Development of Technology in Architecture since the Renaissa

Stemming off the Renaissance era the Baroque period emerged in both Rome and Paris shortly after the 1600’s. This was mostly due to the forward motion of the humanistic movement that swept across Europe. The era of independent studies that began with great minds like Galileo, was followed by genius discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton. In architecture an extreme reaction formed against the clean and static order of the Renaissance. By Utilizing bold masses of curved shapes, strong line, and rich colors the architects of this time period employed the decorative elements at their maximum appeal.

The Renaissance was a rebirth of learning that had been lost after the demise of Classical Roman and Greek Empires. The Rapid Development of science began in the renaissance because of the growth of trade. One of the most important innovations of the Renaissance was the invention of the printing press which allowed for ideas to be circulated all around Europe within a month, this also meant that the majority of people could now afford books and therefore learn to read and write. Along with the publishing of books came many new theorists and architects that now published their work, or were published about, as was the case with Filippo Brunelleschi. “A sculptor and a goldsmith; in 1401, Brunelleschi was one of the contestants in the framed sculpture competition for a new bronze door for the Florence Baptistery”1. Much more then a talented sculptor that had interest in architecture, he had a genius for mechanical engineering, hydraulics, mathematics and other scientific and technological analysis. His best-known work was his final inspiration for a great dome, an idea that he acquired from attentive studies of the cupola of the Pantheon. “From 1409 onwards, Filippo Brunelleschi worked on the construction of Santa Maria del Fiore and was immediately attracted by the problem of the cupola (Pic. #1); his design won the competition in 1418 and in 1423 he was put in complete charge of the building construction.”2 The completion of this important construction, carried out with a special technique that made it possible to create the curves of the huge cupola without a supporting framework, took most of his life and formed the basis of Renaissance architecture (Pic. #2).

Known as the age of change and renown for the Industrial Revolution the Eighteenth Century is more architecturally diverse then any other period. Rococo, Neoclassicism and Romanticism are three influential movements from this century, a century of "movements" rather than of period styles5. These movements were not sequential in their developments, but instead consisted of constantly overlapping reactions and counteractions. During the Rococo period, French architect Gernmain Boffrand (1667 – 1754) was one of the most distinguished designers (in Paris) of private places and town houses (Hotels) for the aristocracy. In his design

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