On Adam's House in Paradise: The Idea of the Primitive Hut in Architectural History

by Joseph Rykwert

On Adam's House in Paradise "takes off backward through history hunting for Adam's house, the original image. En route, with wry wit and charm, Rykwert singes every generation of architectural theoreticians back to Vitruvius, but he manages to illuminate their efforts and their immolations."—Charles Moore, Progressive Architecture This new edition of On Adam's House in Paradise (first published by the Museum of Modern Art) incorporates all the original illustrations and several new ones, as well as additional text by the author.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Joseph Rykwert CBE was Paul Philippe Cret Professor Emeritus of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, and one of the foremost architectural historians and critics of his generation. He spent most of his working life in the United Kingdom and America. He taught the history and theory of architecture at several institutions in Europe and North America. Rykwert is the author of many influential works on architecture, including The Idea of a Town (1963), On Adam's House in Paradise (1972), The Dancing Column (1996) and The Seduction of Place (2000). All his books have been translated into several languages.

Reviews

[Anthony Caicco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it so far!

[Juan Pablo García Estefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro, publicado originalmente por alla en los 1970's, plantea un interrogante interesante sobre las características de "la primera casa", y trata de abordar la respuesta desde lo que han planteado arquitectos, críticos y teóricos a lo largo de la historia: desde Vitruvio hasta Le Corbusier; abordando inclusive mitos y otras tradiciones que implican prácticas constructivas y arquitectónicas, en culturas diversas, algunas sin mucha relación entre sí, pero con un rasgo comun: la cabaña primitiva.

No obstante, el libro se vuelve por momentos tedioso, debido quizás a las descripciones tan detalladas de algunos ritos, mitos y otros asuntos que, a pesar de su relación con el tema, me parece que distraen un poco de la discusión central.

Rykwert es considerado uno de los grandes historiadores de la arquitectura en su generación, así que siempre valdrá la pena leer lo que tuvo para decir.

[Profm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complexo e profundo. Leitura saborosa que exige uma certa maturidade no assunto.