FORMS, SPACE & SHAPES

PALAZZO MEDICI RICCARDI, FLORENCE, ITALY.

GENERAL CHARACTERSITICS, APPERANCES, FORMS, SHAPES AND SPACES OF THE RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE

Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries which demonstrate a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance architecture followed Gothic architecture and was succeeded by Baroque architecture.

Romansque Architecture

Gothic Archtecture

Renaissance Architecture

6th - 10th century

12th - 16th century

15th - 17th century

(i) Emphasizes on symmetry, proportion, geometry and regularity of forms.(ii) Implementations of classical ordered elements ( ancient Roman architecture ).(iii) Usage and implementations of columns, pilasters and lintels.(iv) Repetitive usage of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aedicules.(v) Replacement and substitution of complex proportional systems and irregularity into

simples forms.

EXTERIOR

(i) FAÇADE ( before extension )

- Usage of tripartite elevation which surrounds the building( height of structure per floor decreases as it goes higher )

- Density of the façade of the building decreases as it goes upwards to avoid the face of the building getting constrained.

Ground Floor Façade : -

(a) Ground floor density is denser as larger arches alternating with small squared windows filled the façade. ( Florentine manner ).

(b) Windows are heavily barred to portray cell like windows.(c) Walls are fabricated using rusticated bricks.

1 st Floor Façade : -

(a) Repetitive implementations of Pair Light Windows which is enclosed as a pair under a single arch.

(b) Walls are implemented via less robust rusticated brick walls to decrease density in conjunction with the decreased height.

(c) Brick crust arch is fitted atop of the arch of the Pair Light Windows which are centered by roundels.

1. Brick Crust Arch2. Arch3. Roundels4. Pair Light Windows

2 nd Floor Façade : -

(a) Façade are the least dense among all three floors.(b) Fabricated with Pair Light Windows fitted under an arch and roundel.(c) Plain non textured walls to decrease density in terms of ornaments

along with its decreased height.

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As an overall, the façade implements the tripartite elevation by which heights are decreased as it goes upwards. In order to avoid the façade being visualized as too constraining in terms of space, the density of the walls in terms of texture and also ornamental structure are reduced gradually as it moves upwards.

Each floors are topped with cornices and the cornices for the ground floor and first floor of the building forms sills of the windows for the first and second floor of the building.

1. Elaborated cornice2. Family Coat of Arms3. Tabernacle Windows / Kneeling Windows ( Inginocchiata ) - addition

by Michelangelo after later extension

The elaborated cornice act as an entablature to support the weight of the roof. It portrays the might and nobility of the owner and hence leading to it indirectly portraying a slight classicism motif. The family coat of arms further portrays the family’s reputation, wealth and nobility at that particular period of time.

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Partial Elevation Of the Frontal Façade ( South East Elevation )

Frontal Façade of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi ( South East Elevation )

Placement & Orientation of structure on Façade : -

Family Coat Of Arms

Mullioned Windows ( Pair Light Windows )

The main entrance is emphasized by the elaborated rusticated stonework and is further emphasized in terms of placement through its orientation being in the center of the building’s ground floor façade.

The tabernacle windows / kneeling windows are placed in a way whereby they are both flanking the main entrance on both the left and right side.

Close Up Details of Shape and Forms of the Kneeling Windows : -

Kneeling WindowsCrowning Cornices

( Entablature )

Family Coat Of Arms

Roundels Medallions

Kneeling windows or also known as the tabernacle windows ( Inginocchiata ) added and design by Michelangelo, is called that way in the sense that it is further supported by two aedicules ( brackets ).

Side Elevation ( South West Elevation ) indicating the kneeling windows which fabricates the façade

Family Coat of Arms

Aedicules

Kneeling Windows

Aedicules

(i) Coat of Arms of Medici (ii) Coat of Arms of Riccardi

Both of the family coats of arms signifies its modesty, nobility and wealth and also reputation. It also signifies the families’ occupation as two wealth banking families.

