334 Term Project Proposal

Kamile Demir
kamile.demir@stonybrook.edu

Title:
“The Firenze Duomo”

Synopsis:

Florence, or Firenze in Italian, is one of the most important cities in the world for art. As a host for important renaissance art pieces, it is no surprise that Florence is full of hidden wonders in its narrow cobblestone alleys and intricate architecture.

Out of Florence’s great landscape pops out one of its most artistic & technological pieces: the world’s largest duomo, the dome of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. What may not immediately come to mind, however, is just how much time was taken to build such a massive cathedral, and yet the number is significant: 140 years.

When work on the cathedral itself was finished, builders realized they did not have the technology to create a duomo rooftop to fill the gigantic hole that was left above.

One day, however, Fillipo Brunelleschi approached the organizers claiming he had a solution. He challenged the committee to make an egg stand upright, saying if they were successful, he would tell them his plan. If they weren’t and he proved them a way to make it, he would then go forward with the plan in secrecy. After failing to win the challenge, the committee was in for a surprise when Brunelleschi took the egg, smashed the bottom of it, and made it stand upright. The committee let the goldsmith with no previous architectural training build the largest duomo in the world. Art inspired technology, along with a combination of physics, design & goldsmith principles.

Objective:

To use video of Florence & Duomo, blueprints, sketches & animation to display the fascinating process of creation of the Firenze Duomo. The story will be narrated, subtitled and displayed to move the story along the animation & video, as well as music. Video & picture content will come from a previous study abroad trip to Florence.

Audience:
The main audience for this short film will be tourists, study abroad students, and art enthusiasts.

Sources:

https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/16-interesting-facts-about-florence-cathedral/

The Brunelleschi’s Dome of the Florence Cathedral

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Cathedral

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2014/02/Il-Duomo/

Illustrations: