a Greek city called Byzantine. They strives to protect Roman traditions and uphold Christian traditions. They decide to blend in their architecture.

Motifs: Jesus, Mary, apostles, rulers, and saints. they also includes more figurative elements like frets, waves, animals, rosettes.

Architecture: they had baths and hippodromes but mainly churches.  they continued with a basilica type of floor plan. the churches built were much smaller but they had exteriors ornamentation. these churches were more of a Romanesque type of structure. but they started to become more extravagant by the early 12 century. they had more domes, taller and more narrow forms, ad exterior ornamentation.

Hagia Sophia

they also had pendentive (triangular curivng forms that allow construction of the circular dome over a square or rectangular space. 

their floor plans were basically symmetrical and orderly.

Materials: they basically used brick and roman concrete. iron tie-rods and arches and vaults. the brick was usually covered in stucco, marble, stone, or mosaics.

Interiors: their doors were made os bronze, iron and wood. their walls, ceilings, and floors are mostly done in paintings, mosaics, and marble panels. they used lustrous  gold and natural light.

colors were traditionally gold, red, green, and blue.

Furniture: their furniture was made of wood, metal, and ivory. they may have jewels on them.

Their seating are thrones and chairs. the Maximianus throne is for the archbishop.

Their textiles mainly consisted of silk and velvet. these had designed that usually involved animals, geometric patterns, and Persian inluenced designs.

Byzantine decorations were geometric and detailed. they had jeweled-encrusted surface treatments. the use of icons became prevalent in private and public worship centers.  they stylized the divine in a gold background.

Early Christian

General: Christianity is centered around a monotheistic theme. Around this time Christian beliefs became an acceptable practice in the Roman Empire. This was a time when iconic symbols became prevalent.  It tool place after Jesus was crucified. Their numbers were rapidly growing. although this was becoming a popular belief to did not gain any legal standings.

motifs: Cristian motifs consist of Crosses, lambs, fish, and doves.

Architecture: Churches, memorials, mausoleums, baptisteries. most of the Christian styles follows the Roman basilica. the church entrance leads into a small room then it opens into the largest room.

they used trumpial arches frames the aspe

the mausoleum and baptisteries are built in a circle or polygonal plan with second floor centered in the middle. 

the roofs are typically gabled on basilicas and domes on central plans. these are usually covered by a rust-colored tile.

Interiors: typically speaking, the interior had frescoes and mosaics that lend various religious elements with the divine person in the middle. (the middle was not always Jesus. it sometimes involved the apostles or prophets. but NEVER God. it would be blasphemous to have a painting of God). 

the walls had a distinctive theme. it always involved the glorification of God and Christianity. but the purpose was to educate the believers what Christianity was about.

Glass was integrated into holy structures. the glass was used because t could provide an intense range of color.

columns were used in the interiors. but usually the capital did not match the column.

Furniture: Christain furniture were limited. they used typical Roman seating and benched were not introduced yet. they ususally had Sarcophagus’ for storage. these usually invilved grapevines and a cross. 

Japan

General: Japan was developed from a Chinese influence. Japanese culture in general were concerned with the aesthetics, simplicity, and details. relationship to nature is important to them.

Time Periods:

Kamakura period: Shoguns (military dictators) had most of the authority. Federalism was on the rise and ownership was fading due to powerful/wealthy families and military authorities. Contact with China brought in Chinese influences such as tea, architecture, and Buddhism.

Muromachi period: A rush of other cultures begin to influence Japan. Trading with Spain and Holland, and Christian missionaries. the merchant class was getting more wealthy. Japan explores the West and its goods. Tea parties (chanoyu) were established and it promoted peace, politeness, and modesty.

1568-1603: Civil war becomes a problem. Neo-Confucianism advocates loyalty to the states and begins to replace Zen Buddhism.

Edo Period: known as the golden era of the arts. at this time the middle class gains affluence. Japan is skeptical about European influence becoming too strong. they feared that Christianity would eventually become the breaking point of an invasion. as a result, Japan denied anyone who would want to travel abroad and expelled any foreigners.

