Mehrdad Iravanian Naderi Issue 15

First of all, congratulations to the founder of this magazine for choosing its name, the name “Villa”, which I’m very obsessed with, as you know, the name and the whole subject of a speech is about the name. I'm wondering that why not anyone before this, never thought of that name to use it as a magazine, and so I was looking in the history of Publishing and I came closed to that name the only one was “Domus” was close to Villa that somehow, it's the meaning you know it's somehow different, and I was wonder why “Gio Ponti” at that time he didn`t chose term “Villa” for the magazine and he chose “Domus” instead.

That time, like 1926-28, that first time they published the “Domus Magazine”, it was a hard time, I mean, like it was 10 years, about 13 years after the war, it was a bad situation in Europe, and it's understandable. Somehow “Domus” can appropriate to have as a title but that's the same time if you look at the situation socially if I would be publishing it magazine, I may use in solar instead of you know “Domus” because of you know very bad situation of social you know terribleness at that time.

But somehow I see that the most of the subjects that they use in “Domus” they use so many realizes you know even in “Gio Ponti” design Villas but never “Domus” was you know so I came to a conclusion that draw a polygon of a logical polygon after the reason that why he used that term as a as a subject as a front page of an magazine and so I draw that polygon and once I become a defender of Gio Ponti that both was the reason and what was there vertexes of these polygon and I wrote some title of these for that and then I came to conclusion that six important maybe topics that he carried to convince them to use “Domus” instead of “Villa”.

The first one was the “intercultural focus and inclusiveness” that he used to choose the “Domus” over the “Villa” or even over there in the surroundings. The whole subject is The Domus emerged as a symbol of intellectual inclusivity, while Insula might have confined the discourse to urban living, and Villa to rural Retreat. Domus encompasses both urban and rural residents. Ponti aims to create a platform for a diverse range of architectural ideas, fostering inclusivity within the intellectual sectors.

The second vertex for the polygon is “historical uncontrolled significance”; you know the significance of the cultural attitude. The choice of Domus is deeply rooted in historical and cultural significance, evoking the Roman houses. It connects the magazine to a rich architectural heritage, and Ponti decided to emphasize the tradition and community through the name, highlighting his commitment to exploring the enduring aspect of design and dwelling. This is for the second reason, maybe he used to choose and prefer Domas over Villa.

“Urban centrality” was another reason, maybe he used you know that word, and “Cultural Capital”. Domus conveys the centrality of urban living, aligning with the cultural and intellectual capital associated with cities. In a time when the rationalist was unfolding, the magazine focuses on urban living and stands its commitment to engaging with its architectural discourse between an evolving context.

The fourth vertex is “architectural symbolism” that he used. The term Domus serves as a symbolic representation of broader spectral architectural ideas. Unlike Insula or Villa, it allowed the magazine to engage with various design philosophies reflecting Ponti`s vision of publication that explored the intellectual depth of architecture.

The other vertex is “elegance and simplicity of the word” Domus, which appeals to Ponti’s design sensibilities. It aligns with the aesthetic idea of modernism while possessing a timeless quality that transcends architectural trends. The magazine becomes a vessel for exploring not only contemporary architectural events, but also the enduring elements of design.

And the last one, the last vertex is “international appear" l Domus began as s Latin word holding international appeal. Ponti Invasion is a magazine as a global platform that transcends logistical boundaries.

In summary, Gio Ponti's decision to name his magazine Domus encapsulated a deliberate and thoughtful approach it's symbolizing its inclusivity, historical continuity, and a commitment to engaging diverse architectural ideas.

Now I'm defending the Villas vertex. Villa could be as good as you know Domus for his you know the choice of the term Villa is similarly deeply rooted in historical and cultural significant connecting not just to a rich architectural heritage but also a broader cultural connotation like a Domus the term will not carries layer of meanings that extend beyond the physical structure of the house. The second vertex is “historical and cultural significance” that really has historical ties to ancient Romans and also the Renaissance and their Renaissance Villas, also designed by great architects like Palladio, and everything.

The third vertex is “connection to architectural heritage,” again just like a Domus evokes that Roman houses, the Villa connected broader architectural heritage, it draws association with a granted state of the past. The architecture plays a pivotal role in shaping the cultural and social identity.

The other vertex is “emphasizing or tradition and continuity,” similar to the emphasis on a traditional community like Domus, the term Villa reflects the commitment to a certain way of living it implying the connection to the addition of elegance after rural living transfers specific architectural style.

The other vertex again is “cultural identity and refinement,” and this is important. Historically associated with a certain level of cultural refinement. Maybe the Domus is not, and you see that the Domus didn't proliferate itself, but the Villa did. Harmonic nature that exactly Villa caring that possibility and versatility and ability the term Villa is versatile accommodating a range of architectural expression from the historical Renaissance to modern interpretations, and we see that the term that we are using as a philosophy maintaining it cause associated with the luxurious and often rural resident.

In essence, just as the Domus that Gio Ponti used was it deliberate choice to connect with their historical and cultural context, with a Roman house, the term Villa is known to a broader architectural and cultural tradition. Both terms evoke a sense of continuity of tradition and a particular way of living that extends beyond the physical structure of ancient times to today (until today.)

The choice of Villa for a magazine like you use or any architecture in the world would similarly convey a commitment to exploring enduring aspects of design, dwelling, and cultural identity.

Thank you.

 

Edited by Villa Magazine editorial
Special Issue Annual Edition 2023
Vol. 15
© All rights reserved. Villa Magazine 2015-2026
ISSN: 2981-197X (EN)
ISSN: 2981-1961 (FA)
Registration No. 74246
All images are © each office/photographer mentioned.

 

© All materials in the special issue No.15 - The Italian Villas Issue - Supported by the Italian Embassy in Tehran