Villa Story

Ladies and Gentlemen;

I am finally back in Rome again after visiting the the shipyard,  Unfortunately the builder is behind his schedule due to the late delivery of needed lumber and spars for the ship a-building.  I will have to visit the lumberyard sometime soon to see what the problem is there.  The villa construction is also slowed due to my absence.  However, the basic walls will be strengthened today and ready to set up by tomorrow.  Meanwhile my search for the names of each room that I want in the "townhouse" villa continues.

Latin House Terms

Today, on my way to the shipyard, to talk with the manager there about the ship I have an interest in, I sketched out a rough floor plan for my proposed "Townhouse" villa on Palatine Hill.  The diagram is for a two story villa with a small garden  I believe that I have enough rooms outlined to meet all my present and future needs for a foreseeable time ahead.  I am presently doing a little research into the meanings of some of the latin names for the rooms and spaces in the villa.  So far the following items are on my list:

--Atrium / Peristyle:-Enclosed spaces open to light and air.  An open central court from which enclosed rooms led off.  The sloped hole in the roof was called the compluvian, and the hole in the floor impluvium which served as water collection.

--Peristyle:-An open courtyard within the house, with columns or square pillars surrounding the garden which supported a shady roofed portico, whose inner walls were often embellished with elaborate wall paintings of landscape and architecture.  The courtyard might contain:

• flowers and shrubs;
• benches;
• fountains;
• sculpture;
• fish ponds;
• the lararium, a shrine  for the lares (household gods), might br located here or in the atrium. 

--Tabulinum:-Tabulae (family records);

--Cubiculi:-Bedrooms, three;

--Triclinia:-Dining Room;

--Oeci:-Reception Rooms;

--Hypocaust:-heating structure under the building;

-- Latrina:-lavatory, toilet;

-- Frigidarium; (cold room)

    tepidarium; (warm room)

    caldarium (hot room):-baths, three rooms;

--bibliotheca:-library;

-- officium:-office;

--lararium:-Temple;

-- cucina:-kitchen;

--copia; horreum (for wine):-storerooms, (wine, oil, wood, garum, grain, charcoal, etc.)

--acticus:-access, exit;

--Portico:-acollonade (line of columns) with a roof structure over a walkway.  

--Columnade:-row of columns;

--cryptoporticus:-covered walk;

--cenatorium:-dining room;

--xystus:-open colonnade, walk, or avenue

--horatus rusticus:-  rustic garden, outside of the house;

--palaestra:-gymnasium;

--posticulum:-small back building;

--fauces:-throat, pass, or narrow channel;

--Tablinum:-Family records.

Well, I think that is all that I should be concerned with.  Now comes the drawing of the plans.  That will be the next task.

By the way I have sent the pictures of the Roman stone bridge model that I built to the Militarium, and the warship that is under construction is there as well.  For those who may have an interest in Roman Military subjects I offer the chanc to join the Militarium after you become a Nova Roma citizen.

Respectfully;

Marcus Audens

Roman Villa #2

In response to a couple of comments:

--I probably would have selected some place on a quiet back street of Herculinum, or Pompeii but for the kind offer of the good Senator, however, the "Rustic" villa and attached farm will be somewhere fairly near to one of the above, and also to the coastline just far enough from the bustle of the city but close enough to run in to do business or buy something nice for my wife;

--Yes, I expect that living in the City of Rome would have been somewhat tumultuous and at times awkward, but it would also have been the center of commerce in the Roman World and as such almost a mandatory place in order to take advantages of the business / commercial opportunities offered to make a comfortable living.

So far, I have the plan of a townhouse of some size that was excavated in England (http:bartleby.loct.dmu.ac.uk/~dcawth00/projects/vinestreet_large.jpg)and both the large and small Amada Model Designs large and small.  I have a couple of books which deal in some degree with villa floorplans.  Finally I have a growing list of the items that I want to have in the "Townhouse" Villa.

So far, you will have seen the floor plan layout of the "Rustic" villa structure with it's four basic walls.  Remember that all of this is being done with models and drawings. I am building the "Rustic" villa first so that I will have some place to live while the "Townhouse" villa is being planned and built.  I am thinking that if I have to create the model plans as well as put it together it will take some time.

At the present time the man Marcus Audens is living in a modest apartment close by the Tiber River shipping offices below the city of Rome.  It is there that his cousin, a throughly trustworthy gentleman, handles his business for him.  However, the cousin does not have the imagination or perceptivity, on occasion, to sense certain opportunities which make the difference between moderate success, and windfall success.  I will, for the time being, remain in the apartment which is quite comfortable and reasonable in cost, in order to watch over the investments in the city and the seaport which hold the most interest for me until the "Rustic" villa is completed and furnished.  Meanwhile, I have a ship in which I have some interest abuilding on some ways nearby the Seaport. I will be visiting that vessel in the ner future and provide you a picture as soon as I return.

Respectfully;

Marcus Audens   

 

"Rustic" Villa Floor Plan

This is the floor plan of the "Rustic" villa together with the four basic walls of the villa.

Roman Villa #1

This blog is to follow my efforts to build a Roman Villa.  Senator Quintillianus (NovaRoma) has most graciously and generously offered the plot of land next to him on Palatine Hill.  In response to that offer I am working toward building a model of a "Rustic" Villa in the country, while I gather information in regard to the design of a "Town" Villa on the offered property.

Master Regulas, in his wishing me well on living in the city of Rome, has given me the idea to add the story of my life in Nova Roma.  Obviously, I must have a source of income if I am to build two villas, and so I will in addition to a running description of the building process be talking about my current life in the Roman world.

Tonight my wife has taken a photo of the ground plan of the Rustic villa together with the four basic interior walls of the structure.  When that photo is entered onto the Internet, I will be pleased toad it to this blog.  I also intend to include my first two postings on the NewRoman List about this project.

Pleas keep in mind that I am new to this whole idea of blogging so if anyone sees anything by which I can improve the blog I should be glad to hear it.

Respectfully;

Marcus Audens