ABSTRACT
The existing fragments of an architectural booklet by the 16th century Spanish architect Rodrigo Gil de Hontanon reveal an ingenious attemp to sytematize the design process by creating a sequwnce of formulaic procedures to be followed in ecclesiastical projects. The formulae are addressed to two more or less separate issues. The first is to synthesize Gothic and Classic proprtioning methods, and demonstrate their fundamental identity. The second is to establish an independent "science" of structural design. Aside from the more theoretical writings of Leonardo da Vinci, the work of Rodrigo Gil is the principal evidence extant for the developement of structural thinking among 16th-centrury master masons
