Leonardo da Vinci and Urbanism

Leonardo Da Vinci died 500 years ago on May 2, and Allesandro Melis writes to describe the great thinker and artist's role in the birth of urbanism in the 15th century.

"Although the Renaissance is renown as an era of incredible progress in art and architecture, it’s rarely noted that the 15th century also marked the birth of urbanism as a true discipline," according to Melis. Da Vinci was one of the thinkers contributing to this nascent field of intellectualism. "Around 1486—after a pestilence that killed half the population in Milan—Leonardo turned his thoughts to urban planning problems. Following a typical Renaissance trend, he began to work out an 'ideal city' project, which, due to its excessive costs, would remain unfulfilled."

Melis shares a reconstruction of da Vinci's work on the subject of a new city along the Ticino River, as collected in Paris manuscript B and Codex Atlanticus. Among numerous innovative propositions, "the true originality of Leonardo’s vision was its fusion of architecture and engineering," according to Melis. "Leonardo made designs for extensive hydraulic plants to create artificial canals throughout the city. The canals, regulated by locks and basins, were supposed to make it easier for boats to navigate inland and transport goods."

"Leonardo also thought that the width of the streets ought to match the average height of the adjacent houses: a rule still followed in many contemporary cities across Italy, to allow access to sun and reduce the risk of damage from earthquakes."

Melis concludes by describing da Vinci's ideas as relevant in contemporary times, as well as models for the future of urban planning.