Loggia

A loggia (/ˈloʊdʒ(i)ə/ LOH-j(ee-)ə, usually UK: /ˈlɒdʒ(i)ə/ LOJ-(ee-)ə, Italian: [ˈlɔddʒa]) is an architectural feature which is a covered exterior gallery or corridor usually on an upper level, or sometimes ground level. The outer wall is open to the elements, usually supported by a series of columns or arches. Loggias can be located either on the front or side of a building and are not meant for entrance but as an out-of-door sitting room.[1][2][3] An overhanged loggia may be supported by a baldresca.[4]

For the surname, see Loggia (surname). For the collections of religious sayings, see Logia.
The Renaissance three-storey arcade loggia of the City Hall in Poznań served representative and communication purposes.
Villa Godi by Palladio. The portico is the focal point in the center with loggias used at each side of the structure as a corridor.

From the early Middle Ages, nearly every Italian comune had an open arched loggia in its main square, which served as a "symbol of communal justice and government and as a stage for civic ceremony".[5]

Definition of the Roman loggia
Loggia Valmarana by Palladio, UNESCO

The main difference between a loggia and a portico is the role within the functional layout of the building. The portico allows entrance to the inside from the exterior and can be found on vernacular and small scale buildings. The loggia is accessed only from inside and intended as a place for leisure. Thus, it is found mainly on noble residences and public buildings. A classic use of both is that represented in the mosaics of Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo of the Royal Palace.

Loggias differ from verandas in that they are more architectural and, in form, are part of the main edifice in which they are located, while verandas are roofed structures attached on the outside of the main building.[1][6] A "double loggia" occurs when a loggia is located on an upper floor level above a loggia on the floor beneath.

Examples
  • In Italian architecture, a loggia often takes the form of a small, often ornate, summer house built on the roof of a residence to enjoy cooling winds and the view. They were especially popular in the 17th century and are prominent in Rome and Bologna, Italy.
  • In Russia and Switzerland, a loggia can be a form of recessed balcony on a residential apartment building.
  • At the archeological site of Hagia Triada on the Greek island of Crete, several loggias constructed around 1400 BC have been located and whose column bases still remain.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. "Definition of Loggia". Lexic.us. Retrieved on 2014-10-24.
  2. "Loggia". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved on 2014-10-24.
  3. "loggia". Merriam-Webster Disctionary Online. Retrieved on 2014-10-24.
  4. Alamán, Ana Pano (2020). The Language of Art and Cultural Heritage: A Plurilingual and Digital Perspective. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-5275-4798-8. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  5. Ackerman, James S. (1966). Palladio. Harmondsworth: Penguin. p. 120.
  6. "Veranda". Merriam-Webster Disctionary Online. Retrieved on 2014-10-24.
  7. Vasilakis, Antonis. Phaistos. Vasilis Kouvidis - Vasilis Manouras Editions, Iraklio, p. 118 ISBN 960-86623-6-2

References
  • The dictionary definition of loggia at Wiktionary
  • Media related to Loggias at Wikimedia Commons
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.