ARC 2017

HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE-

CONTEMPORARY
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COURSE FACULTY:
Ar. SHARMILA JAGADISAN
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DIGITAL ASSIGNMENT I
BOOK REVIEW-
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RESHMA ANNA DANIEL
18BAR0013
 UNDERSTANDING ARCHITECTURE:
ITS ELEMENTS, HISTORY, AND MEANING
-Leland M. Roth and Amanda C. Roth Clark
Why this book?
The material is in tune with modern learning, including advancements since the
introduction of the new century. This rebuilding, be that as it may, required re-
examining how to recount the tale of 20th century architecture. There are parts
on the advancement of Modernism: how it was characterized in Europe in the
principal third of the 20th century, at that point how it was traded around the
planet in the second third of the century, and, at long last, how it responded to
Modernism's growth and its separation in the last third of the century and how it
proceeded into the introduction of the 21st century.
The book strikingly inspects the construction, capacity, history, and importance
of architecture in manners that are both available and enticing. Understanding
Architecture is a solitary content in the field to inspect architecture as a social
wonder just as a creative and mechanical accomplishment with its direct, two-
section structure: The Elements of Architecture and The History and Meaning of
Architecture. Far reaching and unmistakably composed, Understanding
Architecture is an exemplary review of architecture.

Content and concept of the book-

This book is tied in with figuring out how to comprehend our human-made
surroundings. It is about architecture as an actual vessel, a holder of human
action. Yet, since architecture is a social movement, building is additionally a
social statement and the making of a social heritage. Also, every structure,
regardless of its stature—whether a place of worship or a bike shed, it is built as
per the laws of physics in manners that take shape the social estimations of its
developers. This book is a prologue to the imaginative urge that incites people to
work, just as to the underlying properties that empower structures to hold up. It
is likewise a prologue to the quiet social language that each building
communicates. This book, at that point, may be considered as an introduction for
visual and natural education. There is historical data in the second part of the
book, however the initial part centres around how the feel of architecture impact
our insight.
The structure, purpose, history, and sense of Western architecture are described
and explained in this clearly written and thoroughly illustrated survey.
Architecture is studied as a cultural phenomenon as well as a work of art and
technology. This book explores every aspect of Western architecture. The first
section contains descriptions, structure and function, and design features, as
well as examples and illustrations from different eras. From prehistory to the
present, the second section is a chronological presentation of the main buildings,
styles, and architects.
Do you have one or several authors?
Leland M. Roth and Amanda C. Roth Clark are the authors of this book.
Leland M. Roth is a leading American architectural historian. He taught courses
on U.S. architecture, eighteenth-century European architecture, Native
American architecture, Oregon architecture, and the history of how music was
performed and heard within architectural space.
Amanda C. Roth Clark is Assistant Professor of Art History and Library Director
at Whitworth University. She is the daughter of Leland M. Roth.

When was it published and the publisher details?

It was originally published in 1993 by Routledge and has gone further editing
and the third edition of the book was released on 13 March 2018.
The third edition includes increased global coverage, with new essays on Africa,
Japan, China, India, Islamic architecture, and the architecture of the Americas.
It also contains a new 21st century architecture.

How it is structured? Does the book have chapters or parts?

The book is partitioned into two sections.
In part One, The Elements of Architecture, manages the fundamental properties
of architecture in parts that clarify work, underlying standards, and components
of configuration, remembering models for content and representations from all
periods and styles. It starts with a meaning of what architecture is and proceeds
with sections that investigate space, work, underlying standards, and
components of plan. Individual chapters then talk about how architecture
influences and is influenced by climatic components and aspects, and what the
part the planner has in designing the structure and spaces within. The factors
which constitute what is viewed as great or prudent architecture is also
examined and studied. The conversation in Part I is represented by building
models drawn from all buildings and structures of the world, over a significant
time span.
Section Two, The History and Meaning of Architecture, is an ordered study of
Western architecture advancement from ancient occasions to the present. It is a
recorded review of architectural advancement in the West, from ancient
occasions to the present. On the whole, the attention is on architecture as a
social antiquity, as an arranged assertion of qualities. This prompts the finishing
up contention that what we build today, regardless of whether secretly or on an
amazing public scale, is an epitome of our qualities. New articles are mixed on
associations between Western architecture and different societies: the
architecture of India, Islam, the Americas, China, Japan, and Africa. The
methodology is particular as far as structures and models are included; the
examples are picked for their significance and importance and are completely
clarified. Each ordered section starts with a precise, recorded blueprint giving us
the required social and cultural foundation.

The chapter that intrigued and interested me the most?

