17 Century Architecture and Baroque Era - Adobes and ancient architecture

17 century Architecture and Baroque era

Back in the 17th century and in Italy, you’ll find that this is about the time of the baroque architecture. This is a very early style of architecture, but a very beautiful style.

Taking the renaissance architecture and modifying it to a new theatrical, sculptural fashion, Baroque architecture became a very fanciful, extravagant style of structural design.

When it comes to the renaissance style, it was designed for a more well to do society, and then the baroque architecture became an interest with the Roman Catholic Church.

The concerns were for light, shade and color intensity and Baroque found its secular expression in grand palaces first in France, then throughout Europe.

Keep in mind that the Chateau de Maisons is still in France and it is known as a huge part of the baroque architecture.

One of the most famous though of the Baroque architecture pieces is St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. When it comes to the Vatican City, you will find that it is one of the most beautiful. Topped with its towering dome, it is a notable feature in the Roman skyline.

When it comes to baroque structures you will find that it can be grand in both ornaments and grand. As baroque moved through Europe, it eventually took on the look of European Colonialism.

As for England, it is the Greenwich hospital located in London that is one of the most beautiful, English examples of this type of architecture. Founded in 1694 as the Royal Naval Hospital for sailors, the Greenwich hospital is famous for its Baroque Painted Hall, which was painted in honor of King William and Queen Mary.

With the chapel, you’ll want to keep in mind that baroque architecture is not only present in the art and décor, but also it is known for the gold painted ceilings.

Adobes and ancient architecture

The adobe architecture was some of the earliest structures. This type of structures where made from natural materials like dung, straw, sand, and clay. There are other materials that are used as well.

The adobe is formed into bricks. Then the bricks are dried in the sun much like cob or even mud bricks. The structures become extremely durable. They are used mainly in hot, arid climates because they remain cool in the summer and release heat very slowly in the winter.

The same mixture, without the straw is used for mortar in placing the dried adobe bricks together to form a structure. Then there are some that use a lime-based cement as for plaster to add protection for those wet months.

The thickness of the adobe bricks is key in the architecture. This is what will keep the structure cool in the hot months and warm in the cold months.

The largest structure ever erected from Adobe was the Bam Citadel. But it suffered serious damage from an earthquake in 2003.

The Huaca del Sol in Peru is another grand adobe structure that was created from over 100 million signed bricks.

When it comes to the worlds largest adobe architecture happens to erected from 500 BC and it is known as the citadel of Arg-e-Bam.

The area of Bam Citadel is 180,000 square meters and is surrounded by walls 6-7 meters high and 1815 meters in length, all out of Adobe. When the gates to the city were closed, no human or animal could enter. This is a city that is self-contained, but it has access to gardens and cattle all within the city.

When it comes to adobe architecture it is a little bit different when it comes to placing a roof on the structure. You will find that the roofs where made of wood or metal, but then there are dried adobe bricks placed on top of the structure and plastered to stay in place on the roof.

American Architecture

When you take a trip across the country and you start to look for beautiful architecture you will find it from coast to coast. You will notice that most of the architecture of America is mostly predominate of the 1780’s.

Many wealthy early American settlers like the Anglo-Americans built the structures.
Built mostly by wealthy Anglo Americans, the houses afforded several distinct styles depending on local. Also known as Colonial Georgian, these homes were the earliest style to grace the U.S. colonies.

A good example of American colonial architecture happens to be the Saltbox. What the Saltbox basically is is a wooden frame house with a high-pitched roof that slopes down to the back.

It basically is two stories and the back of the house only has one story. This makes the sides very unequal, but it looks much like a saltbox, which basically was a wooden boxed building where you kept your salt.

The saltbox is a simple style of home, but it also has a simple name. Generally, the chimney was centrally located, making the house, from a distance, look like a box with a lid and handle to lift it off.

Other defining characteristics of American Colonial architecture are the square, symmetrical shape, the front door placed directly in the middle of the houses front and the even, straight line of windows throughout.

Once you are inside there is usually an entryway and then a staircase. You will find that when it comes to rooms, they will branch off from the entryway. When it comes to the homes like saltboxes, they are just timber-framed homes constructed with woodwork joints, because metal nails are too costly. You will find that saltbox homes will also have a wood siding to finish off the home.

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