| The compass, the Straightedge and the Computer |
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Università di Firenze Dipartimento di Progettazione dell'Architettura Viale A. Gramsci, 42 50132 Florence ITALY |
School of Computer Science Cardiff University 5 The Parade Roath, Cardiff CF24 3AA UK |
The
purpose of research in ancient architecture, or ancient urban
design, is usually to unveil a hidden theoretical knowledge,
or at least an intentional geometric and/or arithmetic order.
This knowledge may be proved either by using the same procedures
that ancient designers probably used themselves: diagrams drawn
with some kind of manual graphical device, or applying modern
procedures provided by contemporary mathematics.
The two approaches may be combined in the same study in order to allow scholars to reach more reliable conclusions. Using techniques from computer science it is possible to carry out a more precise and less subjective analysis of shapes and dimensions, which may also reveal the surprising accuracy with which ancient monuments were designed and laid out. In addition to such an investigation, a simultaneous inquiry on ancient relationships between mathematics and architecture will make possible the verification of the assertions proposed, and will allow us to understand how geometrical shapes could be practically drawn and transformed in architectural forms in the context of the contemporary scientific and cultural knowledge.
The present study demonstrates the complementarity of the
two methodologies - analysis with modern digital tools, and classical
simulation with ancient tools - in the case study of roman amphitheatres.
The geometrical analysis and the arithmetical analysis both converge
to the same conclusion. Furthermore they corroborate the conclusions
suggested by the numerical analysis with modern mathematics (i.e.,
the manipulation of computer science). Therefore, the coherence
of the results coming from our different approaches allows us
to assert that the geometrical pattern of Pompeii's amphitheatre
is a rare example of elliptic shape in architecture. Furthermore,
its geometry and dimensions also show some of the finest evidence
of direct application of the latest discoveries in mathematical
knowledge and science in architectural design in classic antiquity
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Figure: Measured data from the ruins of the amphitheatre
of Pompei, Sylvie Duvernoy and Paul Rosin.
About the authors
Sylvie Duvernoy is
an architect, having graduated from Paris University in 1982.
She later participated in the Ph.D. program of the Architecture
School of Florence University and was awarded the Italian degree
of "Dottore di Ricerca" in 1998. She presently teaches
architectural drawing at the engineering and architecture faculties
of Florence University. The research carried forth since the
beginning of the post-graduate studies mainly focus on the reciprocal
influences between graphic mathematics and architecture. In addition
to research and teaching, she always maintained a private professional
activity. She is the Book Review Editor for the Nexus Network
Journal.
Paul
L. Rosin is senior lecturer at the
Department of Computer Science, Cardiff University. His research
interests include the representation, segmentation, and grouping
of curves, knowledge-based vision systems, early image representations,
low level image processing, machine vision approaches to remote
sensing, methods for evaluation of approximations, algorithms,
etc., medical and biological image analysis, and the analysis
of shape in art and architecture
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Sylvie Duvernoy and Paul L. Rosin, "The Compass, the Straightedge, and the Computer", pp.21-34 in Nexus VI: Architecture and Mathematics, eds. Sylvie Duvernoy and Orietta Pedemonte Turin: Kim Williams Books, 2006. http://www.nexusjournal.com/conferences/N2006-DuvRos.html |
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