An Essay on Architecture: In Which Its True Principles Are Explained, and Invariable Rules Proposed, for Directing the Judgement and Forming the Taste ... Kinds of Buildings, the Embellishment o - Softcover

Marc-Antoine Laugier

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1332972411 ISBN 13: 9781332972418

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

This book is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the art of architecture, written in a time of great classical revival in Europe. The author delves into the fundamental principles of design, drawing on the timeless wisdom of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and contrasting these with the more ostentatious trends of contemporary architectural practice. The book's primary focus is on achieving true beauty in architecture by adhering to natural principles, advocating a return to the simplicity and elegance of the classical orders. The author meticulously dissects the individual components of each order – the column, the entablature, the pediment – offering insightful observations on their essential forms and appropriate uses. He criticizes architectural excesses of his time, particularly the use of pilasters, arches, pediments placed above pediments, and the gratuitous use of ornamentation, arguing that such embellishments often detract from the inherent beauty of the building's core elements. This book offers a fresh perspective on the enduring principles of architectural design, urging architects to embrace simplicity and a deep understanding of natural forms in their creative endeavors.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1332972411
• ISBN 13: 9781332972418
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 310