the renaissance in italy: villa gamberaia. villa gamberaia, settignano (1610) the villa gamberaia is...

The Renaissance in Italy: Villa Gamberaia

The Renaissance in Italy: The Renaissance in Italy: Villa GamberaiaVilla Gamberaia


Villa Gamberaia, Settignano (1610)Villa Gamberaia, Settignano (1610)

The Villa Gamberaia is located on the outskirts of the hillside town of The Villa Gamberaia is located on the outskirts of the hillside town of Settignano, about five kilometers from Fiesole, the setting for some of the Settignano, about five kilometers from Fiesole, the setting for some of the earliest villas of the Italian Renaissance. The villa is located in a region of earliest villas of the Italian Renaissance. The villa is located in a region of working farms, mostly olive orchards in this particular setting. The winding working farms, mostly olive orchards in this particular setting. The winding road through the town and up to the villa is the beginning segment of a spatial road through the town and up to the villa is the beginning segment of a spatial sequence that characterizes this unique late style. As it approaches the Villa sequence that characterizes this unique late style. As it approaches the Villa Gamberaia, the narrow road opens up to the right just before the tunnel Gamberaia, the narrow road opens up to the right just before the tunnel straight-ahead.straight-ahead.

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Plan of GamberaiaPlan of GamberaiaThe plan of the Villa Gamberaia is The plan of the Villa Gamberaia is logically and clearly ordered. Within logically and clearly ordered. Within its simple structure is a diverse its simple structure is a diverse collection of garden spaces of both collection of garden spaces of both architectural and horticultural architectural and horticultural merit. The garden is essentially laid merit. The garden is essentially laid out on two flat planes, terraced on out on two flat planes, terraced on the side of a hill, supported by tall the side of a hill, supported by tall retaining walls and overlooking the retaining walls and overlooking the Tuscan landscape of farms, orchards Tuscan landscape of farms, orchards and hilltowns. The long allée runs and hilltowns. The long allée runs north-south and is the datum by north-south and is the datum by which the upper and lower terraces, which the upper and lower terraces, the house and service quarters and the house and service quarters and the formal parterre garden are the formal parterre garden are connected. An annotated plan connected. An annotated plan drawing can be found at the end of drawing can be found at the end of the tutorial.the tutorial. Drawing by Eileen Kemp


ArrivalArrival

The gated entrance drive is a narrow shaft of space that leads directly to the The gated entrance drive is a narrow shaft of space that leads directly to the villa residence. The arrival court is a modest space that directs the view villa residence. The arrival court is a modest space that directs the view toward the interior gardens and to the buildings rather than to the distant toward the interior gardens and to the buildings rather than to the distant view to Fiesole and Florence. The experience at this point is one of controlled view to Fiesole and Florence. The experience at this point is one of controlled movement and enclosed space.movement and enclosed space.

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ProgressionProgressionPassing through the double Passing through the double archway at the entrance archway at the entrance court and confronted with court and confronted with a 12 foot high wall about 25 a 12 foot high wall about 25 feet ahead, the visitor turns feet ahead, the visitor turns to the right and is treated to the right and is treated to an enchanting vista of to an enchanting vista of the garden and the the garden and the spectacular view beyond. spectacular view beyond. The long allée, at one time The long allée, at one time in the garden’s history in the garden’s history more enclosed along the more enclosed along the parterre garden edge, has parterre garden edge, has an open terminus framed an open terminus framed by the topiary cypress by the topiary cypress exedra and the Stone Pine exedra and the Stone Pine opposite the end of the high opposite the end of the high wallwall.

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Focal InterestFocal InterestAnother double archway projects Another double archway projects from the southwest corner of the from the southwest corner of the house, extending the line of the house, extending the line of the facade along the allée and into the facade along the allée and into the parterre garden on the south side. parterre garden on the south side. This line was once picked up by a This line was once picked up by a series of potted plants, probably series of potted plants, probably brought down from the orangerie brought down from the orangerie and placed on pedestal platforms.and placed on pedestal platforms.

The north end of the cypress allée The north end of the cypress allée terminates in a stone niche in a fully terminates in a stone niche in a fully enclosed space. The road tunnel enclosed space. The road tunnel that we saw just after the entrance that we saw just after the entrance drive runs perpendicular to this drive runs perpendicular to this allée directly below. To the right is allée directly below. To the right is a shade garden; to the left is the a shade garden; to the left is the gate to the olive orchards across the gate to the olive orchards across the road from the villa garden.road from the villa garden.

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Walls as FramesWalls as Frames

The double archway extends the line of the building façade and frames the The double archway extends the line of the building façade and frames the views on either side of it. The wall that encloses the allée is a retaining wall at views on either side of it. The wall that encloses the allée is a retaining wall at the north end, holding back the earth that supports the orangerie garden the north end, holding back the earth that supports the orangerie garden above. Here at the south end it is freestanding with a small opening and a hint above. Here at the south end it is freestanding with a small opening and a hint of the more rustic landscape within. The stucco-surfaced wall, topped with of the more rustic landscape within. The stucco-surfaced wall, topped with sculptural urns, has the faded evidence of painted images of pilasters and sculptural urns, has the faded evidence of painted images of pilasters and niches that brought visual relief from the mass and weight of such a formidable niches that brought visual relief from the mass and weight of such a formidable structure. structure.

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Il Giardino SegretoIl Giardino Segreto

Inside the freestanding wall is the surprisingly intimate landscape of a rustic Inside the freestanding wall is the surprisingly intimate landscape of a rustic garden referred to as the “giardino segreto” -- the secret garden. The setting, garden referred to as the “giardino segreto” -- the secret garden. The setting, as a transitional ground between the formal parterre garden and the olive as a transitional ground between the formal parterre garden and the olive groves on the rolling hillsides of Settignano, harbors a protected atmosphere groves on the rolling hillsides of Settignano, harbors a protected atmosphere where notions of both refuge and prospect, basic instinctual human needs, where notions of both refuge and prospect, basic instinctual human needs, come together. come together.

