RR 7-Be the change you wish to create in the world

Be The Change You Wish To See In The World

Roth: pgs. 353-362

"The Italians..began to view history in a new way. They perceived human history not as a divinely ordained continuum but as a series of successive periods, some characterized by great human accomplishment." They combined their intellect with design to change the way architecture was developed. Mathematics and human dimensions were now being incorporated into building dimensions. The Italians took a step out of the box to bring about something new and innovative. It proved successful. A lesson to be learned in all areas of life!

• The first thing they revolutionized in architecture was the direction that one’s eye

  travels. The Romans caused the eye to move up and down; the Italians decided to build their designs around horizontal and vertical components, which resembled human proportions. Traditional architecture was being thrown out the window, thus begins the RENAISSANCE.

  >>>The Egeskov Castle in Denmark is an example of Renaissance architecture, but also it is a representation of how the eye travels across instead of up and down. Just one of many examples of stacking and layering in design. http://www.everyculture.com/Cr-Ga/Denmark.html

• The second innovation to architecture began with Brunelleschi's Dome of Florence Cathedral. This structure was built using design elements that had never been utilized before. The Dome of Florence marked a huge stepping stone for Italy. A quote made by Leon Alberti, humanist scholar and theorist: "We discover unheard-of and never-before-seen art and sciences without teachers or without any model whatsoever." Brunelleschi was willing to think differently about architecture having no guide or blue print to follow. His design was pure inspiration, his interpretation of the outside world.....BUT isn't that what design is intended to be?

>>>>Overtaking the skyline in Florence, Brunelleschi's Dome showcases its uniqueness and separation from all the other buildings. It commands attention and it is granted. There is nothing else that comes close to this innovation. The Dome also uses its fellow architectural neighbors to remain unified with them by using the same roof color and materials.

http://www.thinkartmakeart.com/archexamples.htm

• The third advancement made during the Renaissance was Vitruvius's Ideal Form. His ideas were formulated through the guidance of Plato's book Philebus. This book discussed how forms can be made simply by lines and circles, and in turn how these shapes are then viewed as three dimensional. Once again, Vitruvius conceptualized that "ideal systems of proportion...can be found in the perfect proportions of the human body." He formulated how the human body is essentially made up of shapes as well. This began a movement of architects using the human body proportions as a basis for design. Circles were highly utilized because the Romans believed the eternity of a circle represented the Deity of God. These architects used already existing forms to design completely new architectural concepts.

>>>Leonardo da Vinci's capture of the Vitruvian Man...just a photo to reemphasize the idea that the ideal system of proportion is manifested through the human body proportions. Square inscribed in a circle showcases the equality to the man's arm length and height. http://jancology.com/blog/archives/2004/06/06/the_vitruvian_man.html

What these architects accomplished was almost an entrepreneurial venture in the world of architecture. They reached a whole new level of design concepts that we still use today. They broke the status quo. This idea can be transferred to anything in life, not just architecture. If you want something different, DO IT!