The Venetian villa. Contemporary reinterpretation : Villa Meneghetti

This master’s thesis examines Venetian villas as a cultural and architectural phenomenon. The study also forms the theoretical and historical framework for a concluding design-based case study of Villa Meneghetti. Unlike villas in Rome or Florence, Venetian villas were embedded in agriculture. Their function varied over time as the Republic of Venice shifted its focus from maritime to the mainland. Original structures were partially demolished and replaced by villas. These villas supported the Republic and served as private retreats for the nobility. This development coincided with the decline of feudal structures. It was also influenced by figures such as Alvise Cornaro, who advocated rural life on the Venetian mainland.

During the Renaissance, villas in the Veneto region were regarded as ‘good architecture’ promoted by wealthy patrons and prominent architects of the time, who drew inspiration from Roman principles. Andrea Palladio’s design language combined functionality, Roman principles, and local traditions. His villas reveal a contrast between the romanticized image of the countryside and the realities of rural agricultural life.

This thesis traces the development of Venetian villas, from their origins to the works of Palladio. It is analyzed from architectural, historical, and artistic perspectives. The study culminates in a design-based case-study of Villa Meneghetti. The reinterpretation explored how historical villas can be approached and reinterpreted within contemporary architecture.