Vitruvius on Architecture

The only full treatise on architecture and its related arts to survive from classical antiquity, the De Architectura libri decem (Ten Books on Architecture) is the single most important work of architectural history in the Western world, having shaped humanist architecture and the image of the architect from the Renaissance to the present. This new, critical edition of Vitruvius' Ten Books of Architecture is the first to be published for an English-language audience in more than half a century. Expressing the range of Vitruvius' style, the translation, along with the critical commentary and illustrations, aims to shape a new image of the Vitruvius who emerges as an inventive and creative thinker, rather than the normative summarizer, as he was characterized in the Middle Ages and Renaissance.… (more)

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LibraryThing member AtrixWolfe

A seminal work on Architecture, which will also help you understand Roman History. Wow, being an Architect was hard!

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LibraryThing member gottfried_leibniz

Vitruvius — Roman Engineer, Architect. He gives thorough detail of how Romans built their houses. He’s writing the book to Caeser. He starts by sharing how Architects need a wide variety of knowledge from music, astronomy, geometry, history. We don’t learn astronomy these days. But I suspect

it had something to do with Astrology or signs. He boils down the principles of Architecture to Order, Arrangement, Eurythmy [ systematic movement of parts in reciting poetry or some literature ] and Economy.

He goes to explain in detail about each of these. He uses the word, “forms of expression.” He would say, forms of expression of arrangement are ground-plan, elevation, perspective. I like how he used this word. Anyway — next he goes to explain; Departments of Architecture, Materials, Temples, Forums, Houses, Floor, How to Find Water, Astrology, and Machines. It’s interesting to connect music with architecture, he gives a detailed explanation of how a theatre is connected to each rhythm of the music.

I was curious about how to find Water. I really wonder if his method works. I'm not sure. Overall, a good introduction to Architectural Principles.

Deus Vult,
Gottfried

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