The Column house was developed in different phases, starting from a small house on the left side, named House of the four pillars, spreading over the garden on the upper side and in the end the right side with the atrium and surrounded by the rooms, which can be identified very clear as public rooms of the house. The both sides of the Column house, separated by the Vestibulum / entrance room, show very differently typology so the existing conditions has been taken into account in the phase of spreading the house. It might be that some of the walls of the first house have been extended and connected with the second.
There was a double entrance with a large and small door entering the Vestibulum, which measured 15x4 m. It was visible from the street and had the function of exchanging or Sportuale between the patron and client every morning. It showed the status and power so it must have been very richly decorated. Columns created a monumental impression with their Corinthian capitals and Acanthus leaves. Also known as a waiting room and described as “place full of persons- empty of friends”. This part of the Column house was in the terraced topographic form- when you enter you enter the level under the street.
Atrium and Peristyle
Further we come to the Atrium and Peristyle with total surface of 90m2. It was the open center of the house and the place of the air and light. It was the central heart of the building for the short walks and talks, Atrium as a courtyard and Peristyle with columns surrounding the courtyard. In many of the houses columns are built in the Corinthian style, made of the limestone and were possibly decorated with yellow sandstone and stucco technique. In the Column house we have circle Atrium and surrounding Peristyle with 14 columns with Corinthian capitals. It is the place where people had their first impression of the house after Vestibulum and looked around so it’s decorated elegant with luxury vegetation and figures scenes on the specific viewpoint.
On the south side we have the Triclinium as the dining room and the most important room for the guest of cenatio / cena. It was also richly decorate. Also the floor mosaic must have been in the connection of the main interest / activity of the house owner. The technique of the mosaic was Opus Sectile, where materials were cut and laid into the walls and floors, making a pattern or picture. Beside the big Triclinium there is a Tablinum / office of the landlord and smaller Triclinium because it is accessible from the bigger Triclinium and after we have Tablinum, which has s logical position - landlord was surely inviting his guests into his office after the dinner. It is also closer to the entrance where we have the Fauces / shops symmetrical on the left and right side of the Vestibulum.
View from the Atrium to the Triclinium
On the west side of atrium by the main entrance there is a Portero, room where the workers of the landlord expected the guests or just some kind of a guarding place. Up the Portero we find the Cocina, which has two entrances on the north and south side- ability to fluently bring the food in both directions. On the east side we have Cubiculum / private rooms which are all kind of the same size, smallest and oriented into atrium.
To the other unite in the northern part of the house we enter through the Assembly room, It lays symmetrically over the small Atrium, which is perfectly situated and a bit hidden for more private talks and accommodation for the various recreational and social activities.
In the northern part there is a small Triclinium and Tablinum, since its more private part of the landlord. On the both sides we have new rooms called Exedra / celebrity hall. These were a bit larger, elegant rooms located off the garden, with a formal functions and lavish dinner events. Exedra on the left side opens to Huerto. It is an interior garden and covered by packed earth.
View from the small Atrium to the assembly room and to Exedra
Technique which was used in the Column house is Opus Incertum. It is the earliest technique which consists of the different stones available in the area, gathered from all around. Stones were put randomly, filled with “concrete” between and so they formed a solid construction. The first evidence of this technique are dating from the 3. Century BC in Pompeii. The technique developed in the time of the population growth of the Republic and therefore a need for the prefabricated production of the components and standardization. There are no many information about the mosaics or decoration of the house, but we can say for sure that the mainly decorated rooms were Vestibulum, Atrium and Triclinium- rooms where invited guests enjoyed their views and wealthy spirit around the house. Technique of the mosaics is called Opus Sectile, where the materials were cut into pieces and laid into walls or floor to make a pattern. It was connected to the main interests of the landlord or his profession.
View from the Atrium to the Cubiculum
View from the entrance through the Vestibulum
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