At the end of the 18th century, the world undergoes what could be called another “Renaissance” – the Industrial Revolution. It was a time of great learning and innovation, especially in the realm of Architecture. We see a change in the function of architecture. Before this time, beautiful architecture was reserved for churches, palaces and fortresses – the remaining buildings were generally erected in the simplest means possible, without innovation. During the Industrial Revolution, we need places for manufacturing and for showing off our innovations; Architects begin designing places for work and play, expanding upon the city planning that began during the Baroque and Rococo periods.

During the early part of this revolution, the artistic world is in the depths of the Romantic movement where the artist is the highest hero, struggling to break the rules and fulfill a “personal genious.”

In this personal struggle for greatness, these artists explored different historical styles – thanks in large part to the introduction of the formal scholarly study of architecture. Through these efforts, the European world saw the Palladian and Neoclassical movements (Roman and Medieval), and Gothic Revival (Medieval).

It is the Gothic Revival, in combination with a movement in landscape gardening, ushered in the Picturesque style in England. Irregularity and variety are the signature features of this period – in fact, buildings generally look “piece meal” or as though they’ve been built over several different periods.

Neoclassicism also branched out into several new types:

-- In Structural Neoclassicism structures are made to look exactly the like antique structures.

-- Archaeological Neoclassicism is where the magnificence of past styles were mixed with the newer styles and technologies.

-- Radical Neoclassicism is an enhancement on the Archaeological form – invigorating the style.

-- Revolutionary or Visionary Neoclassicism is actually a movement away from the original Neoclassical movement. It focuses on imagination and intellect and not necessarily on the historical correctness.

In the 19th century, Neoclassicism returns to the more conventional definition. We see columns and pediments on all the new buildings.

This new version of the Palladian movement is so pervasive, we even see it in the Federalist style of the American colonies. Some of the best examples of the Neoclassical Palladian styles were those buildings – designed by Thomas Jefferson – at Monticello and The University of Virginia at Charlottesville.

Then, in 1819, painting, sculpture and architecture got a new boost through a new academic endeavor. The École des Beaux-Arts was formed out of what was already a functioning arts organization. The École established a set of universal architectural ideals based on the Greco-Roman and French Classicism movements. They demanded that form match function. These buildings were generally laid out in an overlapping grid of rectangles and squares that were so complex it was nearly impossible to copy the highly refined nuances – you had to have studied at the École in order to get exactly the correct proportions and grid. One of the most famous structures built using the Beaux-Arts form was the Paris Opera house – many consider it the crowning achievement of the Beaux-Arts period.

In the 1830s, we see a further resurrection of the gothic style when the Houses of Parliament are erected in London.

As time grew closer to the turn of the 20th century new methods of building, as well as new available technology and materials, gave rise to Civil Engineering. In this field, we generally saw a lack of regard for ideas such as scale, proportion and detail, but we saw immense achievement in the structure – the new materials were more predictable than those of the past and they had greater tensile strength as well.

We begin to see the use of iron and steel more prevalently – cast iron becoming the preferred medium for the detail work during the Art Nouveau period of the late 1800’s.

As we get further into the Modern period, we see the rise of the truly Modern style – straight, sleek lines, taller buildings that draw the eye vertiallcy, and we start to see more windows.

It is here that Modernism branches in two directions. The first is through the Bauhaus in the early 1900s. The Bauhaus school focuses on buildings that are the epitome of sleek. They show heavy influence from Cubism and Expressionism. And, they give us the “Glass Walls” that are so common in our metropolitan areas today.

The other branch of Modern architecture comes from a much more recognizable name – Frank Lloyd Wright. Being raised in the Midwest, he felt that a building should fit, or at least match, its surroundings. The lines were still very straight and formal, but the houses went from having a vertical emphasis to a horizontal emphasis; a reflection, if you will, of the horizon of the prairie. Hence, this style is called the Prairie Style house.

As we moved out of the Modern period into the post-modern, we saw a continuation of the need for innovation and improvement, and, yet, some part of our societies are still infatuated with the ancient. Only time will tell what the next prevailing style will be called!