Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/858

 SStf COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA AllCHITECTURF. more, did we not fear being considered partial. We shall, however, sum up our opinion in one sentence, which is, that, taking the place altogether, we do not believe there is such another in the neighbourhood of London. Such a villa, indeed, is only to be expected from an Architect of taste, and of ample means, working for himself. Had the situation been more favourable, the effect might have been more brilliant ; but the contrast be- tween its present and its former state, and, by consequence, the gratification to the owner and improver, would have been less. Notwithstanding these encomiums, we are aware of some objections which may be made to the laying out of the grounds, as shown in the plan, fig. 1448, and also to the exterior Architecture of the house, fig. 1449. It may be objected to the plan, that the lines are too formal and unbroken ; but it must be recol- lected, that scarcely any of these lines, except those of the walks, can be recognised as lines in the reality. The plan, fig. 1448, is, in short, a working-plan, calculated to show the gardener what ground is to be dug and planted, and what is to be laid down in grass ; together with the direction of the gravel walks. The single trees and small groups, which are indicated in the plan by crosses ( x x ), will break all the lines both of the dug groups and the water, and produce an effect altogether different from that shown in fig. 1448. Even the spreading of the shrubs over the margins of the dug groups will totally destroy that appearance of lines which forms the prominent feature of the plan, as it appears on paper. However, independently altogether of the breaking of these lines by vegetation, there is a certain degree of beauty which belongs to lines and forms simply considered, and without any reference to the substance of which the forms are composed. Now, the question is, how far our Architect has succeeded in this kind of beauty. In most parts of the plan we think his success perfect ; but in others we should, perliaps, have made some variation ; and the principle by which we should have been guided in so doing would have been that of adapting the forms to their local situations alongside of the walks. The extent, however, to which we should have done this is not great. The effect which we should desire from such a plan as that before us, we have endeavoured to show in fig. 1456 ; and this is, as nearly as possible, the actual effect on the grounds. The great beauty which, in fig. 1456, is added to fig. 1448, is that of intricacy ; which is a main source of visual enjoyment, by nourishing curiosity, keeping alive attention, and stimulating the process of examination. The mind takes delight in penetrating into recesses, and making discoveries of new beauties at every step ; in tracing, in the forms of nature and chance, something of those of art ; in bringing shape and figure out of apparent irregularity and confusion ; and in finding every where, the principle of connection and cooperation towards the formation of a beautiful and expressive whole. The kitchen-garden is not to be considered as having any beauty as such, further than as it produces good crops of vegetables. It is placed and arranged so as not to interfere with the idea of extent, which is always an idea to be cherished in a limited space ; and which, in England, is sought after by most people, as creating allu- sions to the extensive parks and pleasure-grounds of the aristocracy. The full and cha- racteristic beauties of a kitchen-garden are only to be obtained when it is surrounded by walls, and laid out in right lines ; but such a garden would have totally destroyed the effect aimed at in the place before us. With respect to the interior arrangements of the house, and all its fittings-up, fixtures, and furniture, we are altogether incapable of doing them justice. No room is lost in passages, not an inch of space is wasted on any floor, and every comfort and accommodation is included that can be desired in a villa of this size and description. Design IV. — A Villa in the Anglo- Italian Style, with Three principal Rooms, and with a Stable and Couch-house. 1753. The Situation intended for this villa is in the neighbourhood of Guildford in Surrey, on the south-east of the turnpike road between Kingston and London. The ground rises gradually from the footpath of the road, at the rate of about one foot in ten, and the house was intended to be placed back from it about fifty feet, with the yards and gardens arranged as shown in fig. 1457. The general appearance of the side next the road is shown in the perspective view, fig. 1458, which is taken at the distance of 300 feet from the angle of the building. In the general plan, fig. 1457, to a scale of fifty feet to an inch, a a are the two main entrances from the public road, o j 6 is the prin- cipal door of the Iiouse ; c, terraces ; d, road to the yard ; e, yard ; f, green-house ; g, kitchen-garden ; h, beds and borders of flowers ; i, beds and borders of trees and shrubs ; k, lawn ; l, an iron fence separating the garden from the meadow ; and m, communication between the stable-yard, e, and the meadow, n. The contents of the garden, lawn, yard, house, &c., are three roods twenty-six poles, and of the meadow, three roods three poles. 1754. Accommodation. The basement plan, fig. 1460, shows a kitchen, twenty-four feet by fifteen feet and a half, a ; scullery, h ; coai cellar, c ; footman's bed-room, d j footman's