ROMANESQUE AND ISLAMIC

The Romanesque and Islamic styles are two distinct cultures, that eventually became very iconic historical eras of architecture and design.

ROMANESQUE

Two very famous pieces of furniture from the Romanesques were two different chairs. The first chair, more of a throne, was shaped as an x and was made of metal. This chair was used by the ruler, Dagobert I. A significant part of the Throne of Dagobert is the bronze details it uses.

The second chair was used by Charlemagne, another ruler in the Romanesque era. This throne was made of marble sheets, although not very decorated, but raised and lofted to show his importance and higher rank as the leader he was. Charlemagne created a united and stable government during this time, and there was a time period and style created after him called Carolingian.

Romanesque cities included a lot of fortresses, using wattle-and-daub and timber construction primarily inside the walls. A prime example of these cities is Aigues-Mortes, which portrays the twisting and confusing streets of these medieval cities, creating confusion for outsiders of the city.

Another significant part of design used by the Romanesques were church facades. They were used to portray bible stories for illiterate people, and were basically reliefs with images and carved in details.

The facades of Romanesque churches were very significant, yet the inside of the churches are as well. They are inspired by Early Christian church plans, but developed a bit more with transepts and side aisles, creating more of an experience as you walk throughout the church.

Romanesque houses and furniture were also important pieces of history. The houses used facades as well as the churches, creating a distinction between residential and commercial spaces. In terms of furniture, chests were primarily used in homes as storage or luggage. These chests were made of different types of wood, also used for sitting, working, dining, or even sleeping, not just storage. It was a multifunctional piece of furniture.

ISLAM

Just like Romanesque and other civilizations we've studied, Islamic design is very religion-based. Mosques were one of their main pieces of architecture, inspired by Mohammed's farm. Because of the focus on individual prayer, there are multiple small rooms in the mosques, compared to one big space in Christian churches.

There were many different areas of the Islam culture that highlighted and created different aspects of design, creating new innovations and ideas. These areas include Middle East and North Africa, where they were inspired by Roman ruins. Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa worked with indigenous African traditions. The Ottoman Empire created a prototype for mosques through the conversion of a Christian church. Persian mosques used blue brick for designing motifs and throughout their architecture. Finally, the Mughal Empire set the standard for luxury. All of these Islamic cultures had a huge part to play in the development of their design and architecture choices.

Because of their religion, Islamic culture focused on mats, carpets, and pillows mostly as furniture. Prayer was huge for them, and these items were very convenient in order to do so. Another significant piece of furniture is the minbar, which is a combination of a stair, a chair, and a pulpit. It is used for where the imam preaches.

Not only did Islams focus on mosques, but they also created residential spaces. These residential spaces included gardens and pavilions, and are considered among the most important architectural developments of their culture.

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ONE STEP FURTHER

Antoni Gaudí was influenced by both Romanesque and Islamic cultures in his work. His Casa Vicens is a prime example, showcasing Moorish-inspired tile work and geometric patterns. The intricate detailing in the design reflects Islamic architecture, while the structure's solidity ties back to Romanesque roots. This unique fusion of styles makes Gaudí's work both timeless and globally influential.