Trompe l’oeil
Trompe l’oeil is the term used for a technique that creates the illusion of reality. It is French for ‘fool the eye’ or ‘deceive the eye’. It has long been used by artists for paintings and murals, but can also be found in architecture where walls, ceilings, domes and other surfaces are painted with designs that ‘trick’ the observer into seeing other features such as windows, columns, stonework, ornaments and so on.
The first instance of trompe l’oeil perspective techniques being used in architecture can be found in the medieval period, but it became increasingly common during the Renaissance. Artists were often employed to paint the inside of churches, to give walls the appearance of decorative features, columns, windows, views and so on. Perhaps the most famous example of the technique is Michelangelo’s frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
The technique is also found in the design of stage sets where forced perspective can be used to give the impression that the stage is deeper than it is.
See also: Trompe l'oeil (part 2)
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Architectural styles.
- Architrave.
- Arts and craft movement.
- Bas-relief.
- Baroque architecture.
- Classical orders in architecture.
- Cornice.
- Elements of classical columns.
- English architectural stylistic periods.
- Entablature.
- Fresco.
- Frieze.
- Finishes.
- Gargoyle.
- Grotesque.
- Large-scale murals.
- Nineteenth century architecture.
- Pilaster.
- Polite architecture.
- Rule of thumb.
- Skeuomorphism.
- Stained glass.
- Tessera.
- The architectural profession.
- Trompe l'oeil (part 2)
- Vernacular architecture.
IHBC NewsBlog
Historic England’s ‘21 Fascinating Places Listed in 2019’
Over 500 historic places have been added to the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) in 2019 and Historic England (HE) has showcased 21 highlights.
UK’s iconic first red public telephone box upgraded to GII*
The K2 prototype telephone box situated outside the Royal Academy in London – built as part of the 1924 competition that gave rise to the iconic design and first listed at Grade II in 1986 – has had its listing upgraded to Grade II*.
Historic England publishes guidance on BIM for Heritage
The second in a series focusses on developing the Asset Information Model (AIM).
High Streets Face a Bleak Future Without Rethinking Regeneration Strategies
Reflecting issues that will be encountered across the IHBC’s June 2020 Brighton School, think tank Centre for Cities argues for High Street success.
Take a look inside the first flat in the iconic Battersea Power Station
City A.M took a tour of the first apartment to be completed within the original grade II*-listed power station with designer Tim Boyd of Michaelis Boyd – which also designed the interiors for Soho House and the Groucho Club – and Battersea Power Station’s UK sales director Georgia Siri.
Retrofit scheme named World Building of the Year at WAF 2019
A conversion of a locomotive hangar into a public library is the first retrofit to win the top prize at the World Architecture Festival (WAF).
Historic England Updates Technical Conservation Guidance and Research Doc
New guidance and research includes: Lightning Protection, Church Roof Replacement using Terne-coated SS, the conservation of Fibrous Plaster, and more.
Heritage Declares launched to urge more quick and effective response to climate change
The non-affiliated group aims to galvanise climate action in the heritage sector.
Methodology for Moisture Investigations in Traditional Buildings agreed
A ‘Methodology for Moisture Investigations in Traditional Buildings ‘ has been agreed between RICS, Historic England and the service provider PCA, a trade body, which should help raise professional standards and consumer confidence.
Drinkers toast the future after historic Leeds pub granted GII listed heritage status
The Templar Hotel on Vicar Lane has been listed at Grade II by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.
Housing Minister announces new champion for modern ‘MMC’ housebuilding
Government has announced a new Champion for Modern Methods of Construction as part of the government’s drive to make the UK the global leader in housing standards.
RTPI on ‘Why planning needs better outcome measurement’
Planning is about so much more than the number of applications approved and the speed of processing them so the RTPI is commissioning research aimed at producing a toolkit that can demonstrate a wider range of outcomes.