Considerations on the Relationship Between Form, Technique, and Treatises Through a Military Architecture Topic. A Discussion on Design Theory and Practice via Two “Alla Moderna” Fortresses

Fortresses constitute a central theme in military architecture in which technical inno- vations have steered the evolution of architectural culture, and practical applications have led to significant impacts on urban forms. The introduction of gunpowder into military operations changed the forms of fortifications, leading to a novel “alla moderna” type and the renewal of their design methods. These transformations were also conveyed through a particular media, the architectural treatise, which contributed to the progressive codifica- tion of the “alla moderna” fortress and its most iconic element, the bastion. Two significant examples, the Fortress of Ferrara (1598-1618) and the Urban Fortress of Castelfranco Emilia (1627-1634), provide valuable insights for the discus- sion of this transition that intertwines theories of architecture, military art, and urban history. This essay – through the lens of architectural treatises and the evolution of the cited case studies – proposes a discussion of major and still topical issues, such as the influence of technique in the genesis of architectural and urban forms, the relationship between genius loci and the adoption of design “models”, the symbolic value of these forms, and the dialectical relations between theory and design practice.

Keywords: Architectural Theory, Architectural Design, Architectural Treatises, Bastion, Fortress, Urban Form, Urban Design.

Giuseppe Canestrino, Riflessioni sul rapporto tra forma, tecnica e trattatistica attraverso un tema di architettura militare. Letture su teoria e prassi progettuale per mezzo di due fortezze “alla moderna” in "STORIA URBANA " 178/2024, pp 75-102, DOI: 10.3280/SU2024-178004