How Does Palladio Influence Western Architecture

Andrea Palladio was an Italian architect of 16th-century northern Italy and is largely considered to be the greatest architect since that time. Palladio’s teachings, summarized in I Quattro Libri dell’Architettura or The Four Books of Architecture gained him widespread recognition and today, he is considered to be the most influential individual in the history of Western architecture. Palladio’s career began in mis-16th-century when he was hired by Gian Giorgio Trissino, a Humanist poet and scholar, which is around the time when his principal ideas on palace and villa design were formed. Greatly inspired by these architectural design principles, a European style of architecture was derived in the 17th century, referred to as “Palladian Architecture”

It was his designs featured in his text, The Four Books, through which the style for fronting the facades of villas with columns and pediments spread through Europe, specifically in England with the Anglo-Palladian movement of architecture; however, not taking hold in America until mid-18th century. This classical design of the portico has, since its introduction to the Western architecture, remained a status symbol for American and English houses today and indicates the success and importance of the residents of a house. In addition to the typical portico, Palladio is also credited for popularizing the monumental two-tiered portico: porticoes with two levels or floors of columns. Another significant element of Palladian villas is the loggia, which is an open gallery or arcade with a roof that stretches along the front or sides of a building. It is typically built on upper levels and is different from a typical verandah in that it is more architectural and forms a part of the main edifice to which it is attached. It is not intended to be a part of an entrance but instead serves as a more informal albeit inviting out-of-doors sitting-room. Although this architectural device is rarely seen on colonial works besides Mount Airy in Virginia, loggias incorporated into porticoes were widely