F306Z Fall 2024 Brunelleschi's Dome: Renaissance of Architecture

F306Z  Brunelleschi's Dome: Renaissance of Architecture
Mondays, 2:15—3:40, Oct. 14—Oct. 28
Three sessions
Instructor: Ed Baranoski
Filippo Brunelleschi's dome of Florence's Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower (Santa Maria del Fiore) has long amazed and inspired both religious and secular observers alike. It was a remarkable feat of engineering design that brought forth many innovative concepts in both architecture and construction. This course will explore the intricate coupling between history, architecture, art, and the spark of the renaissance enlightenment that led to Brunelleschi's marvel. We will cover the prior state of the art, the thriving Florentine culture of the Renaissance in which Brunelleschi lived, and the remarkable design innovations required to build the dome.
Ed Baranoski is a retired engineer now exploring multiple intellectual and artistic endeavors. He has formerly worked for MIT Lincoln Laboratory, DARPA, and other defense research roles in and out of the government. He has a PhD from Carnegie Mellon and is an IEEE Fellow.