ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
A proposal for a new roman city as a part of Roman Architecture online course from Yale University NOTE: It is a work of Fiction inspired by historical events and characters
Abhinav
DESIGNING A ROMAN CITY I have designed a roman city that exists in the past.
of taxation and a census, which were used for erecting of the new city, Virtù.
CONTEXT
VIRTÙ
Caesar Augustus was one of ancient Rome’s most
The new city is constructed using the conventional
successful leaders who led the transformation
materials such as stone, timber and marble using
of Rome from a republic to an empire. During his
lime paste for mortar. I propose the city to be built
reign, Augustus restored peace and prosperity to
in proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south of
the Roman state and changed nearly every aspect
Rome since it can be self-sustaining since the
of Roman life.
inhabitants can take advantage of the ocean for
2 September 31 BC
food, transport, trade making it a healthy location.
After the Battle of Actium, on his return to Rome
And the coast at few miles farther from the city
Augustus commissioned an architect to design a
will act as a recreational place. And I have used
city with a religious importance where he would
Greek order of columns in most structures which
relocate 10,000 civilians. He passed laws to renew
also acts as decorative elements apart from
religious practices. In his first year alone, he rebuilt
giving the structural stability.
or repaired 82 temples. He instituted a system
Coming to the planning of the city, a rectangular
Legend
1 - Capitol 2 - Amphitheatre
3 - Colonia 4 - Forum
5 - Piazza 6 - Temple
4
1
4
3
4
7 - Porticus
6
2
5
7
6 4
3
4
VIRTÙ MASTER PLAN
form has been taken with four entry points to the
been created through the axis. This concentration
city. I have tried to identify and define the key
of the axis with the structures and piazzas were
characteristics of an ideal roman city. Which are
intended to anchor Augustus’s power for long
well organised, well ordered, symmetrical, huge
term. Either side of this axis lies the homes of the
public gathering space (public squares), aesthetic,
civilians.
pleasing, appealing. A central axis has been made so that it could accommodate all the common
CAPITOL
amenities, capitol, piazzas, temple spaces and is
The main building which is the capitol where the
easily accessible.
administration takes place has been placed in
The axis culminates in the extraordinary capitol
the most prominent area of the city, overlooking
structure with the view at one end having the
a beautiful garden upfront. Abutting which a
Capitol and the temples at the other end with an
Thermae Augustus (bath) is designed so that the
amphitheatre in the middle supplying a breath-
royal family could relax when they pay their visit.
taking spectacle. Amongst these main structures
The capitol complex also consists of Bibliotheca
exists forums(marketplaces) and a piazza (public
(a library place), Basilica alongside the forum
square). The urban parks namely Porticus have also
concordiae and an Odeon (singing place).
Legend
3 - Bascilica 4 - Bibliotheca
1 - Capitol 2 - Garden
5 - Thermae Augustus 6 - Forum Concordiae
7
4
1
2
3
7 - Odeon 8 - Public square
5
8
6
CAPITOL COMPLEX
**Softwares used to finish the assignment: Photoshop, sketchup, indesign