PLANNING DURING 1400-1600 AD
hungered for the "silks and spices" they had
A general overview:
Rome played a vital role in the development of
monumental street architecture.
How is that?
Circulation became a focus during this time
since commerce has emerged as a big factor in
the daily lives of the people during the
renaissance
Walls used by the romans are still used during
the renaissance
The aqueducts of the romans including the
sewage system cloaxa maxima is adopted
Popes in rome were having trouble in keeping
the power as the popes were known to be
greedy and corrupt. In order to get back the
trust and support of the people, the popes
hired artists and architects to do projects, most
of them involves the church, and monumental
structures.
Florence is the city where the Renaissance
began, and where it reached its peak in the
15th and 16th centuries under the patronage of
the powerful Medici family. Some of the
greatest names in Renaissance art are
associated with the city, including Leonardo da
Vinci, Botticelli and Michelangelo. The poet
Dante, the political theorist Machiavelli and the
scientist Galileo also lived and worked in
Florence. Buildings like the Pitti Palace, Uffizi
Gallery and Florence Cathedral are among the
masterpieces of Renaissance architecture.
INFLUENCES
The silk road effected the Renaissance because
it was the route along which goods and ideas
traveled that ultimately enriched Europe
(especially Italy where the Renaissance began).
Without wealth, large numbers of great works
of art cannot be created. Great ideas stimulate
the quest for more knowledge and innovation.
After the Crusades (1096-c.1291AD), trade
between Europe and the east increased
because the returning Crusaders, used to the
relative coarseness and blandness at home,
seen while away at war near the Road's western
terminus. In about 1271, a young traveler,
Marco Polo, and some of his family made their
way from Venice, Italy, across the
Mediterranean to Damascus, then to Antioch,
Baghdad, Hormuz, and then journied north to
follow the Silk Road that had been been "re-
opened" by the Mongols who had taken over
China. He was gone for more than twenty years
- even serving in the royal court of Kublai Khan -
before returning home and documenting his
experiences. At first his stories of the great
wealth and opportunities that China offered
were not believed. Gradually, however, the
potential for trade along the road became
evident.
Italy was in a fortunate position between the
east and the rest of Europe to capatlize on this
commerce. The families that controlled the
trade city-states of Itally: Milan, Venice, Genoa
became enriched. Florence, a banking center
controlled by the Medici family, became one of
the most powerful of all. Cosimo de Medici the
family's patriarch by 1434, began to invest in
artists - such as Michelangelo - and their art
providing them with the training and materials
they needed to produce works to beautify his
city. Architects were hired to redesign
Florence's cityscape. To provide educated
workers for his banking industry, he improved
education, building libaries and stocking them
with books. Florence thrived, becoming a
centerpiece of the Renaissance. Other cities in
Italy were intent on competing with Florence
and made similar investments. Italy began the
Renaissance that spread to the rest of Europe,
but Florence remained "the" Renaissance city.
SO WHY FLORENCE ?
There are several answers to that question:
Extraordinary wealth accumulated in Florence
during this period among a growing middle and
upper class of merchants and bankers. With the
accumulation of wealth often comes a desire to
use it to enjoy the pleasures of life—and not an
exclusive focus on the hereafter.
Florence saw itself as the ideal city state, a
place where the freedom of the individual was
guaranteed, and where many citizens had the
right to participate in the government (this
must have been very different than living in the
Duchy of Milan, for example, which was ruled
by a succession of Dukes with absolute power).
In 1400 Florence was engaged in a struggle with
the Duke of Milan. The Florentine people feared
the loss of liberty and respect for individuals
that was the pride of their Republic.
Luckily for Florence, the Duke of Milan caught
the plague and died in 1402. Then, between
1408 and 1414 Florence was threatened once
again, this time by the King of Naples, who also
died before he could successfully conquer
Florence. And in 1423 the Florentine people
prepared for war against the son of the Duke of
Milan who had threatened them earlier. Again,
luckily for Florence, the Duke was defeated in
1425. The Florentine citizens interpreted these
military "victories" as signs of God's favor and
protection. They imagined themselves as the
"New Rome" -- in other words, as the heirs to
the Ancient Roman Republic, prepared to
sacrifice for the cause of freedom and liberty.
The Florentine people were very proud of their
form of government in the early 15th century. A
republic is, after all, a place that respects the
opinions of individuals, individualism was a
critical part of the Humanism that thrived in
Florence in the 15th century.
FORT BELVEDERE
The sixth set out city walls, built in the 14th
century, included a bastion on the side of the
Gate of San Giorgio: a fortress dedicated to St.
Mary was built on this bastion between 1590
and 1595. However, it is better known as Forte
di Belvedere, due to the beautiful panoramic
view of the city that can be enjoyed from this
place.
By request of Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici,
Fort Belvedere was built to serve two purposes:
along with Fortezza Da Basso (located near
today’s S. Maria Novella train station), it was
conceived as a defence against invading armies,
as well as a powerful instrument to keep the
city in check; and secondly, to offer safe refuge
for the Medici family in case of an internal
uprising, through its direct connection with
Boboli Gardens and the Pitti Palace.
The fortress was designed by Bernardo
Buontalenti (although Giovanni de’ Medici, the
Duke’s brother, was the official director in
charge of its construction), the Florentine stage
designer, architect, engineer, designer, and
artist, who purportedly also invented the first
modern ice cream, gelato, in 1565.
The fortress is characterized by its polygonal
plan and by the small villa located in the center.
Michelangelo was Belvedere’s head engineer of
fortifications. While an early version of the
fortress was made of earth and stone gabions,
Michelangelo engineered the vision of Grand
Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici to support
Belvedere’s strategic location and structure.
Before 1951, Fort Belvedere served as a military
facility; in that year, the Italian Army donated it
to the City of Florence. Few know that it was
the site of some of Galileo’s greatest discoveries.
Galileo visited Fort Belvedere to complete some
of his most important studies in astronomy. In
1633, he moved to a villa in Arcetri, not far from
the fort.
PLANNING DURING THE RENAISSANCE
Rome played a vital role in the development of
monumental street architecture.
Rome issues
• Circulation
• Defense
• Water supply
• Sanitation
• Popes in Rome

