Chapter III. Of the designs of town-houses

I AM convinced, that in the opinion of those, who shall see the following fabricks, and know how difficult it is to introduce a new custom, especially in building, of which profession every one is persuaded that he knows his part, I shall be esteemed very sort-nate, to have found gentlemen of so noble and generous a disposition, and of such excellent judgment, as to have hearkened to my reasons, and departed from that antiquated cut~ tom of building without grace or any beauty at all; and, indeed, I cannot but very heartily thank God, as we ought in all our actions to do, for granting me such a share of his four, as to have been able to put in practice many of those things, which I have learnt from my very great fatigues and voyages, and by my great study,

And altho’ some of the designed fabricks are not entirely finished, yet may one by what is done comprehend what the whole will be when finished. Thave prefixed to each the name of the builder, and the place where they are, that every one may, if he pleases, really see how they succeed.

And here the reader may take notice, that in placing the said designs, I have had respect neither to the rank or dignity of the gentlemen tobe mentioned; but I inserted them where I thought most convenient: not but they are all very honourable.

Let us now come to the fabricks, of which the following is in Udene the metropolis of Friuli, and was raised from the foundation by Signor Florian ANTONINT, a gentleman of that city. The first order of the front is of rustic work, the columns of the front, of the entrance, and of the loggia backwards are of the Ionick order. The first rooms are vaulted; the greater have the height of the vaults according to the first method beforementioned, for the height of vaults in places that are longer than they are broad, The rooms above have flat ceilings, and so much wider than those below, as the contraction or diminution of the walls, and the height of the ceilings, equal to their breadth. Over these are other rooms which may serve for granaries, The height of the hall reaches to the roof. The kitchen is out of the house, but very commodious nevertheless. The necessary places are on the sides of the stairs, and although they are in the body of the fabric, they do not give any offensive smell; because they are placed in a part remote from the sun, and have vents from the bottom of the pit all through the thickness of the wall, to the very summit of the house. Fmt pt — ft —— FF ——+—+—+—K This line is half the Vicentine foot, with which the following fabricks have been measured.

In Vicenza upon the Piazza, which vulgarly called the Isls, the Count Verrio CHIERICATO, an honourable gentleman of that city, has built according to the following invention.

This fabric has in the part below a loggia forwards, that takes in the whole front: the pavement of the first order rises above ground five foot; which has been done not only to put the cellars and other places underneath, that belong to the conveniency of the house, which wou’d not have succeeded if they had been made intirely under ground, because the river is not far from it; but also that the order above might the better enjoy the beautiful situation forwards, The larger have rooms the height of their vaults, according to the first method for the height of vaults: the middle-sized are with’ groined vaults, and their vaults as high as those of the larger, The small rooms are also vaulted, and are divided off, ~All these vaults are adorned with most excellent compartments of stucco, by Master Bart0 Ridolfi1, 2 Veronese sculptor; and paintings by Master Domenico Rizzo, and Meter Bartista VENETIAN, men singular in this profession. The hall is above in the middle of the front, and takes up the middle part of the loggia below. Its height is up to the roof; and because it projects forward a little, it has under the angles double columns, From one part to the other of this hall, there are two loggia’s, that is, on each side one; which have their soffits or ceilings adorned with very beautiful pictures, and afford a most agreeable sight, The first order of the front is Dorick, and the second Ionick.

Here follows the design of part of the front in a large form.

The following designs are of the house of the Count Iseppo pe Porty, 2 very noble family of the said city. This house fronts two publick streets, and therefore has two en-nes, which have four columns each, that support the vault, and render the place above it secure. The first rooms are vaulted. The height of those, that are on each side the said entrances, is according to the last method for the height of vaults. The second rooms, that is, of the second order, are with flat ceilings: and thus the first, as well as the second of that part of the fabrick, which has been done, are adorned with paintings, and most beautiful stucco’s, by the Lands of the aforesaid excellent artists, and of Master Paolo VERONESE, 2 moit excellent painter. The court encompassed with portico’s, to which one goes from the said entrances by a passage, is to have columns six and thirty foot and an half high, that is, as high as the first and second order. Behind these columns there are pilasters one foot and three quarters broad, and one foot and two inches thick, which support the pavement of the loggia above. This court divides the whole house into two parts: that forwards is for the use of the master, and the women belonging to him; and that backward to lodge strangers in; whereby those of the house, and the strangers will remain free in every respect: to which the ancients, and especially the Greeks, had a very great regard.

Besides which, this partition will also serve in case the descendants of the fad gentleman, thou’d chuse to have their apartments separate,

I wave placed the principal stairs under the portico, that they may answer to the middle of the court; that those who have a mind to go up, may as it were be compelled to see the most beautiful part of the fabrick; and also, that being in the middle, they may serve one part as well as the other. The cellars and such-like places are under ground,” The stables are out of the square of the house, and have their entrance under the stairs. Of the designs in a large form, the first is of part of the front, and the second of the part towards the court.

