Publisher's Synopsis
Leading architectural and garden historians trace the early history of the villa in Britain for the first time. The alluring ideal of villa life originated in classical antiquity, was revived in Renaissance Italy, and then spread throughout Europe, producing new and exciting architectural forms. This book contains both thematic chapters and case studies with famous buildings such as the Queen's House, Greenwich (Inigo Jones), and Winslow Hall, Buckinghamshire (attributed to Wren) being analysed and reinterpreted. Contributors include Nicholas Cooper, Andor Gomme, Gordon Higgott and Charles McKean. Copiously illustrated, with plentiful plans,