ABSTRACT
The seventeenth century architect Guarino Guarini is recognized for his mesmerizing and structurally daring vaults. In addition to his built work, Guarini discussed theoretical matters concerning vaults in the fourth treatise of his Architettura civile. Despite being particularly relevant for the design of vaults, the fourth treatise provides hardly anything on actual vault structures. With this in mind, first, this research presents all mentions of actual vault structures in the fourth treatise of Architettura civile. Second, Guarini’s choice of excluding explicit structural and constructional facets of vaults is discussed in light of his distinction between natural philosophy and experience-based arts. Third, an evaluation of some structural characteristics of Guarini’s design for the church of San Gaetano in Vicenza is showcased, arguing that its structural aspects were innovative in Europe at the time, and that they potentially stemmed from similar solutions previously observed in the Middle East and Central Asia.
