What architectural innovation is attributed to Brunelleschi for the Dome of Florence?

Self-supporting dome

Filippo Brunelleschi, a Renaissance architect and engineer, is renowned for designing the dome of the Cathedral of Florence, or the Duomo, completed in 1436. What makes this dome remarkable is its self-supporting design, an engineering feat that avoided the use of massive external supports like flying buttresses. Brunelleschi had to innovate, designing special tools and machinery to lift materials to unprecedented heights. His success not only marked a turning point in architecture but also inspired other Renaissance artists to pursue bold innovations in their own disciplines.