Main entry:

Portoghesi, Paolo.

Title & Author:

Nature and architecture / Paolo Portoghesi ; translated by Erika G. Young.

Publication:

Milano : Skira, 2000.

Description:

527 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm

Notes:
Translation of: Natura e architettura.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 507-515) and indexes.
Nature and architecture -- The wall -- The floor, the ground, the tile -- The roof, the house, the tent -- The pot, the well, the cave -- The column -- The architrave, the order, the cantilever -- The niche, the apse, the curve -- The arch, the vault, the bridge -- The door, the window, the light -- The temenos, the altar, the temple -- The shell, the cupola, the sky -- Ribs, the venation, vaults -- The tower, the obelisk, the castle -- The stairs, the step, the terrace -- The room, the chamber, the cell -- Centrality -- Frontality, Axiality, the theatre -- Numbers -- The garden, paradise -- Growth and metamorphosis -- Architectural decoration -- The city.
Dust jacket.

Summary:

""Nature," wrote Novalis in a poem of Fragments, "is a magical city frozen in stone." This book, instead, considers architecture as the magical transcription of the shapes and laws of nature into the artificial universe of the city. Following on in the wake of modern art's urge to conjure up the primordial paths of expressionism, this book explores the natural origin of architectural archetypes: the column, the house, the wall, the door, the temple, the tower, etc. No matter the age or civilisation, all these elements are eternally present in the building activities of mankind. Evolving from research carried out in the sixties, this book not only examines the differences and similarities between natural and architectural forms, but it also draws comparisons between natural forms and the precepts and ideas that over the centuries have characterised the architecture of different cultures, not so much in order to highlight a manifest naturalistic inspiration but rather to comprehend the unity to which the human mind and the secret order of natural forms both belong. While acknowledging the central role of ecology, this book refers to the extraordinary achievements of science, especially the one that goes by the name of "new paradigm," to show architecture the way in which continuity and innovation can finally unite. An architecture which, fuelled by the spirit of a new alliance, becomes again the art of inhabiting the earth, putting aside its role as instrument and emblem of that thirst for dominion and violence enunciated by Bacon. A feminine architecture, far from the arrogance of the Babelic twilight years of the 20th century."--Product description.

ISBN:

8881186586
9788881186587

Subject:

Architecture Philosophy.
Architectural design.
Nature (Aesthetics)
Architecture Environmental aspects.
Architecture Philosophie.
Design architectural.
Nature (Esthétique)
Architecture Aspect de l'environnement.
architectural theory.
Architektur
Baubionik
Natur
Architekturtheorie
Bouwkunst.
Natuur.
Beïnvloeding.
Nature (esthétique)
Architecture Aspect environnemental.

Form/genre:

Writings.

Holdings:

Location: Library main 214269
Call No.: NA44.P853.A35 2000
Status: Available