1granted, we ſhall call the Deſign a firm and
graceful pre-ordering of the Lines and Angles,
conceived in the Mind, and contrived by an
ingenious Artiſt. But if we would enquire
what a Building is in its own Nature, together
with the Structure thereof, it may not be amiſs,
to conſider from what Beginnings the Habita
tions of Men, which we call Edifices, took
their Riſe, and the Progreſs of their Improve
ment: Which unleſs I am miſtaken, may be
reſolved as follows.
graceful pre-ordering of the Lines and Angles,
conceived in the Mind, and contrived by an
ingenious Artiſt. But if we would enquire
what a Building is in its own Nature, together
with the Structure thereof, it may not be amiſs,
to conſider from what Beginnings the Habita
tions of Men, which we call Edifices, took
their Riſe, and the Progreſs of their Improve
ment: Which unleſs I am miſtaken, may be
reſolved as follows.
CHAP II.
Of the firſt Occaſion of erecting Edifices; of how many Parts the Art of
Building conſiſts, and what is neceſſary to each of thoſe Parts.
Building conſiſts, and what is neceſſary to each of thoſe Parts.
In the Beginning Men looked out for Set
tlements in ſome ſecure Country; and ha
ving found a convenient Spot ſuitable to their
Occaſions, they there made themſelves a Ha
bitation ſo contrived, that private and publick
Matters might not be confounded together in
the ſame Place; but that they might have one
Part for Sleep, another for their Kitchen, and
others for their other neceſſary Uſes. They
then began to think of a Covering to defend
them from Sun and Rain; and in order there
to, they erected Walls to place this Covering
upon. By this means they knew they ſhould
be the more compleatly ſheltered from pierc
ing Colds, and ſtormy Winds. Laſtly, in the
Sides of the Walls, from Top to Bottom, they
opened Paſſages and Windows, for going in and
out, and letting in Light and Air, and for the
Conveniency of diſcharging any Wet, or any
groſs Vapours, which might chance to get into
the Houſe. And whoſoever it was, whether
the Goddeſs Veſta, Daughter of Saturn, or
Euryalus and Hyperbius, the two Brothers, or
Gellio, or Thraſo, or the Cyclop Typhinchius,
that firſt contrived theſe Things: I am per
ſuaded the firſt Beginnings of them were ſuch
as I have deſcribed, and that Uſe and Arts have
ſince improved them to ſuch a Pitch, that the
various Kinds of Buildings are become almoſt
infinite: Some are publick, ſome private, ſome
ſacred, ſome profane, ſome ſerve for Uſe and
Neceſſity, ſome for the Ornament of our Cities,
or the Beauty of our Temples: But no body
will therefore deny, that they were all derived
from the Principles abovementioned: Which
being ſo, it is evident, that the whole Art of
Building conſiſts in ſix Things, which are theſe:
The Region, the Seat or Platform, the Com
partition, the Walling, the Covering and the
Apertures; and if theſe Principles are firſt
thoroughly conceived, that which is to follow
will the more eaſily be underſtood. We ſhall
therefore define them thus, the Region with
us ſhall be the whole large open Place in which
we are to build, and of which the Seat or Plat
form ſhall be only a Part: But the Platform
ſhall be a determined Spot of the Region, cir
cumſcribed by Walls for Uſe and Service. But
under the Title of Platform, we ſhall likewiſe
include all thoſe Spaces of the Buildings, which
in walking we tread upon with our Feet. The
Compartition is that which ſub-divides the
whole Platform of the Houſe into ſmaller Plat
forms, ſo that the whole Edifice thus formed
and conſtituted of theſe its Members, ſeems to
be full of leſſer Edifices: By Walling we ſhall
underſtand all that Structure, which is carried
up from the Ground to the Top to ſupport
the Weight of the Roof, and ſuch alſo as is
raiſed on the Inſide of the Building, to ſepa
rate the Apartments; Covering we ſhall call
not only that Part, which is laid over the Top
of the Edifice to receive the Rain, but any
Part too which is extended in length and
breadth over the Heads of thoſe within;
which includes all Ceilings, halſ-arched Roofs,
Vaults, and the like. Apertures are all thoſe
Outlets, which are in any Part of the Build
ing, for the Convenience of Egreſs and Re
greſs, or the Paſſage of Things neceſſary for
the Inmates. Of theſe therefore we ſhall treat,
and of all the Parts of each, having firſt pre
miſed ſome Things, which whether they are
Principles, or neceſſary Concomitants of the
Principles of this Work which we have under
taken, are certainly very much to our Purpoſe:
For having conſidered, whether there was any
Thing that might concern any of thoſe Parts
which we have enumerated; we found three
Things by no means to be neglected, which
relate particularly to the Covering, the Wall
ing, and the like: Namely, that each of them
be adapted to ſome certain and determinate
Conveniency, and above all, be wholeſome.
