Saturday, February 23, 2013

Blog #5 - Renaissance and beyond



The Renaissance was remarked by a great mind shift and a whole new approach to achieving perfection in the many developing crafts of the time. This period saw the birth of visionaries that were fostered from early on to become great at transforming the world around them. Two of these remarkable thinkers were Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. They were true Renaissance men, becoming extraordinary architects, painters, sculptors, engineers and mathematicians, to name a few of their professions. While they pursued similar occupations, their achievements can often be differentiated. 

Michelangelo certainly deserves recognition for his exquisitely detailed sculpture work, his representations of Saints and biblical figures illustrate his art of “taking away” to achieve his detailed marble work. While Michelangelo in many ways embodied the embrace of philosophy, science and mathematics that characterized the Renaissance, he was still very much motivated by religious belief when approaching his work. 









Leonardo Da Vinci meanwhile stepped far outside the bounds of faith in his study. His approach was often conceptual, contriving first designs of a helicopter and other flying machines, and engaging in detailed anatomical studies. His visions were thus often constrained to paper as his designs were too radical for their time, and remained theoretical in their construction. Nevertheless he produces impressive architectural sketches, detailing large cathedrals and ambitious dome constructions. 











When considering non-western cultures, ancient Chinese architecture offers a great example of the use of complex carpentry and masonry work to construct structures that would not be seen in the west for many centuries. Although the traditional Chinese approach to construction finds limited application in today architecture, it is often due to urban constraints and a lack of floor space area rather than structural concerns. This form of architecture combined constructional soundness with aesthetic consideration, leading to the early adoption of Feng Shui both to protect the home, and offer a pleasing environment to its inhabitants.



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