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During the Renaissance, architects became fascinated with the proportions and ideas of ancient Greece and Rome again, and symmetry became especially important.
Andrea Palladio helped make this approach hugely influential through both his villas and his writings. His ideas continued inspiring architecture long after the Renaissance itself had ended.
Later centuries brought plenty of new tastes. Baroque architecture became known for elaborate decoration and dramatic interiors, while Neoclassicism eventually returned to the cleaner proportions associated with ancient Greece and Rome.
Then, in the early 20th century, Art Deco mixed sleek modern forms with inspiration from places as varied as ancient Egypt and classical Greece. The Chrysler Building is one of the best-known examples of that style today.
And that eventually brings us to the huge variety of architecture we see now. Modernist architects started putting much more emphasis on function, often using materials such as glass and concrete.
Postmodern architecture later brought more decoration and references to older styles back into the picture. Today, architects can draw inspiration from almost any period while also using new materials and technology to try completely different ideas.
Of course, not everyone is a fan of where modern architecture has gone. Do you prefer the more traditional and timeless styles in this collection, or do you like what architects are doing today? Share your thoughts in the comments.
