Ten Books on Architecture (Illustrated) [Kindle Edition]

This book contains an immense number of digressions from architecture that are perhaps of greater interest than the actual architectural content. There is a section on degenerate, abstract, modern art that could have been written today! Also, there is a good explanation of how architects have contributed to siege warfare, and instructions on the proper construction of siege devices such as catapults and tortoises. Other topics include how to divine water (without recourse to superstitious practices), and how the fundamental elements (earth, air, fire, and water) in stones influence their suitability as building materials.

Over the last 8 years it has been a valuable asset in my Library, full of information on lime plasters for walls, ceilings and floors, the makign of Pozzalana concrete, finding water, understanding the winds and energy patterns of the land and a guide to designing better sustainable buildings.

Topics include -

I -Education of an architect, principles of design, for city, town and home

II The selection of materials - how they are made and used

III - The proportions of the Orders, Doric, Ionic

IV - Applications of the Orders - Temples

V -The design of the Public Buildings - Theatres, Basilicas, Baths, Forums, Harbours, Shipyards

VI - Design of the Courtyard House

VII - Plastering:- technique, materials and application

VIII - Water Locating, storage and transportation - aqueducts

IX- The stars - Suns moon and 12 planets

X - War machines and other instruments

At the current Price, this book is a bargain and you will most likely reread it many times, cause its full of useful information.

If you are involved in Green building, design, like History, want to build a really nice healthy house, then I suggest this is an ideal book for you.

Vitruvius found what made the most ancient monuments such durable constructions. He found WHY they were built they way they were. For example, he explains in enough detail for the "then" architect to understand how to construct for best auditory sound enhancements using examples from Greek engineering and Roman building practices. (There is a detailed description on harmonics based on Pythagorean principles.) He also explains the true meaning of proportion developing constructs from the "golden mean" as seen in the various modes of ancient column design (as well as a description of "stasis" and other logical variants applied to columnal construction).

The book is often referenced in medieval documents explaining the training of medieval cathedral (especial gothic era) builders and the practical construction of these cathedrals that still stand and are useful today.

I highly recommend this book for any art history student or student of architecture at any level. It is a reminder that great thinking and analysis has no technical limitation.