Mathematics of the Ideal Villa
Location
Date
January 2023
Project
Humanities
University of Dundee - Year 2
In Colin Rowe’s essay ‘The Mathematics of the Ideal Villa’ Rowe compares two buildings. Andrea Palladio’s ‘Villa Malcontenta’, Vicenza, Italy (1559) and Le Corbusiers ‘Villa Stein’, Garches, France (1928) also known as ‘Villa Garches’. Both buildings are of different styles, constructed during different time periods, using different architectural methods avaliable at the time. Upon first glance the designs appear to contrast each other, however, with careful analysis of conecptal ideas, Rowe was able to show the similarites and a resemblance between these two buildings.
The following analysis, comparing the Chiswick House and the Douglas House, will use a similar process to that of Colin Rowe’s method.
Project Overview
Chiswick House
Richard Boyle | 1726-1729 | London, UK
The Chiswick House is a Neo-Palladian style building, greatly inspired by the architectural villas of Andrea Palladio, especially the ‘Villa La Rontonda’. Boyle sought to follow the strict geometrical and spatial ideas of the Palladian style. He has created well proportioned, organised spaces through the use of symmetry and balance. The central plan layout of his design has been achieved using a gird structure. The use of highly decorative classical elements, including the six Corinthian columns and portico, along with the raised entrance of the piano nobile, all point back to the Grand appearance of the Palladian style.
Douglas House
Richard Meier | 1973 | Harbour Springs, Michigan, US
The Douglas House is situated on a rocky, forest outcrop with a view overlooking Lake Michigan. Being nestled in amongst the trees, this white geometric, machine-like cube not only contrasts its natural surroundings but seems to give the impression that the building is floating. Richard Meier, one of the New York Five Architects, was influenced by Colin Rowe’s concept of layered transparency, which is achieved in his Douglas house. By creating a contrast between an arrangement of open-planned and enclosed spaces, he has produced an overall dynamic structure.
Chiswick House
Douglas House
My Ideal Villa
Unapologetic
Both designs make an imposing statement within their environmental surroundings. The Chiswick House is a grand building, placed on an open flat land. The Douglas House is nestled in the trees on a sloping terrain, with its white geometric appearance contrasting the vegetation. Both seem unapologetic in their powerful presence on their surrounding area.
Principal Level
The Chiswick House uses a piano nobile, where the most important central living space is entered on the first floor by a symmetrical grand external staircase. The Douglas House uses a similar entrance by the use of a bridge, connecting the steep landscape with the fourth floor of the Villa. Both achieve a sense of a principal level, creating an interesting journey and threshold as the occupant enters the building.
Public + Private
Both of the buildings have light entering from the roof space creating a light well that acts as a corridor dividing the Public and Private spaces.
Hierarchy
Both designs have incorporated a vertical double height space, which gives a heightened sense of importance to the central living space.
Natural Light
The two buildings take advantage of the natural light entering above from windows in the roof. This allows the most public area to become the brightest space. This creates a separation as the darker areas, further into the building, are more private.
Central Circulation
Both buildings share a central circulation area which helps to organise and divide public and private spaces.
Final Design
West Elevation
South Elevation
East Elevation
North Elevation
