This is a very powerful sequence which suggests how, over a twelve-hundred year period, the great St Mark's square took shape, and what were the rather simple factors that went into shaping it. Even though it spans centuries, with different culture,…

The final layout of St Mark's square

Evolution of St Mark's Square : a Model of Holistic Growth

…economics, political climate, and so forth, one thing alone shaped the steps (in the 9th century as in the 15th century): the formation of strong centers. That, and that alone, governed the transformations which generated such a great result.

A view of St Mark's from the river
ST MARK'S SQUARE, VENICE
SHAPING URBAN SPACE

The step-by-step process that formed the square for 1200 years essentially repeated just one cycle
of four instructions, many times over:

  1. STEP 1: LOOK AT THE CURRENT OVERALL CONFIGURATION OF THE PLAN AS A WHOLE
  2. STEP 2: IDENTIFY A WEAK CENTER WHICH LACKS COHERENCE
  3. STEP 3: FIND A CENTER WHICH CAN BE CREATED TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING WEAK CENTER
  4. STEP 4: GET THAT THING BUILT
  5. REPEAT, MANY TIMES OVER
Study the current configuration
STEP 1:

LOOK AT THE CURRENT OVERALL CONFIGURATION OF THE PLAN AS A WHOLE

Study the latest stage of construction.

Identify a weak center
STEP 2:

IDENTIFY A WEAK CENTER WHICH LACKS COHERENCE

Look at the overall pattern, and find an incomplete but latent center—the space which appears to be potentially most valuable.

Locate a new center
STEP 3:

FIND A CENTER WHICH CAN BE CREATED TO ENHANCE AND STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING WEAK CENTER

A view of the square
STEP 4:

GET THAT THING BUILT

A view of the water from the square

REPEAT, MANY TIMES OVER

Now repeat this cycle, again and again, making parts of the public square, as you go, and applying the same 4-step process continually.