Reference Book of the Week

A Global History of Architecture

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.)