Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/787

 PRINCIPLES FOR DESIGNING VILLAS. 7(J3 BOOK III. DKsIGNS FOR VILLAS WITH VARIOUS DEGREES OF ACCOMMODATION, AND IV DIFFEKENT STYLES OF ARCHITECTURE. 1620. A VUla we intend, in this Book, to consider as a country residence, with land attached, a portion of which, surrounding the house, is laid out as pleasure-ground ; or, in other words, with a view to recreation and enjoyment, more than profit. In this view of a villa, the dwelling is to be considered as only an amplification of the cottage; and the lands, as those of a farm, in which ornament and effect have been studied in the vicinity of the house. The humblest cottage, in our opinion, ought to contain all the essential comforts of a villa dwelling ; and the lands of a farm, all that is useful in the grounds of a villa. The cottage and the farm are occupied as the means of obtaining and enjoying the comforts of life ; and the villa of adding to these the gratifi- cations resulting from the display of wealth and taste. In countries where all the inhabitants are in possession of equal rights, every industrious individual, not living in a town, will possess a cottage and a garden ; and every man who has been successful in his pursuits, and has, by them, obtained pecuniary independence, may possess a villa. Ac- cording to this view of the subject, it is not necessary that the dwelling of the villa should be large, or the land surrounding it extensive ; the only essential requisites are, that the possessor should be a man of some wealth, and either possess taste himself, or have sense enough to call to his assistance the taste and judgment of others, who profess to practise this branch of the art of design. 162. T7ie Art of arranaiiip Villas tn Britain is far better understood than the con- struction of cottages, or the laying out of farms. The reason of this is, that the occu- pants of the two latter descriptions of residences have hitherto been deficient in that degree of cultivation which is necessary to the display of what is considered good taste ; and have been too poor to be able to call in the assistance of the taste of professional men. The occupiers of villas, on the contrary, have not only possessed more cultivation and taste than the others, but, fi-om their wealth, have been able to command the services of all who professed an ability to render them assistance. Hence it has followed, that the villas of Britain, though deficient in some particulars, are yet decidedly superior to those of every other country. It is easy to point out in them numerous faults ; but where, in any other countn,', will be found half so many beauties in the Architecture and scenery, or so much real comfort and luxurious refinement in their accommodation and arrangements ? In consequence of the comparatively improved state of Villa Archi- tecture, this department of our work will require to be much less copious than those which have preceded it ; and this the more especially, because there are already many excellent works which treat on the subject, under the titles of Designs for Villas, and Treatises on Landscape- Gardening. 1622. The Principal Defect of English Villas is in the want of a sufficient imion between the house and the grounds ; or, in other words, of cooperation between the Architect and the landscape-gardener in fixing on situations, and in laying them out. " Our parks may be beautiful," Laing ]Meason observes, " our mansions faultless in design ; but nothing is more rare than to see the two properly connected. Let the Architect, by study and observation, qualify himself to include in his art the decorations round the immediate site of the intended building ; and the improving taste of the gentrj- of England will second him in his efforts." Viewing the subject in the same light as IMeason, we shall, in the present Book, first direct the attention of the reader to Fundamental Principles ; next depict the Beau Ideal of an English Villa ; afterwards, give IMiscellaneoas Designs for Villas, and Designs for Appendages to Villas ; and, lastly, Designs for their Finishing, Fittings-up, Fixtures, and Furniture. Chap. I. The Ftindamental Principles of laying oui a ViEcl, including the House and the Grounds. 1 62S. The End in view, in forming a Vtlla, is to produce a healthy, agreeable, and elegant country residence ; and the means for aUaining this end are, a judicious choice of situation, a fitting arrangement of the p-ounds. and a correspondent excellence in the interior accommodation and the exterrikl Architecture of the house. "VVe shall take these three subjects in succession. Sect. I. Of the Choice of a Situation for a Villa Residence. 1624. In the Choice of the Situation far a Villn Residence, two classes of circum- stances rcqiure to be taken into consideration: tiie one include? such as arc abolute or