Some consider the Hospital of the Innocents to be the building that first defined a new style of architecture during what is now known as the Renaissance. It is a foundling hospital established and funded by a wealthy merchants; guild to provide for the city’s orphans.

Brunelleschi used freestanding columns supporting round-arched arcades. By boldly contrasting the gray stone of the pietra serena architectural elements against the white stucco of the smooth surfaces, the building’s design was made easily comparable to Roman models.

The hospital’s striking design is also innovative for its clear and eloquent addressing of the adjacent public space. The open arcade expands into the public space. Raised on a plinth of steps, the loggia offers an open and protective façade, in a symbolic language expressive of the building’s function.