Epic Space: Toward the Roots of Western ArchitectureWhat 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, aswell 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. |
From inside the book
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Page 131
... King Hrothgar get rid of Grendel , the terrible monster that was about to exterminate the entourage of the king . It is the epic of Beowulf's heroic deeds , which includes three fights , two with Grendel and one with a dragon . The ...
... King Hrothgar get rid of Grendel , the terrible monster that was about to exterminate the entourage of the king . It is the epic of Beowulf's heroic deeds , which includes three fights , two with Grendel and one with a dragon . The ...
Page 132
... King Hrothgar get rid of the monster Grendel , the nightly devourer of the king's men , whom he abducted from Heorot , the king's great hall , leaving only " blood , splashed on walls and floors . " As early as the introduction we will ...
... King Hrothgar get rid of the monster Grendel , the nightly devourer of the king's men , whom he abducted from Heorot , the king's great hall , leaving only " blood , splashed on walls and floors . " As early as the introduction we will ...
Page 292
... King Alkinoös , 267 King Arthur , 116 , 127 , 128 , 216 King builder , 9 King Charlemagne , 128 King Dinis , 210 King Etzel , 267 Great Hall of , 122 , 184 , 188 King Minos , 57 King of India , 196 King of Malindi , 211 , 212 King Scyld ...
... King Alkinoös , 267 King Arthur , 116 , 127 , 128 , 216 King builder , 9 King Charlemagne , 128 King Dinis , 210 King Etzel , 267 Great Hall of , 122 , 184 , 188 King Minos , 57 King of India , 196 King of Malindi , 211 , 212 King Scyld ...
Common terms and phrases
Aalto abode Achilles Aeneas Aeneid Alvar Aalto ancient archetypes archi architect architectural space believe Beowulf boat bower building Camoens castle cave ceremonial Circe concept construction courtyard creative culture decoration depicted dwelling elements encountered Enkidu environment environmental Epic of Gilgamesh epic poetry epic space eventually evil exterior extraordinary Finnish forest gate giant gods Greek Grendel hall Heaven Heorot hero Homer human Iliad Ilmarinen imaginary imagination inclusivist Indian infernal regions inspired instance interior space interpretation Kalevala king Knossos Laertes land landscape Le Corbusier literary Luciads Mahabharata materials medieval Metamorphoses metaphor Milton myths nature Nibelungenlied Norse occasionally Odysseus outdoors overall Ovid Ovidian palace of Alkinoös palace of Odysseus perhaps Photo poem poet poetic Portuguese Priam primordial Rama Ramayana references Scandinavian Sibyl's significance spatial story structure suggest temple tion town transformation translator tree Troy urban Uruk Utnapishtim Valhalla Virgil Virgilian Volsung Wainamoinen wall York
References to this book
Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers Andrew Charleson No preview available - 2005 |