Abstract:Most discussions about Renaissance villas are concerned with cultural-historical characteristics orbotanical and picturesque aspects, but they focus seldom on the interaction between architecture, garden, and landscape. Based on a talk given at the 2020 Palladio Forum, this paper provides a new angle for the study of Palladian architecture and landscape through reading notes that record the author’s reading experience. More specifically, the article explores the relationship between the villa and its surrounding and investigates how the location, terrain, and local landscape character allowed Palladian architecture to compensate nature and formulate a cosmic plan. Although this can probably fully explain the historic background of the architect and his villa, it will serve to communicate a new and joyful understanding of the concept of ‘design’.
