Capturing the Sun. Analysis of the analytical genesis and orientation criteria of the Royal Church of San Lorenzo based on Guarino Guarini's Cælestis Mathematicæ.

Capturing the Sun. Analysis of the analytical genesis and orientation criteria of the Royal Church of San Lorenzo based on Guarino Guarini's Cælestis Mathematicæ. Authors/Creators Airò, Davide (Researcher) Description This study proposes an analytical decoding of the design matrix of the Real Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Turin, demonstrating how Guarino Guarini's work is not the result of mere aesthetic speculation, but rather a precision scientific device governed by the laws of celestial mechanics. Through a process of philological reverse engineering enhanced by Artificial Intelligence tools, the author proves that the building's morphology is entirely determined by the necessity to intercept the solar vector during the equinoxes, thereby orchestrating a complex luminous theophany. The research meticulously documents the application of spherical trigonometry and Napierian logarithms, drawn from the treatise Cælestis Mathematicæ (1683), in the millimetric determination of the azimuthal orientation and the section of the drum. Surpassing traditional historiographical interpretations, this investigation elevates Baroque architecture to the physical resolution of an equation, where matter itself is subordinated to the rigor of mathematical calculation. The work thus transforms Guarini's edifice into a sophisticated gnomonic artifact, capable of translating the movement of celestial bodies into a precise synthesis of sacred space and scientific thought.