18th and 19th century: feudalism began to decline due to a powerful merchant class. They were described to be anxious and increased awareness of the West. Japan began to involved with international trading again. Matthew Perry developed a treaty for Japan and the United Stated along with various European countries.

Motifs and design characteristics: Japanese design was more focused on asymmetry. their colors were derivative from nature. they focused on textural harmony combined with diversity, details, uncluttered space, and modularity. on the other hand, their motifs were naturalistic, geometric, a figurative.

flowers

fans

Architecture: most buildings (whether private or public) were designed to be artistic. their designs were based of hierarchy. Public buildings were designed on a monumental scale to be impressive. In addition they were composited of many separate buildings into one area to make the space seem more intimate. Their buildings became more of a collaboration of cultural elements. these elements included nature and religions.

Buildings types: Most of the buildings were timber constructed. Their buildings has simple construction methods. Why does that matter? Because in the event of a natural disaster they wanted to make sure they can have a quick rebuild.

they had shrines, temples and pagodas. the floor plans were designed to have a central piece surrounded by smaller rooms. most of their Private buildings were to reflect nature especially the tea houses. Their residential homes were mostly built on landscapes.

Interiors: Their residential buildings can be described as limited according to American standards. They limited the use of free space to take advantage of more space. the closest room is usually the business room.

Shoin style is a style developed form the Zen Buddhist religion and tea houses.

the interiors were generally geometric with a harmonious exterior. tis also was in sync with the landscape. the purpose was to increase total cohesiveness. Sliding doors were mostly used unlike the Western tradition. Common Japanese  materials include plaster, straw, linen, wool, paper, and natural wood. (the natural materials were usually untreated). these are applications throughout the interiors.

their lighting methods were oil lamps and natural lighting. lanterns were used outside.

Building materials: Since there was an abundance of wood they used, cedar, pine, fir, cypress for their typical construction.

Furniture: They used limited free standing furniture and detractive accessories. Their focus was more on the artwork. they did not have chairs like the Western regions. They sat on zabutons (square cushions on the floor). The walls were made of wood and rice paper. their furniture is small compared ot the Western standard. some of their furniture sit lower to the ground.

 Japanese zabuton

 Japanese walls

japanese art work

sshinto bench

Typical Japanese table

China

General: this is a time when China had dynasties and emperors. China recieved part of their revenue from trading with Europe. religion in this region becomes more self-analyzation than worship. they began to have a diplomatic relationship with neighboring countries like Japan, Rome, and Korea.

Eras and Dynaties:

Tang Dynasty- econimic and cultural prosperity. they had relations with Japan, Korea, and Rome. this great momnet ends sometime near the 5th century. Buddhism becomes intergrated into their society because it provided them with guidelines on how to think, speak and act.

Ming Dynasty- Trade with the British East India company came into fruition. thanks to import and export routes crossing trough China their materials became a trendy phenomenon in Europe.

Qing Dynasty- War broke out and China had a damaged relationship with Britain. Western influences became more prevenalt in China. Then China retaliates by ridding the foreigners from their country. Some of the Chinesemen were immigrated into America and Canada for building projects.

Republic China- the time of warlords. intorductionof communism and authoritative rulership. they reopen contact with the West. they are now intorduced into new Western architecture and cultural practices.

religous perspective: China unlike European countries were not mainly interested in polytheism and the Greeks and Rome. they became more aware of themselves and a individual and a group. Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Christanity.

Motifs: China used a different slot of animals than Eurpoean motifs. not ALL the animals are used in the European styles. They incorporated dragons, lions, frets, lotus’, clouds, and fruitsand caligraphy. certain animals and numbers had certain meanigs.

(i.e: 5 Bats means happines ;the stork meant longevity)

architecture and interiors: contained sihlouettes. colorful and elaborate. especially when it came to the government buildings. contained non-load-bearing walls for decoration. The wealthier a person was the larger the establishment.

Teh building exterior usually had highly saturated colors. the roofs were curved upwards to ward evil spirits. the colors were yellow, green, or blue with decrotive animal motifs.  

