Filippo Brunelleschi, a pioneer of the early Renaissance, designed the famous dome of the Florence Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) in Florence, Italy.
Begun in 1296, the cathedral’s construction reached a critical stage by 1418, where architects faced technical challenges in vaulting the enormous octagon. In 1420, Brunelleschi won a competition with his innovative, self-supporting design, eliminating the need for scaffolding. Named chief architect, he ingeniously employed machines he invented to construct the dome. Completed in 1436, the structure consists of an inner shell and a protective outer shell, supported by stone ribs and tie rings. Though the lantern wasn’t finished until after his death, Brunelleschi’s dome remains a masterpiece of ingenuity.