Andrea Palladio's Inventive Renaissance Architecture And The Elements Of Roman Architecture

ideals in art. Beginning in the 14th century, the revival of interest in antiquity inspired architects of the age to construct buildings of incredible proportion and symmetry that exuded harmony and order. The renewed concern with classism sparked the creative imaginations of Renaissance architects, who referred to ancient architecture as a model which they often studied for inspiration. Though Renaissance buildings often look very similar to the antique models which inspired them, architects only borrowed the principles of Roman architecture and made the designs according to their own ideas and interpretations, often striving to surpass the works of the ancients. Architects such as Leon Battista Alberti, Michelozzo di Bartolomeo, Donato Bramante,

Built between 1550 and 1570, the Villa Rontonda, a Renaissance villa in Northern Italy, offered a new formula for the ideal Italian villa. The name “Rotunda” refers to the villa's circle within a square design. Palladio carefully used calculated mathematical equations to perfect the symmetry of the villa. Located on a hill, the Villa Rotonda features a centralized plan including four identical facades each with a projecting porch arranged symmetrically around a central round dome. Drawing from classical influences, each portico resembles an ionic temple front and each portico has a pediment adorned with statues. In fusing the temple porch onto a centrally planned dome covered building, Palladio clearly had the Pantheon in mind when designing the villa. Turning to antiquity, Palladio modeled his villa from Roman precedent, using distinctive elements to make his design innovative and contemporary. Like the aforementioned architects, though Palladio relied on classical ideals of symmetry and proportion, his ingenious design of the Villa Rontonda that allowed the landscape to be seen from all four sides of the villa was completely innovative at the time. Likewise, the Villa Rontonda differs from other buildings built at the time with centralistic plan and dome design. Additionally, Palladio introduced an innovation by combining a classic temple with a façade of a house. Traditionally, temple fronts were reserved for churches and public buildings, yet Palladio incorporates religious overtones into an otherwise secular space through adorning the villa with the temple façade. By designing a completely symmetrical building and using through the elegant use of circles and squares, Palladio created a sophisticated construction that emphasized balance and uniformity. Though seemingly simple from the exterior, the Villa