St Peters - Research Paper Example

The building of the old St. Peter’s began in the fourth century through the authority of Emperor Constantine (“Rome Info” 1). For many years, the old St. Peter’s Basilica grew to become a historical, religious, and architectural icon (“Rome Info” 1). However, the demolition of the Old St. Peters led to the building of New St. Peters Basilica under the authority of Pope Niccolo V in mid-15th century and completed in 1615 to become a major pilgrimage site (“Rome Info” 1). Notably, the history behind New St Peters is an example of why it is necessary to update buildings architecturally to keep up with the changing times of our world, society, and culture.

In the mid-15th century, the old St. Peter’s Basilica was failing into ruins as its walls leaned out of perpendicular and it was seemingly irreparable which forced Pope Nicolas V to institute measures of restoring its pride. As such, Pope Nicolas V authorized the repair, restoration, and enlargement of St. Peter’s Basilica under the supervision of Leon Bernardo Rossellini (“Rome Info” 1). However, the construction stopped when Pope Nicolas V died prompting Pope Giulio II to transferred that responsibility to Bramante in 1506.

Indeed, Bramante demolished the old St. Peter’s Basilica in 1506 (Francia 1) and designed another Basilica with a Greek cross plan (“Rome Info” 1). Moreover, Pope Julius II directed the construction of a new basilica under the supervision of Bramante, which started on April 18, 1506 and finished on November 18, 1626 (“Catholic Online” 1). However, Rafael proposed a Latin cross plan and Michelangelo later proposed a Greek cross (“Rome Info” 1). Nevertheless, after the heated conflict on which structure to adopt in the new St.

Peter’s Basilica, pope Paolo V authorized the use of Latin cross structure (“Rome Info” 1). Indeed, the new St. Peter’s Basilica has a modern architectural design that depicts a three-aisled Latin cross with a dome at the crossing, directly above the high altar, which covers the shrine of St. Peter the Apostle. This makes the new St. Peter’s Basilica a modern pilgrimage site (“Catholic Online” 1). Ideally, Michelangelo became the chief architect for the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica in 1546 despite his failing health.

The architectural design of the new St. Peter's Basilica accommodated contributions from prominent architects like Donato Bramante, Antonio da Sangallo who designed the Pauline Chapel, Fra Giocondo who strengthened the foundation of the new St. Peter's Basilica, Michelangelo who designed the dome, Giacomo Della Porta who designed the cupola, and Gian Lorenzo Berninin who added the piazza (“Khan Academy” 1). Ideally, the architectural; design of the old St. Peter's Basilica did not relate to the modern cultures, changes, and society.

However, the new St. Peter's Basilica depicted a dome, which manifested Michelangelo's resounding architectural achievement. Indeed, the new St. Peter's Basilica relate to the modern cultures, changes, and society. The new St. Peter's Basilica has a cruciform shape and an elongated nave in the Latin cross (“Catholic Online” 1). This deviated from the old architectural design that advocated for centrally planned structures. In the new St. Peter's Basilica, we have the dome dominating the external and internal part of the central space depicting