Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

Florence, Italy

Architecture is one of the various aspects of life that have evolved throughout the past years. ArchiTalk features architecture from history, the works that have influenced the world's creations today. We use the platform to spread awareness of architecture and design styles that were used in the past to create monumental structures recognized today. In this weeks magazine we showcase architecture from Florence, Italy. Specifically the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. This FANZINE was created by a an Interior Design on our creative team who researched the different architectural aspects of the structure, her name is Prachi Patel.

The Renaissance period was a time in history that greatly influenced change in culture, art, politics, and the economy. Many advancements of the time allowed for this shift in ways of creation, including new technology, mindsets, and understandings. This period spanned from the 14th century to the 17th century and gave thinkers, authors, and overall creators a new way to think. The Santa Maria Novella was built in this period, and greatly showcases the different techniques that were developed in this period. Santa Maria is the home to many works dating back to the Renaissance period today, including gothic works.

FromAbove

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella's address is P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123, Firenze FL, Italy. The church is opposite the main railroad station in Italy, which has the same name as the Basilica. It was one of the first Greatest Basilicas created in Italy and is the city's primary Dominican church. The Basilica also doubles as a home to many of the artist work dating back to the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

Santa Maria Novella complex is located between many other buildings. The complex incorporates the basilica, cloisters an museums. The present church replaced the older church located in the Vineyards, well out of the cities walls. Most of the church is covered either by inward facing building or surrounding walls around the complex.

Chiostro Grande Ampliamento Museo Museo e Basilica

The complex is divided into many different sections including the Santa Maria, the museums associated with the church, and then additional museums and entertainment spaces located around the complex. There are many gardens and outdoor spaces that are associated with the site as well, where people are offered a more of a personal connection with nature.

SiteAnalysis

History

The Santa Maria Novella is one of the oldest apothecaries of the world. It was first established in 1221 when there were many outcasts occupying Florence. Monks were asked to take care of the outcasts who later developed a way to assist them while a convent was made. One of the earliest preparations made in 1380 used roses , because monks believed that roses could be used against the negatives of life.

Significance

Some of the finest Gothic Architecture and cloisters in Florence, and top Medieval and Renaissance art. Home to many art pieces. The large church with several cloisters are mostly gothic and the campanile still shows Romanesque elements. The marble façade of the structure introduces many renaissance elements. Highlights of the façade include frescoes, a large painted crucifix by Giotto, Carves crucifix by Brunelleschi, and Masaccio’s use of perspective in painting the Holy Trinity.

Sacristy

TChapels ransept

Plan

The façade of the structure is located south side which includes a total of three entrances. Within the building there are 6 rows of 2 columns each, totaling to 12. The far back of the church consists of a Sacristy, Main Chapel, Transept, and Apse Chapels.

SectionInitially, the church's elongated structure was an idea that was meant to be done literally. Design development ended up making the Basilica appear to be elongated as well. The church looks even longer than it is on the interior due to smart finish choices for the central arches. Arches along with serving the purpose of structural support, also provide a visual array of continuum within the structure. The repetitive layout of the arches allows for way finding throughout the space for visitors, due to the arches continuing in a forward direction. Layout of arches is the work of Brunelleschi.

Geometric Analysis

In the floor plan, the church shows a long, cross shaped plan with six rows of columns that form arches on the ceiling. As shown in the façade analysis, the building has a complex and intricate façade that combines basic geometric shapes and elements from previous ancient Greek and Roman architecture as well as knowledge from new geometric and mathematical understandings to display the renaissance architectural design. The building consists of a symmetrical façade, extensive arched windows, rectangular windows, lintel structured columns, triangular pediments, curves, and circles as well as the ornamental details of stripes, squares, circles, and rectangles. The two main Corinthian pillars, the lintel structure as well as the triangular pediments are based on ancient Greek and roman architecture. The large circle in the center symbolizes the sun and its light.

It is recommended that one should visit the basilica in the morning, or at least during the times there is natural light available. The structure features a beautiful site to see using reflecting and refracting natural light. Windows are located more near the top of the building in order to catch the light where the arches bend on the ceiling, this light then continues to shine throughout the structure.

Circulation

The main entrance is to the right of the façade through the Avelli Cemetery off Piazza Santa Maria Novella. The second entrance is through the museum part of the huge Piazza della Stazione that separates Santa Maria Novella from the similarly named main train station. Entrenches through each of the spaces are available within the structure, allowing for easy way finding for visitors today.

Symmetry

The plan of the Santa Maria Novella is not perfectly symmetrical due to the various rooms located in the back. On the contrary, the facade of the structure was designed to be perfectly symmetrical, the elements within the facade are also symmetrical including the beautiful desin details.

Structure

This diagram shows an illustration of the path followed by the arches along the ceiling of the Santa Maria Novella. They begin from the entrance and continue throughout the space, allowing for structural support to the heavy materials used in creating this work.

PartiDiagram

Behind the Renaissance façade of the structure is a large triple-nave Gothic basilica. It was constructed over a period of 80 years starting around 1250. The Basilica was already in use before the formal consecration by the pope in 1420. The Santa Maria Novella is designed to replicate the shape of an Egyptian cross (T-shape) with the nave 99.2 meters long and up to 28.3 meters high while the transept is 61.54 meters. A view from the back of the church will make the nave appears even longer due to the piers being more closer towards the apse.