Photo by Georgia Button
The Ponte Vecchio, designed by Taddeo Gaddi, arches over Florence’s Arno River at its narrowest point. Initially, bridge storefronts were utilized by butchers; however, over time, and through natural deconstruction and reconstruction, it has become a treasure trove full of equal numbers of jewels and tourists. It is believed to have been built in Roman times and most recently reconstructed in 1345, making it the oldest bridge in Florence.
Unity and Variety: The mechanical aspect of the bridge is quite linear and rhythmic; it consists of three arches, the center arch slightly longer than its neighboring arches. The variety exists in the extended structures. The functional portion of the bridge is what maintains unity.
Balance: The Ponte Vecchio is unique in that it does not maintain the same symmetrical balance of Florence’s architecture that shares a similar date. What makes the Ponte Vecchio so unique is its protruding structures. Small storefronts extend out over the Arno River with no particular pattern. Sparsely placed, these structures make the bridge as a whole look unfinished, but beautiful in its unique off-balanced balance.
Emphasis and Focal Point: The varied colors of the protruding structures make them the focal point of the asymmetrical bridge.
Rhythm: The mechanical aspect of the bridge is quite linear and rhythmic; it consists of three arches, the center arch slightly longer than its neighboring arches. Fourteen windows are equally distanced from each other along the top.
Scale: The Ponte Vecchio is modest in its scale compared to other monuments of its time. Its size is naturally fitting to its surrounding buildings; however, its proportions seem out of balance...
Proportion: Proportions are unique to European style: modest and small portions extending out from a bridge barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other. Each storefront is so small that they are out of proportion with the rest of the larger tourist shopping areas surrounding the Ponte Vecchio.
Unity and Variety: The mechanical aspect of the bridge is quite linear and rhythmic; it consists of three arches, the center arch slightly longer than its neighboring arches. The variety exists in the extended structures. The functional portion of the bridge is what maintains unity.
Balance: The Ponte Vecchio is unique in that it does not maintain the same symmetrical balance of Florence’s architecture that shares a similar date. What makes the Ponte Vecchio so unique is its protruding structures. Small storefronts extend out over the Arno River with no particular pattern. Sparsely placed, these structures make the bridge as a whole look unfinished, but beautiful in its unique off-balanced balance.
Emphasis and Focal Point: The varied colors of the protruding structures make them the focal point of the asymmetrical bridge.
Rhythm: The mechanical aspect of the bridge is quite linear and rhythmic; it consists of three arches, the center arch slightly longer than its neighboring arches. Fourteen windows are equally distanced from each other along the top.
Scale: The Ponte Vecchio is modest in its scale compared to other monuments of its time. Its size is naturally fitting to its surrounding buildings; however, its proportions seem out of balance...
Proportion: Proportions are unique to European style: modest and small portions extending out from a bridge barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other. Each storefront is so small that they are out of proportion with the rest of the larger tourist shopping areas surrounding the Ponte Vecchio.
No comments:
Post a Comment