Rococo architecture, also referred to as late baroque or rocaille is a flashy decorative, intricate, layered, and intricate style of architecture which began to emerge in the late baroque or early Rococo period of the early French and European periods. It blends elements from different art periods and styles and is distinguished by vast, nearly continuous gardens and large courtyards. Although the buildings are usually massive, Chateau de Versailles, that has only the smallest of rooms, is also noteworthy. Due to its resemblances to French chateaus and palaces, Rococo architecture is often referred to as French Chateau.

Rococo architecture Architectural Rococo architecture features unusually high amounts of intricate details, both in the building's interior and exterior settings. Most buildings were designed as large courtyards, with huge central fountains, or as huge garden villas. Large exterior courtyards were decorated with gargoyles, murals and large statues. Often , the statues were stylized versions of classic Greek and Roman gods or goddesses. The interiors of buildings are generally light in color and have soft or muted floral prints. They are also adorned with earth colors like beige, gray, ivory, and browns.

Rococo and late baroque buildings were brightly colored and served delicious food. There was a wide variety of cuisines and a wide range of beverages offered from fruit juices to coffee to chocolate to wine. The music was soft through stereo and radio systems. Rooms were fitted with large mirrors so that people could see themselves from any angle. In bedrooms, there would be beds on top, with intricately carved headboards and footboards. Wall paintings showed scenes of flowers, the sea exotic animals, and other subjects.

In the late baroque and early rococo eras dining rooms were extravagant. These rooms were often fitted with small grills to roast fish and meat. There were counters and islands where you could eat or work on projects. Large tables allowed for gatherings as well as large dining areas for dining. Each table would have a bench opposite it, and one side of the room would have walls that were painted with rich stripes of black and red, or rosy pastels. Sometimes geometric patterns and carvings could be employed. Fireplace mantels were typically made up of slanting and flat wooden pieces, with curly columns.

The furniture of the late rococo period had elegant feet and legs, with a decorative metal lever, also known as a rococo lever, as its pedestal. Such furniture could include chests, shelves drawers, boxes, and shelves. Sometimes benches with elaborate tops, and wooden legs of a smaller size, were also available. One form of decorative ironwork, found in many houses was the wall grilles, or wall fans which were actually decorative moldings that were used for the ceiling and walls. These decorative elements were initially employed by the wealthy to decorate their homes, but later they were used by the poor to add a touch of class and character to their homes.

Rococo architecture has its roots in the late baroque and neoclassical periods, when an artist seeking inspiration would look to the wealth of Spain and Italy. Some of the designs he designed to express his artistic ideas were influenced by Spanish Gothic architecture. The style was at its peak during the period of Napoleon III, when it was most fashionable. In fact the style is often called the "Rococo Style" because numerous buildings in cities around the world are influenced by it. A notable structure that shows this style's influence is the Palacio Real or the Royal Palace of Madrid, which is located in the Gothic area of the city.


The style of the rococo was distinguished by the use of intricate patterns and colors as in geometric designs. This style was used most often to decorate palaces, churches, and other buildings like mansions. The classic works of art are the church and palaces that were rococo-styled. Rococo architecture has greatly influenced the architecture of cities across the globe which has resulted in structures like the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The Uffizi Museum, Florence, the Science Museum in London and the US House of Congress all feature a lot of rococo-style decor.

Today, there are many people who still use ornamental style furniture that has been in use for many centuries. Many people, living in areas where the rococo style is popular, also utilize pieces of furniture that are identical to the earlier pieces of furniture that was created in Italy. Today, residents of cities like Florence or Rome are able to see examples of the traditional furniture made by the Romans who imported it from Italy.