façade

(noun)

The face of a building, especially the front.

Related Terms

Examples of façade in the following topics:

  • Spanish Architecture in the Northern Renaissance

    • The new style was called Plateresque because of the extremely decorated façades that brought to the mind the decorative motifs of the intricately detailed work of silversmiths, the "Plateros."
    • A prime example of the this decorative style can be seen in the façade of the University of Salamanca.
    • The austerity of the west façade of El Escorial is typical of the classicism that re-emerged during the Renaissance.
    • The double temple façade contains engaged, as opposed to free-standing, columns in the Doric and Ionic orders.
    • The ornate façade of the University of Salamanca is a prime example of the Plateresque style.

  • Spanish Architecture in the Baroque Period

    • For example, by 1667, the facades of Granada Cathedral (by Alonso Cano) and Jaén Cathedral (by Eufrasio López de Rojas) suggest the artists' fluency in interpreting traditional motifs of Spanish cathedral architecture in the Baroque aesthetic idiom.
    • Examples of the most eye-catching creations of Spanish Baroque are the energetic façades of the University of Valladolid (Diego Tome and Fray Pedro de la Visitación, 1719) and the western façade (or Fachada del Obradoiro) of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Fernando de Casas y Novoa, 1750).
    • Michel at Louvain (1650–70), with its exuberant two-story façade, clusters of half-columns, and the complex aggregation of French-inspired sculptural detailing.
    • The facade of the Santiago de Compostela reflects the Churrigueresque facade; the lavish details of the facade have little structural use.

  • Renaissance Architecture

    • The primary features of 16th century structures, which fused classical Roman technique with Renaissance aesthetics, were based in several foundational architectural concepts: facades, columns and pilasters, arches, vaults, domes, windows, and walls.
    • Renaissance façades are symmetrical around their vertical axis.
    • For instance, church façades of this period are generally surmounted by a pediment and organized by a system of pilasters, arches, and entablatures.
    • One of the first true Renaissance façades was the Cathedral of Pienza (1459–62), which has been attributed to the Florentine architect Bernardo Gambarelli (known as Rossellino).

  • Italian Architecture in the Baroque Period

    • The same concerns with plasticity, massing, dramatic effects, and shadow and light are evident in the architectural work of Pietro da Cortona, illustrated by his design of Santi Luca e Martina (of which construction began in 1635) with what was probably the first curved Baroque church façade in Rome.
    • The façade of the building, with its chiaroscuro half-domed portico and concave side wings, closely resembles a theatrical stage set and projects forward so that it substantially fills the tiny trapezoidal piazza.
    • His early style is exemplified by the slightly concave façade of San Marcello al Corso.
    • Pietro da Cortona restored the edifice of Santa Maria Della Pace, adding a Baroque façade.

  • Temple Architecture in the Greek Orientalizing Period

    • One step spanning the width of the façade led to the pronaos.
    • On the entablature, the frieze of the façade consisted of a series of reliefs depicting a procession of riders on horseback with little variation.
    • Behind the façade of Temple A sat a doorway with an intricately designed lintel.
    • Unlike the horses on the façade frieze, each group of three panthers face each other with their heads turned toward the viewer.

  • Wiligelmo and Other Forms of Architecture

    • Wiligelmo was the carver of the Creation and Temptation of Adam and Eve (ca. 1110) reliefs at the west façade of the Duomo di Modena (Cathedral of Modena) in Italy .
    • Wiligelmo was the carver of the Creation and Temptation of Adam and Eve (ca. 1110) reliefs at the west facade of the Duomo di Modena (Cathedral of Modena) in Italy.

  • Urbino

    • Luciano Laurana, an architect from Dalmatia who had been influenced by Brunelleschi's cloisters in Florence, designed the façade, the famous courtyard, and the great entrance staircase.
    • After Laurana's departure from Urbino in 1472, works were continued by Francesco di Giorgio Martini, who was mainly responsible for the façade decoration.

  • Renaissance Architecture in Venice

    • The front façade of the Villa Foscari features several neoclassical columns.

  • Architecture of Djenne

    • Built with imposing façades with pilaster-like buttresses, many have elaborate arrangements of pinnacles forming a parapet above the entrance door.
    • The façades are decorated with bundles of rodier palm sticks, called toron, that project away from the wall and serve as a type of scaffolding.

  • Renaissance Architecture in Florence

    • Alberti designed two of Florence's best known 15th century buildings: the Palazzo Rucellai and the facade of the church of Santa Maria Novella.
    • The facade of Santa Maria Novella (1456–70) also showed similar Renaissance innovations based on classical Roman architecture.
    • Alberti attempted to bring the ideals of humanist architecture and proportion to the already existing structure while creating harmony with the existing medieval facade.
    • Façade of Santa Maria Novella church in Florence, designed by Alberti