LARCH 060

Tuesday, February 16th, 1999
Announcements: none

Lecture notes:

ITALIAN VILLA (15-16C.):

Land/environment:

• Hillsides and mountainous
• Countryside as a refuge
• Nature affords learning, awareness to control over learning

Socio-cultural milieu:

• Wealth
• Celebrate the human/humanism
• Time of great learning
• Acts

Design Expression:

• Gardens were integrated with architecture, had many outdoor "rooms"
• Architectonic---style of outdoor "rooms" where gardens were seen as structures, plant materials were used as walls and entrances
• Geometric
• Progressive Spaces
• Terracing, light & shade, water flowing down hills
• Villas were restricted to the rich and powerful. They were temporary rejections of the city, located on hillsides overlooking the city. They had much creativity, clever terracing, water for a cooling effect, and shade to get away from light
• Villas were designed as a whole---buildings and gardens were together
• The Villa Medici in Fiesole was a simple, humble design with an attempt to harmonize with nature, terraced into the hillside with walls. It was high up in order for healthiness, and intended to make you feel alive; nurtured intellect
• The Villa Lante in Bagnaia was orderly with a Renaissance attitude, built to impress and entertain. Man and nature were in harmony. Had progression of spaces with axis, Went from dark/shady to light and wild water to controlled water. These were expressions of change. The axis split the area into 2 parts called casinos. Had crab/crawlfish design for water chains and fountains
• The Villas D'Este in Tivoli was an expression of power and control, was showy and built for great impression----It had steep level changes and was not on a flat hilltop. Also had a series of ministories. Some of these ministories included the terrace of 100 fountains (wet, cool & shady), had water falling in droplets suggesting hair, water organ to provide arrays of sounds, more of a disjoint from nature

FRENCH GARDEN DESIGN TERMS:

1) Parterre---plants used for significant patterning

2) Bosque---series of geometrically layed trees providing a canope while people walked freely underneath

3) Allee---treeline path/axial view