The following fabrick is in Verona, and was begun by the Count Giovia: Basis DELLA Torre, a gentleman of that city, who being overtaken by death, could not finish it; but there is a great part of it done. One goes into this house by the flanks, where the passages are ten feet wide; from which one comes into the courts, each fifty feet long; and from these into an open hall, which has four columns for the greater security of the vault above. From this hall one goes to the stairs, which are oval, and open in the mid-de. The said courts have corridors or balconies round them, level with the floor of the second rooms. ‘The other stairs serve for the greater conveniency of the whole house. This compartment succeeds extremely well in this situation; which is long and narrow, and has the principal street towards one of the lesser fronts,

The following designs are of a fabrick in Vicenza, of the Count Ottavio be THEN: It belonged to Count Marc’ Antonio, who began it. This house is situated in the middle of the city, near the piazza, and therefore I have thought proper to dispose of that part towards the piazza into shops: because the architect is also to consider the advantage of the builder, when it can be done conveniently, and where the situation is sufficiently large. Every shop has over it a mezato for the use of the shop-keeper; and over them are the rooms for the master,

This house is insular, that is, encompassed by four streets. The principal entrance, or as one may say, the master-gate, has a loggia forwards, and fronts the most frequented street of the city. The great hall is tg be above; which will project even with the loggia. There are two entrances in the wings, which have columns in the middle, placed there not so much for ornament, as they are to render the part above it secure, and to make the height proportionable to the breadth. From these entrances one goes into the court encompassed all round with loggia’s of pilasters. In the first order they are Rustick, and in the second of the Composite order. In the angles, there are octangular rooms, that succeed well, as well with respect to their form, as for diverse uses to which they may be accommodated. The rooms of this fabrick that are now finished, have been adorned with the most beautiful stucco’s, by Master Alessandro Vittoria, and Metier Bartolomeo Ridolfi; and with paintings, by Master Anselmo Canera, and Master BERNARDINO INDIA of Verona, not inferior to any of the present age. The cellars, and such like places, are under ground; because this fabrick is in the highest part of the city, where there is no danger that water should prove any inconvenience.

OF the following designs, in a larger form of the above inserted fabrick; the first is part Plate. of the front; the second is of the part towards the court. Plate 10.

Tut Counts VALMARANA, very honourable gentlemen, for their own honour and conveniency, and the ornament of their native country, have built in the said city, according to the following designs: in which fabrick there is no want of any ornaments that can be thought Plate of; as stucco’s and paintings. This house is divided into two parts by the middle court; about which there is a corridor, or balcony, which leads from the fore-part to that which is backwards. The first rooms are vaulted; the second with flat ceilings, and they are as high as they are broad. The garden, which is before one comes to the stables, is much larger than it is marked; but it has been made so small because the leaf wou’d not have contained the stables and all the other parts, Thus much as to this fabrick, having in this, as well as in all the others, inserted the measure of each part.

The following design is of half the front. Plate Amongst many honourable Vicentine gentlemen, there is Monsignor Paolo America, an ecclefiastick, and who was referendary to two supreme Popes, Pio the fourth and fifth, and who for his merit, deserved to be made a Roman citizen with all his family, This gentleman after having travelled many years out of a desire of honour, all his relations being dead, came to his native country, and for his recreation retired to one of his country-houses upon hill, less than a quarter of a mile distant from the city, where he has built according to the following invention: which I have not thought proper to place amongst the fabricks of villas, Plate because of the proximity it has with the city, whence it may be said to be in the very city. The site is as pleasant and as delightful as can be found; because it upon a finall hill, of very easy access, and is watered on one side by the Bacchiglione, a navigable river; and on the other it 1s encompassed with most pleasant risings, which look like a very great theatre, and are all culti-ated, and abound with most excellent fruits, and most exquisite vines: and therefore, as it enjoys from every part most beautiful views, some of which are limited, some more extended, and others that terminate with the horizon; there are loggia’s made in all the four fronts; under the floor of which, and of the hall, are the rooms for the conveniency and use of the family, The hall is in the middle, is round, and receives its light from above. The small rooms are divided off. Over the great rooms (the vaults of which are according to the first method) there is a place to walk round the hall, fifteen foot and a half wide. In the extremity of the pedestals, that form a support to the stairs of the loggia’s, there are statues made by the hands of Messer Lorenzo VICENTINE, a very excellent sculptor.

Signor Giulio Capra, likewise a most noble cavalier, and a Vicentine gentleman, for an ornament to his native country, rather than from any necessity he was under of so doing, has prepared the materials to build, and has begun according to the following designs, in a most Plate beautiful site, in the principal street of the city. This house will have courts, loggia’s, halls and rooms; some of which will be great, some middling, and others small. The form will be beautiful, and diversified; and certainly that gentleman will have a very stately and magnificent house, suitable to his noble mind.

I made the present invention fora site, belonging to the Count Montano BARBARO at Plate Vicenza; in which, by reason of the situation, did not observe the same order on one part, as I did on the other. Now this gentleman has bought the neighbouring piece of ground, and therefore the same order is observed in both parts; and as in one part the stables are placed, and the lodgings for servants (as may be seen in the design) so in the other there are rooms that will serve for a kitchen, and places for women, and for other conveniencies. They have already be gun to build, and have raised the front according to the following design, in large form. I have not yet inserted the design of the plan, according as it was finally concluded on, and according as the foundations are already laid, since I could not get it graved time enough to have it printed. The entrance of this invention has some columns which support the vault, for the reasons already mentioned. On the right and left there are two rooms one square and a half long; and after these, two squareones; and befidesthefe, two closets. Opposite to the entrance there is a passage, from which one comes into a loggia over the court. This passage has a closet on each side, and over them mezati's, to which the principal stairs of the house serve, All the vaults of these places ate one and twenty foot a half high. The hall above, and all the other rooms, are with flat ceilings; the small rooms only have their vaults as high as the ceilings of the rooms. The columns of the front have pedestals under them, and support the balcony; into which one enters by the soft. The front is not to be made in this manner (as 16. was said) but according to the following design, in a large form.