Why Villa? Not A House!

A house tends to be simple in structure and to conserve ancient forms that do not require the invention of a designer, while the villa is typically the product of an
architect’s imagination and asserts its modernity.

The villa is a paradigm not only of architecture but of ideology; it is a myth of fantasy generated by psychological rather than utilitarian needs.
It is not limited to any particular architectural type, culture, or the historical moment but rather is a social and ideological phenomenon discernible throughout history.

Villas can be regarded as experimental houses that allow architects to study a technical or functional aspect in concrete terms or to develop spatial ideas.

The tradition of villas has often included a return to the pioneer spirit; many architects view these buildings not only as a residence but as testing grounds for new ideas or the crystallization of concepts and theories. Villas provide an opportunity for architects in testing new concepts and serve as a prototype in future projects.

Common among ancient writings, the villa enjoys from the natural setting restorative powers (otium) in opposition to the excesses of city life (negotium).

 

Villas are utopian settings for conversations of ”Architectural Inventions”.

 

 

Reference: Villa ideology as ”literary production” and ”writing architecture.”
Author: Amirabbas Abutalebi