|
C O U R S E L E C T U R E Reading a City's Skyline: Florence Notes taken on March 15, 2016 by Edward Tanguay |
tells something about the city's values and hierarchy
traditional European city
what the decided could rise above the skyline
where everyone lives and works
whether you are the wealthiest or the poorest, your building operates as part of that datum
buildings that have particular political or religious significance
town hall and bell tower
below the skyline: the datum
church buildings of various kinds
above the skyline: what is highlighted
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
main church of Florence
1436 completed structurally
located in Piazza del Duomo
Giotto's Campanile (bell tower)
as you approach Florence
you see what the city values
these high buildings were used to call people together to meet
they both have bell towers that are high and thus can be heard
Medici family made dome for their tombs
originally an Italian banking family
the family became very important
made themselves dukes of the city
became a kind of nobility
produced three Popes of the Catholic Church
skyline represents a diagram of the city's hierarchy and values
this is an old way of thinking about cities
the skyline was a structure defining shared values
today we essentially allow market forces to define the skyline of the city