Tivoli,
Italy
Client:
Atelier Italia, The Getty Center
1985-present
Working under the name 'Atelier Italia', this project has undertaken the complete measurement and photo documentation of Hadrian's Villa. Each summer for the past 10 years, 15 graduate students from architecture schools throughout the country spend 2 months working on this extensive archaeological project. The Villa of Emperor Hadrian, built between 117 a.d. and 135 a.d. was last thoroughly measured by Piranesi and published as a plan in 1781.
Our field work, now nearly complete, involves the precise survey and measurement (to current archaeological standards) of each of the many buildings of the complex, and extensive photo documentation. A series of drawings are in preparation, and they will lead to the publication of a folio and book describing the New Plan of Hadrian's Villa. The folio will include extensive notes on each of the measuring projects, and other comments and observations.
In addition, all of the survey information and measurements are being integrated into a computer database that will eventually allow all aspects of the Villa - from topography to details - to be seen in two and three dimensions. The Getty Center Archive has acquired nearly 4,000 of our documentary photographs.
The project 'Hadrian's Villa / Villa Adriana' is seen by us as an attempt by the architect/designer to recapture and participate within the historical record so dominated by the historian and archaeologist.