Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli stands as an iconic testament to the ingenuity and pioneering nature of imperial residential architecture, providing a unique opportunity to explore a project that wasn't shaped gradually over an extended period but was intentionally planned and designed within a relatively brief timeframe.

Drawing upon recent studies examining the design of imperial residences as embodiments of power (Featherstone et al., 2015) and insights into the dynamics of the imperial court (Kelly et al., 2022), this paper delves into the social ecosystem of Hadrian's Villa. It assesses the degree to which its innovative design was influenced by the social dynamics and daily interactions that brought its spaces to life, as well as the extent of departure from existing architectural conventions.

Highlighting the dynamic relationship between physical structures and their inhabitants, this paper draws upon prior research on architecture, water systems, décor, and spatial organization within Roman imperial residences (Ravasi, 2015). Its aim is to comprehensively explore how far the design of Hadrian's Villa's moved away from established norms, with a specific focus on three pivotal themes: movement and security, sanitation, and the nuanced balance between segregation and integration within the villa society.

References

Featherstone, M., Spieser, J. M., Tanman, G., Wulf-Rheidt, U. (Eds.), 2015. The emperor's house: palaces from Augustus to the age of absolutism. De Gruyter.

Kelly, B., Hug, A. (Eds.), 2022. The Roman Emperor and his Court c. 30 BC–c. AD 300: 2 vols. Cambridge University Press.

Ravasi, T., 2015. Estetica e progettazione architettonica nella disposizione dell'arredo scultoreo di Villa Adriana a Tivoli, Roma, Proceedings of the XVIII International Congress of Classical Archaeology. Centre and Periphery in the Classical World, 13-17 May 2013, Mérida: 19-22.