Francis D.K. Ching, Mark Jarzombek, and Vikramaditya Prakash
2010, 2nd ed.
Reference Section NA 200 C493 2011
I fell in love with this history of architecture. It
analyses structures from a different perspective than most books on this
subject, including our other major source on world architecture (International
Dictionary of Architects and Architecture). It’s also set up differently,
includes structures as well as buildings (e.g., the Great Wall), and covers all
areas of the world rather than primarily the United States and Europe.
This text is organized chronologically by dividing the time
between 3,500 BC and 1989 AD into 18 “time-cuts” (segments). This allows
the reader to compare what’s going on in various regions at roughly the same
time. Each “time-cut” begins with a one page description of the
forces operating during that period which influenced its architecture.
These forces might be historical, economic, religious, political,
cultural, etc. Next, there is a world map showing the locations of the
structures to be discussed in that chapter, and then a timeline showing when
and where the buildings were constructed. In addition, it gives the major
historical events or rulers in that time segment and in the geographical areas
covered. The discussions of the structures are arranged in each time-cut
by the subcontinental area in which they are located. Most are one to two
pages in length and usually include from four to seven photos and drawings of
floor plans, cross sections, etc. (There are over 1,500 drawings and
1,000 photographs and maps in the book.)
The authors state that they are not as interested in
pointing out the characteristics of architecture of a particular location or
time period but in the “broad forces and exigencies of that time and location”
which produced a particular building’s architectural style. This is what
fascinates me.
For instance, looking up the Boston Public Library in our
traditional architectural source we find pictures of the old library and the
annex. Most of the discussion focuses on the history of building the
library (e.g., how the funds were raised, the contributions of notable artists
to the interior, and some criticisms of the building). One paragraph
contrasts this library with Labrouste’s Bibliotheque which the architect saw in
Paris. In addition, there is a physical description of the library and
the sense it evokes (a classical, “sheltered elegance”, etc.) and a list
of sources.
When the library is looked up in the Global History of
Architecture there is a picture of the library, one of Pennsylvania
Station, and a sketch of an aerial view of Copley Square which the library
abuts on one side. The discussion of the library is labeled “City
Beautiful Movement” rather than “Boston Public Library”. It briefly
discusses how once the US economy started to improve after the 1890s depression
the architectural mood changed from dark, “Romanesque inspired motifs” to “the
lighter and more ambitious motifs of the French Beaux-Arts”, and how the
World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 energized this change. “… its
integrated plan of buildings, parks, and walks” (including space for growth)
became a model of a successfully planned city with monumental
architecture and inspired mayors across the country to draw up plans for their
cities incorporating some of its principles and using the Beaux Arts
style. This became the “City Beautiful Movement. The article briefly
describes the architecture of the Pennsylvannia Station and the Boston Public
Library as examples of “City Beautiful Buildings”. It mentions that the
primary artist, McKim, was one of the leading champions of the Beaux-Arts style
and drew ideas from Henri Labrouste’s Biblioteque in
Paris.
The next page contains a photograph of an architect’s office
and
is titled, “Rise of Professionalism” [in the
architectural field]. It discusses exactly that, stating that the success
of the Beaux-Arts movement caused increased attention to architects’ education,
as did the World’s Columbian Exposition. The latter, “designed on a monumental
scale and integrated into a master plan, served to demonstrate what
professional architects could accomplish. “ (McKim, the primary architect
of the Boston Public Library, was one of the architects who showed off their
skill at the exposition.)
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