Villa: From Ancient to Modern

Since antiquity the villa has provided the ultimate escape from the stress of business and the hectic pace of life in the city. As a building type the villa has endured for centuries, always offering tranquility and beauty to those who retreat within its walls or stroll through its surrounding gardens. The Villa: Ancient to Modern lavishly illustrates eighteen examples through- out Europe and the United States, whose essence has been captured by the architectural photographer Roberto Schezen.From Hadrian's Villa and the Villa of the Mysteries in Italy, through great Renaissance examples, such as Giacomo della Porta's Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati and Giacomo da Vignola's Villa Lante in Bagnaia, to Robert Adam's Syon House and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Schezen's photographs reveal the splendor and the architectural ingenuity of these country estates. Captured as well are modern incarnations of the retreat by master designers Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel, and Richard Meier.Architectural historian Joseph Rykwert provides an insightful introduction to this volume, as well as informative and often humorous commentary on each of the villas. By tracing the history of various building styles, profiling the architects involved, and detailing the patrons' needs and tastes, Rykwert ably contextualizes the various forms the villa has taken over the centuries.With 170 outstanding color and black-and-white photographs as well as detailed drawings and plans, The Villa offers a unique look at this intriguing form of domestic architecture.