Chapter XIII. Of the compartment or disposition of the Villa’s

THE agreeable, pleasant, commodious, and healthy situation being found, attention is to be given to its elegant and convenient disposition. There are two sorts of fabricks required in a villa: one for the habitation of the mater, and of his family; and the other to manage and take care of the produce and animals of the villa. Therefore the compartment of the site ought to in such a manner, that the one may not be any impediment to the other.

THE habitation for the master ought to be made with a just regard to his family and condition, and as has been observed in cities, of which mention has been made.

THE covertures for the things belonging to a villa, must be made suitable to the estate and number of animals; and in such manner joined to the master’s habitation, that he may be able to go to every place under cover, that neither the rains, nor the scorching sun of the summer, may be a nuisance to him, when he goes to look after his affairs; which will also be of great use to lay wood in under cover, and an infinite number of things belonging to a villa, that would otherwise be spoiled by the rains and the sun: besides which these portico will be a great ornament.

Rear must be had in lodging the men employ’d for the use of the villa, the animals, the products, and the instruments, conveniently, and without any constraint. The rooms for the steward, for the bailiff or farmer, and for the labourers, ought to be in 2 convenient place near to the gates, for the safeguard of all the other parts.

The fables for the working animals, such as oxen and horses, must be at a distance from the master's habitations, that the dunghills may be at a distance from it, and be placed in very light and warm places.

The places for breeding animals, as hogs, sheep, pidgeons, fowls, and such like, are’ to be disposed according to their quality and nature: and in this the custom of different countries ought to be observed.

The cellars ought to be under ground, inclosed, and far from any noise, moisture, or ill smell, and ought to receive their light from the east, or from north; because that having it from any other part, where the sun might heat them, the wines being thereby warmed would grow weak, and be spoiled. They must be made somewhat sloping in the middle, and have their floors of terrazzo, or paved in such a manner, that should the wine happen to run out, it may be taken up again, The tubs in which the wine is fermented must be placed under the covertures that are made near the said cellars, and so raised, that their outlets may be something higher than the bung-holes of the barrels, that the wine may be the more easily convey'd, either through leather pipes or wooden channels, from the said tubs into the barrels.

The granaries ought to have their light towards the north, because the corn cannot so easily be heated, but rather cooled by the winds; and thereby it will be a long time prefer'd, and none of those little animals will breed there, which damage it very much. Their floor, or pavement, ought to be of terrazzato, if it can be had, or at least of boards; because the corn will be spoiled by touching of lime.

The other store-rooms ought also, for the said reasons, to look towards the same part of the heaven.

Hay-lofts ought to face the south or west; because the hay being dried by the heat of the sun, it will not be: in danger of corrupting and taking fire. The instruments necessary to the husband-men, must be in convenient places under cover towards the south, The grange, where the corn is threshed, ought to be exposed to the sun, ample, spacious, paved, and a little raised in the middle, with portico’s round it, or at least on one side; that in case of sudden rains, the corn may be immediately conveyed under cover; and must not be too near the master’s house, by reason of the dust, nor so far off as to be out of sight.

This in general will suffice concerning the election of sites, and their compartments. It remains (as I have promised) that I insert the designs of some of the fabricks which I have directed in the country, according to several inventions.