Renaissance architecture came to be and flourished between the early 15th and 17th centuries in different European regions, most notably in Florence, Italy.
This replaced the Gothic style architecture but also revived the Classical culture influenced by the architectural treatise of the Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius which was written in 1st century BC. Classical architecture used the basic design elements of the 5 classical orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan and Composite. Similar to Renaissance painting, many of the architectural works done during this era were for the Catholic Church. Renaissance architecture’s highest form of art was the building of churches.
Renaissance architecture, just like the classic style of ancient Roman architecture, emphasized on symmetry, proportion, geometry, and the regularity of parts. Influenced by the Pythagorean and Platonic concepts, Renaissance architects believed that God created the universe using mathematical harmony wherein the different parts are related to each other by harmonic mathematical ratios. These ratios which were used to build the churches were considered to symbolize perfect beauty. However, instead of the cross, Renaissance architects used the circle which they regarded as the ideal basis for a church plan because it is a perfect figure and therefore the perfect symbol for God.
Vitruvius, whose works influenced Renaissance architecture, claimed that the proportions of the building must correspond to the human figure. Thus, the famous Renaissance painting of a human anatomy drawn in a circle is called the Vitruvian. One of those who were influenced by Vitruvius and his classical style of architecture was Florentine Filippo Brunelleschi, who is regarded as the first great Renaissance architect. His most distinguished work was the construction of the cathedral of Florence’s dome. He made several trips to Rome where he studied the remains of the ancient buildings and learned about the principles used in their construction. After which he was able to complete the construction of the cathedral’s dome which dominated the Florentine skyline since 1436 while Brunelleschi’s creation of the Foundling Hospital of Florence’s open porch, one of his many other achievements, was considered to be the first truly Renaissance building.
Other important Renaissance characteristics and architectures that influenced the many facets of architecture during this era include:
- Leon Battista Alberti – wrote the Ten Books on Architecture which was inspired by Vitruvius and became the bible of Renaissance architecture
- Donato Bramante – his creations ushered in the High Renaissance
- Mannerism – became the style of late Renaissance which was characterized by sophistication, complexity, and novelty
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