Geometry to Build Models, Models to Visualize Geometry

In the seventeenth century, Guarino Guarini, mathematician and architect, affirmed that architecture, a discipline that primarily deals with measures, relies on geometry: therefore, the architect needs to know at least its basic principles. On behalf of Guarini’s words, we designed a set of interdisciplinary teaching experiences, between mathematics (via a calculus course) and drawing (via our Architectural Drawing and Survey Laboratory courses) that we proposed to first-year under graduate students studying for an Architecture degree. The tasks concern mathematical and representational issues about vaulted roofing systems and are based on the use of physical models in conjunction with digital tools, in order to make the cognitive geometric process more effective, thus following a consolidated tradition of both disciplines.

Geometry of vaulted systems in the treatises by Guarino Guarini

<span>Guarini first develops a rigorous and systematic discourse on vaulted systems. In three treatises: Architettura Civile, Euclides adauctus, and Modo di misurare le fabriche, he described the geometric nature of the vaults, the principles of geometry and their practices in the stereotomy, and the measurement of the vaults’ surfaces and volumes, respectively. In this paper, moving from previous studies, the significant relationships between the Architettura Civile and Modo di misurare le fabriche are deepened, also in light to the theoretical bases established in the Euclides adauctus. Graphical analyses and reconstructive digital models, linking the texts to the original diagrams and drawings of the treatises, allow to highlight the role of geometry in Guarini’s theorization and the logic of shapes’ composition at the basis of his inventions, and constitute a knowledge base to recognize and interpret the geometric structure of the vaults in Baroque built heritage.</span>

Ellipse and Oval in Baroque Sacral Architecture in Slovakia

Oval, circular and elliptic forms appear in the architecture from the very beginning. The basic problem of the geometric analysis of the spaces with an elliptic or oval ground plan is a great sensitivity of the outcome calculations to the plan's precision, mainly to distinguish between oval and ellipse. Sebastiano Serlio and Guarino Guarini belong to those architects, theoreticians, who analysed the potential of circular or oval forms and some of their ideas are analysed in the paper. Elliptical or oval plans were used also in Slovak baroque architecture or interior elements and the paper introduce some of the most known examples as a connection to the world architecture ideas.

Una casa salomónica en Puebla de los Ángeles, México

El artículo aborda la historia de la Casa de las Bóvedas, un edificio barroco construido entre 1684 y 1685 por el arquitecto Diego de la Sierra. Sus soluciones formales, en especial las que se refieren a las columnas y pilastras con estrías móviles vinculas al salomonismo imperante en esa época, han dado lugar a eruditas discusiones en relación con las fuentes teóricas y formales de las que se pudo servir el arquitecto constructor para realizarlas de esa manera. En este artículo se plantea como hipótesis la posibilidad de que sus modelos no hayan sido necesariamente los planteados por teóricos del siglo XVII como fray Juan de Ricci y Guarino Guarini, sino edificaciones medievales románicas y góticas, retomadas en la Nueva España por razones simbólicas, que tienen que ver con la necesitad de reconstruir idealmente el Templo de Salomón.