How did Alberti influence Renaissance architecture?
I influenced Renaissance architecture by providing a systematic, humanist framework for design. My treatise *De re aedificatoria* was the first comprehensive architectural theory since Vitruvius, and it spread through print to architects across Europe. I emphasized that architecture should be based on mathematical proportion, function, and the revival of classical forms—columns, pediments, and arches—adapted to modern needs. For example, my design for the Rucellai Palace in Florence used a grid of rusticated stone and classical pilasters to create a rational façade. I also advocated for urban planning that considered public health and beauty, like straight streets and piazzas. My ideas directly inspired later architects such as Bramante and Palladio.
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