Classical and Traditional: Palladio’s Design Process at the Redentore

A laser-assisted survey was undertaken in 2022 at Palladio’s Redentore in Venice. Calculating the proportional relationships between the significant interior dimensions made it possible to suggest a sequence of steps by which Palladio could have developed his design for the whole church. The total interior length and the transept width were determined by the available site; they were likely the basis from which the other dimensions of the church plan were generated, by using a series of interconnected proportional ratios. The plan dimensions could have determined the vertical dimensions of the elevation. The width/length/height relationships conform to Palladio’s methods to determine the height of vaulted rooms. The study found significant evidence that Palladio was influenced equally by the prescriptions of Alberti and Vitruvius, and the design procedures of traditional medieval building. The design sequence suggested here provides a more thorough explanation of the design process at the Redentore than any hitherto proposed.