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 91
... leaves , connected with the rotation of the seasons , provide for the poet the dynamic element of his landscape - leaves rolling on the ground , leaves sliding on the ground , leaves next to the seashore — in the cold days of fall and ...
... leaves , connected with the rotation of the seasons , provide for the poet the dynamic element of his landscape - leaves rolling on the ground , leaves sliding on the ground , leaves next to the seashore — in the cold days of fall and ...
Page 94
... leave the house . The whole household will follow him . The two most moving sequences of the Aeneid are the Trojan women kissing the pilasters of the palace under destruction , and Aeneas carrying his father , the founder of his ...
... leave the house . The whole household will follow him . The two most moving sequences of the Aeneid are the Trojan women kissing the pilasters of the palace under destruction , and Aeneas carrying his father , the founder of his ...
Page 198
... leaves Camoens behind ; he cannot match . similar descriptions and the visions left us by earlier medieval epics like the Nibelungenlied , whose temporary structures and ceremonies associated with outdoor tournaments leave a lasting ...
... leaves Camoens behind ; he cannot match . similar descriptions and the visions left us by earlier medieval epics like the Nibelungenlied , whose temporary structures and ceremonies associated with outdoor tournaments leave a lasting ...
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 |