Anna's observations of the cathedrals are similar to my own. The fact that society and what was happening at the time effected the design is obviously apparent. I liked how she put the purpose behind building these cathedrals: "The religious people were attempting to make the church beautiful to draw people in". Beauty is what made people fascinated with going to church. The 'cover of the book', as you would say, made people want to read it. I also enjoyed reading her speculation about the Chateau Chambord. Combining geometric shapes, Gothic influences, and newer aged architecture to create a completely different meaning then before is something that I wish was focused on more. When analyzing historical spaces, whether they be the same or not, it would be interesting to know the different purposes. The idea of these shapes used to create something beautiful, turned into the idea of stacking. I like that she explained this concept of the 'life' of shapes. Each 'stack' had a different purpose. I learned from her point essay that the materiality of the floors changed with upward progression. The stones were rough on the bottom floor, symbolizing the space for workers and servants, and as the buildings grows, the stones become smoother and refined just as the people do. Then, she proceeded to lead her essay into the next unit by explaining refinement and alteration were on the way. Her essay flowed so well, and definitely explained things that I didn't catch onto in class. It was insightful to read!
Thinking outside of the box, and helping architecture to constantly grow.
I like how Leslie went in depth of explanation of the gothic style of architecture. She stated, "An important strategy of gothic movement is that within a single building the entire universe must me expressed." This reminded me of the pantheon when the world was presented in a scientific way. I think there is a connection to these buildings of great importance in the way they try to explain or demonstrate the world. These buildings achieve this all in many different ways, verticality being one of them. Her application of "ecstasy and exultation" is very true. The church tries to draw people in by appearance and convinces them they need a 'fix' and then after they have been drawn in, they are then hoped to be exalted.
For her next paragraph, her description of transformation into the Renaissance describes it just right. She states that the idea of protection fades away and the new concept of comfort comes in. There are many different styles and rules become vague. She speculates that this is when our principles of design come into our society. Theatricality is also born, her analogy fits the description of baroque perfectly. Theater becomes the whole idea of architecture during this time.
Kathryn's speculations of the renaissance being an alternate to the ancient world is interesting to me. She follows along with Anna in her ideas of shapes and geometrics creating something more. Her opinion says that the renaissance was more about the private homes and their hearths, rather then the public spaces that have been previously discussed in Anna's and Leslie's.
The statement that verticality is reached through the shape of circles, (domes), is very true for religious cathedrals. Man is the measure, and through the grand verticality of the dome is a place where heaven meets man as an individual. The connection she made by that idea describes the idea of verticality in the renaissance perfectly to me. She goes on to describe the ways of the renaissance, and basically says this era was kept inside a fence. No rules were broken, and everything was based on balance and function. This shows great contrast into the next era of baroque.
Her picture of the Laurentian Library clearly demonstrates the conversion of renaissance to baroque. Michelangelo starts to break the rules of architecture this era has created. The image shows three stairs merging into one, which demonstrates the over flowing of boundaries.
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