The Perfect House: A Journey with Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio

by Witold Rybczynski

Renaissance master Andrea Palladio's architectural DNA can be seen on modern-day icons from Buckingham Palace to the White House, from numerous English stately homes to Virginian plantation houses. In THE PERFECT HOUSE Witold Rybczynski travels along the Brenta River in north-eastern Italy to experience the surviving original Palladian villas for himself. He sets out to discover how a rustic sixteenth-century stonemason, born Andrea di Pietro, first had to become 'cultured' before he could be one of the most respected architects of all time, and how Palladio managed to bring the elegance of Ancient Rome to the Venetian countryside. Out of the chaos of hired cars and cheap flights, towns packed with 'Ristoranti Palladio' and herds of tourists, Rybczynski savours moments of epiphany as he contemplates Palladio's perfect houses. Part travelogue, part historical biography, part architectural guide, THE PERFECT HOUSE is a delightful and enlightening exploration of the birth of domestic architecture and the man who spawned it.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Art, History, Travel, Italy, Biography

Paperback

First published September 3, 2002

About the author

Witold Rybczynski was born in Edinburgh, of Polish parentage, raised in London, and attended Jesuit schools in England and Canada. He studied architecture at McGill University in Montreal, where he also taught for twenty years. He is currently the Martin and Margy Meyerson Professor of Urbanism at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also co-edits the Wharton Real Estate Review. Rybczynski has designed and built houses as a registered architect, as well as doing practical experiments in low-cost housing, which took him to Mexico, Nigeria, India, the Philippines, and China.

(From www.witoldrybczynski.com)

Reviews

[Adelais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Дуже приємний науково-популярний травелог канадського архітектора, який подорожує собі віллами Палладіо і розказує, що про них думає - часом як архітектор та історик, часом просто як захоплений мандрівник. У книжки є ще один милий побічний ефект - я потім кілька місяців начитаним оком усюди бачила портики.

[StudioWellspring~Anjie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i've always wanted to visit italy with the sole purpose of seeing all of palladio's buildings, or at least as many as possible. so i was delighted to read about a man who had done just that. this book tells wonderful tales of history and present day situations surrounding these perfectly designed places.

[Bettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Joel Everett · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful travelogue and part historical, part architectural, review of the villas constructed by Andrea Palladio. Researching the layout of Jefferson's Monticello inadvertently led me to this book which I highly recommend. In addition to the illustrations in the book I'd recommend pulling up color photographs on the net of the various interior and exterior elements to add to your enjoyment of this book.

[Margery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visit to and discussion of Villas by Palladio in the Vicenza area of Italy. Witold is a great writer on architecture - combining expertise with keen observation and a talent for presenting comfortably for the lay reader. This was especially interesting as I had recently visited La Rotunda - possibly the most "perfect" of Palladio's designs. A "must read" for any architecture buff visiting the Vicenza World Heritage Area.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very particularly about the Palladio houses, their detailing, settings, and history. I think I was looking for a book more generally about the historical influence of Palladio's architecture through time, rather than such a specific tour. But I did still learn a lot.

[Mark B.]

I've been planning a Palladio-themed trip to northern Italy for years. I remember reading Rybczynski's Home in my Historic Preservation classes in university, so I look forward to this book to help return to a more academic exploration of an amazingly influential architect.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I know why I am partial to Palladian-style houses. Rybczynski delves into Palladio's trade secrets as he visits a dozen of the villas the architect designed in the 16th century. At the end of his tours he discovers that one is available for vacation rental. I know where I plan to go next.

[Alain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, fun, fun!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure the format of this book really works, going house-by-house. Drier, slower, less-engaging and ultimately less informative than I thought it would be.

[Arthur K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rybczynski is always interesting. This is as much a travel book as a book about Palladio, and worth reading.

[Joe Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely awesome. A magnificent writer

[Dan Vine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good introduction to Palladio's villas and to what we know of the man.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witold Rybczynski's book made me want to travel and learn more about design. I look at buildings in my neighborhood and everywhere differently.

[Flora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a long time ago and enjoyed it. Want to read again.