what is french architecture called

What is French architecture?

French architecture consists of numerous architectural styles that either originated in France or elsewhere and were developed within the territories of France.

What is French Gothic architecture?

From the mid-12th century until 1500, French Gothic architecture was a predominant one in Europe. Even to this day, it stays one of the most typical French architectural styles with a unique, distinct character. Interestingly, the term was first used in the Renaissance, and was before known as Opus Francigenum which means french work.

What are some of France's accomplishments in architecture?

French architecture. French architecture ranks high among France's many accomplishments. Indications of the special importance of architecture in France were the founding of the Academy of Architecture in 1671, the first such institution anywhere in Europe, and the establishment in 1720 of the Prix de Rome in architecture,...

When did French architecture start and end?

French architecture From the 8th to early 19th centuries, French architects depended on royal patronage, although the 10th-century Benedictine abbey at Cluny had an influence on church architecture. During the 11th and 12th centuries, cathedrals in the Romanesque style were constructed.

What is Paris architecture called?

Haussmann architectureThe Haussmann style of architecture, also known as Haussmannian, is the architecture that defined modern-day Paris. In the 19th century, Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, a Parisian official with no architectural background, revamped the city at the request of Emperor Napoleon III.

What is French house style?

A French-style home, also called a French provincial home, is a stone, brick, or stucco house with a steep rooftop and large windows. Often featuring courtyard gardens, iron gates, and gravel pathways, French-style homes are known for their rustic appeal.

What is the most popular architecture in France?

PALACE OF VERSAILLES – PARIS AREA The glittering palace of Versailles is one of the most stunning landmarks of France, and regularly tops the list when it comes to famous French architecture.

Where is French architecture most commonly used?

French Architecture in North France: Maison à Colombage Maisons à Colombage (half-timbered houses) are found mainly in northern France and particularly in Normandy, Champagne and Alsace (where the French architecture style is German influenced).

What is classic French architecture?

French Gothic architecture is a style of architecture prevalent in France from 1140 until about 1500, which largely divided into four styles, Early Gothic, High Gothic, Rayonnant, Late Gothic or Flamboyant style.

What are French houses called?

While several types of French buildings are referred to as chateaux, most all of them are grand and prestigious. Many of them sit on plenty of agricultural land and have been restored in recent years with modern features.

Which of the following is an iconic French building?

Eiffel Tower Of all the famous French landmarks, the Eiffel Tower is a must-see. Of all of the famous French landmarks and buildings to visit, the Eiffel Tower has to be at the top of the list. This iconic structure stands tall in the centre of Paris, and is visited by around 7 million people each year.

What is the most famous French landmark?

Eiffel TowerEiffel Tower This iconic Paris monument has been putting its mark on the city's skyline since 1889 when it was presented to the public during the World Fair. That was also a symbolic year, exactly 100 years after the French Revolution.

What are the two most famous buildings in France?

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, Paris It is the most visited monument in Paris, meaning it is more popular than the Eiffel Tower. The Notre-Dame Cathedral became more well-known when it was featured in a novel written by Victor Hugo, a 19th-century writer.

What is French art called?

From the mid to late seventeenth century, French art is more often referred to by the term "Classicism" which implies an adherence to certain rules of proportion and sobriety uncharacteristic of the Baroque, as it was practiced in most of the rest of Europe during the same period.

Who created French style architecture?

It was quickly changed into French Mannerism after its introduction in the late 15th century. Henry II, who collaborated with Italian architects and painters to create the Palace of Fontainebleau, is credited with popularising this style of French architecture.

What is Normandy style?

The architecture is characterized by steep, conical roofs or hipped roofs and round stair-towers. They generally have stone walls and an asymmetrical plan. Like Tudor style houses, 20th-century French Normandy homes may have decorative half-timbering.

How are French homes different from American homes?

In France (and many parts of Europe), homes are built differently than the majority of homes in the USA. French houses use cinder blocks, stone, or bricks instead of wood in most cases. This is the case for the vast majority of both new construction and apartment buildings.

What is French country decorating style?

French-country style combines European elegance with rustic comforts. Using soothing hues, soft patterns, and antique accents, the popular decorating aesthetic creates an inviting look that's both polished and lived-in. Use these charming ideas to incorporate French-country decor into your home.

What is modern French country style?

