Work

Interpreting Bastion Geometry: Digital Methods for Investigating Dutch Early Modern Military Architecture Through Freitag’s Design Principles

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This paper presents a computational framework for the automated geometric analysis of bastion fortifications, tested against the Freitag design principles, developed in the Grasshopper Add-on of Rhinoceros 3D. The system identifies key elements—curtain walls, bastion flanks and faces, shoulders, and salient angles—within regular polygonal layouts. It calculates five defining angles per bastion and proportions such as the gorge-to-interior base ratio, enabling comparison with design norms from 17th-century Dutch military treatises. Tested on 13 early modern bastion castles, with four detailed case studies (two pentagonal and two square-based), the framework extracts consistent morphometric data from CAD plans. Unlike prior research that parametrizes treatise rules to generate ideal fortification forms, this study reverses the process, applying analysis to real layouts to assess their conformity to Dutch standards. The approach combines computational geometry with historical interpretation, providing a scalable and reproducible method for typological evaluation.

Source: Nexus Network Journal

DOI: 10.1007/s00004-026-00865-z

Author: Olha Tikhonova

Institution: Universidad de Sevilla

Language: English

Topic: Architecture and Art History Studies

Subfield: Visual Arts and Performing Arts

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,190

Funder: H2020 European Institute of Innovation and Technology