Ten Books on Architecture

BOOK ONE

...and a frugal moderation of expense in the works through rational management. This will be observed if, first of all, the architect does not seek materials that cannot be found or prepared except at great expense. For pit sand original: "arenae fossiciae," sand dug from the ground, which Vitruvius considered superior to sea or river sand, rubble stone, silver fir, sap-pine original: "sappinorum," referring to the resinous heartwood of the fir or pine tree, or marble are not available in all locations, but different materials originate in different places, and transporting them is difficult and costly. However, where pit sand is not available, one must use river sand or washed sea sand. Shortages of silver fir or sap-pine will also be avoided by using cypress, poplar, elm, or pine.

Other similar matters will also need to be managed in this way. The second stage of distribution Economy: in the original Greek, "Oeconomia." In this context, it refers to the suitability of a building's design to its owner's status and the efficient use of the site occurs when buildings are arranged according to the use of the heads of households, their financial means, and the dignity of their refinement. For it is clear that townhouses should be constructed in one way, while those estates from which rural produce flows should be built in another; moneylenders require one type, while the wealthy and refined require another. Furthermore, for those powerful individuals by whose counsel the Republic is governed, buildings should be arranged for their specific needs; and overall, the distributions of buildings must be made appropriate for all types of persons.

On the branches of architecture, the distribution of private and public buildings, and on dial-making and mechanics.

Chapter 3.

The skills of architecture itself are three: building original: "aedificatio", p dial-making Gnomonice: the ancient science of constructing sundials and measuring time by the shadow of a pointer, or gnomon, and mechanics original: "machinatio". Building is divided into two parts: one is the placement of city walls and communal works in public places; the other is the development of private buildings. There are three divisions of public works: the first is for defense, the second for religion, and the third for convenience. Defen-