Engineering Perspectives of the Renaissance
Florence, Italy
During the month of May, 2023, I studied abroad in Florence. From the moment I set foot in this picturesque city, I was swept away by its rich history and classical architecture. Florence, with its charming cobblestone streets and iconic Renaissance art, offered the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable experience. I gained a profound appreciation for the craftsmanship and engineering genius of the past, surrounded by architectural wonders that have withstood centuries. From the Duomo to the Ponte Vecchio, every corner of this city served as a living testament to how engineering enriches our lives.
The First “Renaissance Man”: Leonardo Da Vinci
Galileo Galilei
History of Science
The first half of the Engineering of the Renaissance class was focused on the chronology of physics, mathematics, and engineering. This portion of the class provided valuable context on how we got here, which principles we take with us, and what we leave in the past. Here are some topics we explored in class:
Aristotle’s Impact
The Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first professional scientist. He was known for his systematic approach to studying the natural world using experimentation, not religious influence. However, many of his assertions were just plain wrong, but few doubted him in his heyday. For example, he confidently (but incorrectly) wrote that women have fewer teeth than men. Aristotle laid the groundwork for proceeding scientists. To challenge and ultimately reject Aristotle’s ideas, humanity needed a handful of Giants, such as:
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 – 1543)
Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642)
Johannes Kepler (1571 – 1630)
Isaac Newton (1642 – 1727)
James Clerk Maxwell (1831 – 1879)
Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
Leonardo da Vinci is often referred to as the quintessential "Renaissance man" due to his remarkable range of accomplishments that spanned numerous fields of study. Although his claim to fame can be attributed to the Mona Lisa, da Vinci’s engineering journals were discovered and published in the late 19th century. They reveal that he was far ahead of his time in the discipline of engineering, detailing inventions such as:
The bicycle
The textile machine
The diving suit
The automobile
The ball bearing
da Vinci’s bicycle drawings
Italian astronomer, Galileo Galilei, made several groundbreaking contributions to science during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. His work was pivotal in advancing our understanding of the natural world and laid the foundation for modern physics. During the program, we visited the Galileo Museum, which features an expansive collection of scientific instruments, artifacts, and documents related to his work. Compasses, telescopes, orbit drawings, globes, and astrolabes are housed here, just to name a few. It felt so surreal to see these instruments up close knowing how they shaped our perception of the universe. My favorite part of the museum is The Armillary Sphere, an instrument created by Antonio Santucci at the request of Ferdinand I de' Medici that represents “the universal machine”. It utilizes the theories of Aristotle and Ptolemy to display the orbits of the planets and moons in our universe, even depicting regions that were still relatively uncharted at the time. However, as a precursor to Galileo’s scientific contributions, it situates the Earth as the center of our universe, not the Sun. The Sphere is painted with gold leaf, making it absolutely breathtaking in person!
da Vinci’s diving device
The Armillary Sphere
Sustainable Engineering of the Renaissance
The second half of the Engineering of the Renaissance class was focused on sustainable engineering. We were introduced to what sustainability means through the lens of equity, environment, and economics. Then, the course illustrated the prevalence of sustainability concepts during the Renaissance and drew parallels to contemporary design. Here are some topics we explored in class:
Passive Design
Passive design is a form of architectural design rooted in sustainability principles. Rather than relying on mechanical (active) systems like air conditioning or heating, passive design utilizes the building's orientation, materials, natural ventilation, and natural energy sources such as sunlight to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. Before technology allowed for advanced systems to artificially cool and heat our homes, it was crucial for architects to consider the environment they were building around. These practices have been lost on us nowadays, but many buildings that were constructed during the Renaissance utilized passive design principles and are still enjoyed today.
For example, a front porch initially served the purpose of cooling air in the shade before it entered the home via windows. We noticed that many of the buildings in Florence have roofs that hang over, achieving the same result. This was surely intentional! Another example of passive design is courtyards. Many of the palaces and old museums we visited had a beautiful courtyard, adorned with plants and sculptures. Although this design choice is aesthetically pleasing, it serves an important purpose- natural ventilation. Learning the ins and outs of passive design principles and then feeling them as we walked through these buildings was an incredibly effective lesson that I still ponder when walking through buildings today.
