Digital Documentation and Analysis of Palladian Microarchitectures: From 3D Models to Knowledge-Based Information Systems

Chimneypieces, washbasins, well heads, and sinks by Andrea Palladio represent refined design works following architectural systems on a reduced scale, even if systematic documentation and analysis of them is still limited. This paper introduces the custom knowledge-based Information System (IS) developed to study the design patterns and proportional relationships of these microarchitectures, after their digitization. The research employed smartphone-based photogrammetry to replicate fifty-seven chimneypieces and additional microarchitectures across twenty historical buildings; digital models were collected and organized into the IS enabling systematic typological and dimensional analysis. Proportional deepening revealed recurring ratios consistent with Renaissance treatise recommendations, alongside systematic variations suggesting design flexibility within theoretical frameworks. The IS integrates 3D architectural models by metadata attributes, providing a replicable framework for heritage documentation that combines scholarly rigor with technological accessibility. This approach offers new insights into Palladian design principles while establishing a scalable model for architectural heritage documentation and analysis.