Filippo Brunelleschi (Italian:
[fiˈlippo brunelˈleski]; 1377 – April 15, 1446)
considered to be a founding father of
Renaissance architecture, was an Italian
architect and designer, recognized to be the
first modern engineer, planner and sole
construction supervisor. He is most famous for
designing the dome of the Florence Cathedral, a
feat of engineering that had not been
accomplished since antiquity, as well as the
development of the mathematical technique of
linear perspective in art which governed
pictorial depictions of space until the late 19th
century and influenced the rise of modern
science.[
BERNARDO BUONTALENTI
Bernardo Buontalenti, byname Bernardo Delle
Girandole (Fireworks), (born 1536?, Florence
[Italy]—died June 25/26, 1608, Florence),
Florentine stage designer and theatre architect.
Buontalenti entered the service of the Medici as
a youth and remained with them the rest of his
life. In the Uffizi Palace, Florence, he built a
great court stage, where, during the winter of
1585–86, splendid fetes were produced under
his direction. For the Medici extravaganzas, he
designed costumes of allegorical characters—
nymphs, the planets, gods, dragons, cherubs; he
constructed elaborate stage machinery for
breathtaking effects; and he arranged
spectacular firework displays. Buontalenti also
designed palaces, gardens, fortresses, and villas
and practiced military engineering. Important to
scenic history are his extant drawings and
engravings for intermezzi (i.e., interludes
composed of pantomimes with madrigals) in
1589. A brilliant stage technician, he was one of
the original innovators of the Baroque theatre
and decorative arts.
Factors shaping the cities
 INCREASED PROSPERITY
Increasing wealth provided the financial
support for a growing number of commissions
of large public and private art projects, while
the trade routes upon which it was based
assisted the spread of ideas and thus
contributed to the growth of the movement
across the continent.
 SILK ROAD
The silk road was an ancient trading route that
extended between china and the
mediterranean. Many items pass through
everyday like foods like spices, clothing like silk,
and other goods like paper and gun powder.
 WEAKNESS OF THE CHURCH
It prompted later popes to spend extravagantly
on architecture, sculpture and painting in Rome
and in the Vatican in order to recapture their
lost influence.
 THE RISE OF MIDDLE CLASS IN EUROPE
What allowed the spread of these classical ideas
was the rise of the middle class. They began to
focus more on self-improvement, the world,
and education.
 IT REFORMED EDUCATION
Libraries were founded where the new
treasures might be safely stored and made
accessible to scholars. In this movement, some
of the largest libraries of Italy had their
beginnings.
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE RENAISSANCE
Warfare between the states was common,
invasion from outside Italy confined to
intermittent sorties of Holy Roman emperors.
Renaissance politics developed from this.
EKISTICS
MAN
Continuing demand for monumental religious
arts; architects designed secular structures.
Rome-modeled hierarchical settlements,
catholic church administrative control, and
secular merchant towns.
Water utilities passed down from Roman
Empire and expanded network by maritime
trade.
“Primary straight street” was the basis of the
renaissance urbanism, and that new, direct
routes to facilitate carriage travel were laid.
INFLUENCE: TRAFFIC
Traffic Space
Residential Space
Pedestrian Space
Elaborate system of landscape design which tie
the city together (France, 1640)
DURING RENAISSANCE
ARCHITECTURE PARKS AND GARDENS
- Tie the city together
- Connecting the palace and the town
VILLAS AND GARDEN
- Rural counterpart
PALACE AND PLAZA ITALY
- Gardens are never too large
- Built as terraces because of hilly land
RENAISSANCE PRIVATE GARDENS
Full of scenes from ancient mythology
The first public gardens were built by the
Spanish Crown in the 16th century
TERRACED GARDEN
Best model of gardening in limited space
Show of authority, wealth, and power
Larger, grander and more symmetrical
For delight of visitors
POWER AND MAGNIFICENCE
The political symbolism of the Renaissance
garden
GARDEN FEATURES
Allee
Bosquet
Fountains
Grottos
Parterre de broderie
Topiary
ALLEE
Straight path or road with a line of trees or large
shrubs running along each side
Venir(“to come”)/ arrival at landscape
BOSQUET
Formal plantation of trees, at least five of
identical species planted as a quincunx or set in
strict regularity as to rank and file, so that the
trunks line up as one passes alone either face.
Bosquet in the gardens of Schonbrunn palace in
Vienna. It is shaped like a fan.
GROTTO
A grotto (Italian grotta and French grotte) is a
natural or artificial cave used by humans in both
modern times and antiquity, and historically or
prehistorically. Naturally occurring grottoes are