Modern French Country style incorporates stone and patina finishes, inviting imperfections, tons of character, and curves galore. The style as a whole plays with vintage elements while still feeling clean, intentional, and warm.

What is French country architecture?

French country architecture is inspired by the grand and stately homes that are found throughout the countryside landscape of the Provence region of France. A balanced mix of classic luxury and provincial freshness, French Country design conveys timeless elegance without feeling stuffy or overindulgent.

What type of facade is used in French country homes?

French country homes typically have a simple stone or brick facade. Because symmetry is a key element in many French styles—from French-style gardens to French Colonial style —the facade is usually flat.

What were French country homes inspired by?

Unlike French Provincial homes, which were inspired by the grandeur of King Louis XIV's reign —on a smaller, more rustic scale, of course—French country homes were typically influence by their surrounding natural elements.

How to decorate a French country home?

Ready to say "oui" to French country style in your own home? Some simple ways to add a rustic and lived-in, yet elegant vibe to your home include: 1 Choosing furniture with low-sheen and natural upholstery. Furniture upholstered in white, cream, or pale yellow, linen fabric is extremely common in French country homes. 2 Add pattern and texture to your space with traditional French country accessories. Think: toile upholstery, blue and white porcelain plates, or woven baskets. 3 Choose slightly distressed or weathered wood furniture, flooring, or accent pieces. 4 Layer your newer home furnishings and goods with antique or vintage pieces. Scour your local flea markets or antique stores for ceramics, mirrors, or clocks. 5 Stick to a neutral color palette with warm accents. As previously mentioned, white, cream, and gray, among other soft shades are often used in French country homes. Accent these calming colors with greens, reds, blues, or even black to add some depth and warmth.

What are the tall windows on French country houses?

The tall, rectangular windows on French country homes not only add to the symmetry of the structures, but make them appear taller, too. Windows on the first and second floors are typically perfectly aligned, and often decorated with arches or wooden shutters.

How many chimneys are there in French country homes?

Adding to the provincial style of French country homes, many homes feature two chimneys—one on each side of the house.

What is the most common fabric in French country homes?

Choosing furniture with low-sheen and natural upholstery. Furniture upholstered in white, cream, or pale yellow, linen fabric is extremely common in French country homes.

How to layer newer home furnishings?

Layer your newer home furnishings and goods with antique or vintage pieces. Scour your local flea markets or antique stores for ceramics, mirrors, or clocks.

What style of architecture did the French use?

French architecture From the 8th to early 19th centuries, French architects depended on royal patronage, although the 10th-century Benedictine abbey at Cluny had an influence on church architecture. During the 11th and 12th centuries, cathedrals in the Romanesque style were constructed.

What were the most important buildings in the 13th century?

In the 13th century, Gothic cathedrals, such as Chartres and Notre-Dame, were built. From 1494 the influence of Italian Renaissance architecture grew, inspiring kings such as Francis I and Henry IV to commission magnificent palaces, including Fontainebleau and the Louvre.

What is the French Colonial style?

The style, which is sometimes referred to as Cajun cottage, Creole architecture, plantation architecture, or raised houses, has become an iconic building style of the American southeast. Although French Colonial style has evolved and adapted over the last several centuries, today's French Colonial homes have held onto many ...

Where are French colonial homes located?

As previously mentioned, the largest concentration of French Colonial structures can be found in urban and rural Louisiana. The Garden District of New Orleans boasts hundreds of beautiful, traditional French Colonial homes, while rural Louisiana offers expansive plantation homes built in the French Colonial style.

What is a wrap around porch?

A large, wrap-around porch: Known as a galérie, a wrap-around porch is a key element to French Colonial architecture. Most French Colonial homes featured a lower porch, off of the servants' quarters, and an upper porch, surrounding the owners' rooms. Although these porches were originally built to protect the home from heat and rain, ...

Why were ceilings raised in French Colonial homes?

Ceilings were raised and vaulted to alleviate the extreme heat that accumulated inside the house. Although French Colonial homes were once small, symmetrical structures that typically measured one room deep by two rooms wide, the average size changed over time, too.

Why were galeries built?

The iconic wrap-around porches —called galéries—were built to protect the homes from strong sunlight, heat, and rain. Homes were propped up by a raised basement to protect living quarters from flooding. Ceilings were raised and vaulted to alleviate the extreme heat that accumulated inside the house.

What are the iron porches and balconies in French Colonial homes?

