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How does the facade of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane create a sense of movement?
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Francesco Borromini
Piazza Navona, Rome, with the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, designed by Francesco Borromini, and (foreground) the Fountain of the Moor, originally designed by Giacomo della Porta and revised by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The facade of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane creates a sense of movement primarily through its undulating, non-linear design. Unlike traditional, flat architectural surfaces, the facade is composed of fluid and active concave and convex masses.12
This rhythmic, wave-like configurationāoften described as undulating in planābreaks away from static, orthodox forms to create a dynamic visual experience. By employing these alternating curves, Francesco Borromini transformed the wall into a plastic, sculptural element that appears to shift and expand, a hallmark of the Baroque architecture style that sought to heighten the feeling of motion and sensuality.123