Geometric patterns of Villa Adriana, the case study of "piazza D'oro"

The division between inspiration and technique is of very recent origin and is largely artificial. In buildings, science and art have always been united in the creative act. Not even the most narrow-minded aesthete or engineer can part the two without losing something. In Architecture, Epistéme and Téchne are com- plementary aspects of the same questions; but there is no doubt that the history of Téchne has had more influence on the history of Epistéme, rather than the contrary. It is inevitable that philosophers should continue to be interested in me- chanical concepts and historians of science to be concerned with obscure unscientific concepts. When studying Roman Architecture it is inevitable to find the interrelation between mathematical theories and geometrical shapes. The architect of ancient Rome developed a vibrant and enduring tradition, inspirig those who followed in their profession even to the present day. The success of Roman Architecture is shown to rest on vigorous but at the same time devious synthesis of theory, beauty, content and practicality, but always maintaining the vital equilibrium between the mathematical rule and reality. The aim of this thesis is to analyze the concepts and application of Roman Designing, examining long-lasting debate over their conception and demonstrating how countless time despite the attentive and precise project design based on mathematical calculations and geometrical shapes, the structures came to be modified in iteration after work on the site had begun. Unexpectedly also the glorious Romans Architecture ad to come to terms with the divide between ideal perfection and the tangible realities of contruction.