How Did Brunelleschi Build The Florence Cathedral

Question 9:
The construction of the Florence Cathedral began in 1296. It would take 140 years to finally be completed. In August 1418 an architectural completion was held in order to find out who would design the Dome that would eventually top the Cathedral. The two main competitors were Lorenzo Ghiberti and Filippo Brunelleschi, both of which had competed earlier to earn the job of creating a pair of Bronze doors of the Baptistery in 1401. While Ghiberti had won the right to build the doors Brunelleschi won the right to build the Dome. The dome was nearly 150 feet across and would have to start around 180 feet off the ground. Many ideas had been put forth on how to create the dome though they were mostly farfetched. Large pillars, sponge stone, a mountain of dirt with coins hidden in it so once the dome was built citizens would clear away the dirt for free in order to find
Brunelleschi however had a different idea. “Brunelleschi, promised to build not one but domes, one nested inside the other without elaborate and expensive scaffolding” (National Geographic). Of course when asked how he was going to do this he refused to say because he was afraid another competitor would steal his idea. The dome had two shells, an internal and external one. To make sure the outer shell would not bulge, crack and collapse he employed a system similar to hoops on a barrel. In order to counteract the outward force created by the weight of the dome he would build tension rings made out of iron, wood, and stone on the outside of the cathedral. As well as including vents so the material could expand and contra cans necessary without cracking. Also in order to avoid collapsing “He’d build the first 46 feet in stone…after which he would continue with lighter materials, either spugna or brick.” (National Geographic) In addition to all of this he also created a pull system far ahead of it’s time that allowed the use of cattle to raise and lower necessary equipment as the