ARC423 Advanced Building Systems

LECTURE: BRUNELLESCHI, St. Maria del Fiore,   il Cupola del Duomo

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TIMETABLE
  • 1296 Start of construction of the nave Arnolfo di Cambio, beginning from the entry.
  • 1334 Continuation Pisano, Talenti
  • 1357
  • 124 years in construction
    average life span: 36
  • 1420 Start of the cupola
  • Giotto bumped
  • 1434 Completion of the cupola
  • 14 years in construction.
  • 1462 Lantern, designed by Brunelleschi, completed by Guiliano da Maiano
THE FALLACY OF LINEAR HISTORY

The forces at work:

There is a great fallacy in assuming a linear development in history. The linear development approach suggests that, for example, events in art lead to events in art which in turn lead to events in art. Architecture exists in broad context and is, in turn, shaped by that context. One must recognize various pressures which are brought to bear or which are seen as crossing at a critical juncture.

SITUATION IN FLORENCE

  1. SPIRIT OF COMPETITION is a major motivator (between cities, families, guilds, architects, churches). Compare Florence to Siena, Pisa or Bologna.
  2. THE 'SPIRIT OF THE TIMES' involves a vital conflict between the dogmatism of the church and the humanists
  3. CONSTRAINTS including the scarcity of timber with which to make centering.
  4. CONSTRAINTS including the demand from the client, the "opera", that no buttressing on the exterior and no tie-rods on the interior be used.
  5. CONCERNS that construction is a long term affair that can always be interrupted by financial limitations, war, or other causes.
  6. The GUILDS and the manner in which construction is organized by trade, each with its own contract, without any general contractor.
  7. The TECHNOLOGY of vaulting and dome building requiring centering.
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Links
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Last update: April 09, 2003. Copyright © 2003 Bruce M. Coleman
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