Dear all,
first of all, I would like to congratulate the groups that yesterday presented their researches: I know that there wasn't much time but you did a good job indeed. Prof. Conte asked me to post a question for all of the 3 topics proposed yesterday, in order to give you the opportunity to comment on the blog. I will start here with the first one.
In the comparison proposed by your collegues, 3 architectural styles emerged as particularly influencial in the framework of the courts of justice buildings: neo-classical, neo-gothic and modern.
Which concept do you associate to each of these styles?
I really appreciated the interesting comparison made by the first group.
ReplyDeleteI never realized before how architectural styles of the main European Courts of justice could be so deeply influenced by their relative legal systems; It was interesting to see how the style of the buildings well reflected different legal traditions: I think that English neo-gothic style reflects solemnity, austerity, and secolar legal tradition in England; about neo-classical style I think it is not casual that it influenced so much Italian and French buildings, as a result of ancient legal and historical tradition of greek and roman classical roots. I was really surprised to see that particular German modern building, with glass windows, that symbolizes the intent of transparency and clearness, in antithesis with the darkness period of the 2nd world war.
Yes, it was a really nice job. I was especially interested to the work on the architecture of prisons. Maybe cause the night before I watched 'Bronson', a Nicolas Winding Refn drama-comedy about the real story of an english prisoner, his relations with justice, society and with the 120 prisons in which he came in and where he's still inside. (But this is another story and probably no one cares.)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, in a few words I believe the Neo-Classical takes his inspiration from the antiquity, above all the Greek-Roman. Following the Illuminist ideas, it wants to return to the old as moral and just, to overcome the pomps and the excesses of the absolute monarchies.
The Neo-Gothic is Romanticism, overcoming of the Illuminism. The Modern is functionality and sociability.
R e g a r d s
Neoclassicism architecture tends to evoke the style of a world no more existing, its buildings imposing, solemn and perfect in proportions. The main focus is on external appearance, monumental and powerful.
ReplyDeleteNeo-gothic style has ancient roots too, but here is missing that sense of nostalgia, it seems to me. Symmetry disappears, public buildings and churches are over decorated, adorned with spires meant to impress, somehow invoking respect in the population.
Moder style, in the end, is simplified, functional, lacking unnecessary ornaments, still able to impress but for its clear neat lines, suggesting an easiness to communicate peculiar of our times.
I do like the idea that modern buildings suggest easy communications, one of the main fitures of our time!
ReplyDelete