Leonbattista Albertii
designed c. 1470 (built after his death)
A combined temple front and triumphal arch
Alberti's design uses the idea of the triumphal arch, especially the triple-arched variety (see the Arch of Constantine) and the pediment from the classical temple (also sometimes incorporated in the triumphal arch). In addition, his rational design for the facade made the height equal to the width. (See also his Santa Maria Novella in Florence.) He uses a central barrel vault over the entrance with lower barrel vaults at right angles in the loggia. The facade pilasters continue through three stories--the so-called "giant" order, used later by Michelangelo in the Palazzo dei Conservatori.
The entrance
The entrance barrel vault echoes the interior with its huge barrel vault while the loggia vaulting echoes the barrel vaulting in the chapels inside at right angles to the nave. See the plan.