Architecture And Its Models In Southeast Asia - Softcover

Dumarcay, Jacques

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9745240273 ISBN 13: 9789745240278

Publisher: Orchid Press Publishing Limited, 2003

Synopsis

This thought provoking study of the development of architecture, and the impact of architectural models on this evolution, in southeast Asia, draws for its early examples primarily from surviving Hindu-Buddhist monuments in Cambodia and Java. Dumarçay argues that, despite the fact that individual physical locations may merit innovation, new construction nevertheless tends to be constrained by pre-existing architectural models, appropriate to the new situation or otherwise, which are held within the collective conscience of a given culture. This tendency may further be strengthened in the event that an insecure regime seeks to employ architectural monuments to aggrandize its political position. The inappropriate use of models may also occur when architectural styles are transplanted from one culture into another. A break from the models of the past-and thus true innovation-may develop only when a master builder both has sufficient confidence in his own artistic vision and works within a context that allows him the freedom to express this vision.

About this title

Product Description

This study of the development of architecture and the impact of architectural models on this evolution, draws its early examples primarily from surviving Hindu-Buddhist monuments in Cambodia and Java. Dumarcay argues that, despite the fact that individual physical locations may merit innovation, new construction nevertheless tends to be constrained by pre-existing architectural models held within collective conscience of a given culture. This tendency may be further strengthened when an insecure regime seeks to employ architectural monuments to aggrandize its political position. A break from the models of the past - and thus true innovation - may develop only when a master builder has sufficient confidence in his own artistic vision within a context that allows him to express it.

Edition details

• Publisher: Orchid Press Publishing Limited
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9745240273
• ISBN 13: 9789745240278
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128