21.5 Lessons of Rome - Part 5 - Courtyards

Introduction

The study of Rome through architectural themes was an excellent methodology to look at the richness and diversity of the city. It also served as an opportunity to re-examine and further clarify the basic concepts that make architecture. The themes of windows, walls, rooms, courtyards, piazzas and porticos served as the stimulators for investigation and inquiry.

Courtyards

The courtyard as an outdoor room utilizes much of the same design principles as an interior room. The qualities of a court are determined by its configuration, enclosing edges (spatial container) and its system of proportion.

Santa Maria della Pace – a square plan courtyard.

St. Ivo – a rectangular courtyard with a focus on the long axis.

Villa of the Mysteries – a square court

Villa Farnese – a cylinder courtyard within a pentagon villa.

Santa Maria in Campo Marzio – A “T” shape court which molds the space.

A courtyard is made by either a continuous layer that lines the space (as in Santa Maria della Pace, the Villa of the Mysteries and the Villa Farnese), by the walls of the building itself (as in Santa Maria in Campo Marzio), or as a combination of the two (as in the large main court of villa Giulia and St. Ivo).

Villa Giulia

The volume of the court is always contained by cornice lines placed above the first level to give human scale to the court and at the upper level where the volume meets the sky.

Santa Maria della Pace – openings of square and double square proportions.

Villa of Mysteries – a cubic volume between the 4 posts of the court.

St. Ivo – Rectangular court openings of double arch diameters.

Villa Farnese – a cylinder court of a continuous inner layer. Lower cornice above the rusticated base and upper cornice. Double diameter of arch opening.

The paving of courts are always differentiated from the zone around it. Some in cobble stone (della Pace, St. Ivo, Villa Farnese) others of softer grass or gravel (Villa of Mysteries and Villa Giulia).


Reprinted from
Bertram Wong

7 September 1982

USC Summer Program in Rome
(all sketches copyright Bertram Wong, no reproduction without permission)


See

Part 1 - Experiencing the City

Part 2 - Windows

Part 3 - Construction of Walls and Openings

Part 4 - Rooms

Part 5 - Courtyards

Part 6 - Piazzas

Part 7 - Porticos

Part 8 - Conclusions

Jiwa Studio

Singapore, February 2012
http://jiwastudioweb.blogspot.com/