🗣Was THE RENAISSANCE the best time to be alive for Architects?

Like the other important eras of human advancement, the Renaissance, ranging from the 14th to the 17th century, had been rooted and fueled by passion, a golden age that had a clear vision about how they wanted to be led as a society regardless of any preconceived notions about the society they lived in, though were very much driven by focusing on what would make their people wise.

They incorporated the perfect blend of art and science, that very well appealed to any lay man; advertising beauty, truth, wisdom and philosophy that were like a subliminal seeping and engraving deep into their subconscious.

In short, they were intellectually ambitious, aspired to be virtuous and manifested their values through the power of art.

If you were an architect from the Renaissance era, you'd be entitled to a greater social responsibility. However, when it came to architecture itself, you'd be given an opportunity to express yourself through art and architecture, although you'd be very much inspired by the ancient Greek and Roman architecture.

Let's look into some of the most iconic works of two architects to find out if you'd love to be one amongst them.

One such architect from the Early Renaissance -

-Leon Battista Alberti-

Architect, writer, humanist

His works include-

The Tempio Malatestiano

(c. 1450), Rimini, Italy.

by Leon Battista Alberti-

which though an unfinished cathedral church, had an interesting arcade that was inspired by the Greek and Roman Architecture.

The New Façade of Santa Maria Novella,

Florence (c. 1470) was an old church to which he designed a façade that belongs to the public space; comprising of 3 squares that are geometrically designed to incorporate s-curved volutes hence giving this seemingly simple structure an iconic look.

Basilica of Sant' Andrea, Mantua

(1472-90)

This structure is also one of the examples where Leon Battista Alberti is inspired by Classical Architecture and incorporates it both in its external façade and the interior of this incredible structure, that huge of a scale- bringing that much awe to the people inside of it.

The works of the second architect we are going to look into is

-Andrea Palladio-

Who is an Italian architect, regarded as the greatest architect of 16th-century northern Italy.

One of his famous works include-

La Rotunda,[villa Capra] Venice

known for its symmetry, geometrical precision and its proportions; that though seems to be defined by its beautiful surroundings due to its assigned symmetry, is perhaps creating an illusion of some sort that guides you not just through the structure alone, but the surrounding itself.

Most of Palladio's works seem to be influenced greatly by the classic architecture. From the ornamentation to the other minor details, he has imbibed it in a way that makes it seemingly exclusive as his trademark.

By studying the work of two important architects of that era, one could conclude that, your greatest works would come to you not from your early days into the field, but by learning various aspects that influence the thinking pattern of people; by viewing the world through their eyes, understanding what needs to evolve and develop in a sense that would be memorable and distinct for an era THAT iconic.

Perhaps you would argue that if you were an architect in that era, that it would take a downfall for you to express art through architecture inspired less by the classical era and more by what you have seen in the present.

My answer to you for that would be that your values- a time in THEN, would be defined not by your views of the "present ideas of freedom of expression" away from the ways of ornamentation, leading through its form and function; but by bringing in the essence of literal art and other details that engrave ideas in one's subconscious like a daily ritual pleading to take form and manifest into a reality that you'd want to create for the people, that brings forth a vast gradient of values to its community.

Isn't an era filled with inspired inspiration a good place to start? Let me know if you'd hypothetically put yourself in their shoes and loved the world that you looked at..

Thank you for diving deep with me..

Stay Passionately curious++

Until next time deep divers.

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