The Perfect House: A Journey with Renaissance Master Andrea Palladio

by Witold Rybczynski

The award-winning author of A Clearing in the Distance focuses on the designs, constructions, and writings of the Italian Renaissance architect, noting the influence of his works on such structures as the White House. 60,000 first printing.

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

288 pages, Hardcover

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]

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]

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]

Bettie's Books

[Joel Everett]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Fun, fun, fun!

[Mark]

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]

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

[Joe Davis]

Absolutely awesome. A magnificent writer

[Dan Vine]

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

[Annie]

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]

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