The Classical Language of Architecture

Rating:
Summary: A good and easy undertandable book!
Review: Being about such a vaste theme, this book easily tells the most important parts of the history of architecture. Not much jargong, and well written overall!

Rating:
Summary: Do you like looking at buildings?
Review: I was introduced to this classic work in a course on Michelangelo by John Shearman at Harvard, and I'm writing this review because I'm convinced this book deserves wider distribution.

It's essentially an illustrated compilation of a series of lectures Summerson gave at university in England. The topic: the 'language' of architecture through the ages. Ever look at white marble columns, or that triangular thing over a window, and think how beautiful and elegant the display of forms was? Believe it or not, those styles are not created anew each time architects design a building! Rather, they draw on our rich common heritage - the 'classical language of architecture', first defined by Vasari in the 15th century (though in use since prehistoric times). That thing over the window is called a 'pediment', and columns can be Doric (stocky), Ionic (tall and graceful), or Corinthian (elaborated with flowery scroll-work at the top.) The triangular thing over a window is called a 'pediment'.

Intrigued? Want to know more about what the architects were thinking when they designed that building you're looking at? Buy this book, now!