Chinise interiors typically had square doors and windows. Both of them were made from wood. most doors had latticework (large-scale geomtric patterns) or fretwork

 The larger the windows and door shte more important the room was. their windows provided natural light. around the 17th Cenutury, rugs were introduced. the rugs were higly decrotive and colorful.

buildings and building types:

Pagodas (buddhist temples), shrines, monastaries, commercial structures, and palaces were all elaborate. these structures usually had some type of symbol (whether animal, color, or building techniques) that protected them form the evil. the way any of these buoldings faced made a diffence.

(i.e: south means strength/superiority, north means barbaric/evil)

Their entrances became one of their focal pionts. Loins, and gatekeepers, covered walkways,  gometric or rounded shapes to give interest and bright colored exterior walls.

.

materials: they have traces of marble, brick, and stones. wooden columns with a stone bases are prevenant. The roofing tiles are curved upwards. wood framed construction is most commonly used.

Furniture: chairs were constructed by woods. particuarly tzu-t’an, hua-li, chestnut, elm, ebony (imported only), and oak. they used a lacquer to coat their furniture. This prevented insectes from eating away from their furniture. they didnt use nails, dowels, nor a lot of glue. (alothough they used very little). mitered and mortise and tenon joints were typical. the furniture was easily moved in necessary.

Chinese folding were decrovive and used for decoration.

Rome

General: Rome is a culture that seems to try to mimic the Greek civilization. Their artwork and architecture is similar to Greek. Although Rome took traditions from rome, they had a great empire that lasted for years. The are considered to be a melting pot of cultures. Since rome had a complex governing system, building structures and roads became a critical requirement. 

Beliefs: they did not necessarily live by their roman standards. like previously stated, they copied from Greek traditions. They worshipped Greek gods but gave them roman names. The are considered to be a melting pot of cultures.

Artwork: The motifs were derivative from greek motifs. Their motifs had animals, flowers, and griffins. there motifs were usually elaborate and detailed stone carvings incorporated into their interiors. 

Time Periods:

-Republican-etruscan influenced with Greek forms. they used the Greek columns after Greece was conquered.

-Early imperial or late empire: mastered forms of concrete. and introduced basilicas and amphitheaters.

-Late imperial or late roman: reused interior materials. they were more concerned with the interiors than the exteriors. At this time they also explored with size and shapes of the interiors. they began to consider space planning techniques.

Buildings: Roman buildings are not designed as well as Greek buildings. They used columns throughout the space. Like Greek they were also served more than one god. they had each temple dedicated to a particular god.

public buildings were for entertainment. the roman colosseum is one of the most popular of roman architecture used for entertainment.

Roman Colosseum. Rome, Italy

 Pantheon dome interior

Pantheon exterior.

roman interiors: their materials included wood, cedar, and oak. some of the ore expensive furniture inluded stones, metal, and marble. usually the more sophistocated furnitere wereelaborate and included inlays, plating, ivory and expensive woods.

description: it contains a frieze at the trim of the ceiling, mosaic floors, a couch, and barrel vault ceiling.

Cubiculum

Triclinium

Interior furniture:

Roman couch: Their couches at the time only contained arms and a stool. This is considered to be luxurious because of the material and the details on the couch.

The barcelona is inspired by a roman influenced. It was designed in Spain.

the X-shaped folding stool. inspired byEgyptian furniture

At this time, Rome is still using animal legs for their tables and chairs. Most of their furniture resembled Greek furniture styles.

Rome started to use marble as their main medium for their furniture. usually had a center support like Greek.

Egyptian

General: Egypt was known for their royalty. they used heirarchy in their livfe and after  life. unique styles adn insane architecture were introduced.







Egyptian Art:

Egyptian art was one way they displayed heirarchy. If they were trying to illustrate a king, he would be in the same amount of clothing but a head dresswas different.

In this painting alone, there are several symbols the egyptians used. the head dress of the deceased man made it apparent that he was royalty. The prince has a head dress distinct from the other person. how can anyone tell? The prince has a snake at rhe front of his head garment. the beads on boht men mean that they have age and are experienced.

Egyptian pots were used more for than just decoration. they stores human organs and occasionally animals. They did this thinking that whatever was in the jars will be carried with them into the next life.

