Brunelleschi's Dome

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The Florence Cathedral, also referred to as the Duomo, began construction in 1296. However, the plan included a glorious dome atop the building—with no idea how to construct it. The Florentines had faith that someday a man would come along who would be able to complete their building. Little did they know that such a man would come in the form of a goldsmith and clockmaker named Filippo Brunelleschi.

Brunelleschi's design incorporated many ingenious things, including having an inner and outer dome. This allowed construction workers to sit atop the inner dome while building the more wind-resistant outer dome. Brunelleschi also devised a system of support timbers never before seen, although it is commonly used in today’s engineering. Finally, in order to keep the bricks in place, Brunelleschi devised a herringbone pattern that redirected the weight towards the dome’s outward supports. Upon its completion it remained the largest dome in the world for nearly half a millennium, standing at 142 feet tall. It still remains the tallest building in Florence.

By: Jenna Matheson