Serlio´s oval, arches, architecture Ostrava

The teaching of geometry, especially planimetry, in high schools focuses on basic constructions and the use of congruences and similarities in construction problems. In optional seminars or in technically oriented schools, construction techniques for conics are introduced, but the construction of ovals tends to be in the background. Students are usually not exposed to the problem until they are at university. This paper will illustrate various oval constructions on original technical documentation (blueprints) of buildings in 19 th century Moravian Ostrava and introduce the issue closer to students.

The teaching of geometry, especially planimetry, in high schools focuses on basic constructions and the use of congruences and similarities in construction problems. In optional seminars or in technically oriented schools, construction techniques for conics are introduced, but the construction of ovals tends to be in the background. Students are usually not exposed to the problem until they are at university. This paper will illustrate various oval constructions on original technical documentation (blueprints) of buildings in 19 th century Moravian Ostrava and introduce the issue closer to students.