San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane

gdbalck

Good day all.

I've used SketchUp for about a year and a half. Recently purchased Twilight and have been learning how to best use the program; after posting this image over at their forum one of the gents there recommended I post it here.

My latest project is to model one of my favorite buildings ever constructed, Francesco Borromini's San Carlo delle Quatro Fontane. It is still in the early stages, and it has been a great learning experience to study this building.

Gaieus

Hi Mike and I am really glad that you also posted this here (and what a first post from a member who has been around since 2009 )

I would like to move your topic to our WIP subforum hoping that you will keep us updated on the process in a very long topic as it really deserves the attention!

leedeetee

This looks great, can't wait to see it develop.

gdbalck

Ha, yes I've been lurking around for almost two years There's just so much information here that I read mostly, well always really.

Thanks leedeetee, here are some more images from the Twilight thread.

Longitudinal section

Cross Section

View up to the dome, the main altar is to the right. The Lantern is yet to be done.

Looking back towards the altar.

View from entrance towards the dome above.

zdesayn

nice detail...i will wait for your final output.

Gaieus

@gdbalck said:

Ha, yes I've been lurking around for almost two years There's just so much information here that I read mostly, well always really.

Now this makes me thinking...
If just every 10th (or say 100th) "lurkers" here had something similar to show and if they all did it, this place could be completely different!

dale

Wow
Can't wait to see you develop the dome which is so beautiful in this building.
Can you post a wireframe of those column capitals. That looks like brilliant modeling!
Thanks for jumping in.

gdbalck

I've spent the last week doing more in depth geometric studies of the building before starting the final model. Here are a plan and a section study.

Gaieus

Now these seem to be excellent for geometrically and perfectly building up the whole thing.
Are you planning to texture the church at the end? (I realise it will be as big of a challenge as the geometry itself - if not bigger...)

There are some very nice procedural marble materials over the Kerkythea site. They work perfectly with Twilight and you do not need to wrap your head around meticulously positioning the materials in SU on those extreme walls and curvy surfaces.

massimo

@unknownuser said:

I've spent the last week doing more in depth geometric studies of the building

Looking good.

gdbalck

I've been working on and off on this project, it takes a lot of brain power! Most of the time has been spend on geometric studies of the half domes. The latest lead to the image below.

dale

I happy to see your still at it.
In itself a beautiful object.

gdbalck

Thanks dale.

I've refined my geometric studies of the plan even further over the past few weeks. I've also added a slight flare in order to help them look a bit more "authentic" to the time period

For your viewing pleasure.

I'll be working on the sections next before proceeding with the full model.

gdbalck

Update:

Borromini's Capital

Quick render without materials next to actual column at San Carlino.

Since June I've been splitting time between studying the plan and column geometries. You might say, why not just grab one form the 3d warehouse. This was a consideration until I learned that Borromini had done something very unorthodox at San Carlino. He inverted the volute of his composite columns under the arches. Well, I couldn't just grab someone random column to put in the model knowing this.
After much labor and effort, here it is. A couple of things are missing, all of them ornamental. I'm not sure if that's something that can be taken care of with textures.

Daniela_864

Hi gdbalck,
I'm an italian student of architecture, I saw your S.Carlo alle quattro fontane's model. I'm writing my thesis about the light in this church. Should it be possible to receive a copy of your model or just any views of the inside? I can imagine the hard work to create the model, so if it is necessary I can pay you (if you don't want too much money ) bye bye.