[POINT : ALTERNATIVE]

After the fall of the Roman Empire, architecture of the middle ages eventually strayed from classical design principles. Emphasis on lightness and height, gave way to the birth of Gothic architecture, ultimately becoming the new style for the era. Even though the building had its vulnerability because of its support being exposed its immense structure consisted of huge stain glass windows. Everything about gothic architecture was in respect of Christianity. Being commissioned by the church most décor was dictated to religious purposes often depicting scenes from the bible, all intended to cast a sense of humility before the glimpse of the heavenly kingdom. The pinnacle achievement most associate with gothic style perhaps because of Disney or the iconic sense from the film the hunchback of Notre Dame is the Cathedral in Amiens, France. The 1400’s were a busy time for the Italians. Italy became the rebirth of antiquity.  The Renaissance awoke the classics. Greek and Roman influence shifted the gothic mentality from religious centrality, to the wonder and curiosity of man’s place in the cosmos. Villa Capra one of the most duplicated buildings in the world by Andrea Palladio embraced the urban culture and reached the artistic heights they set out for. Moving forward to the Baroque period and age of drama and theatricality came; a complex style of architecture that took on the principles of stimulating the senses. With the impending reformation of the church much was intended to keep congregations put.  The often outrageous style of Louis XIV’s palace at Versailles was designed to antimidated and displays the power and authority of the king.  The pursuit to claim our own individuality as an architect drives us to designs that breach the conventions of the here and now, always pushing us forward to tomorrow. The alternative will always be that elusive forbidden fruit that only some dare to attain. Without the path there is no goal the journey defines the architect not the rules.