tlements in ſome ſecure Country; and ha
ving found a convenient Spot ſuitable to their
Occaſions, they there made themſelves a Ha
bitation ſo contrived, that private and publick
Matters might not be confounded together in
the ſame Place; but that they might have one
Part for Sleep, another for their Kitchen, and
others for their other neceſſary Uſes. They
then began to think of a Covering to defend
them from Sun and Rain; and in order there
to, they erected Walls to place this Covering
upon. By this means they knew they ſhould
be the more compleatly ſheltered from pierc
ing Colds, and ſtormy Winds. Laſtly, in the
Sides of the Walls, from Top to Bottom, they
opened Paſſages and Windows, for going in and
out, and letting in Light and Air, and for the
Conveniency of diſcharging any Wet, or any
groſs Vapours, which might chance to get into
the Houſe. And whoſoever it was, whether
the Goddeſs Veſta, Daughter of Saturn, or
Euryalus and Hyperbius, the two Brothers, or
Gellio, or Thraſo, or the Cyclop Typhinchius,
that firſt contrived theſe Things: I am per
ſuaded the firſt Beginnings of them were ſuch
as I have deſcribed, and that Uſe and Arts have
ſince improved them to ſuch a Pitch, that the
various Kinds of Buildings are become almoſt
infinite: Some are publick, ſome private, ſome
ſacred, ſome profane, ſome ſerve for Uſe and
Neceſſity, ſome for the Ornament of our Cities,
or the Beauty of our Temples: But no body
will therefore deny, that they were all derived
from the Principles abovementioned: Which
being ſo, it is evident, that the whole Art of
Building conſiſts in ſix Things, which are theſe:
The Region, the Seat or Platform, the Com
partition, the Walling, the Covering and the
Apertures; and if theſe Principles are firſt
thoroughly conceived, that which is to follow
will the more eaſily be underſtood. We ſhall
therefore define them thus, the Region with
us ſhall be the whole large open Place in which
we are to build, and of which the Seat or Plat
form ſhall be only a Part: But the Platform
ſhall be a determined Spot of the Region, cir
cumſcribed by Walls for Uſe and Service. But
under the Title of Platform, we ſhall likewiſe
include all thoſe Spaces of the Buildings, which
in walking we tread upon with our Feet. The
Compartition is that which ſub-divides the
whole Platform of the Houſe into ſmaller Plat
forms, ſo that the whole Edifice thus formed
and conſtituted of theſe its Members, ſeems to
be full of leſſer Edifices: By Walling we ſhall
underſtand all that Structure, which is carried
up from the Ground to the Top to ſupport
the Weight of the Roof, and ſuch alſo as is
raiſed on the Inſide of the Building, to ſepa
rate the Apartments; Covering we ſhall call
not only that Part, which is laid over the Top
of the Edifice to receive the Rain, but any
Part too which is extended in length and
breadth over the Heads of thoſe within;
which includes all Ceilings, halſ-arched Roofs,
Vaults, and the like. Apertures are all thoſe
Outlets, which are in any Part of the Build
ing, for the Convenience of Egreſs and Re
greſs, or the Paſſage of Things neceſſary for
the Inmates. Of theſe therefore we ſhall treat,
and of all the Parts of each, having firſt pre
miſed ſome Things, which whether they are
Principles, or neceſſary Concomitants of the
Principles of this Work which we have under
taken, are certainly very much to our Purpoſe:
For having conſidered, whether there was any
Thing that might concern any of thoſe Parts
which we have enumerated; we found three
Things by no means to be neglected, which
relate particularly to the Covering, the Wall
ing, and the like: Namely, that each of them
be adapted to ſome certain and determinate
Conveniency, and above all, be wholeſome.