Modulgruppe D - Material, Technik und Konstruktion
Dozent: Hans van der Heijden
Integrationsdozent: Eugen Schuler
The Florence Palazzo
Theme
The Palazzi that were built in Renaissance Florence may be considered to form one of the origins of
the architecture of collective dwelling. The typology has proved to be able to resist time and fashion.
Much can be learned from the deliberate urban articulation of the Palazzi. The idea of Decorum,
which suggests that the appearance of the Palazzo should express both the wealth of the client and
should be an appropriate and modest contribution to the image of the city, has been well described
and is still of considerable interest today.
Design Task
The students will each analyse one Florentine Palazzo. They will focus on the typological and
material properties. Each student will present a black‐and‐white typological diagram and a coloured
façade fragment.
Subsequently, each student will design a new palazzo within a concrete masterplan. They will follow
a specific, rational design method. The design starts by making simultaneous typological studies on
the large scale and material studies and the small scale. After that is finished, the design will be
further developed through the convergence of both scales. This method is an alternative to the
classic cyclic design investigation which is easily mystified and time consuming.