ARCHITECTURAL THEORY

Pioneering Texts on Architecture from the Renaissance to Today. Neatly organised chronologically by country from Alberti and Palladio to Le Corbusier and Koolhaas, the best treatises by architecture's greatest masters are gathered here, each accompanied by an essay discussing its historical context and significance. The publication De Architectura Libri Decem (Ten Books on Architecture) is the oldest architectural treatise and the only one to have survived complete from pre-Christian times. Not only does it provide us with insights into the architecture of Classical Antiquity and related principles, it also lays the foundations for all discussions on architectural theory since the Renaissance. It was dedicated to Emperor Augustus. Although the Vitruvian tradition remained alive in numerous medieval manuscripts, it was only of marginal importance for actual building practice. Indeed, the Classical column orders were first considered exemplary only once Vitruvius' text had been appropriated once again and deemed to be the model par excellence. Architects such as Sebastiano Serlio, Iacomo Barozzi da Vignola and Andrea Palladio systemised Vitruvius' doctrine, and made it available to the public in illustrated books. We can now appreciate the correct use of proportions, Doric temples to Mars, Minerva and Hercules, Corinthian temples to Venus and the water nymphs, while the Ionic-style temple was ascribed to Juno, Diana and Bacchus. Covering Italy, France, England, Germany and the 20th century, you can smell the ink on the glossy white pages of hundreds upon hundreds of architectural drawings and etchings, plans and diagrams and photographs in this impressive architectural gallery. An example is the work of Ruskin (1819-1900) with many plates on his study of tracery in the cathedrals of Caen, Bayeux, Rouen and Beauvais, studies of capitals, arches from church façades, windows and shapes of columns, mythical creatures and sculptures. 19.6 x 25.5cm, 1.97 kg, 632 pages. New from Taschen.
Click YouTube icon to see this book come to life on video.