The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is a staple of the Florence skyline. The unique colors and patterns of the Cathedral stand out amongst other European churches. The dome you see here was an add-on to the existing church, which was built in 1296 (two centuries before). It wasn’t an easy project and has become famous for the innovations that occurred around its conception. Due to a limited supply of wood in Tuscany, the dome was planned to be constructed without any buttresses or centering support, which were commonly employed at the time. Many people didn’t believe a dome of this size could be built without them. 

Filippo Brunelleschi was not an architect. He was a goldsmith and sculptor without any formal training. But through a contest held in Florence, he proved to be the one able to solve the puzzle. Brunelleschi created a design using an inner and outer shell, nested together with a space in between. He also stacked bricks in a spiral pattern to further reinforce the dome. 

The engineering of the dome brought about a multitude of innovations (in design and construction) that have impacted not only architecture as a field, but the link between artistic and scientific disciplines that it represents. 

However, a design that hadn’t been done before warranted construction techniques that hadn’t been used before. Brunelleschi not only produced an ingenious design, he also developed machines such as cranes and winches, and an amphibious boat to transport supplies, to see the project to completion. 

The total project took over a decade to complete and remains the largest masonry dome ever built. But Brunelleschi left behind little trace of any details. Facing skeptics and a rival in design, he kept much of the particulars of his creation to himself. However, since it was such a masterful feat, there is plenty of evidence from the other engineers of the time who were around to witness it. Still, more remains to be uncovered about how, why, and in what fashion the dome came to be.