Words and Drawings for Vittone’s Domes, from the Drafting Stage to the Execution

Abstract

Vittone’s domes have been widely addressed by reference literature, above all from the point of view of their formal qualities, and of the use of natural light. However, the geometrical and dimensional characters of his domes have been, up to now, hardly investigated. A specific research on the archival sources regarding dome conception and construction, as well as on existing structures is, therefore, necessary if we want to provide new insight on this complex subject. This study investigates the geometric tracings of Vittone’s domes, starting from the theoretical positions he has illustrated in his own Istruzioni elementari. A comparison with a selection of Vittone’s designs for domed churches, as published in the Istruzioni diverse, follows. The comparison then is taken to two actually built case studies, investigated through drawings and by the use of field survey data. The aim of this preliminary study is define a frame, useful to further investigate the design and construction principles of domes, highlighting the gap between theoretical, project and construction-oriented drawings. Our conclusions will have to be validated through further field surveys; however, they already show that a multidisciplinary approach, taking into account a multiplicity of sources (archival, literature, drawings, digital surveys, etc.), is needed.