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A Summary of Mathematics of The Ideal Villa
A Summary of Mathematics of The Ideal Villa
Mathematics of the ideal villa is a paper written by Colin Rowe , an architectural historian, critic,
and theoretician, and was first published in the Architectural Review, 1974.
2) Geometry:
Both villas are designed as a cube, same dimension : 8 X 5.5 X5 unit.
Same ratio on the exterior 2:1:2:1:2
3) Structure:
Villa Garche : column- supported structure. Villa Malcontenta : Bearing wall structure.
4) Plan:
Villa Garche : open plan, the use of piano nobile to exemplify that the house had become a palace.
Different arrangement of spaces on each floor: the function and distribution of the rooms follows an
a elementary program: entrance and large hall, secondary entrance, garage , and a living room with a
library. On the second floor there are 2 bedrooms with sitting rooms and bathrooms. On the third 2
guest rooms with bathrooms and servant rooms.
Villa Malcontenta: Centralized traditional plan. All floors are the same
5) facades:
Villa Garche facades are expressed as a series of horizontal strips.
Villa Malcontenta: the facades have 3 horizontal divisions: base- piano nobile and attic.
6) roof treatment:
Villa Garche: flat surface with a sculptural feature (elliptical tower)
Villa Malcontenta: Pediment and pyramidal elements
References:
Mathematics of the ideal Villa. Colin Rowe, 1947.
Le Curbosier "regulating lines" for the villa at Garches and other early architectural works. Roger
Herz-Fischler.
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