The Mathematics of the Ideal Villa and Other Essays

by Colin Rowe

This collection of an important architectural theorist's essays considers and compares designs by Palladio and Le Corbusier, discusses mannerism and modern architecture, architectural vocabulary in the 19th century, the architecture of Chicago, neoclassicism and modern architecture, and the architecture of utopia.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Essays

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 1982

About the author

Colin Rowe was a British-born, American-naturalised architectural historian, critic, theoretician, and teacher; acknowledged as a major intellectual influence on world architecture and urbanism in the second half of the twentieth century and beyond, particularly in the fields of city planning, regeneration, and urban design. During his life he taught briefly at the University of Texas at Austin and, for one year, at the University of Cambridge in England. For the majority of his life he taught as a Professor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. In 1995 he was awarded the Gold Medal by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the professional group's highest honor.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful and dense. Rowe compares and contrasts two great architects and discusses the theories of space and form as they pertain to the human experience. Unfortunately, I found this too long winded and inadequate in addressing the concerns of average humans existing within ever growing cities - not those who can afford the palatial villas of the European countryside. You have to dissect rambling passages for anything useful and Rowe's propensity to quote Le Corbusier without translations reeks of pretentiousness.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a total flashback for me -- back to architecture school at Cornell in the 70's. Many of the essays are classics and it was good to re-read them all these years later. Not all of the essays are great, but it's still fun to read anything written by Colin Rowe. A true classic.

[Leandro Llorente · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good read on understanding architectural scale and strict rhythm.

[Matcha Junky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Few good points buried in a sea of pretentious and gatekeeping language.