Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition, Fifth Revised and Enlarged Edition (The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures)

Average customer rating:

I like this book alot

brief and to the point

The seminal work on Modern Architecture

Excellent history

A history of linear progression

Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition, Fifth Revised and Enlarged Edition (The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures)
Siegfried Giedion
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0674830407

Book Description

A milestone in modern thought, Space, Time and Architecture has been reissued many times since its first publication in 1941 and translated into half a dozen languages. In this revised edition of Mr. Giedion's classic work, major sections have been added and there are 81 new illustrations.

The chapters on leading contemporary architects have been greatly expanded. There is new material on the later development of Frank Lloyd Wright and the more recent buildings of Walter Gropius, particularly his American Embassy in Athens. In his discussion of Le Corbusier, Mr. Giedion provides detailed analyses of the Carpenter Center at Harvard University, Le Corbusier's only building in the United States, and his Priory of La Tourette near Lyons. There is a section on his relations with his clients and an assessment of his influence on contemporary architecture, including a description of the Le Corbusier Center in Zurich (designed just before his death], which houses his works of art. The chapters on Mies van der Rohe and Alvar Aalto have been brought up to date with examples of their buildings in the sixties. There is an entirely new chapter on the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, whose work, as exemplified in his design for the Sydney Opera House, Mr. Giedion considers representative of post-World War II architectural concepts.

A new essay, "Changing Notions of the City," traces the evolution of the structure of the city throughout history and examines current attempts to deal with urban growth, as shown in the work of such architects as José Luis Sert, Kenzo Tange, and Fumihiko Maki. Mr. Sert's Peabody Terrace is discussed as an example of the interlocking of the collective and individual spheres. Finally, the conclusion has been enlarged to include a survey of the limits of the organic in architecture.

Customer Reviews:

I like this book alot.......2004-06-18

This book tells the story of important buildings built since a long time ago, even bridges! Lots of nice pictures and drawings, especially of the real important artsy buildings built after WWII. You can learn alot about the history of world culture and architecture just by looking at the pictures! All my friends saw "Wow" when I show them this book! Wow!!

brief and to the point.......2003-05-17

90 per cent of books in a typical bookstore are not worth the paper they are written on. This is NOT one of those books. The concepts presented in this book are profound. It is the best book I own.

The seminal work on Modern Architecture.......2002-12-04

One cannot even presume to understand modern architecture until one has read Giedion's classic work. This book did more to shape the view of modern architecture than did any other book. Giedion provides an impressive survey of architecture down through the ages, illustrating those aspects which had an influence on modern architecture. One of his more illucidating chapters is "The Demand for Morality in Architecture," which underscores the content of this work.

The heart of the book is his chapter on "Space-Time in Art, Architecture, adn Construction," in which he examines the leading figures and movements in modern architecture, with the spotlight on Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe and Alvar Aalto. These were the founding fathers. He examines the roots of their ideas as well as the influence they had in shaping the modern movement. This later edition also includes a chapter on "Jorn Utzon and the Third Generation," which Giedion felt had successfully carried the principles of modern architecture into contemporary society.

Giedion also explores the shifts in attitude toward city planning in the late 19th century and early 20th century, reviewing such seminal figures as Ebenezer Howard, Patrick Geddes, Arturo Soria y Mata, and Tony Garnier, which ultimately lead to the creation of C.I.A.M, the International Congress of Modern Architecture.

Giedion is unabashed in his support of modern architecture, which has made this book the favorite whipping post of post-modern critics. But, few have explored the subject as deeply as has Giedion. Don't rely on other interpretations of Giedion. Read "Space, Time and Architecture" before drawing any conclusions.

Excellent history.......2000-09-23

I enjoyed this book for the author's insights into how 20th century architecture, starting from certain antecedents in the 19th century, such as the early iron-reinforced concrete structures of William LeBaron Jenny, progressed through Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, the Bauhaus school, and so on, up to the style which he calls "the hanging curtain of glass."

Giedion shows how this spectacular 20th-century building originated around the turn of the last century and how it's modern variations represent a triumpth of this type of design.

The basic principle, as exemplified early on in the Carson, Pirie, Scott, and Co. building in Chicago, is that as stuctural members receeded from the outlying masonry walls into the interior skeleton of the building, this allows the architect to open up the facade with windows, skylights, and other penetrating elements in order to let the maximum amount of air and light into the building. Eventually no real supporting structural members need reside on the outside of the building, and the aesthetic result is the "hanging curtain of glass" effect... Whatever one thinks of this type of building, it has become a major landmark of 20th-century architectural design in cities all over the world.

Giedion's treatment of Robert Maillart's graceful, parabolic spanning bridge designs in the Swiss Alps and some other places, such as the Tavanasa Bridge in the U.S., which he specifically discusses as one of Maillart's most important achievements, is also very interesting.

Overall, Giedion's book is a fine treatment of an important and difficult period in the history of architecture, and is one of the most important books on architecture to be written in recent decades.

