A History of Western Architecture

by David Watkin

In his highly acclaimed reference work David Watkin traces the history of western architecture from the earliest times in Mesopotamia and Egypt to the eclectic styles of the twenty-first century. The author emphasizes the ongoing vitality of the Classical language of architecture, underlining the continuity between, say, the work of Ictinus in fifth-century BC Athens and that of McKim, Mead and White in twentieth-century New York. Authoritative, comprehensive and highly illustrated, this fifth edition has been expanded to bring the story of western architecture right up to date and includes a separate final chapter on twenty-first century developments.

Genres: Architecture, History, Nonfiction, Art, Art History, Reference, Textbooks

720 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

David John Watkin, MA PhD LittD Hon FRIBA FSA (born 1941) is a British architectural historian. He is an Emeritus Fellow of Peterhouse, Cambridge, and Professor Emeritus of History of Architecture in the Department of History of Art at the University of Cambridge. He has also taught at the Prince of Wales's Institute of Architecture.[1]
David Watkin is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He is Vice-Chairman of the Georgian Group, and was a member of the Historic Buildings Council and its successor bodies in English Heritage from 1980-1995.

Reviews

[Milo van Bokkum · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Met zijn uiterlijk als van een fabriek, hoewel daar geen echte reden toe was, oefende het Bauhaus vijftig jaar lang een beangstigend grote invloed uit op het ontwerp van diverse typen bouwwerken, zoals scholen, woonhuizen en flats, die er meestal ook als een fabriek uit kwamen te zien. Deze radicale minimalistische architectuur vloeide voort uit een poging alles te verwerpen wat 'burgerlijk' en 'onzuiver' was, inclusief puntdaken, zuilen, versiering, lijstwerk, symmetrie, gulheid en warmte.'

[Rytas Sakas]

Vsio guys žinau viską apie Western Architecture try me (pls don't)

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book for art lovers ,also with tips of hystorical development of the ancient civilizactions ,now im reading carolingian and romanesque in europe,very good review David Watkin


finished
14-05-10

It is an excellent book that describes the different styles ,the most famous architects and their buildings more famous,
i found it very interesting the nineteenth century in North America.
It is a book dense and requires prior knowledge of art,
is not an initiation ,rather is a textbook .

[Nikoleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Εντάξει, το παραδέχομαι, ειναι καλό, αναλύει τεχνοτροπίες κ ευτυχως τις εντάσσει στο κοινωνικοπολιτικο σύστημα της κάθε χώρας κ εποχής, έτσι χωνευεται πιο εύκολα! Κ ναι... το αδικο διοτι το διαβασα με το ζορι για τη σχολη! Κατα τα αλλα μια χαρα βιβλιο!!!

[Andreas Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Architettura occidentale per profani
E' un testo generico che non pretende di insegnare il tecnicismo né la sociologia (che in fin dei conti è connaturato nell'architettura) come altri testi. Comincia dal palazzo di Cnosso come primo esempio di architettura occidentale fino agli anni '80 e '90. Contiene una buona dose di termini tecnici per noi architetti, ma appunto come ho già detto manca della spiegazione degli usi e costumi (presenti in tanti altri libri, come "Architettura paleocristiana e bizantina" di Richard Krautheimer) dei committenti, progettisti e costruttori. Il corredo fotografico è abbastanza ampio e ricco.

[Simon Moons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Watkin laat de geschiedenis makkelijk lezen.

[David Bisset · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Magnum Opus with enthralling narrative and superb descriptions of individual buildings. The 6th edition declares the early 20st century to be a glorious period for exciting architecture!

[Julia]

*read for university

[Michael Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good university text

[Raphaela Folia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Αρκετά καλό σε ότι αφορά το ιστορικό-κοινωνικό-πολιτικό σύστημα της αρχιτεκτονικής! μαθαίνεις αρκετά πάνω στα τμήματα αυτά

[Megan Villasenor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very thorough with the details it is trying to say about the architecture of the time period. one can see the evolution of architecture through Mesopotamian times up till the twentieth century. i liked that there is a mixture of black and white photos with color photos. also there is not just a description of the buildings, but there is also a background of the architect too. i am know very knowledgeable about architecture due to this book. if you are looking for a detailed history of western architecture then read this book; however, there are a lot of details to try and sort through so it may get confusing.

[RiMariPo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro che tenta di recuperare quanto fatto da Sir Banister Fletcher per le accademie anglofone. Purtroppo cade nell'eccessiva generalizzazione dovuta ad evidenti necessità di mercato, unitamente alla stampa di immagini in bianco e nero, che non consentono di fruire propriamente delle opere senza l'ausilio di internet.
Utile come manuale di consultazione per un primo approccio ai vari periodi della storia e delle relative tendenze architettoniche principali.

[Indri Juwono · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sebagai pegangan untuk belajar kompendium Arsitektur, buku ini memberi nilai A untuk mata kuliah pegangan Budi Sukada itu.
Untuk yang suka sejarah, ini dapat jadi referensi.

[Vanlilith · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Vanlilith]

architettura&arte

[Sara Regina]

abc

[Miguel Felix]

it´s good

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my Bible. 'Nuff said.