Vitruvius, a Roman architect and engineer in the first century BCE, didn’t come up with the last word in architecture but he codified some of its first, and most enduring, principles: Utilitas – Firmitas – Venustas. These terms can be translated into English in a variety of ways.
Utilitas: utility, commodity, commodiousness, functionality
Firmitas: solidity, materiality
Venustas: beauty, delight
Because English is such a flexible language, full of nuance and meaning, we get to choose the translated terms we like best: functionality, materiality and delight. Feel free to choose your own.
Since being rediscovered in the 15th century, Vitruvius’s written work has rightfully been very influential in understanding and appreciating the design and construction of buildings.
A building can ‘fall down’ – or more precisely be a let-down – if it doesn’t successfully incorporate these three intertwined and interdependent ideas. That incorporation is tempered by history and technology, by place and by culture. It doesn’t have to have anything to do with one ‘approved’ architectural ‘style’.
And it’s not just buildings: a chair where all three principles haven’t been incorporated in the process of design and construction is probably one you may not want to – or be able to – sit on for more than few minutes. It may be beautiful to look at but if it hurts your back or falls apart soon after you sit on it, is it a success or a failure?
By the way, you may feel you somehow know Vitruvius yet can’t quite place him. Perhaps this will help: his work influenced – and he was justly immortalised – by artist, architect, engineer, inventor and writer Leonardo da Vinci in a drawing.
And while we will firmly resist the temptation to provide you many external links, especially those that could appear to be the final word on things, this Vitruvian excerpt from James F. O’Gorman’s ABC of Architecture (1997) may be food for thought. One reviewer called the book’s 127 pages ‘a model of brevity and clarity, [maybe] the best-written work on the subject in English for lay people.’
Throughout the building of this house, the blog will endeavour to explain what was intended and measure what is accomplished against Vitruvius’s trio of ideas. That’s a very high standard but we think the team is very capable!
If we succeed in adding something worthwhile to the built environment, the delight will be for all to share.
Hobart hill house 
Utilitas – Firmitas – Venustas.
Tasmanian power and water bills – a Tasmanian company – a Tasmanian planet 🙂
Blair, you have truly outdone yourself this time. For those not from this beautiful — and sometimes quirky — island, I leave you to ponder Blair’s comment; you’ll certainly be forgiven in advance for scratching your heads. If any Tasmanians fail to ‘get it’, hang your heads in shame and head to the mainland!
Doug
when do you expect to be in ?
Graham, we expect the house will be ready for occupancy in October or perhaps a bit sooner.