Ideas That Shaped Buildings

by M. Fil Hearn

Identifying the operative ideas in architectural theory from ancient Rome to the present and codifying them into coherent theoretical systems; for students, practitioners, and the general reader. In Ideas That Shaped Buildings , Fil Hearn identifies and codifies into theoretical systems the operative tenets of architectural theory from ancient Rome to the present. With this strikingly original synthesis of architectural history and theory, he constructs an intellectual armature on which virtually any architectural concept, past or present, can be positioned. Dealing mainly with the treatises that have been highly influential historically, he organizes their concepts thematically and analyzes their development through time. Straightforward and concise, Ideas That Shaped Buildings is readily accessible to architecture students, practicing architects, and the general public—indeed anyone interested in understanding the design rationale of buildings. Its overarching message is that, far from being constricting, proper knowledge and application of architectural theory is enabling and inspiring, and makes creative freedom possible by providing the conceptual awareness needed to devise a design. After an introductory history of the development of architectural theory, the text is divided into four parts. The first deals with issues relevant to all theories of architecture. The second, treating theory from antiquity to 1800, focuses on the prescriptive conventions inherent in the classical tradition. The third, treating theory after 1800, focuses on the inspirational principles prompted by rationalist perceptions of the Gothic tradition. The fourth, treating theory since 1965, deals with rationales beyond rationalism and the influence of computers on design method and design formulation. The concepts discussed are illustrated with theoretical drawings and images of actual buildings.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Design

372 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Justin Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this in graduate school (I wasn't doing architecture, that's for sure), and thanks to this book, I give a shit about architecture. I imagine that's the best one could hope for. I recently went back to look at it again, and I stand by my original love of it. Particularly if you're looking for an introduction to pre-modernist ideas about architecture, this is an ideal place to start; Hearn does those thousands of years justice without turning into some kind of knuckle-dragging sub-Roger Scruton curmudgeon who thinks everything started to go wrong when people stopped using Corinthian columns.

Important to note, though, that this is *solely* focused on Europe-and-its-settler-colonies' ideas on architecture.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

La arquitectura, desde su inicio hasta hoy en día, ha estado desarrollada desde una serie de teorías formuladas por mentes impresionantes y curiosas basadas en los sucesos sociales, económicos y políticos que han pasado en su momento. Todo comenzó desde Vitruvio y sus reglamentos para utilizar las órdenes y cómo desarrollar una arquitectura clásica, pasando por Alberti, Palladio, Serlio, John Ruskin y Viollet-le-Duc, cada uno dotando a la arquitectura de nuevos estatutos para desarrollarse. Este último enfocándose en la Arquitectura Gótica integrando nuevos métodos y materiales constructivos. De igual forma desarrollando una arquitectura racional y siendo el inicio para la Arquitectura Moderna.

Dentro del siglo XX se destacan Le Corbusier y Frank Lloyd Wright, el primero enfocándose en una arquitectura puramente funcional, junto con su Modulor y los cinco principios de la Arquitectura Moderna, mientras que el segundo basó su trabajo en una arquitectura orgánica, relacionando al ente en su máxima posibilidad con su entorno.

Las ideas de Mies van der Rohe, principalmente sus grandes edificios acristalados, han sido reproducidos con gran fervor a nivel mundial. Sin embargo, uno de los factores más criticados de este método es la carencia de carácter cultural, siendo simplemente una caja de cristal que no tiene relación con su entorno en la más mínima expresión. Dentro de los arquitectos principales que desarrollaron una teoría la cual contradecía en su totalidad los plantamientos de los arquitectos modernos estuvo Robert Venturi, planteando la Arquitectura Posmoderna, con su Complejidad y contradicción, formulando la gran importancia del contexto y la historia dentro del desarrollo de un proyecto arquitectónico desde su inicio.

Luego de presentada y analizada cada teoría desde 1800 hasta 1965 se concluye que cada una de ellas es válida, pero que al compartir protagonismo con las teorías antiguas llegan así a formular la expresión más sensible de arquitectura, siendo la síntesis del contexto, la cultura, la historia, los materiales y las ideas de toda la humanidad.

[Budur · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a good one but to be honest he is just repeating what we've studied before, as an architecture student I didn't learn anything new.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I learned from this book? Well I would start with the fact that Mr. Hearn considers architectural theory to extend beyond the Adorno-to-Deluze-French-Post-Structuralist-speil-around-the-Events-of-May-1968-Paris definition that many university theory courses revolve around. There's such a thing as theories of Vitruvious, Alberti, Le Corbusier, Venturi?!?! Amazing! Clearly written - I would recommend to all new-comers to this discipline as well as those of us not-so-spring-chickens that have always held a healthy skepticism in the continual presence of the Derrida fan clubs.

[John Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

A splendid book: full of new ideas and linkages. A tough read at some points, but worthwhile.