Among many great works of Andrea Palladio: Villa Rotonda
Among many great works of Andrea Palladio, Villa Americo Capra, also called Villa Rotonda is the most influential building in the history of western architecture. Palladio built it for a retired churchman in the Renaissance period, the 1550s in Veneto, Northern Italy[1]. Before Palladio, there were many different ways to build houses. But his study about ancient buildings in Rome and his own sets of rules had established the basics of architecture in which many architects could learn and use for their designs. From Villa Rotonda, people would understand and apply math and proportions in buildings. Perfect matching of plan and elevation with four front fau00e7ades with Greek arch and ionic columns helped people understand the mathematics of architecture. many architects of Villa Rotonda suggests a new paradigm in architecture.
The influence of Villa Americo Capra on modern designs
The design of the Villa Americo Capra has had influence even on some modern designs which makes it fall within the descriptions of the modern architecture described by Kathleen James-Chakraborty[2]. Notably, James was the first person to apply ancient temple front and in his book, he not only describes his architectural works but also those of other exceptional and modernistic architectural designers. Notably, Marian Moffet states in his book that the essentials of a great architecture are firmness, commodity, and delight. Simply put, the Villa Americo Capra meets these requirements and surpasses them[3]. additionally, the elegance of architecture described by Marvin Trachtenberg befits the Villa Capra[4]. The most fascinating aspect of the interior of this building is probably the circular hall at the center surrounded by a balcony and covered by a dome ceiling. It rises all the way to the cupola and its walls are adorned by trompe l'oeil decor. Notably, the significance of the Villa Capra and the reason why the three authors mentioned above consider it to be important is that despite having been built during the Renaissance period, it exudes a modern feel thereby merging the ancient and the new seamlessly[5]. Additionally, the building is reserved as part of the World Heritage Site for the same reasons.
References
Fraser, Murray. "Kathleen James-Chakraborty, Architecture Since 1400. Minneapolis, London: Minnesota University Press, 2014." ABE Journal. Architecture beyond Europe 9-10 (2016).
Moffett, Marian, Michael W. Fazio, and Lawrence Wodehouse. 2003. A world history of architecture. London: Laurence King.
Rachtenberg, Marvin, Isabelle Hyman, and Marvin Trachtenberg. 2002. Architecture, from prehistory to postmodernity. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
Williams, Kim, Giovanni Giaconi, and Andrea Palladio. 2003. The villas of Palladio. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.
[1] Williams, Kim, Giovanni Giaconi, and Andrea Palladio. 2003. The villas of Palladio. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.
[2] Fraser, Murray. "Kathleen James-Chakraborty, Architecture Since 1400. Minneapolis, London: Minnesota University Press, 2014." ABE Journal. Architecture beyond Europe 9-10 (2016).
[3] Moffett, Marian, Michael W. Fazio, and Lawrence Wodehouse. 2003. A world history of architecture. London: Laurence King
[4] Rachtenberg, Marvin, Isabelle Hyman, and Marvin Trachtenberg. 2002. Architecture, from prehistory to postmodernity. New York: Harry N. Abrams.
[5] Williams, Kim, Giovanni Giaconi, and Andrea Palladio. 2003. The villas of Palladio. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.
