Rethinking Modernity : Towards Post Rational Architecture

Jaimini Mehta

ISBN 10: 8189738720 / ISBN 13: 9788189738723

Published by Niyogi Books, 2011

About this Item

Has the project to usher in Modernity run its full course and is now ready to be replaced by something called Post-Modern Re-examining the very idea of Modernity in architecture and drawing from a number of diverse sources such as philosophy social science art and technology Prof Mehta argues that the normal historical progression of architectural thought and production suffered an epistemological break in mid-18th century caused by the separation between architecture and engineering and resulted in increasing rationalization of architecture Critical writings of several post-Renaissance scholars and academicians aided this process Prof Mehta refers to this as Academic Architecture  While the pre-Renaissance scholars were content to codify the practice of architecture the new writings actively sought to construct an identity of architecture to align it with modern science and industry The overwhelming need to validate architecture from the logico-mathematical perspective favored the cerebral over the existential qualities of architectureProf Mehta asserts that alternatives to the rationalist and positivist narratives always existed in the West and also in several non-Western cultures but the very strong foregrounding of Rationalism confined them to the academia His insightful analysis indicates that the contours of Post Rational architecture are already visible in the works of several contemporary architects 156 pp.

Seller Inventory # 91487

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Rethinking Modernity : Towards Post Rational Architecture
• Publisher: Niyogi Books
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 8189738720
• ISBN 13: 9788189738723
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: 140 Photos

About this title

Synopsis

A re-examination of the very idea of modernity in architecture, drawing from a number of diverse sources. This insightful analysis reveals that the contours of Post-rational architecture are visible in the works of several contemporary architects.

About the Author

Prof. Jaimini Mehta is a practicing architect and an academician based in Baroda, India. He studied architecture at M.S. University of Baroda, and at Uni. of Pennsylvania in the Louis Kahn Studio. He went on to work in the offices of Louis Kahn and Mitchell / Giurgola Asso. In Philadelphia.
 
Returning back to India in 1975 he setup his own practice and taught at a number of Indian as well as American universities. He was an Adjunct Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N.Y. and at CEPT University in Ahmedabad, India. He also worked as Head of the Schools of Architecture at Baroda and Goa. At present he is a Hon. Director of the Baroda based "Centre for the Study of Urbanism and Architecture" which he instituted in 2006.
 
He contributes regularly in the ongoing discourse on architecture through articles in Indian as well as international journals. Among his many writings is the book, "Louis I. Kahn, Architect" co-authored with Romaldo Giurgola and published in 1975. His latest book, "Rethinking Modernity - Towards Post Rational Architecture" was published in March 2011. His next book "Embodied Vision. Interpreting the Architecture of Fatehpur Sikri" was published on October 2014.