Reverse Engineering an Antique Italian Treasure: An architecture student-enlists reverse engineering to survey an historic synagogue and produce an accurate architectural model

摘要

For the Jews of Modena, Italy, the Modena Synagogue stands not only as a place of worship, but also as an elegant mix of classical and Venetian architecture and - most significant - as a monument to freedom and equality. In 1859, Modena's Jewish citizens regained the rights that had been taken away from them and their ancestors over the previous several centuries. Once free from the restrictions of the ghetto to which they had been confined, they decided to build a synagogue where they could meet freely without harassment. Designed by Ludovico Maglietta, the new temple was officially opened in 1873 (figure 1).