Symbols:  

-the Ankh is a symbol of rebirth. this was ofted placed in tombs.

-the Eye of Horous is a symbol of protection for the deceased.

Egyptian buildings.

The pyramids were used to bury royalts. the bigger the tomb, the more wealthy a person was.

Ziggurats were used for worship. The actual ziggurat are the steps. the stepd are unusually high and long. for it to be classified as a ziggurat, the person must be able to walk on it.

A Mastaba is a tomb that houses the dead under ground. this is different that the pyramids. The pyramids are bigger and fit for royalty (or people pretty close to it).

Interiors: the interiors were reletively simple. The only elaborate part of the interiors are the walls. they are usually done in art pieces using continuous nararation or portraits of gods and symbols.

Their interior lighting was limited. Since they had smaller windows (probably to control heat in a space), they used oil lamps that were smeared with animal fat. Their floors were pressed clay and the ceilings were flat. They used pivoting doors in their rooms. They used post and lintel for their main door ways. and their furnituere were simple.

The Egyptians were particular on who sat in them. the more decrotive and expensive the chair, the heigher up the peron. No one would dare try to sit on a kings chair. a person can tell the heirarchy by the arms and the size of the chair. they were covered in jewels, ivory, inlays and gold or silver leaves.

Examples of common placed seating-

The inexpensive chairs might have been covered in veneers or painted to mimic better quality woods. This gave the person a false sense of wealth.

Their storage were not necessarily closets or burrial places in the groung. They stored in chests. The chests usually have illustrations on them for decor purposes.

Greek

General: Greek architecture is one of the best well design architecture of that century. they created their style using math and the idea of perfection. Their buildings were symmetrical and had a distinct central point.

Buildings: The Parthenon is a building based off mathematical proportions.

Parthenon in Nashville, TN

What made this building so unique? The Columns are not actually strait columns. they are designed to look like they are strait. the base of the column is smaller that the middle. the biggest point of the column is between the middle and bottom on the shaft.

Greek architecture were symmetrical most of the time. Their floor plans general had a central point. They started to integrate marble and concrete into their architecture. Friezes were used to make art. the only time mud brick  and other generic masonry were used is on private homes. stone and wood columns were for the wealthy.

Interiors: Their furniture were primarily made of wood. At this point color became important. In public areas, they used black, red, and blue in the interiors. The floors were usually mosaics or stone. The ceiling were coffred.

Art Work: Greek art work were based off perfection and naturalism. the Hellenistic period is when Greece had a noticeable change in their artwork. the Art had more emotion and suffering. their artwork were always depicted as young and healthy individuals. this was one of their ways of displaying perfection.

 Greek fret.

Colums types: 

 Doric colums is considered to be masculant

 Ionic column is considered to be feminine

Religion:   The Greeks did not have one God. they had gods. when it came to worship, the greeks built seperate tymples to honor the gods. For example, the Parthenon was built for Athena. The temples usually had friezes surrounding the building. these friezes usually were stories that explained the gods origins, battles, and victory. since they considered that anyone who didnt speak greek were barbarians, the opposing warriors were always defeated. occasionally they had peole in a normal fashion going about their daily lives.

Furnishings and Fininshes: Animals were intergrated into their art work. It is especially common to find deer and lions in many forms. whether abstract or realistic they can be identified. chairs that had gold, decrotive inlays, ivory, and precious stones were ususally for the wealthy.

            

 The tables has the same fuction as id does in modern times.

    Different tyle of greek stools and their uses.

Prehistoric

General: prehistoric can best be described as ‘history that hasn’t been recorded’. No one knows when architecture and design began. Nevertheless, when it comes to architecture and design, each civilization had their own style that made them original.

Each of the civilizations based their architecture on several factors. regional location, nature, religion, and available resources to name a few. For example, Native Americans built their homes out of animal hides. Why didn’t they use brick or stone? Native americans needed to travel where the animals were so carrying heavy masonry would not be practical. They also built their homes in a circle shape to mimic nature. the hole at the top of the tipi was purposefully made. This allowed smoke to exit the tipi when they had fires going.

  Native american symbols.

Another example of prehistoric homes: