RR7: "The World" brushed within the Pastel Heavens



 Brunelleschi's Dome can be compared to the world because of the significance of the interior artwork and the purpose of the cathedral in general as an earthly gate to heaven. I love the concept of this architectural concept that was taught to us in class on a perspective towards domes in places of worship. 
http://icicp.blogspot.com/2010/04/healing-earth-with-service.html


This picture is the view of the entire Florence cathedral. This view proves how extravagant the dome structure is compared to the rest of the cathedral.   

http://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Italian%20Images/Single%20frames/Portraits/Brunelleschi.htm

Brunelleschi’s World

When others deemed the creation of the estimated span impossible, Brunelleschi reached for the evidence exemplified in the Pantheon to prove that his world could be raised above ground stretching to the heavens.

His ideas were pondered throughout the years 1417-1420.

This is the interior of the Florence cathedral's dome painted with biblical pictures to entice the public about heaven or a greater God.

http://www.s-church.net/PhotoAlbum.aspx?ID=ITALY2006-DAY9&PAGE=16 

• The construction of the Dome began in 1420.
• The dome was topped in 1434.
• It’s construction method owes much to Gothic techniques. (So thanks to France)
• The dome is actually two, one nested inside one another, a thicker one inside and a thinner one outside.  

Do I believe that Brunelleschi's was one of the most influential architects in the Italian Renaissance?
Yes!
Leon Battisa Alberti praised Brunelleschi's achievement, because since the creation and structure of the dome was "unknown and unthought-of among the ancients." Brunelleschi conquered the ideas and culture to create the dawn of the new Renaissance.  

BP7: Happiness Found in Personal Locations

To me: an architecture of  happiness involves the combination of efforts from the visual experience, the personal reflection, and the overall beauty of a specific space or place :)

The idea of this happiness implying to the "rules" of architecture can be both agreed upon or DISREGARDED because when creating a a place or space of happiness, one must understand the basic principles to create architecture that follows the rules but can also have a set of unique personal guidelines that are used for backbone support as well.

My happy place on campus is located  behind the EUC where another fountain on campus can be found.  I find happiness at this location for the fact of open harmonious decorated space and the social common area for sitting which is all organized together underneath a natural environment. During a nice sunny day, a couple can enjoy lunch together outside at this location, a hardworking student can organize notes, and day care children can sit around the fountain for lunch time.  Debotton says "Belief in significance of architecture is premised on the notion that we are, for the better or for worse, different people in different places- and on the conviction that is architecture's task to render vivid to us who we might ideally be."  (pg.11) I agree with this statement fully and there can be evidence to his belief found everyday at this happy location.
Rule: A basic rule of architecture can be the axis found at my happy place. The EUC and the fountain are located in a line going straight, and can be continued to follow a continuous axis throughout campus.  

 Now,  my happy space is located inside the EUC on the first floor. The room is specifically called the mediation room for the obvious nature of obtaining absolute silence from the entry to the interior. The entire room gives a calming feel. The space is so uniquely quiet from many spaces on campus and when searching for a getaway I find this room to make me extremely happy. I can focus in this room or sit quietly to just think to myself. This room has a window to also view my happy place through a wide glass window on the far right of the room. To block the entire glare of the sun that the window might have brought to the room there are light blue dimmers to give the room again the calm, relaxing feel of almost like a fountain which now both my space and place share. 

Rule: A basic rule of architecture is a sacred circle which is the place for gathering in early times. A place of sacredness, and unity for many early tribes and cultures. In the happy space the circle is a focal point. The circle has different flooring material from rest of the rooms floor interior.  The circle is solid wood while the rest of the flooring is carpet. The circle holds the rooms presence of silence and mediation together as one complete whole.

Erin Matthews

Non-Major

Pictures taken by myself.

RR6: The Beginning of a New Age, The Middle to be Exact: The Motte + Bailey

A Motte + Bailey During the Middle Ages the feudal system and rural living with a manor ruled the time. The time of the Roman Empire's system of a central government in which a single emperor ruled diminished giving the oppurtunity to "land lords." I say this because in the time of the Middle Ages there was a system of direct personal contracts in which a vassal pleged service to a lord, and  a farmer pleged thier farm production to the vassal ruler. This process of exchanging money and societal roles went on until the lowest peasant, but all factors of production and consumption would be given to the lord.  

This is why no doubt that the lord's "palace" was located on a Motte "a mound." The literal definition of a motte describes the literal placement of the lord's manor which stands on a mound of dirt in Medival days. To know that the lord is on the top of this mound symbolizes society in a clear sene for the Medival Ages.

a Bailey is a "walled enclosure" that laid below the motte. The Bailey was the residence for all the other inhabitants of the manor which included the vassals, servants, and peasants.  Since the Bailey is  below the manor where the lord lives, the bailey is displayed as inferior to the motte and manor.
Overall, the Motte and the Bailey come togehter to create a perfect example of the hierarchy that was created in the early Medival Times.

The Single Image's Source: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~pianoteacher3/early_myler_ancestors.html
and the rest of the reflection can be found in the Roth reading 303-304.

Designed by :
Erin Matthews
Non-Major

B6: The Glow of Religious Cathedrals

Brunelleschi's Dome: "The Duomo"

This Italian cathedral gives off the specific Italian vibe that art drives all passion, even when it comes to constructing a religious structure. The rounded arches and simple whole structure of the entire building gives me the warm welcoming Catholic feel. This cathedral is also known for it's extravagant dome that houses interior displays of Italian religious artwork in a pivotal rotation on the ceiling. Not only does the interior display artwork but also houses multiple amounts of stain glass designs that can be viewed from the exterior and interior.  Color rules this interior which may distract many who attend a service, but otherwise religious entirety displays the true meaning of "the duomo". The WorldAs discussed in class the dome shape in many  religious structures represents the world as the designer imagined. As depicted in the picture above from "the duomo" one may visualize the world as a religious core that ones who inhabit the earth worship the God of the World to reach heaven. I see the world as the lower outer rim of the dome which follows into the middle and further interior of the dome. I depict heaven as the open space in the direct axis of the dome where one can visualize a greater worldly identity further into the sky. 

   The Simple Salisbury

This plain English Gothic cathedral is located near the area of France that can directly influence the concept of Gothic identity.  The exterior of this cathedral is constructed from more of vertical, pointed spikes which are also displayed in the interior arches as well. The exterior of this structure displays such a decorative inviting feeling to onlookers to further travel inside the religious medieval sanctuary. The Salisbury cathedral is significantly more religious to me from the duomo for the simple less decorative interior to keep the idea of religious importance first from the artistic beauty of visuals. There is however a specific architectural beauty that can be distracting to the eye from the detailed interior spiked arches and intriguing spiked ceiling.  

* The cognitive map is still something that I had a hard time grasping. I struggled on this part of the blog post. Sorry to have waited until last minute to respond as not knowing parts of the classroom material. 

By: Erin Matthews 

NON-MAJOR

Unit Summary: Erin Matthews Non-Major

Week One: Looking in + outward of symbols such as objects, spaces, buildings, and places
The basis of this week was to understand that each person can interpret items and structural places differently.
Objects: Are items that are taking up space in an environment. Examples: chairs, statues, or desks.
Spaces: Can be defined as where a particular object is located and are defined because of theses objects. Examples: A football field, a ballet studio, or a classroom.
Buildings: Are structures that are filled with rooms that are spaces which have objects inside.
Examples: A church, a opera house, or a gym.
Places: Are where multiple buildings, spaces, and objects may be located

Examples: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, the city of Charlotte, or the Umhlametsi Nature reserve in South Africa.

Week Two: Circles, Groves, and Stacks
This week we studied early cultures and how the basic structures of circles, groves, and stacks were used to come together to build many temples, and buildings at that time.
Circles create equality. The space in the middle is usually sacred for the builders of a circle, and some parts of the circle are included while do not have to be included.  Example: Stonehenge
Groves can be a series of columns or tall vertical structures that point to the sky that resemble trees, or people.

Stacks are layers of composition literally stacked upon each other that resemble mountains.

Week Three: Expanding the knowledge of Stacks and Groves atop of the Acropolis's

As we began to discuss the many structures of the Acropolis I began to realize how the concept of how groves, and stacks came together as many different buildings to create such a remarkable and memorable place. My favorite building atop of the Acropolis is the Parthenon for its strong presence of thick grove like columns and the presence of simple stacking for the base of the building.

Week Four: Commodity, Firmness, and Delight

Commodity describes the value of a certain space of building. Firmness describes how strong a space or building is or how long it has been around. And Delight describes how a place or building makes you feel.

RR4: Roman History from 1000 - 31 B.C.E

The B.C.E History

Roman history is divided into three distinct phases: the rule of the early kings, the republic, and the empire.

At about 1000 B.C.E groups of Balkan settlers moved into the Italian peninsula among these men were Latins. Roughly 300 years later, it is believed, the Etruscans moved into the area north of Rome which is now Tuscany. The Etruscans gradually began to dominate the neighboring tribes including the Latins.

The Etruscans forced a king upon the city of Rome but Rome soon rebelled in 509 B.C.E and became a republic governed by a senate.

To gain more control of the surrounding lands the Romans fought a series of rigorous battles which gained them control of the Greek colonies. So by 265 B.C.E Rome was in control of the entire Italian peninsula.

The fight for power did not end at Greece but traveled to North Africa which consisted of the Punic wars, which gained Rome access to North Africa. 

The disadvantage to the growth of the Roman Empire resulted in many annexed colonies around the Mediterranean Sea which led Romans to call the Sea mare nostrum,"our sea."

In 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was appointed dictator by the senate for ten years in hope of ending the civil wars, but two years later, he was assassinated by those who wanted the old Republic back. 
Then in 31 B.C.E, Julius Caesar's nephew Octavian defeated Mark Anthony and Cleopatra extending Rome into Egypt.

This victory gained Octavian emperor and head of the army which gave him the title of Augustus. He reined for forty-one years marked by peace and the establishment of imperial bureaucracy that functioned smoothly even after his death.

Erin Matthews
Non- Major

BP5-Dale Chihuly's Fiore Di Como's Bellagio Ceiling Decoration ( A Quatrain): Crafted Flowers of the Sky

Such harmony consists here among the flowers of composition and form.

Each colored emphasis creates such elegance and unity which only the flowers know may enrapture the will for distinct beauty. 

Molded to a texture of smooth waves builds an emotion of tenderness and sensibility which may entrance a specific desire to reach high for the flowers of the multi-colored sky.


Plastered to the sky is where the flowers lie but caught in layered harmony is where such a bewildering tempo lays.


The link to the crafted flowers:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewmorrell/44509255/

Erin Matthews
Non-Major