Kamran Afshar Naderi Villa 15 Speech

I remember actually a few years ago when Amir Abbas approached me with his idea to launch a new magazine centred and the theme of Villas and I have a vivid memory of that day which I strongly discouraged him to do because I was thinking that it would end in failure. I have already a big problem with our magazine “Memar” to find subjects to publish even if we didn't have any limitation in theme like Villas or something just because publish everything.

But now we are here after a while and with Amir Abbas who is showcasing proudly the 15th edition of his magazine that my view is mainly monography series of books dedicated each one to the Villas to the Villas in the certain country and it's like a reference book that you can keep and come back and study every time you want to know something about Villas.
And I think that this addition is especially very emblematic addition because the concept of Villa was originates from Italy actually and it takes back to Roman times as a Mr. ambassador mentioned and that's why this addition is very special edition and it's interesting to know that today Villa signifies mainly a large and Elegance country house with large spaces the living and space for temporary stays and to escape the space escape and restore. And it's interesting to know that the Roman and Ancient Villas had mainly the same function because the ancient time Rome was very crowded a land prices were very high and people used to lead in apartment buildings called “Insulin” so the rich people preferred to have large properties you can't decide and having spaces for celebrating joy of living and so those Villas with gardens and fishing pounds and freestyles and clean you mother spaces baths and libraries any kind of spaces and even they have a lot of artworks sculptures and fresco's depicting several different scenes depicting mythological floral and even erotic subjects and that means that Leisure and pleasure was very fundamental in architecture in Italy and also in design.
And Villas especially were a hub for experimenting with new ideas and Concepts in architecture considering for example the one that I love very much is “Villa Malaparte” in Capri a topic leaf and the building was so groundbreaking and so bold and design in 1930s that with very stunning sea views that Jean-Luc Godard chose it for its film it's film “Le Mépris” starring Brigitte Bardot in 1961 and the building was very had very simple idea Jean-Luc Godard said about the it “It's a space for experimenting a new lifestyle”.
And also if we consider as Mr ambassador says Villa Namazi here by Joe Ponti that I think that the building a spies to create a new lifestyle for the inhabitants immersing them intensely in art and design.
Art and design also is another subject that is linked with the idea of Villa and I think that Italian artists Architects and designers just since beyond functionality and beauty and that's why if you look at for example objects designed by Italian, for example products or Ferrari or Lamborghini or even object designed. Objects are should be objects of desire for giving opportunity experimenting of new senses new let's say that lifestyle and also for them beauty and functionality is only initial steps for starting with art.
I think that Italian Villa is a very important subject for who wants to explore in architecture ancient time and also present time and I think that this addition of a magazine I haven't seen that but I just saw some images I think that it's a very useful reference book.

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