Antoniades, Anthony C.
Epic space : toward the roots of Western architecture / Anthony C. Antoniades.
New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold, ©1992.
xvii, 298 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm
What can the epic writings of Indo-European and European cultures tell us about the evolution of spatial concepts and architectural forms? The distinguished architectural educator and theorist Anthony C. Antoniades takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the ancient landscapes, ceremonial places, intimate rooms, and beautiful gardens of epic writings to get to the very roots of western architecture.
Based on the idea that each epic represents a crystallized statement of the culture and civilization that generated it, and contains the earliest examples of human architecture, Antoniades argues that the epics are critical to an informed understanding of contemporary architecture. He further suggests that the spaces of the epics are the earliest architectural archetypes, whether they be single buildings, complexes, towns, landscapes, or simply ideas about space and form.
This fascinating book begins with Indo-European epic writings - many not readily accessible in English translation. Antoniades illustrates the highly "inclusivist" preference and appreciation of the tangible and intangible dimensions of architecture in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. He also explores the Romans' concept of outdoor space, including town construction and town design, in the Aeneid of Virgil.
Continuing with the Northern and Central European epics, Antoniades looks at Scandinavian ideals of scale and transformation, and examines in Beowulf the fundamental battle of people versus the elements, leading to heroic works of engineering and even to the creation of new lands (Holland). He explores Milton's concepts of eclecticism, mythical and biblical themes, and the first record of environmental psychology, as well as the psychological significance of space in Paradise Lost. Concluding with the Finnish epic, the Kalevala, he explains its dramatic and long-lasting impact on recent architectural excellence.
Throughout, Antoniades parllels the earliest spatial concepts discovered in the epics with modern epic spaces. He enhances his probing insights with analytical drawings and remarkable photographs. Here is a landmark work in architectural theory, bringing together centuries of architectural evolution through epic poetry and literature, and explaining today's theories of space and environmental design from a brilliant historical perspective. It is stimulating and thought-provoking reading for architects and students, who will gain a deep, highly useful understanding of the cultural roots of their art.
0442008945
9780442008949
Architecture and literature.
Space (Architecture) in literature.
Epic poetry History and criticism.
Architecture in literature.
Architecture et littérature.
Architecture dans la littérature.
Poésie épique Histoire et critique.
Espace (Architecture) dans la littérature.
Epic poetry
architecture occidentale espace.
Criticism, interpretation, etc.
Location: Library main 115599
Call No.: ID PN56.A73.A58; ID:96-B2838
Status: Available
Sign up to get news from us
Thank you for signing up. You'll begin to receive emails from us shortly.
We’re not able to update your preferences at the moment. Please try again later.
You’ve already subscribed with this email address. If you’d like to subscribe with another, please try again.
This email was permanently deleted from our database. If you’d like to resubscribe with this email, please contact us
Please complete the form below to buy:
[Title of the book, authors]
ISBN: [ISBN of the book]
Price [Price of book]
Thank you for placing an order. We will contact you shortly.
We’re not able to process your request at the moment. Please try again later.
Your folder is empty.
