History of architecture | world architecture

CLIMACTIC INFLUENCE
ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE • Northern Portion: Dull climate contributed
8th to 10th Century A. D. to the use of: large windows to admit light
- High pitch roof to throw off rain &
snow
• Southern Portion: Small windows to
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE minimize sun shading
- Flat Roof

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

• The Roman Empire was halved into East

and West
• Those outside the Empire were called
“Barbarians”- German tribes such as the
Franks, Saxons, Vandals, Goths; Asian • Christianity resulted into erection of a
tribes such as the Huns church.
• 4th century, Huns invaded Europe forcing • Papacy had great power & influence
the Goths and Vandals to seek shelter • According to Catholic Doctrine, Popes are
inside the Roman Empire successors of St. Peter
• Rome agreed to let them stay in exchange
for help against the Huns SOCIAL & POLITICAL INFLUENCE
• Romanesque Architecture is the
combination of Roman and Byzantine
architecture basically Roman in style.
• They grew in the countries under the
Roman rule.

GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

• The most common materials used for

constructions were stone, brick marble or
terra cotta, as well as ready-made columns
& features from the old Roman buildings
• Rise of the Religious Orders

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• Science, letters, art and culture were the
monopoly of orders
• Gave impulse to architecture; fostered art
and learning
• Establishment of “Feudal System”
• Landlords built “castle” to separate them
& protect them from the peasants
• This castle was made with manmade
canals called “Moat”
HISTORICAL INFLUENCE
• Charlemagne, a Frankish Carolingian king,
was barbarian Europe’s most effective ruler
• In 800 AD, Pope Leo III crowned him
Emperor
• Established the Holy Roman Empire, tried
to be as grand as the Roman and Byzantine
emperors before him
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• Art and civilization was restored over
Europe
• There was a new religious enthusiasm
• The crusades were conducted against
Muslims
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
• Sober and Dignified - opposite of Roman
character
• Ruins of classical buildings - classical
precedent was used only to suit the
fragments of old ornaments used in new
buildings
CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
• Developed in Italy, France, and Germany
& England
• Dormer Window – a window placed
vertically in a sloping roof with aroof on its
own.
• Groin – the curved arris formed by
intersecting
• Uses “Rib & Panel Vaulting“
Two Types of Vaulting:
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 History of architecture | world architecture

• Use of massive, architectured wall

structures, round Arches & powerful vaults

• Quadripartite - four–part vaulting

• In churches they use Latin Cross Plan

• Use of Corbelled Arches found underneath
the eaves of a church

• Sexpartite - (six–part vaulting) both were

supported by “tiers“

Parts of a Vault • Use of Rose window or Wheel window

• Helm Roof – a roof in which four faces

rests diagonally between the gables and
converges at the roof.

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 History of architecture | world architecture

EXAMPLES OF BUILDINGS Campaniles

Churches

• Every church there is a “Monastery“ at the

side

• Monastic church situated in a court open • Straight towers shafts, generally standing
to public alone
• Cloister Court • Served as civic monuments, symbols of
• Inner Court power, watch towers
• Common Court
SOUTHERN ITALY

Baptisteries • Underwent Greek, Roman, Byzantine,

Muslim and Norman rule
• Richer in design and color
• Elaborate wheel windows – made of sheets
of pierced marble
• Greater variety in columns and capitals
• Elaborate bronze doors and bronze
pilasters
• Byzantine influence: mosaic decorations,
no vaults, used domes

• Large, separate buildings usually octagonal

in plan and connected to the cathedral by
the atrium
• Used 3 times a year: Easter, Pentecost, and
Epiphany
• Muslim influence: use of striped marbles,
stilted pointed arches, colorful, geometric
designs as predominant interior decoration

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Examples: - Cathedral, Baptistery, Campanile, and

Campo Santo
- Resembles other early Basilican churches
in plan
- Exterior of red and white marble bands
- Baptistery - 39.3 m circular plan by Dioti
Salvi
- Campanile - aka The “Leaning Tower of
Pisa”, 8 storeys, 16m in diameter

FRANCE

• Remains of old buildings were less

- Cefalu Cathedral, Sicily - Most distinct
abundant– they had greater freedom of
Romanesque church in Sicily
developing new style
• Rib-vaults and semi-circular or pointed
arches over the nave and aisles
• Timber-framed roofs of slate finish and
steep slope to throw off snow

Examples:

- Monreale Cathedral - Most splendid under

Norman rule in Sicily
- Basilican and Byzantine planning

CENTRAL ITALY

• Rome, Florence, Naples, Pisa – cities rich

in pagan influence - S. Madeleine, Vezelay - Earliest pointed
• Pisa had commercial links with the Holy cross vault in France
Land; fought with Muslims

Example:

- Pisa Cathedral - Forms one of most famous - Abbey of St. Denis - Among the first
building groups in the world instances of using the pointed arch

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 History of architecture | world architecture

- Ribbed vault, pointed arch successfully

combined

- Worms Cathedral, Germany

- Eastern and western apses and octagons
- 2 circular towers flank each
- Notre Dame Du Port- Light stone vaults - Octagon at crossing, with pointed roof
and inlaid décor of different colors

GERMANY -End of Section-

- Palatine Chapel in Aachen (Aix–La–

Chapelle) - built by emperor Charlemagne
as his “royal tomb house“
- Place of coronation of the Roman Emperors

- Church of the Apostles, Cologne

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