Abstract:

The art of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, which is the source of Classical architecture was rediscovered with the Italian Renaissance, and thus, a great movement of change, which may be called as ‘return to essence’ or ‘rebirth’, were emerged in the context of art, architecture and thinking. The artists and architects of the period believed that the most factual knowledge and most basic values belonged to Classical Antiquity, and they transferred ideas, forms, elements and models by adapting them to their designs. Within the context of this text, the work of the humanist Leon Battista Alberti, one of the architects of the Early Renaissance Period and its first theorist on the architecture of Antiquity, and his approach to Antiquity were discussed. The architect’s transformation of existing Medieval structures into different spaces by providing new functions, and his integration of ancient architectural elements into the facades in a consistent manner is examined in both design and structural contexts. The language and elements of ancient architecture are read through 'Palazzo Rucellai', the first and only palace facade designed by the architect, and ‘Tempio Malatestiano', the first religious building facade designed by the architect. While discussing the differences between Alberti’s designs based on his architectural theories and practice, many new ideas, forms and methods that he brought to Renaissance architecture and followed by his successors were examined.