December 2023 Architecture Archive — Macklowe Art & Architecture

December 2023 on Macklowe Art & Architecture brings together short, practical posts about classic styles that still shape buildings today. Want inspiration or usable ideas for a project? This archive covers Roman, Greek Revival, Byzantine, Baroque, Art Nouveau, Mediterranean Revival, Colonial, and Dutch Colonial Revival themes with clear takeaways.

Each post highlights a few concrete features you can apply right away. The Roman piece explains arches, vaults, and civic layout ideas that work well for public buildings and large interiors. The Greek Revival post focuses on column orders and proportion rules that help make a facade feel formal and balanced.

Art Nouveau appears twice: one post explains how to use flowing ornament, ironwork, and stained glass in modern settings; the other honors key architects and projects so you can copy specific motifs without overdoing them. If detail work excites you, these posts show how to pick one signature element and repeat it for cohesion.

Practical design tips you can use

Materials and small design moves give big results. Mediterranean Revival suggestions include stucco, terracotta, arched openings, and courtyard layouts that suit warm climates or a relaxed residential look. Byzantine ideas center on domes, mosaics, and daylighting tricks that create strong focal points in interiors.

For drama, Baroque teaches contrast, layered ornament, and directed sightlines to guide the eye in a room or square. Colonial and Dutch Colonial Revival posts list simple home upgrades like roofline choices, window patterns, and porch details that add historic character without huge cost.

Worried about budget or authenticity? You don’t need full recreations. Pick one or two elements — a Doric column for a restrained entry, an Ionic pilaster for a touch of elegance, a patterned tile band in a courtyard — and combine those with modern systems for structure and energy efficiency.

How to use this archive right now

Start by choosing a style that matches your goal: formal civic presence (Greek Revival), expressive detail (Art Nouveau), relaxed residential (Mediterranean), or dramatic public space (Baroque). Read the linked post for examples, then sketch a single element to test: an arch, a courtyard plan, a cornice profile, or a mosaic inset.

Need materials or help? The posts point to craftsmen, reclaimed material ideas, and museums or case studies you can check. Use the site tags or the December titles list to jump straight to a style. Scan the images and the "what to try" notes to save time.

If you’re researching or just love architecture, this month’s archive gives focused reads and practical next steps. Open a post, pick one concrete idea, and try it on paper or at the next site visit — that’s how historic style becomes useful, not just pretty.