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The GrottoThe Grotto

The Grotto Garden is ingeniously sited between the upper orangerie garden The Grotto Garden is ingeniously sited between the upper orangerie garden and the lower naturalized rustic garden to the south. The rock walls and and the lower naturalized rustic garden to the south. The rock walls and multiple levels surround a quiet space set aside for meditation and reflection, multiple levels surround a quiet space set aside for meditation and reflection, very much like a small chapel for moments of prayervery much like a small chapel for moments of prayer

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The OrangerieThe OrangerieThe orangerie is a structure The orangerie is a structure that housed fruiting citrus trees that housed fruiting citrus trees in terra-cotta pots during the in terra-cotta pots during the winter months when frost was winter months when frost was likely to damage the plants. The likely to damage the plants. The orangerie garden at the Villa orangerie garden at the Villa Gamberaia is located on an Gamberaia is located on an upper terrace, accessible from upper terrace, accessible from the Grotto Garden stairways the Grotto Garden stairways and from the winding country and from the winding country road that tunnels under the road that tunnels under the allée and up the hillside against allée and up the hillside against which the villa rests. The small which the villa rests. The small potted trees are displayed in the potted trees are displayed in the orangerie garden. Workmen orangerie garden. Workmen cart them to the lower parterre cart them to the lower parterre garden and placed them in line garden and placed them in line with the double arch..with the double arch..

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The TerraceThe TerraceOn the formal lawn terrace On the formal lawn terrace directly in front of the house and directly in front of the house and facing toward the west, the facing toward the west, the sculptural balustrade frames the sculptural balustrade frames the views to the town of Settignano views to the town of Settignano and the more cosmopolitan city of and the more cosmopolitan city of Florence far beyond. The tall Florence far beyond. The tall hedges that enclose the parterre hedges that enclose the parterre garden begin at the southern garden begin at the southern limit of this terrace and limit of this terrace and completely close off the garden to completely close off the garden to (and from) the views. The result (and from) the views. The result is a secluded and serene inwardly is a secluded and serene inwardly focused paradise, expressively focused paradise, expressively and uniquely inscribed with and uniquely inscribed with reflecting pools and low box reflecting pools and low box hedges and topiary.hedges and topiary. 797

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The The ExedraExedra

The beautifully sculpted cypress and boxwood hedges outline each of the four The beautifully sculpted cypress and boxwood hedges outline each of the four pools in this quadripartite garden design. The far southern end of the garden pools in this quadripartite garden design. The far southern end of the garden is closed off with a cypress hedge, clipped to resemble an architectural wall of is closed off with a cypress hedge, clipped to resemble an architectural wall of arched openings in a semi-circular form. The Stone Pine at the exedra is a arched openings in a semi-circular form. The Stone Pine at the exedra is a modern “accident” that artfully brings a balance to the otherwise rigidly modern “accident” that artfully brings a balance to the otherwise rigidly formal layoutformal layout.

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The Amphitheater at the ExedraThe Amphitheater at the Exedra

The exedra holds an amphitheater-like arrangement of stepped hedges The exedra holds an amphitheater-like arrangement of stepped hedges surrounding the semi-circular pool. References to garden motifs used throughout surrounding the semi-circular pool. References to garden motifs used throughout classical antiquity include the Canopus at Hadrian’s Villa and the recollection of classical antiquity include the Canopus at Hadrian’s Villa and the recollection of the luxuriant terrace gardens at the Generalife in Granada. These precedents the luxuriant terrace gardens at the Generalife in Granada. These precedents firmly root this garden in the traditions of the past yet advance the concepts of firmly root this garden in the traditions of the past yet advance the concepts of spatial design and establish a prominent place for itself in Renaissance historyspatial design and establish a prominent place for itself in Renaissance history

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The The Villa in Villa in Time Time and and SpaceSpace

This garden relies not only on its This garden relies not only on its rational structure and the beauty of its rational structure and the beauty of its crafted objects for its charm. It’s appeal crafted objects for its charm. It’s appeal is also in the rich variety of spaces and is also in the rich variety of spaces and the intimate connections between the the intimate connections between the garden, the surrounding hillsides and garden, the surrounding hillsides and the active participant.the active participant.

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Plan and KeyPlan and Key

Villa Gamberaia, Settignano (1610)Villa Gamberaia, Settignano (1610)

1. Country road from Settignano1. Country road from Settignano

2. Entrance drive2. Entrance drive

3. Tunnel under the allée3. Tunnel under the allée

4. The Cypress Allée4. The Cypress Allée

5. The Orangerie5. The Orangerie

6. The Grotto Garden6. The Grotto Garden

7. The Lawn Allée7. The Lawn Allée

8. The Parterre Garden8. The Parterre Garden

9. The Exedra9. The Exedra

Drawing by Eileen Kemp

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ResourcesResources

Jellicoe, Geoffrey and Susan. The Landscape of Man: Shaping the Jellicoe, Geoffrey and Susan. The Landscape of Man: Shaping the Environment from Prehistory to the Present Day. The Viking Press: New Environment from Prehistory to the Present Day. The Viking Press: New York, 1975.York, 1975.

Newton, Norman T. Design on the Land: The Development of Landscape Newton, Norman T. Design on the Land: The Development of Landscape Architecture. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1971.Architecture. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1971.

Moore, Charles W., William J. Mitchell, and William Turnbull, Jr. The Moore, Charles W., William J. Mitchell, and William Turnbull, Jr. The Poetics of Gardens. The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1988.Poetics of Gardens. The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1988.

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