Light Wind & Structure – The Mystery of the Master Builders (New Liberal Arts) - Hardcover

Mark, R

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 026213246X ISBN 13: 9780262132466

Publisher: MIT Press, 1990

Synopsis

The Sydney Opera House, with its vast cost overruns and its years of delay, is a glaring example of misbegotten notions of structural honesty. MIT's Kresge Auditorium was conceived for visual effect without regard for technological flaws that arose from the misapplied criteria of form-follows function and forced its closing for more than a year. And in the building of Boston's John Hancock Tower, structural imperatives, were literally thrown to the winds. These are just a few of the eases in which the role of technology in the design of a large scale building has been either neglected or confused. In this book Robert Mark shows how an understanding of the technology of historical architecture can illuminate, even help eliminate, such costly misconceptions. Mark focuses on three eras - ancient Rome, the era of structural experimentation in High Gothic architecture, and the time of the great Renaissance domes - that have had lasting impacts on architectural planning. He makes full use of sophisticated computer modeling to gain new insights into early design methods insights that allow him to reinterpret technological precedents that are often misunderstood in contemporary architecture. Mark's provocative findings provide a stronger technological focus for architectural history and a basis for more rational criticism of contemporary design. Robert Mark Professor of Architecture and Civil Engineering at Princeton University, is the author of "Experiments in Gothic Structure. "Much of the work covered in "Light, Wind, and Structure "served as the basis for the Nova/WGBH television program "The Mystery of the Master Builders." The book is included in the Sloan New Liberal Arts Series.

About this title

Review

" Students of architecture and the history of art, as well as architects, can benefit from this book - one of the most objective historical accounts of structure and form we are likely to find." - Philip Arcidi, "Progressive Architecture" " Guided by a sleuth's compulsion, Mark has left no stone unturned to explain how the Pantheon and Hagia Sophia domes really work, how and why the French Gothic cathedrals evolved, the subtlety of the design of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the variety of more or less correctly designed high-rise structures of our time. . . . This book should be carefully read." - Mario Salvadori, "Architecture" & quot; Students of architecture and the history of art, as well as architects, can benefit from this book - one of the most objective historical accounts of structure and form we are likely to find.& quot; - Philip Arcidi, Progressive Architecture & quot; Guided by a sleuth's compulsion, Mark has left no stone unturned to explain how the Pantheon and Hagia Sophia domes really work, how and why the French Gothic cathedrals evolved, the subtlety of the design of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the variety of more or less correctly designed high-rise structures of our time. . . . This book should be carefully read.& quot; - Mario Salvadori, Architecture "Guided by a sleuth's compulsion, Mark has left no stone unturned to explain how the Pantheon and Hagia Sophia domes really work, how and why the French Gothic cathedrals evolved, the subtlety of the design of St. Paul's Cathedral, and the variety of more or less correctly designed high-rise structures of our time. . . . This book should be carefully read."- Mario Salvadori, "Architecture" "Students of architecture and the history of art, as well as architects, can benefit from this book - one of the most objective historical accounts of structure and form we are likely to find." - Philip Arcidi, "Progressive Architecture"

Synopsis

Discusses the structure of ancient Roman, Gothic, and Renaissance architecture, uses computer modeling to analyze early design methods, and looks at technological mistakes in modern architecture.

Edition details

• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 026213246X
• ISBN 13: 9780262132466
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 228