(Gelernter, 1951) This process of refinement resulted in its' continued and extensive use and enabled architecture to reach new levels, both in a literal and figurative sense. The Cathedral Pisa, commonly known as the 'Leaning Tower of Pisa', began construction in 1173AD under supervision of Italian architect Bonanno Pisano. Progressing from the previously Greek knowledge of columns and arch's, the tower represents an advanced understanding of the mathematics of weight and load architecture. The bell tower was built as a symbol of the city's pride and economic wealth, however it faced multiple problems during construction forcing it to cease for long periods of time so that the clay soil could harden in order to stabilize the structure. (Smart, 2010) The tower is a stark example of building with inappropriate foundations, triggering a development in tectonic knowledge and architectural advances. Humans are inclined to achieve at their best, thus when failure occurs improvement is almost always certain. (AllPsych, 2011) This theory of human motivation existed throughout history, unsurprisingly relevant in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. As it was out with the former medieval view and in with the philosophy, art and architecture of the ancient Greek view, the Renaissance debuted as a time capsule, allowing civilization to return to a sensory, self-conscious world rather than the 'meaningless' one that it had become. (Gelernter, 1951) The conclusion to be drawn from the tradition-bound character of most famous architects, modern and historic, is that we should acquaint ourselves with history in order that it is articulated, improved and re-expressed or freed from, whichever may fit. However without the study of history, this option is eradicated as well as the opportunity to create new and inventive designs. .
Through the borrowing of design concepts and ideas from influential figures of the past, architects are exposed to greater levels of thought and correspondingly, new and inventive forms.
