The Byzantine Empire was the longest political entity in Europe, standing from 330-1453 CE. The designs were still highly influenced by religion and secular leadership, but unlike Early Christian designs, it became more incorporated with Eastern Europe cultures than Western. There were also splashes of Greek and Orient characteristics found throughout Byzantine architecture and interiors. The sudden increase in popularity was due to when Emperor Justinian came to power. In order to follow in his successor's past achievements, Justinian began building series of churches all over the Empire in order to unify the empire. The basilica style church become more centralized and the architectural phenomenon of the pendentive was introduced.
The shining example of the Byzantine Empire was the Hagia Sophia Cathedral. Also known as the "Church of Holy Wisdom," was the fourth church on the exact site due to previous riot fires and demolitions. The Geometricians, Anthemis of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, were the brilliant minds behind the architectural design. There was a centralized plan with a pendentive that supported a massive circular with its square base. This dome was meant to give a sense of dominance from the exterior. In the dome there was a series of windows circling around the border. Encasing the windows were hollow tiles which made up a majority of the dome.
The Byzantine architecture of the time was an influential base for future styles such as Romanesque, Islamic, and Gothic. Flooring was often decorated in geometric designs with marble. The surfaces on the walls and the ceilings were typically ornamented with marbles, frescoes, mosaics, and alabaster. There was a sense of movement in the structures due to the materials that they used. These designs also created a sense of mystery, spirituality, and power. Another common technique was iconoclasm, or the lack of imagery and statutes in their design. This was meant to prevent the actions of idolizing anyone or anything other than God and Christ.
Furniture during this time period fell into two distinct categories: The common people's and that of the palaces and churches. The common peoples' furniture was typically light in weight and fold-able so that it could be easily transported and stored because of the very cramped environments that were lived in. On the other hand, palace and church furniture was usually built to occupy a specific space. The materials used were heavy timbers and woods. These pieces of furniture were meant to last. The most popular pieces of furniture were thrones and foldable stools. They also constructed tables with worktops and bed. Beds ranged in complexity from being strung on chords, fold-able, or simple mattress on the ground.
Current Applications:
Paige S: I really enjoyed reading Paige's blog because I like how she honed in the structure of the pendentive. I thought her current application takes on the pendentive like the homes in the desert.
Stephanie: The geometric application of the bathroon tile design in her modern day application was very interesting espeically cause it goes for a much cleaner look than that of the typical Byzantine style. As well as the small windows that reflect the desire for natural daylight, like that displayed in Hagia Sophia.
Additional Links!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWhGeDUSu-s
This link gives a more in depth look into the architectural marvels of the Byzantine Empire.
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