Contributors

The distinct architectural styles present among religious and vernacular buildings in Europe directly impacted the parts of the Americas in which they colonized. Spain’s use of large buttresses and vaulted concrete can be seen in The Cathedral of Mexico and the ornate and detailed style also present in Spain is reflected in the Sagrario Metropolitano. Perhaps one of the most elegant religious works inspired by Spanish architecture is Mexico’s church of Santa Rose de Veterbo. With it’s complicated and colorful brick patterns, buttresses and massive exterior scrolls typical of roman columns, it becomes obvious that this architectural work is rooted in christianity.

Figure 3: Queretaro, Mexico, Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Ignacio Mariano de las Cases, 1727

In contrast with the wide range of christian architecture in South America, brought over from southern Europe, the protestant churches found in North America look quite different. North America’s colonization by England brought about architecture of a very similar style to their own. Vernacular houses were constructed primarily out of timber, with clapboard siding and wood shingles lining the gabled roofs. Plantations and larger estates were often built with brick and accented with columns at their entrances. This style heavily influenced churches as well. While in South America churches differed widely from the vernacular, posing as more monumental structures, North American churches and buildings of importance tended to blend in more. They were made of brick or half timber, with similar gabled roofs and columns lining their front facades. What also separated North and South America and was heavily impacted by colonization was their city planning. When Spain colonized Mexico, cities were constructed on a very orthogonal and gridded plan, with buildings lining the sides of every street. As for North America, they resembled the English countryside, with houses being set apart from the streets and given much more space from each other. (Luc Thorington)