1 research outputs found
The Sensory Heritage of Pliny the Younger From Ancient Literary Sources to the Renaissance Villa
No full textThis diploma thesis explores the sensory dimensions of villa architecture, tracing the origins of the villa in Antiquity and its enduring significance through the Renaissance revival. The study identifies the villa as a «sensory construct» rooted in Pliny the Younger’s letters by situating contemporary sensory architectural discourse in a historical context. Pliny’s writings provide a literary framework for understanding villa architecture, portraying his estates as immersive environments that engage distinct views, light and shadow, sound, wind, gardens and cardinal orientation. These «Plinian elements» — categorised into sight, scent, sound and tactility — establish the sensory foundation of the villa and illustrate how sensory engagement connects architecture and human experience.
Andrea Palladio shared similar motivations with Pliny in creating rural retreats, yet he notably excludes Pliny in his reference to Antiquity. This paradox highlights the intangible nature of Pliny’s villas, leaving their architectural forms open to interpretation and enveloping them in mystery. Palladio’s villa architecture provides a formal foundation for examining the continuity of sensory engagement, explored through case studies of Villa Godi, Villa Barbaro, Villa Foscari, and Villa Almerico (La Rotonda). The study investigates the sensory and atmospheric qualities of Palladian villas by combining subjective immersion with documentation through measurements, text and photographs, uncovering connections between the Plinian narrative and Palladian design while bleding sensory engagement with architectural precision.
The lived experience of Villa Foscari and its restoration efforts are explored to demonstrate the lasting significance of sensory engagement. Albert Clinton Landsberg is presented as a Plinian figure in the context of a 20th-century Palladian villa, where the sensory resonance reinforces the Plinian approach to villa architecture. Landsberg’s meticulous restoration work focused on reviving the villa’s character and preserving its sensory qualities.
Contemporary sensory discourse asserts that architecture is inherently multi-sensory; it is not merely static and visual but experienced, as conveyed and firmly embedded in the Plinian letters, where sensory elements evoke a heightened awareness of the surroundings. Ultimately, the study demonstrates how the sensory dimensions of villa architecture shape human experiences and underscores the importance of preserving architectural heritage not only as physical structures but as sensory environments.submittedVersio
