VILLA LANTE

Fountain of the Moors pen with colour pencil on tracing paper drawing from reference photo (p131, Italian Gardens, Masson. G.)

Villa Lante, the finest Italy's villa, is designed by Vignola and built during 1566 to 1578 at Bagnaia, near Viterbo, 60km northeast of Roma.

It is personal favourite villa to me. The symmetries, terraces and water axis are the most fantastic Harmonia landscape design, which provides the whole villa a strong identity as well as creates plenty pleasure for different human sense in verier spots. 

Plan and Section pen with watercolour on watercolour paper

 

The plan illustrates the strict symmetrically geometrical layout of this villa. However, this not means that it is a boring place to be, as what symmetric and geometric usually applied for. 

Changes of the sense of space is the key method to suggest the movements, actions and focus to visitors. To achieve these changes, it is not difficult to be noticed from analysing the section with the plan together that the different arrangement of land levels and plants along the water axis through this villa. From the highest level to the lowest level, where the Moors fountain is located, the view and space is generally opening up. 

The water axis is the pearl necklace, the highlighted spots, the connector inbetween of spaces and the singer. 

Four fountains are vary in size to suite the space sense and terrace change. From the main entrance, they are lay in the geometry centre line of the villa and become bigger, as well as louder. When view can not reach the next fountain, the sound tells where it is. The water line figures, such as water steps and water table, provide the direction sense and suggested view, as well as different pleasures which may not be experienced around fountains.

If one day I go to Italy, I will spend a day in the Villa Lante, walking down the water steps and feel the moss on the edge stone, doing nothing else than counting the light spots on the steps.

 Water Steps watercolour with pen on tracing paper