Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/792

 708 COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. into it ; or to bring an estuary from the lake to the liouse ; or to give it the effect of being placed on a promon'ory or a peninsula. Whatever mode is adopted, the platform on which the house stands should always be raised considerably above the level of the water, and the main body of the house above the tops of the highest trees j not only for the sake of cfFect, but for the health of the occupants. 1641. IF/ioi a strikinc/ iiatural Situation occurs, it should not be rejected, because it may be on the boundary of the estate, unless there be something decidedly offensive in the adjoining property. Some of the noblest situations of villas, in Britain, are on the sea- shore, or on the steep rocky banks of rivers, or on lofty cliffs overhanging public roads. The proximity of the sea, of a river, or even of a public road, to a house, can never be offen- sive to the occupant ; because, though they do not belong to him, they belong to no one else, and the grandeur of their effect overpowers every other consideration. 164'i. The accidental Circumstances ichich influence the Position of a House are, chiefl)', the boundary of the property, and the existing trees, roads, buildings, fences, and other artificial objects. The most desirable position for a house, all otlier circumstances being alike favourable, is the centre of the estate. The advantages of being at an equal dis- tance from every part of the boundary ; of having, as much as possible, on every side, that which we can call our own ; of not being overlooked by near neighbours ; and of reposing, as it were, in the bosom of our own tenantry, cottagers, cattle, woods, and gardens, are obvious, and felt by every one. It is seldom, however, that natural features correspond so exactly with accidental circumstances as to render this practicable ; and, therefore, all that the Architect can do is, to make the nearest approach to such a combination that the case will admit of. 1643. To he guided by existing Trees, Roads, or other artificial Objects, in fixing on the position of a house, is obviously bad judgment; on the general principle, that what is intended to be permanent should never be made subservient to what is only temporary. Nevertheless, this is very frequently the case ; and nothing is more common tlian to see good houses deprived of half their effect from being placed in some inferior situation, merely because it contained a few old trees, or was the site of a former mansion, the cellars of which, perhaps, remain ; or because it was near very good offices, which it was thought a pity to pull down. Such are the shortsighted prejudices with which Architects have frequently to contend. 1644. The Offices of a Villa include those of the kitchen-court, those of the stable- yard, and those of the farm. In small villas, or in what may more projjcrly be called villa farms, these may be all arranged around one court : but, in general, they are placed apart ; the kitchen-court being attached to the liouse, the stable-yard adjoining the kitchen court, and the farm being placed at some distance, according to the situation and the kind of farm. The principle by which the position of both the kitchen and sta- ble offices is determined is, that of having free access to them without coming in sight of any of the fronts of the house. This is, perhaps, one of the most important points in determining the position of a villa and its offices ; for, if the latter are placed so as not to be accessible by servants and tradesmen without their passing the front of the house, it is scarcely possible to make a perfect villa. It is not necessary to the attainment of this object that the offices should be concealed : on the contrary, they should always be visible, and be rendered subordinate and supporting parts to the main body of the man- sion, and should cooperate with it in forming a whole. In general, there is only one approach to a villa; and, in that case, the offices should always be on the side by which the approach road advances towards the entrance front. When there are two approaches, advancing towards the entrance froqt in opposite directions, then the offices ought to be placed on that side which is most likely to be the principal road for tradesmen and servants. This will, of course, generally, be the side which is next the nearest village or town. In scarcely any case that we can conceive is it desirable to have the kitchen- court on one side of the main body of the house, and the stable-court on the other, as wings ; though this was formerly much the practice in large mansions. The incon- veniences of such an arrangement for a villa are too obvious to require pointing out ; and they could only be tolerated in times when the proprietors of such residences were surrounded by servants, and when the highest ambition of taste was ostentatious display. 1645. The Farm Offices of a Villa should always be placed on the side next the stable offices ; so as that a free communication between them may take place, witliout inter- fering with the entrance front on one side, or the lawn front on the other. Where the farm is large, the offices should lie central to it, whatever may be their distance from the house ; but where it is small, and chiefly used for raising produce to be consumed at home, the farmery may be jjlaced near the stable yard, and may compose a subordinate part of the general architectural group. 1646. The Kitchen-garden of a villa should always, if possible, be on the side next