Filippo Brunelleschi did the impossible by creating walls that would lean inward without a support system, that would not cave in. He created the largest masonry dome, crowning Florence’s great Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore as a symbol of Renaissance ingenuity. In order to understand and uncover the mysteries of how he accomplished such achievement, a smaller scale model is being created as an experimental building. What led to the success of Brunelleschi and the creation of the dome?
During the Renaissance period, this enormous cathedral was built, but they were soon faced with the impossible task of figuring out how to create a dome one hundred and seventy feet in the air, without a support system, while being stable enough for it not to fall or jeopardize the lives of the construction crew. By studying roman architecture and being inspired by such, Brunelleschi discovered the impact the brick placement had on the construction and stability of the dome. By placing the blocks in a zigzag pattern, it stops cracks and makes an octagonal shape into a continuous circle that gives unity to the dome. With this new technique, the bricks created an inverted arc, which is one of the most stable structures in architecture.
Once Brunelleschi figured out how to do so, the next problem to solve was to ensure that all the pillars lined up in the center. To do so it is believed that the answer is using ropes to measure and a flower pattern on the floor to create the symmetrical curve, and inverted arc of the dome. However, the greatest obstacle he faced was probably gaining the trust of his construction crew by implementing this new and potentially dangerous technique.
By overcoming his past failures, his lack of architectural knowledge and experience, his peers’ doubts and criticism, he developed something that was not supposed to be possible at the time and is still a mystery of how it was accomplished today. His new ideas of the zigzag bricks, the inverted arc, and the ropes with the floral pattern beneath, and self-confidence gave him all the tools he needed to achieve such daring and ambitious task. With this success he created a name for himself and for Florence, leaving everyone at awe.
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