Primitive ArchitectureThe latest volume in Abram's History of World Architecture series, Primitive Architecture is a uniquely conceived investigation of the way primitive societies shape their environments. Considering architecture as including not only buildings but also every kind of physical alteration of the landscape, the author investigates the structure, purpose, and interpretation of campsites, architectural sculpture, ritual itineraries of nomadic peoples, sacred centers, and territory and village layouts. Moving from hunting and gathering societies, for whom the territory itself is architecture, through sedentary populations, for whom the relationship between agriculture, dwelling, and village is highly charged with significance, to the peoples in social transit between village and modern urban life, the author firmly establishes the widely unrecognized fact that architecture plays a central role in the economic, social, and cultural life of populations not yet part of the modern world. This volume is a pioneering exploration in an immeasurably rich field and will capture the interest of architect, anthropologist and general reader alike. Almost 500 illustrations, which include plans and drawings as well as photographs; an exhaustive bibliography; and an appendix that offers thumbnail descriptions of the architecture of almost 200 primitive societies in all the major geographical areas of the world - all these help to make this volume an invaluable reference tool as well as an innovative and pioneering study. -- Book Jacket |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abelam Africa altar ancestors animals anthropomorphic assembly bamboo Bamileke branches Brazil British Columbia British Columbia Canada building built Cameroon carved ceremonies Chad chapuno chief circular clan clay complex conical roof construction courtyard covered cultural cylindrical decoration Dogon door dwelling earth Easter Island encampment enclosure entrance Fali family house feet four framework granaries ground plan Haida hunters hunting Indonesia interior Islands Melanesia Islands Polynesia kraal Lebeuf linked live longhouse Mali maloca Maori matting Melanesia men's house mosque motifs Musée de l'Homme Musgum myth mythic nomadic Nyangatom organization painted plates Polynesia pueblo Queen Charlotte Islands rectangular region New Guinea relationship representing ritual sacred sanctuary schematic plan sedentary Sepik River Sepik River region settlement shelter side social society space specific stone structure supporting symbolic tent territory Timbuktu totem pole traditional tree tribe upper Upper Volta village walls wooden Yanoama yurta