Renaissance Architecture

After the age of Gothic Architecture, the time steps into late mid age of Europe, Renaissance began. This great revolution, led to unimaginable development of literature, science and human conscious. Architecture, which expresses the human mind and sense of art, constructed by advanced technology, stood at the center of renaissance stage, having a great development driven by renaissance.

The features of Renaissance buildings are quite different from Gothic Architecture. It focus on the plan(the square), round dome, semi circular arch, and opening windows, etc. To construct these elements are quite difficult at that time since the technology was not wide spread. But they did finish with a very grand way which still attract many visitors nowadays.

Among all the buildings in Florence, Florence Cathedral leaves me a very sharp impression. The powerful dome of Florence cathedral is seen as a technical masterpiece of its time. Its shape is extraordinary smooth compared to other buildings at that time. The extension of the cathedral choir which was built in the 13th century by Amolfo di Cambio was not completed until the addition of Brunelleschi’s dome. The octagonal tambour was vaulted with a double-shell. The inner, stronger shell supports the lighter outer shell. Both consist of a combination of rows of stone laid in herringbone pattern and open ribs. What was particulary new about this structure was the way in which a self-supporting structure was created which did not require centring.

Gothic Architecture

Gothic Architecture


Before introducing Gothic Architecture, I must explain the term "Gothic". This term gernerated in the mid age, meaning violent  dark. However, as to architecture, it represents buildings distinguished from Roman and Greek Culture, which were thought to be classic. The reason of that Gothic Architecture occur is that there was a trend of unhomeless and people want to get rid of classic, which were strict with their thought and life style for a long time. Literature did not have a great revolution, but architecture did.

The typical features of Gothic Architecture are pointed arch, flying buttress, and water spout, etc. These features appear mostly is because the innovation of constructing tenichque and idea of design. Compared to classic desigh, which focus on the external design, like the grand column and wonderful carve, Gothic buildings would not express the feeling of grand from appearance. However, when we step into the cathedrals and look at the unreachable roof, a feeling of   raised. Human is no longer as mighty as we thought compared to god. And the way to design the building aims to create such a feeling, remind human of his small and certainty of death.The pointed arch exactly gives us this feeling. It is very tall and narrow, like the babel tower, leading our sight to the sky, also where god lives.

 Further study:http://www.athenapub.com/14gothic-architecture.htm

Great design of Peninsula

                     The design of the hotel     

       The hotel itself was designed by a British architecture, W.D. Goodfellow, aiming to make its mark on the Kowloon harbourfront. The name Peninsula was synonymous with luxury, class, elegance and style. It had seven floor and it was quite a tall building at that time. The hotel applied the neoclassical design, similar with Greek architecture, distinguishes themselves with buildings surrounded itself. The architect did not design it in a complex way, but simplified lines of architecture. Seeing from the above view, it shaped like the word “H”. Appearance of the hotel was like combination of three box, creating a courtyard in the middle.Every windows and Roman-style columns were well carved. In addition, he used light yellow as the color of the hotel, which gives passenger a grand and luxurious feeling.And the roof was Gothic design with some decoration like statues of human faces. 


       

old peninsula

            


        In order to do more research about Peninsula Hotel, I had a visit to it. When Peninsula came to my sight, I was a little bit shock because the pool in the Roman style garden was not large but well design with its flowing water. And there were several Rolls-Royces parking in order beside the front gate. Standing at the front of Peninsula, the extension part of the hotel seemed to be very tall. Maybe it was because I could hardly take a full views of it. I felt I was folded into the courtyard and could not hold myself to go into the hotel. 

canteen in lobby

        That was what the designer want. Let customers have the feeling that they are welcomed. What I noticed is that the Pen plants many trees and grass to decorate environment outside the hotel. Since the hotel was built up by marbles which have long history, I also felt warm and relaxing instead of cool that steel or glass material buildings give me. The front doors were so grand with glass and marble design. When I step into the lobby, I was confused whether this was my another home. Light system was well adjusted, letting out warm yellow light. Soft music was playing with a slow speed, relaxing everyone who enters Peninsula. The roof was decorated with a lot of Europe style patterns like flowers and clouds. Marble columns was perfectly organized by designer.It is not only acting the role for supporting structure, but also divided the lobby into different functioning area like restaurant and service area. Sometimes, Columns will hide my view, which created sense of security and not allow me to see through all the things around here. There were some impressive marble statues standing at the entrance of canteens or lifts, enhancing the sense of art and humanity. Walk up to the second floor, there was a European style buffet restaurant. The rooms and suites in The Peninsula are furnished to the very highest standards of luxury, blending classical European elegance with subtle oriental influences.

roof of lobby

            
         This trip to Peninsula is quite wonderful.

Peninsula Hotel, quite wonderful and romantic

Brief introduction of Peninsula, HK

Peninsula Hotel

      Peninsula Hotel, “Grande Dame in the Far East”, enjoys a good reputation of the world for its perfect services and highly prestigious hotel design. It is said that waiters have to open the front door 4000 times a day, indicating how attractive Peninsula is. The hotel, owned by Kadoorie family, has been selected several times as the world's best hotel by different authorities and is consistently in the world's top 10 hotels.Local people are so proud of Peninsula and give a nick name to it, “the Pen”

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       The Pen was given a perfect location. Lying at the central of Tsim Sha Tsui, there are a lot of famous shopping centers and commercial centers, such as New World Center and Harbor City. MTR station is not far away from the hotel and it locates at the starting point of the longest road of Kowloon island, Nathan Road. To walk to the famous attraction Star Ferry, where you can take a trip across Victoria Harbor, it takes just10 minutes walk. Peninsula enjoys the fantastic view of Victoria Harbor, as you stand on a height. The art atmosphere is created by Cultural Center and Space Museum, where people can relax themselves by listening to music or watch scene of the harbor with sea wind. Though it is quite near the shopping centers, this area is not so crowded because there are also a lot of hotels lying at here, like two high level hotels, Salisbury YMCA Hotel and Sheraton Hotel , standing beside it. Another famous hotel, Kowloon Hotel, stays behind the Pen. With all these stated above, it creates environment which is suitable for vistors to live, quiet, joyful and convenient.


Main page of Peninsula Hotel;
http://www.peninsula.com/Hong_Kong/sc/default.aspx

What is architecture?

                 

       Building is a basic need and social act. The primary aim of architecture was to fulfil the basic human need for security, providing protection from the weather and attack from wild animals. Thus, it is quite strong and almost impossible to escape the evidence of building activity wherever people lived.

       Architecture also was considered as “mother” of visual arts, as painting and sculpture often developed in the context of a building context. For an example, the magical carve painting is usually served as a decoration of building, lasting forever if the building do not crash.

      

In the most often cases, the image of a building is just “four walls” and a “roof”, which separate human beings from outside environment. But a building means a lot more. It greatly changes what the external environment look like. So there must be a relationship between external and inner environment.

In addition, when we see a wonderful building, questions come up, “Who build this?”, “Who commissioned this?

The designer is the soul of a building. He defines the content of the building, not only on material aspect, but also in spiritual mind.