Best in the west.A HISTORY OF WESTERN ARCHITECTURE By David Watkin David Watkin may refer to:
Anyone attempting to write a book with a title such as this one faces daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin problems, not least the huge amounts of information and illustrative matter that have to be cunningly distilled into a manageable unit. That Watkin has managed to pull it off is a tribute to his grasp of the wider picture. This is the fourth edition of a work first published in 1986 under the Barrie & Jenkins imprint, and contains much new material on Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian architecture where, as Watkin points out, the roots of Western architecture can be perceived (something ignorant media seem not to have grasped): an expanded account of architecture since the 1930s brings the book up to date. Watkin's tome is an outstanding narrative history of architecture, the best available, and is, for the most part, beautifully and comprehensively illustrated (some of the photographs are dazzling). It points out, correctly, that 'we no longer believe in the historical inevitability of particular stylistic or cultural developments', as Marxist-inspired commentators once held. We forget that the Nazis, too, rejoiced in the destruction of Dresden as they, like other totalitarians, believed in the tabula rasa tab·u·la ra·sa n. pl. tab·u·lae ra·sae 1. a. The mind before it receives the impressions gained from experience. b. The unformed, featureless mind in the philosophy of John Locke. 2. as a means of freeing mankind from a 'contemptible enslavement en·slave tr.v. en·slaved, en·slav·ing, en·slaves To make into or as if into a slave. en·slave  ment n. to the past', as Le Corbusier described it. However, as Watkin points out, revivals have always been vital moving springs for many of the great phases of architecture, and you cannot have revivals without knowledge of what you are hoping to revive: the tabula rasa approach will ensure ignorance. In his survey of the last eighty years or so, Watkin has done well to give us such a broad conspectus con·spec·tus n. pl. con·spec·tus·es 1. A general survey of a subject. 2. A synopsis. [Latin, from past participle of c , and he rightly says it is too soon to judge, for example, Deconstructivist buildings or to predict how soon they will fall out of fashion. True, but he might have looked more closely at the problems of prodigal PRODIGAL, civil law, persons. Prodigals were persons who, though of full age, were incapable of managing their affairs, and of the obligations which attended them, in consequence of their bad conduct, and for whom a curator was therefore appointed. 2. energy-consumption posed by many so-called iconic buildings, not just in running them, but building them as well. Many of these buildings are unsustainable at any sensible level, apart from being decidedly inimical inimical, n a homeopathic remedy whose actions hinder, but do not counteract those of another. Also called incompatible. to their contexts. In this respect, too, Watkin has strengthened the book by adding accounts on urbanism and context to each chapter, and his observations demonstrate why the tabula rasa is desired by those who ignore, corrupt, and obliterate o·blit·er·ate v. 1. To remove an organ or another body part completely, as by surgery, disease, or radiation. 2. To blot out, especially through filling of a natural space by fibrosis or inflammation. the genius loci. Watkin's text is distinguished not only by wide learning, but by sensible judgements, wise scepticism, and his obvious love for his subject. He has produced a beautiful, useful, sound book, by far the best contemporary thing of its kind. Book reviews from The Architectural Review can now be seen on our website at www.arplus.com and the books can be ordered online, many at special discount. |
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