Renaissance Revival architecture

Renaissance Revival architecture (also known as Neo-Renaissance) is used to describe the characteristics of many 19th century architectural revival styles that were Italian in nature. The birth of Renaissance Revival is usually credited to Filippo Brunelleschi, who wanted to bring organization to architecture. From his ideas, symmetrical, proportionate buildings were born. In keeping with the Italian design, most Renaissance Revivals are decorated with pediments, shallow pilasters and arcades.

Features

 * Cube-shaped
 * Balanced, symmetrical façade
 * Smooth stone walls, made from finely-cut ashlar, or smooth stucco finish
 * Low-pitched hip or Mansard roof
 * Roof topped with balustrade
 * Wide eaves with large brackets
 * Horizontal stone banding between floors
 * Segmental pediments
 * Ornately-carved stone window trim varying in design at each story
 * Smaller square windows on top floor
 * Quoins (large stone blocks at the corners)

"Second" Renaissance Revival Houses are larger and usually have:


 * Arched, recessed openings
 * Full entablatures between floors
 * Columns
 * Ground floor made of rusticated stone with beveled edges and deeply-recessed joints

History
Renaissance, which is French for re-birth, is used to refer to the movement in art and architecture in Europe between the 14th and 16th century. Renaissance Revival takes the style from the Renaissance period and intergrates some ancient Greek and Roman building features, such as columns, a portico, or even the occasional arch. At the beginning of the Renaissance Revival, buildings were simply designed, with little or no decorative design. As the Renaissance Revival continued, buildings became more ornate in design. Some of the most popular buildings that employ this style of architecture are the opera houses that are sprinkled across Europe. With their large arches, their carved stone window trim and their large quoins, the flamboyant design of the later Renaissance Revival made this style of architecture ideal for the theater.

Renaissance Revivals that took place in France were sometimes incorporated with the Baroque style. These buildings (built in the style known as "Second Empire") were ideal in the use of bureaucratic buildings and other public buildings. These buildings were often highly extravagent, with heavy Classical ornamentation. These buildings later would represent some of the highest quality of palladian architecture.

By the early 20th century, when Renaissance Revival styles were being seen around the world, it seemed to fall out of favor in Europe in the 1900s. In England, it is still common to see this style of architecture being used as a bank or other municipal buildings, though these buildings are often well abused or have been added onto in a manner inconsistent with the period of time in which it was created.

Architects
Notable architects associated with this style include:
 * Filippo Brunelleschi
 * Charles Barry
 * Joseph Paxton
 * Peter Speeth
 * Henry Hobson Richardson
 * Rudolf Eitelberger
 * Auguste de Montferrand