The following model shows the already-existing internal medieval structure with a ‘cross-section’ of Palladio’s surrounding stone loggias. In March 1546, under a certain amount of string-pulling by his mentor Gian Giorgio Trissino, Vicenza city council approved a project to ‘clad’ the building – using the project of the 38-year-old local architect, then decidedly little known, Andrea Palladio. The requirement was for a two-tier covered walkway to surround the ground- and first-floors. Now, young Palladio’s adopted home town of Vicenza had a main council building, the Palazzo della Ragione, built in pure-rectangular Gothic form in the mid-15th century which was due a substantial face-lift by the mid-16th century. In later years Palladio was to write his own definitive work on architecture – The Four Books of Architecture (four books, rather than Vitruvius’ ten!) – published in 1570 when Palladio was 62. These fundamental influences of classical building style were to be the foundation of Palladio’s own architectural style as he became a fully-fledged, and much-in-demand, architect. In Rome Palladio made a thorough study of classical architecture and, in particular, the works of 1st century Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, known for his 10-volume work De architectura libri Dece – the seminal work on classical architecture. By the age of 16 he moved to Vicenza as a stonemason making monuments and decorative sculptures.īy Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, If you want more about the Villa Barbero try Īndrea Palladio was born 30 November 1508 in Padua, then part of the Republic of Venice. Nevertheless, they are given as much of the architectural prominence as the farmhouse (ie villa) itself – and not hidden away somewhere out of sight. The attached buildings symmetrically placed off to each side are no less classical in style but are, in fact, farm buildings containing stables, grain stores, and so on – yes, they are farm buildings! Albeit rather posh appendages to the main “farmhouse”. Notice here, for example, how the central, residential, block resembles a Greek/Roman temple (here inspired by the Temple of Fortuna Virilis in Rome) with its four-columned portico and large triangular pediment above containing the heraldic symbols of the Barbaro family. Not so much a farmhouse as a country residence! Palladio was very influenced by Greek/Roman architecture of antiquity and, more often than not, his buildings would reflect classical design. No? Probably not? Well, this is Palladio’s idea of a farmhouse! This is the Villa Barbaro at Maser, Treviso, Italy, completed in about 1558. Such as this, for example …? By Andrea Palladio, Public Domain, Or perhaps you might be thinking of something on a little grander scale?