Florence and the Courts

The Palazzo is adjacent to Rucellai’s older family home. (5) In order to build the Palazzo, Rucellai bought and combines six properties into one the individual structure on the lots. (6) The location of the Palazzo was in close proximity to the buildings surrounding it hindering the façade from being viewed all at once.

When the building was viewed from one corner of the street that ran directly in front of the Palazzo, or across the street in the logia, only part of the façade could be viewed. To correct this, Alberti designed the façade in sections that represented the whole from different viewing angles, so that when viewed at those angles the design created two equal part encompassing a door and the Rucellai crest allowing for the façade to seem as though the viewer were viewing the entire façade. Alberti was very fond of symmetrical elements that created proportion throughout the work. This idea of proportion can be seen throughout 5 Tavernor. 81.

6 Ibid. 81.