Adding iron elements to a home isn't a traditional French technique, so the iron porches and balconies you see today are unique to America's French Colonial structures. Exterior stairs and hallways: In order to cross-ventilate the home, many French Colonial houses were built with exterior staircases and hallways.

Why did French colonists build basements?

A raised basement: In order to protect the home's living quarters from flooding during the rainy season or hurricanes, French Colonial homes were often propped up on first-level basements. These basements offered protection from the elements, as well as additional storage space for the family.

Where did the French architecture originate?

The story of French architecture begins in the Roman period, when the region of Gaul was under the rule of the Roman Empire. The remnants of some notable Galo-Roman designs in France have fortunately been preserved, such as Maison Carree and Amphiteatre in Nimes, The Gallo-Roman Museum of Lyon-Fourvière in Lyon, or Alyscamps in Arles, one of the most famous necropolises from the ancient period. Furthermore, one can find the remains of some interesting pieces of ancient infrastructure across France, such as the aqueduct Pont du Gard in Nimes and Barbegal mill near Arles. All of the typical characteristics of Roman architecture were made manifest here as well - the emergence and deployment of concrete, and the utilization of arches and vaults.[1]

What were the two styles of French architecture?

The two other styles of French Architecture of the period, Rayonnant and Flamboyant, are both derived from High Gothic architecture, but its builders were more concerned with the two-dimensional, decorative aspects than the structural aspects and the actual use of space. The latter is supposed to be the stylistic "child" of the former, although the actual point of transition was never made entirely clear. The desire to display a light, yet complex and tall structure and to play with illumination was further explored during this period. The Rayonnant period coincided with several innovations related to glass and window glazing, which affected the subsequent change in window design. They used larger windows and introduced a glazed triforia, as well as a significant change in the window tracery design - the windows were no longer framed by plates but appeared as if they were gently touched by thin bars. [4]

What was the first unified style of architecture?

The first unified style to arise in Europe in the Middle Ages was Romanesque style. Incidentally, the name literally means "descended from Roman", which comes as a paradox since it is the first big thing to emerge after the fall of the Romans. Even though we take the context of the 10th century as the precursor of Romanesque architecture, it is hard to discern the exact date and place of its origin. There are many examples of buildings in northern Italy and France dating from the period between the 8th and the 10th century that have some Romanesque features and this is called First Romanesque or Lombard Romanesque.[3] They were nonetheless designed before the style was more widely recognized and established, when most of the Romanesque architecture was influenced by the Abbey of Cluny. Do notice that France is associated with this style either way, which makes it inseparable from the story. Both the early and the late Romanesque style is characterized by thick walls and piers from which the domes arose, reductive approach to decoration and sculpture and a rhythmic repetition, both on the facade (through identical windows and arches on the facade) and in terms of structure (arches that constitute the nave). A typical feature is the use of three portals that lead into the nave. In the later period, from the early 13th century onward, the constructions were increasingly decorated by pinnacles and long spires. These features gave impetus to the recognizable Gothic style later.

What was the Renaissance style of architecture?

In France, it became the prevalent type of architecture used mostly for designing chateaux and typically affiliated with the royals. Quite soon after its initiation in the late 15th century, it transformed into French Mannerism. This style of French architecture was better known under the name of Henry II, who worked with Italian architects and artists to help him design the Palace of Fontainebleau. They also founded the First School of Fontainebleau, which is one of the two schools that marked the era of taught artistic production in France during the 16th and early 17th century.

What was the name of the style of architecture that was replaced by Neoclassicism?

Rococo was soon replaced by Neoclassicism, and although this happened during Louis XVI's reign, it could be associated with the significant changes that happened in France at the end of the 18th century. Rococo was condemned both by the people who linked it to the monarchy and the historians who had no understanding of the "playful" character, describing it simply as bad taste (which is not to say that this matter shouldn't be revisited today). Neoclassicism, then, came as a return to order. Several streams were notable in this period, one of them being the Greek Revival that lasted until the end of the 19th century, when it was finally seen as counter-modern and counter-progressive. It coincided with Romanticism and Gothic Revival. Interestingly, Greek Revival was never a popular style, neither among the ordinary people nor the state - as if the orderly, rigorous architecture simply does not correspond with the French taste.

History of French Country Architecture

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The History of French Colonial Architecture

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Must-Have Elements of French Colonial Architecture

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