Analysis of the Spatial Axis of Italian Renaissance Garden—Taking Villa Lante and Villa d'Este as Examples

Serving as a conduit for aesthetic principles of order, symmetry, and balance, landscape axis system has evolved in response to evolving societal aesthetics and lifestyles. Contemporary axis design methods are a product of historical insights, offering a versatile "toolbox" for garden designers to shape axis spaces. Concurrently, these evolutions mirror the challenge faced by modern gardeners: how to leverage spatial prototypes to explore the expanse of spatial design possibilities. Focusing on the Italian garden axis space during the Renaissance, the essay explores a journey from simplicity to complexity in spatial structure, integrating the axis with the surrounding environment. Analyzing iconic examples such as Villa Lante and Villa d'Este from 16th century Italy, the essay unveils the evolution of spatial form and function within garden axes. It investigates how these axes intricately organize distinct unit spaces and garden elements across their evolutionary trajectories. Lastly, the essay underscores the pervasive influence of axis spaces on modern landscape design.