Excerpt from: Palladio's First Book of Architecture - Chapter One

Of the several particulars that ought to be consider'd and prepar'd before we begin to build.

GREAT care ought to be taken, before a building is begun, of the several parts of the plan and elevation of the whole edifice intended to be raised: For three things, according to VITRUVIUS, ought to be considered in every fabrick, without which no edifice will deserve to be commended; and these are utility or convenience, duration and beauty. That work therefore cannot be called perfect, which should be useful and not durable, or durable and not useful, or having both these should be without beauty.

AN edifice may be esteemed commodious, when every part or member stands in its due place and fit situation, neither above or below its dignity and use; or when the loggia's, halls, chambers, cellars and granaries are conveniently disposed, and in their proper places.

THE strength, or duration, depends upon the walls being carried directly upright, thicker below than above, and their foundations strong and solid: observing to place the upper columns directly perpendicular over those that are underneath, and the openings of the doors and windows exactly over one another; so that the solid be upon the solid, and the void over the void.

BEAUTY will result from the form and correspondence of the whole, with respect to the several parts, of the parts with regard to each other, and of these again to the whole; that the structure may appear an entire and compleat body, wherein each member agrees with the other, and all necessary to compose what you intend to form.

WHEN those several particulars have been duly examined upon the model or draught, then an exact calculation ought to be made of the whole expence, and a timely provision made of the money, and of those materials that shall seem most necessary, to the end that nothing may be wanting, or prevent the compleating of the work. In so doing, the builder will not only be commended; but it will also be of the utmost advantage to the whole structure, if the walls are equally and expeditiously carried up: for being thus dispatch'd, they will settle proportionably, every where alike, and not be subject to those clefts so commonly found in buildings that have been finish'd at divers times.

THEREFORE, having made choice of the most skilful artists that can be had, by whose advice the work may the more judiciously be carried on, you must then provide a sufficient quantity of timber, stone, sand, lime and metals; concerning which provision I intend to lay down some very useful directions. There must also be a sufficient number of joysts, to frame the floors of the halls and chambers; which ought to be disposed and placed in such a manner, that the distance betwixt each joyst may be the width of one joyst and an half when they are framed together.

YOU must likewise observe, that when the jambs of doors and windows are to be made, not to chuse stones bigger than a fifth, or less than a sixth part of the void or opening. And if you intend to adorn the building with columns or pilasters, make the bases, capitals, and architraves of stone, and the other parts of brick.

WITH respect to the walls, care must be taken, as they are raised, that they may proportionably be diminished in the thickness. Which observation, if rightly applied, may be of singular service, and enable you to make a truer estimate of the charge, and avoid great part of the expence.

BUT as I shall treat more distinctly of these several particulars under their respective heads, this general hint may suffice at present, and may serve as a sketch of the whole fabrick.

THE same regard is likewise to be had to the quality and goodness of those materials, that the best may be chosen. The experience gained from the buildings of others, will very much help to determine what is fit and expedient to be done.

AND although VITRUVIUS, LEON BAPTISTA ALBERTI, and other excellent writers, have laid down very useful rules with respect to the choice of the materials, I shall nevertheless take notice of such as are most essential, that nothing may appear to be wanting in this treatise.