A history of linear progression.......2000-04-13

This book is based on lectures Giedion gave at Harvard 1938-39. It is considered a modernist manifesto and after WW II, and well into the 1960s, it was often used in the training of architects all over the western world. European readers found the book interesting primarily because of it's section on the American history of architecture. The subtitle - The growth of a new tradition - refers to Giedion's conviction that the modern movement was the logical outcome of what he saw as a linear historical development. To make his case he gives his version of the history of architecture, and a big portion deals with the industrial era and how new technologies changed architecture and society as a whole. Giedion's all-inclusive way of reasoning was inspired by his teacher Heinrich Wölfflin. He also admired Wölfflin's mentor Jakob Burchardt. Giedion's mission is clear and he states that laissez faire mentality hinders development and that with common goals and values the world would be able to make changes for the better on a grand scale. Today the book in my view is primarily interesting as a time document and it gives insight into the modernist world of universal ideals.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Painting the Elements: Weather Effects in Oil, Acrylic And Watercolor

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Painting the Elements: Weather Effects in Oil, Acrylic And Watercolor

Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Themes | History & Criticism | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Landscape Painting | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Still Life | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1581808879

Book Description

Features the work of many bestselling North Light Books authors

*No other current book focuses entirely on representing weather in landscape painting
*Strong crossover potential for three popular media: oil, acrylic, and watercolor
*Subject matter appeals to artists of all levels

The most dramatic landscapes come to life because of the artist's ability to render the weather. Whether it's painting a crisp autumn day or an overcast morning before a storm, Painting the Elements provides all the step-by-step instructions painters need to portray accurately a wide variety of climates and conditions. Detailed directions show how to capture the time of day with the blazing sun or the affects of weather on various subjects, such as a panda in mist or a grizzly on a snowy tundra. Over 25 projects showcase the work of NorthLight Book's bestselling authors, allowing readers to learn multiple styles and approaches to this necessary topic.

Compiled by Kelly Messerly and Pam Wissman, editors of NorthLight Books, this book features work from bestselling authors such as Sean Dye (Painting with Water Soluble Oils), Craig Nelson (60 Minutes to Better Painting), Hugh Greer (Acrylic Landscape Painting Techniques), and many others."

Average customer rating:

Thorough, complete, and enjoyable

Painting the Effects of Weather
Patricia Seligman
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Instructional & How-To | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0891344861

Customer Reviews:

Thorough, complete, and enjoyable.......2000-04-17

This is a marvelous book for anyone - begginer hobbyist or seasoned artist - struggling with the difficulties of accurately portraying weather. Painting the Effects of Weather by Patricia Seligman has many step-by-step demonstrations in various mediums. Also, this book is very well organized: it's divided into several sections, each devoted to a specific weather effect: clouds, mist, snow, etc. Each section then has a different color bar on the side of each page for easy reference.

Two things I really liked about Painting the Effects of Weather is that the example paintings were done by many different artists with varying styles, so that it's possible to see how a technique can fit many different styles. The other thing is that there are also many photos in the book, especially in the section dealing with clouds.

Overall, I think that this book is informative, easy to understand, and helpful. This is a must for all interested in this topic!

Average customer rating:
PAINTING THE EFFECTS OF WEATHER
Patricia Seligman
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M0K396

Average customer rating:
Painting the Effects of Weather
Patricia Seligman
Manufacturer: North Light Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O2L9BI

Customer Reviews:

Its a Small World.......2000-04-09

The work that Ms. Breger present in her electrifying and illuminating book spans that twilight zone between photography made with purely aesthetic vision and imagery made for the purposes of scientific investigation. For my part, if a type of imagery carries a wonderful vision and powerful presence no matter what precincts it hales from, it warrants serious and critical attention.

The photographs in this book come from a visual realm that roughly parallels Egerton, Nilsson, et al. It is work made with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

Whether or not you are familiar with this imaging technology -- its processes and procedures are not all that recondite, is not overly material as they are really not actually at issue.. The rendering though, is. The end product if done in the hands of an expert, as Dee Breger has wide renown for being, is in a rich, etched -- in effect, and extremely beguiling continuous-tone sharply scaled monotone.

The photographs focus mainly on exo-skeletal microorganisms and organic and inorganic microstructures. That's what you look at when you view one of these sorts of images -- and they are very arresting and strangely alluring ones indeed. The identifiability of subject matter is not in itself, I feel, the source of their quite haunting power. And, it is indeed arguable as to how critical the related data is, interesting as many , including myself, would find it.

The subject matter goes beyond naming and claiming. It is about the enigmatic nature of the fundamental, and the inchoate, the substrates of experience. Platonisn (Neo- & Oldo-), in one form or another, is the operant mode in this sort of representation. The subsuming issues are epistemological in addition to the esthetic and experiential.

Photographically, Dee's antecedents, on one hand, might be Blossfeld and Regner-Patzch -- the Platonisn thing. And, other the other hand, Weston and Strand (The thing itself -- the world being intrinsically more interesting that what anyone can say about it...). Strong resonances too with the archetypal inventories of the Bechers and the mysterious little chthonic worlds of Chiarenza.

That's more than enough for the high falutin' stuff. I guess the brass tacks of the matter is that these images are point blankly speaking, striking They bear a drama, mystery and presence that definitely command the attention of both a general inquisitive audience and those critically interested in photography, how ever unusual or unexpected its manifestation.

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Journeys in Microspace: The Art of the Scanning Electron Microscope
Dee Breger
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPKF3S

Average customer rating:
Journeys in Microspace: The Art of the Scanning Electron Microscope
Dee Breger
Manufacturer: Columbia University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NVBFAU

Product Description

In his preface to this volume, Roger Angell calls Allan Miller "the Dr. Leakey of the two-way whatsit." We realize that the world of palindrome is probably a bit circumscribed, defined by a narrow band of fanatics who find as much satisfaction in a gem like "Sununu's tonsil is not Sununu's" as the civilized would in the discovery of a new planet. But this is a book for both the aficionado and the beginner, a delightful compendium of "a furtive collection of letters which, weirdly and all on its own, resembles itself perfectly when looked at from the other end."

Expanding on the possibilities inherent in Miller's often dotty combinations are the dashing and madcap drawings of Lee Lorenz, cartoonist for the past art editor of The New Yorker.

This little book is meant to be fun, but it also serves a higher purpose. We're not entirely sure what that purpose is, but as the author observes, "Our Muse looks after her own: Revere Her Ever."

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