Design, Realization and Impact of the Biblioteca Laurenziana

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Alexander von Kienlin
• Subject Area: Architecture, Building and Construction History, Construction Research, Sustainable Building Technology ; Art History
• Term: from 2015 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 286148209

Design, Realization and Impact of the Biblioteca Laurenziana: The Biblioteca Laurenziana in Florence, and its famous staircase rank among the most outstanding exemplars of Renaissance architecture. It plays a key role in Michelangelos artistic oeuvre. Generations of scholars have been studying the building, using all kinds of archival materials, drawings, and plans as known so far. Most of the plans date from the 16th to 19th centuries. Nevertheless, according to recent preliminary research carried out by the Technische Universität Braunschweig, it became evident, that all these plans and drawings are unreliable in measurements and details. Furthermore, several significant aspects and questions have never been discussed: Which actual role and attainment can surely be attributed to Michelangelo; which methods and principles of design did he follow; and might Michelangelo himself have produced some of the stone elements by his own hands? Besides, all previous studies focussed on the interior and inner surfaces: until today, a proper building analysis of the whole complex, its history, structure, and roofing never has been carried out. The project will be based on new detailed documentations of the reading room and the ricetto, including external walls, ceilings, and roof structures. A thorough, simultaneous revision of archival materials, drawings and historical documentations will enable a precise reconstruction of the design and building processes, in order to better understand Michelangelos ideas and methods. Finally the project aims to detect his actual impact on contemporary theories of architectural design and construction in Florence. It will serve as a case study for systematic research of planning and building practices of this era in general.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Italy
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Niemeier; Professor Dr. Harmen Thies
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr.-Ing. Hermann Schlimme (†); Professorin Dr. Grazia Tucci; Professor Dr. Vitale Zanchettin