The influence of Palladian Architecture
Palladian Architecture is the term used to describe the European style of Architecture as derived from the work of the noted Italian architect, Andrea Palladio. Palladio who lived from 1508 to 1580 has proven to be a lasting authority on the world of architecture and his influence continues to be seen today in Architectural structures in much of Europe and all over the world.
While the term "Palladian" has come to mean structures and buildings which were designed with a heavy reference to the work of Andrea Palladio, Palladian Architecture by contrast most often refers to the Architectural style which is an evolution of Andrea Palladio's original design concepts. The course of the evolution of Palladian Architecture can be traced back to as early as the 17th century and its development continued until well into the 18th century.
Palladian Architecture originally achieved some degree of popularity in the middle of the 17th century in Britain although this initial wave did not last very long. The style again appeared in the 18th century and this time its influence was significantly more widespread, sweeping through large parts of England and even making inroads into the European continent, particularly the northern countries.
Like any cultural trend however it was bound to fall out of fashion eventually and when Palladian Architecture as a style began to decline in Europe, it began a new life in North America and achieved resurgence in popularity in the United States. One of the earliest proponents of the Palladian Architecture in the United States was Thomas Jefferson who designed several buildings in that style.
Although Palladian Architecture received widespread acclaim in many parts of the world, the only examples of structures that were designed entirely Andrea Palladio only actually saw the light of day in Venice and Veneto. Among these were the Villa Capra, Villa Badoer and the Redentore, which is located in Venice.
Palladio drew heavily on the design principles as exemplified by the Roan architect Vitruvius who along with his disciple Leon Battista Alberti designed their work to conform to the long established tenets of classical Roman architecture. This style differentiates itself from the rich, highly detailed and ornate style of architecture that characterized the Renaissance forms by its use of mathematical calculations to achieve a perfect visual balance and symmetry.
This regularity, which made up many of the most famous examples of Palladian Architecture, can be readily seen in the villas that were designed in the Palladian style. In Villa Capra for example which was a row of houses built upon the side of a hill, the facades of the individual houses were typically designed to be of equal height, thereby affording everyone an equally favourable view of the surrounding countryside.
Porticos in Villa Cabra were also designed in such a way that the residents were protected from too much sun and yet could still enjoy the view. This design has been carried over most noticeably in the American style of porches that exist to this day.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 04/04/2007
