In 2020, a doctoral thesis titled 'Archaeological Analysis of the Construction Processes and Building Techniques of Hadrian's Villa' will commence, under the guidance of Rafael Hidalgo and in affiliation with the I+D+I project PALATIA: Imperial Villas and Palaces from the Roman Period (1st-5th centuries AD) (2019-2022) at the Universidad Pablo de Olavide. The objective of this study is to review, document, and analyze the various buildings of Hadrian's Villa to comprehend their construction characteristics and thereby reconstruct the construction process of the villa.

Historical sources indicate that the importance of Hadrian's Villa is inextricably linked to the life of Emperor Hadrian. After his death, in contrast to other villas in the imperial domain, little new construction was carried out. Nevertheless, this does not exclude the villa from numerous alterations, reconstructions, or additional building phases. These constant modifications were made to adapt the structures of the initial phases to the new aesthetic and functional requirements that the emperor demanded for his residence

To conduct our study, we employed a methodology based on the principles of architectural archaeology. We analyzed the different faces of the walls of the buildings of Hadrian's Villa, utilizing a database to collect a wealth of information. This data will later be linked to a Geographic Information System (GIS) to enable spatial analysis. Most of the case studies were documented using photogrammetry to generate high-quality orthophotos and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings, facilitating accurate analysis of the structures in question. In some instances, advanced technologies such as 3D scanners or drones were employed.

From this study, we have documented numerous reconstructions carried out during the construction process itself or at later stages. For example, there are more than a hundred cases of closures, openings, and modifications of door and window openings, often occurring during the construction process. In some cases, these changes were made as part of the construction, while in others, they were carried out due to alterations in the final project's design. Additionally, walls were constructed using inferior techniques, creating new spaces that obliterate structures from previous phases. These alterations primarily affected service buildings, such as the Hospitalia Caserma dei Vigilli and the Triclinio Imperiale. However, we also observed changes in buildings of great importance, such as the Serapeo and the Terme con Heliocaminus, as well as in smaller rooms of large buildings, such as the Piazza d'Oro. Furthermore, changes were noted in the heated rooms of Palazzo d'Inverno or Piccole Terme, including increases or decreases in the number of heated rooms.

All this makes us think of Hadrian's Villa as a laboratory of ideas in constant flux, where the structures were modified, sometimes during the building process, sometimes accelerated, with a marked urgency in construction, so that the project could adapt to the new needs that arose in a constantly changing project during the emperor's lifetime.