PAZZI CHAPEL

Years ago during a family trip to Italy, I dutifully brought along my sketchbook.  We stayed almost a week in Florence.  This is a pencil sketch that I completed during that trip.  I made this sketch while sitting in the grass in front of the Pazzi Chapel.

Despite the fact that I did this sketch, I really have to confess that I really did not understand how the building works.  After making the first drawing, I went inside and marveled like everyone else over the strong light and dark interior, the arch forms and the way that the dome rests over the center of the piece.

Everyone who draws this building as I first did very dutifully represents those dark recessed shadow areas just under the front eave.  Yet the question remained;  what is that space?  It looks like a porch.  Can you walk up there?

Only after my Google Image search did I start to fully comprehend what those front shadow areas are.  It turns out that the front wall and columns is a freestanding facade in front of the actual building.

That strong shadowline was so hypnotic and beautiful that you forget to ask what the function is.  Or quite possibly we as architects are not trained to ask the question;  how does that work?  What is it’s purpose?  It seems that we are taught to accept these iconic buildings and are not given the inclination to get beyond the icon.

Transparent Drawing enabled for me to have an understanding of the basic geometry.  I was able to document the structural grid.  The flooring pattern reinforces this structural organization.  The arch and dome forms are now better understood.  And the front facade attachment to the building is now clear how this works.  It turns out you can’t walk up there.  It is just empty space.

Actually, as a result of making this drawing, I find this building to be less compelling than I originally thought or was taught to believe.  In fact, I am disappointed that the front facade is such an add on.  I would not be satisfied with this less than organic integration of the parts into my buildings.  So beware that Transparent Drawing can change your opinion of something that you love.