Chief Editor: Rolf Torman
Text: Barbara Borngasser
Photographs: Achim Bednorz
While it is regrettable that the history of architectures in the East is not covered, it is still marvelous to have the photos of the essential Western architectures in one’s fingertips.
4 stars out of 5 stars
This is mainly a photo book of the history of Western Architectures. The history of architectures in the East are not covered, although a few modern structures in Japan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Kaula Lumpur are shown in the last chapter.
This is not a DK book, but the photos are superb. Two colorful pages at the front list the titles of the 12 chapters, covering the different periods from antiquity to the present. Each title is alongside a photo representing the architecture of that period. These photos are chosen expertly, but they carry no captions. Some are easily identifiable, others are not. Indeed, I challenged my children and their spouses to identify the one for the last chapter. After several hours, one of my daughters-in-law found the answer. I myself, lacking reverse imaging skills, was not able to find the answer on the internet. I think leaving the captions out is a bad idea for the Chief Editor.
The titles of the twelve chapters are:
I. Antiquity
II. Late Antiquity. Early Christianity and Byzantium
III. Islamic Architecture in Europe
IV. Early Middle Ages
V. Romanesque
VI. Gothic
VII. Renaissance and Mannerism
VIII. Baroque and Rococo
IX. Classicism and Romanticism
X. Historicism and Civil Engineering
XI. First Half of the 20th Century
XII. 20th Century to the Present
While each architecture item chosen is presented mainly by its photo, it is also accompanied by a text written by an art historian. The text focuses on the important issues related to the item such as when, where, by whom and for what purposes.
One of the wonders of ancient engineering/architecture feats was that, more than two thousand years ago, Roman engineers built an enormous bridge known as The Pont Du Gard in today’s France, as part of a 30 miles aqueduct bringing water to the city of Nimes. The bridge stands 164 feet high and is on 3 levels. It is so strong that it is still standing firm today! Modern bridges have been built near to it, but the floods in this valley washed them all away. Indeed, the French engineers attached a new bridge to the old Pont Du Gard in hopes that the old aqueduct would keep the new bridge from washing away.
As expected, there were numerous structures worthy of acclaim in each architecture period. I mention here just one, in the modern era - the opera house in Sydney, Australia. Its design is of breathtaking audacity. The precast concrete roof is formed from thin concrete shells up to 198 ft, looking like wind-filled sails from a distance. The Opera House has become the very symbol of Australia.
In the last two sentences in the Forward, Chief Editor Rolf Torman wrote: “Throughout the course of history, architecture has contributed so much that is beautiful and magnificent to the world. The worth of a great building is apparent even when it is lying in ruins.” Having been to Athens and Rome to witness the ruins of the Acropolis and the Colosseum, I can attest to the truth of Mr. Torman’s last statement.
In conclusion, while it is regrettable that the history of architectures in the East is not covered (no photo of Taj Mahal for example), it is still marvelous to have the photos of the essential Western architectures in one’s fingertips.
The Pont Du Gard in Nimes, France
The Opera House in Sydney, Australia
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía at sunset with pool at sunset, in Valencia, Spain
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