Close up images of the Family Coat of Arms of Medici

Coat of Arms of Medici

Coat of Arms Riccardi

Close up image of the placement of the Family Coat of Arms of Medici onto the edge of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi

Close up images of the Family Coat of Arms of Riccardi

Roundels Medallions

The roundels medallions which represents it bearing the Medici symbols and acts as an ornamental structure to fabricate the façade which is also use to centralize the arches and the mullioned windows ( Pair Light Windows ).

Crowning Cornices ( Entablature )

Roundel Medallions

The moulding cornices & entablatures reflect classical motive design and architectural style which is decorated with lilies which forms the Farnese Architectural ornamental style.

Cornices ( Entablature )

INTERIOR

Palazzo Medici Riccardi are those typical Renaissance palaces whereby it is orientated inwards to be away from busy and noisy streets, hence leading to the building having its own open courtyard / cortile or cloisters. The cloisters are influenced and adapted from typical traditional Roman Peristyles.

(i) Nearly symmetrical balance alignment

Main Stairs

Central Courtyard / Cloister

Imperfect Square as main shape and form

Nearly symmetrical balance alignment

Main entrance doorway

- In accordance with the style of architectural design in the Renaissance architecture trend which emphasizes symmetry, proportion and balance, this building set to obey the rules of that particular trend.

(ii) Main stairs- The main stairs are not really emphasized in the way that they are

design to seem to be enclosed in walls which flank one side of the cloister.

(iii) Main entrance & doorway- It is situated in the middle of the façade which directs to a long tunnel

like entrance into the central axis of the court.(iv) Internal central courtyard , cloister / cortile - The main feature of the entire building which is greatly influenced by

Brunelleschi.

Internal Central Courtyard ( Monastic Cloister / Cortile )

Replaced with conjoined columns instead of pilasters

The internal courtyard is inspired from Brunelleschi’s design for the Foundling Hospital’s façade. The elements and ornaments of designs is implemented and the entire façade is bent around to form a hollow square – courtyard. It is contrasting to the highly robust and elaborated exterior in order to portray simplicity and serenity of life.

Colonnaded loggia

First piano nobile

Open colonnade ( Michelozzian &

Corinthian colonnade )

Usage of three main principles in design : -

(i) Simplicity

(ii) Powerful

2nd Floor

1st Floor

Ground Floor

Symmetrically balanced arrangement

and alignment

Usage of ornaments such as arches roundels and brick crust arches shows strong enclosure

of the windows

(iii) Repetitive

The repetition of windows, roundels, arches and also arches to fabricate the entire indoor façade of the central cortile.

Specifications and details of the Central Cortile up close

The internal height of the façade of the central cloister is identical to that of the exterior façade of the building.

Implementations in order to decrease the visual space constrain within the internal cloister :

(i) Frieze is brought highly elaborated and wider which comprises of roundels which are placed below the centers of the pair light windows in order to make it seems closer together.

(ii) The pair light windows are centered above the middle of the arch and directly above the frieze’s roundels.

(iii) The spaces between the arches of the pair light windows which meet at the corners of the courtyard are smaller compared to the

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spaces between the pair light windows at a single face of the façade of the courtyard.

All of the specifications and features of the central cortile are designed in a way that it covers up the errors for all the 4 sides of the central courtyard at the tighter angles of the central courtyard.

- The arrangement of the main building of the entire Palazzo Medici Riccardi is mainly composed by two cuboids whereby the main building is flanked at the right side by another extension.

- The size difference between the main building and the extended section is not that distinctive in terms of the back part.

- The alignment of the entire building is placed in a way that its slightly symmetrically balanced.

Central cortile

Referencinghttp://www.visual-arts-cork.com/architecture/renaissance.htm

http://www.house-design-coffee.com/colonnade.html

1) The architecture of the Italian renaissance / Peter Murray2) Italian architecture from Michaelangelo to Borromini / Andrew

Hopkins3) Florence: the city and its architecture / Richard Goy4) World architecture : the masterworks / Will Pryce