often small caves near water that are usually
flooded or liable to flood at high tide.
PARTERRE DE BRODERIE
Formal garden constructed on a level surface
Edged in stone planting beds, no flowers
Symmetrical patterns, separated and connected
by gravel pathways.
The left hand side of the completely
symmetrical parterre at Waddesdon Manor,
England
THE PLANTS USED IN TOPIARY
Evergreen
Mostly wood
Small leaves
Produce dense foliage
Compact and/or columnar growth habits
VILLA MEDICI, FIESOLE, FLORENCE
Oldest existing italian renaissance garden
Circa 1455 and 1461
Giovanni de’ Medici (1421-1463)
THE PALAZZON PICCOLOMINI
PIENZA, TUSCANY (1459)
Rapid urbanization of european society created
fire and plague vulnerable dense city
URBAN PLANNING IN ITALY
PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
PIAZZA DEL POPOLO
SABIONETTA TOWN
PALMANOVA TOWN
Addizione erculea – overall scheme that gave
precedence to the harmonious layout of urban
perspectives, rather than accentuating the
beauty of individual buildings.
de re Aedificatoria
De re aedificatoria (On the Art of Building) is a
classic architectural treatise written by
Leon Battista Alberti between 1443 and 1452.
Although largely dependent on Vitruvius's De
architectura, it was the first theoretical book on
the subject written in the Italian Renaissance,
and in 1485 it became the first printed book on
architecture. It was followed in 1486 with the
first printed edition of Vitruvius.
URBAN PLANNING IN SPAIN
RENAISSANCE
First to layout thru cities on their colonies
Laws of the indies
LAWS OF THE INDIES
In Book IV of the 1680 compilation of The Laws
of the Indies, plans were set forth in detail on
every facet of creating a community, including
town planning. Examples of the range of rules
include:
Those [Colonists] who should want to make a
commitment to building a new settlement in
the form and manner already prescribed, be it
of more or less than 30 vecinos (freemen),
(know that) it should be of no less than twelve
persons and be awarded the authorization and
territory in accordance with the prescribed
conditions.
Having made the selection of the site where the
town is to be built, it must, as already stated, be
in an elevated and healthy location; [be] with
means of fortification; [have] fertile soil and
with plenty of land for farming and pasturage;
have fuel, timber, and resources; [have] fresh
water, a native population, ease of transport,
access and exit; [and be] open to the north
wind; and, if on the coast, due consideration
should be paid to the quality of the harbor and
that the sea does not lie to the south or west;
and if possible not near lagoons or marshes in
which poisonous animals and polluted air and
water breed.
They [Colonists] shall try as far as possible to
have the buildings all of one type for the sake of
the beauty of the town.
Within the town, a commons shall be delimited,
large enough that although the population may
experience a rapid expansion, there will always
be sufficient space where the people may go to
for recreation and take their cattle to pasture
without them making any damage.
Plan of the walled city of Manila with elements
of colonial planning present
The site and building lots for slaughterhouses,
fisheries, tanneries, and other business which
produce filth shall be so placed that the filth can
easily be disposed of.
These rules are part of a body of 148
regulations configuring any settlement
according to the rule of Spain and its colonies.
This continued as a precedent in all towns
under Spanish control until the relinquishing of
the land to others, as in the case of the
American colonies and their growth. The Laws
of the Indies are still used as an example to
design guidelines for communities today

The Laws specify many details of towns. A plan

is made centered on a Plaza Mayor (main
square) of size within specified limits, from
which twelve straight streets are built in a
rectilinear grid. The directions of the streets are
chosen according to the prevailing winds, to
protect the Plaza Mayor. The guidelines
recommend a hospital for non-contagious cases
near the church, and one for contagious
diseases further away.

Most townships founded in any part of the

Spanish Empire in America before the various
parts became independent countries were
planned according to the Laws. These include
many townships with Spanish names located in
what is now the United States. The creation of a
central square and rectilinear grid of streets
was different from the haphazard and organic
growth that led to meandering streets in many
old townships in Iberia.

JUAN DE HERRERA

PLAZA MAYOR

Herrera applied the principle of the laws of the

indides to the layout of the arcade

Built by juan gomez de mora

THE IDEAL CITY – by Leonardo Da vinci

URBAN PLANNING IN FRANCE

KING HENRY IV

ANDRE LENOTRE – Design the garden of

Versailles