All I know of this extraordinary structure (basically an ambitious summer house, and a "Philosppher's Dwelling") , and the plan comes from Martin Stejskal's book published by Volvox Globator. The foundations of the villa just outside Prague were laid in 1555 and it was finished within a year. The number of the year was carefully chosen by the builder Ferdinand Tyrolsky (1529 - 1595, the son of Ferdinand I) - the 311th Lustrum following the birth of Jesus Christ, in conjunction with Italian artists at the Prague Royal Court. There are four levels to the villa , each corresponding to one of the Four Elements. The interior is richly decorated by the Italian artists, with complex alchemical symbolism. The villa became a Czech national Monument in 1962.

See also Tycho Brahe's observatory at Hveen for a symbolic structure