Arquitetura - Um Percurso Visual Pelos Quatro Cantos Do Mundo, Da Antiguidade Aos Tempos Modernos

by Jonathan Glancey

5 mil anos de civilização são representados em mais de 350 edificações icônicas. Cada um dos doze capítulos é composto por um texto explicativo principal, complementado por linha do tempo e curiosidades, uma análise ilustrada do estilo daquele contexto e as resenhas das edificações, sempre apontando data aproximada da conclusão da obra, localização, arquiteto ou solicitante e função da construção. Começando a trajetória, a suntuosidade dos palácios e templos persas, como a Porta de Ishtar, encomendada por Nabucodonosor na Babilônia, e o Complexo do Palácio de Persepólis, no atual Irã, erguido pelo rei Dario I. Na América pré-colombiana, impressionam locais como o Templo do Grande Jaguar, na Guatemala, e a grandiosa Machu Picchu, no Peru. No mundo clássico, há incontáveis maravilhas, como o Palácio do Rei Minos, na Grécia, o Panteão romano e a Biblioteca de Celso, na Turquia. Não faltam também tesouros asiáticos, islâmicos e indianos, além dos já consagrados castelos medievais, basílicas renascentistas e barrocas e monumentos neoclássicos. Entre as construções contemporâneas, destacam-se as do brasileiro Oscar Niemeyer, como a Igreja de São Francisco de Assis, em Belo Horizonte, e o impactante Centro Heydar Aliyev, da arquiteta Zaha Hadid, no Azerbaijão. A obra contém também um completo glossário de termos arquitetônicos - o que a torna indispensável para estudantes da área e admiradores dessa arte universal.

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

416 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Maxine Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fantastic introduction to architecture for those that are new to the topic. It covers the major architectural movements from the very beginnings of organized human civilization to the present, with very clear and well printed photos and depictions.

I only have 2 disagreements that leave me reducing this to 4 stars. 1) It glosses over a few major pieces of architecture of great historical significance, as well as a few movements that would be good for beginners to at least know about. As a result, the book might present the featured buildings as better/above all others, even though there are many buildings not mentioned that were of equal importance to architectural, cultural, or artistic movements. I am forgiving in that the book is already quite large, but it might have been better to split this into several volumes to cover more territory.

2) I think it would have been great for the author to spend more time defining specific architectural elements and parts before dumping the terminology on the reader. Although I was familiar with many terms, there were some that weren't clear to me, including a few that weren't in the glossary. Just a few pages of diagrams would have been very helpful.

Otherwise, a good introduction to the history of architecture.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and compendious overview of the many architectural styles found throughout history. Glancey tends to focus generally on the most fundamental architectural movements and explains their contribution to global or regional architecture as well as linking many architectural styles to one another. The pictures are very nice, too.

[Parker Samelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the layout and selections in this visual history of architecture.

[Vron Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good but lacking at the same time, especially coming to Africa, Northeast Asia (China) and Russia.