My upcycle aesthetic is minimalism combined with an organic shape, but I thought that the best comparison to the opposite to my upcycle would be to focus on the minimalist portion of that aesthetic. The first example of this that I found was that from the Baroque period and specifically Baroque architecture. The first example that came to my mind was St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Unlike my knife block design, Baroque architecture is known for its flamboyant lines, as can be seen in the above image. We can see a massive nave that is lined with columns that each contain marble, frescoes, and gilded details, the epitome of excess.

Another example is the Victorian style, which can be seen in the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London.

Much like St. Peter’s Basilica, the interior of St. Pancras is one that is quite busy. We can see this in the sheer number of colors that are present in the image above. The reds, silvers, browns, as well as the various lighting sources all draw our eye to many different places at once. This is in stark contrast to the minimalist aesthetic, which seeks to have one point of interest for the viewer (if any at all). This sense of business is further exacerbated by the various architectural touches that can be seen in this picture, such as the patterns on the ceiling trusses and the patterns on the arches. Even the floors are both patterned and have multiple colors and textures. All of this being said, the entire room does work well together and gives a sense of the timeless design aesthetic of the Victorian era. It still looks classy, even though it is extremely busy and is in complete opposition to my upcycle design aesthetic.