Greek mythology and its contributing factors are topics that have always piqued
my interest and have always kept me wanting to learn more. This book talks
about how the religious factors and cultural factors influenced the art and
architecture of the region be it sculptures, paintings, written work or
architecture. The philosophies and practise of the people were studied and given
close consideration and attention.

What is the main argument (critical assessment)?

These thoughts—the entirety of the constructed environment as architecture,
and the environment as a type of discourse with the past and future—can be
understood from this book. Architecture is perceived to be the entire of the
human-constructed environment, including structures, urban communities,
metropolitan spaces, and man- made scenes. Building is a cognizant
demonstration that exemplifies incalculable intelligent, evaluative decisions.
These decisions are what recognize human structure from birds' homes and
colonies of bees, for these creatures work as the consequence of hereditary
programming.

What is the theme of the book? Does the author cover it completely?
The theme of this book is to help laymen and people of other discipline
understand and appreciate the science of a structure and the analytical thinking
that ensues in the process of designing a structure or space the benefits the
people. It teaches us the various approach and techniques employed by people to
design and create spaces at that point in time.
Architecture is the unavoidable workmanship. We manage it each waking
second; it is the fine art we possess. Maybe this commonality makes us consider
architecture just as a utilitarian specialist, as essentially the biggest of our
analytical needs, expecting us to not conjure up an idea than some other machine
we use for the duration of the day.
But, in contrast to different expressions, architecture has the ability to influence
and condition human conduct; the shade of dividers in a room, for instance, can
help decide our mood. Architecture follows up on us, making certain structures a
feeling of wonder, for example, what one may feel while strolling among the
enormous stone sections of the hypostyle hall of the Egyptian place of worship.
Part of our experience of architecture might be founded generally on our inborn
happiness regarding these physiological reactions—which the handy draftsman
realizes how to control to greatest impact. In any case, the fullest experience of
architecture comes from growing our insight into a structure, its design, its set of
experiences, and its importance, while diminishing our biases and obliviousness.

How does the author support the stated argument? Does he or she use proofs,
facts, and pieces of evidence? Are those proofs convincing? Are they contrary to
the known facts?
The authors elaborately use examples, studies and quotes of various other
personalities pertaining to the particular discipline to help them further analyse
and study the various aspects that this book enlightens us with.
They employ the examples of various notable architects or projects worth
mentioning when explaining and talking about a certain style of architecture
pertaining that particular section or chapter.

Does this argument make any sense? Is the author persuasive?

More than an argument, the book educates and enriches our knowledge about
various factors and areas of architecture and this field. It sheds light on
numerous parts and excerpts of architectural engineering that helps and moulds
our thinking in different ways. The shove that we require to step out of comfort
zones comes from learning and growing and adapting ourselves to the constant
change and this book helps us understand the changes and prepares ourselves to
equip the changes to the best of our abilities.
So, yes, in that aspect, the author is persuasive to make us think beyond the
boundaries of our brains and forces us to include the new findings and
inventions. This way we can create our own identities and signature in a field
this vast. It pushes us to go past our traditional and stereotypical thinking and
helps us to form new ideologies and thoughts for us to ponder upon and study.
How does the information from the book help to understand the topic?
This book purely talks about the characteristics and ways of architecture of the
people. The reason for each aspect of design and the reason for evolution. The
purpose to study history is so we can better understand what we need to do make
the future prospects better and to constantly grow beyond our current
capabilities. Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History and Meaning
helps us to do just that as it talks about the evolution of architecture from the
earliest times like the Greek and Roman architecture till the architecture of the
21st century.
It sheds a new light on areas we knew but it provided in-depth reasoning and
analysis into the different eras of architecture and its style.

What is your opinion about the book (personal assessment)?

The knowledge and facts I’ve learnt and gained from this book is something I’ll
take away and remember for the longest time. In addition to the subjects I’ve
already studied, this helped me to go a step forward and it provides me much
larger detail and information with the precise reasoning. The split up of the book
into two parts helped us to gradually understand the basics and made the whole
journey of this book worthwhile and gifting. The transition from the practical
part of architecture into the styles and structure of each style made it easier for
me to grasp the meaning of the book.

Who will be the audiences for this book? Do you think they appreciate after
reading the book?
The simple and concise writing makes it easy for anyone to read the book and
gain knowledge into a new forum. But for those with a background in the field of
architecture, it could be a new insight into the happenings of the way things
functioned and changed and helps us understand the growing needs of the
people. With numerous examples and illustrations, it is easy for us to follow and
picturise the ideas presented to us and each idea that blooms could be the start
of a new concept.