Architectonic Space: Fifteen Lessons on the Disposition of the Human HabitatArchitectonic Space is the most complete and coherent treatise on the nature, purpose and meaning of architecture that has so far been attempted. It is the product of its author's lifetime pursuit of an idea that has haunted him from childhood: a search for the archetypal basis of the act of building.Seeing architecture not merely as the expression, but as the precondition of human culture, Hans van der Laan believes that its principles must be sought within architecture itself, rather than in technological, social or ideological factors. His buildings and writings stand out like tablets of stone amid the prevailing uncertainty and opportunism. The style and method of his book its rational building up of an argument founded on simple everyday experience remind one forcibly of the early Greek thinkers, just as Van der Laan's architecture recalls the houses and cities of the ancient world. |
Contents
NATURE AND ARCHITECTURE | 1 |
SPACE FORM AND SIZE | 11 |
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE | 20 |
SOLID AND VOID | 32 |
VLINE PLANE AND VOLUME | 45 |
THREEFOLD FUNCTION | 60 |
GROUNDRATIO | 70 |
MEASURESYSTEMS | 84 |
SYMMETRY | 99 |
EURHYTHMY | 114 |
DISPOSITION OF THE WALL | 133 |
DISPOSITION OF THE HOUSE | 145 |
DISPOSITION OF THE TOWN | 160 |
THREEFOLD EXPRESSION | 173 |
EXAMPLE | 185 |
Common terms and phrases
abacus abstract number architectonic space arises arithmetic mean authentic measure bar-form blocks bound cell cell-space cella centimetres concrete consecutive measures continuous quantity corresponding measures derived major derived measure determined difference dimensions direction distance domain double double-type dyad inside-outside dyad solid-void earth eight measures equal eurhythmic experience-space expressed figures function gallery geometric progression ground-ratio hall harmonic mean height horizontal human habitat intellect larger largest measure limits linear unit lintel major and minor major piece major whole mass measure-system minor element minor piece mutual neighbourhood natural space NIN NIN NIN ordinance other's neighbourhood peripheral juxtaposition piers plane plastic number proportion ratio relation ring-wall separated space side sizes slab-form small quantum small system smaller smallest measure solid form space of nature space-images spread square stones strips superposition symmetrical thickness things threefold thresholds tion trilithons tween unlimited urban space vertical volume wall wall-sections wall-thickness white forms width