Design Principles

of

Bagnaia, Italy

Villa Lante :

rulesSacred & Profane

Era of Design

Topography

Elements of a city

Synthesis

“ [ … ] It is obvious that spaces are

what humans do their living in ;

space must therefore be

comprehended as the major medium

of design . ”

- Norman T. Newton Design on the Land

Sacred & Profane image

Sacred & Profane

Design Principles

Sacred

•main center axis

•foci on main axis

•secondary axis almost all bilateral

Profane

• unorganized main axis

•foci off the main axis

•unorganized secondary axis

•chaotic and wild planting scheme

Topography

Topography

Era of Design

Town squares

Sightlines

Architecture

Orientation

•developed during the Middle Ages as a central gathering space for local citizens.

•town squares are often an interruption or terminus to entering sightlines.

•multiple streets sliding in at each corner of square are known as “windmill” or “whirling square”.

•the traveler’s eye rests upon a building or other large object within the village.

•high walls, castles, structures built from stone mark this period of architecture.

• the town of Bagnaia is located on a north/south axis easily identifying time of day.

Era of Design

Node

Landmark

District

Edge

PathA predominant element in the landscape that channels the observer to move through other arranged and related elements in the city. Walkways, canals, railroads, streets.

Elements of a city

A linear boundary within the landscape. An important organizing role of a city, holding together generalized areas. A wall, water, edges of development.

The medium-to-large sections of the city in which the observer mentally enters “inside of,” recognizable as having common identifying character.

Strategic points or junctions, concentration of some use or physical character related with the observers travels along the path and through the node. Street-corner, enclosed square.

An external point-of-reference, singling out one defined physical object. Towers, drumlins, sculpture.

- Kevin Lynch The Image of City

Elements of a city

Path

Elements of a city

Edge

Elements of a city

District

Elements of a city

Node

Elements of a city

Landmark

Elements of a city

New City

“citta di fuori”

Outside city walls

Old City

“citta di dentro”

Inside city walls

Villa Lante

Garden Proper

Forest

“Parco inglese”

English park

Synthesis

•town of Bagnaia established late 1400’s – 1500’s

•park established around1475

•Villa Lante established 1566

Thank You!