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Golden Proportions in a Great House: Palladio’s Villa Emo

In: Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future

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  • Rachel Fletcher

    (New York School of Interior Design)

Abstract

Palladio created two distinct versions of Villa Emo at Fanzolo, the plan published in I quattro libri and the constructed villa that survives to this day. In both, harmony appears mathematically in the dimensions. The published plan is measured in Vicentine feet and is comprised of whole number measures that have been identified as among the terms of musical harmonies. Meanwhile, a geometric analysis based on a 1972 survey of the constructed Villa Emo reveals a plan of the central block that is not perfectly square, but proportioned to a circle that inscribes two smaller squares. Subsequent room dimensions and passageways follow in golden mean progression. The placement of doors and fireplaces derives from a regular pentagon whose base is drawn on the front edge of the portico. While proportions derived from other geometric shapes are also present, the golden mean also appears to dominate the front elevation.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Fletcher, 2015. "Golden Proportions in a Great House: Palladio’s Villa Emo," Springer Books, in: Kim Williams & Michael J. Ostwald (ed.), Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 121-138, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-319-00143-2_8
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-00143-2_8
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