Responding to msg by MG522923%VMTECTOL.BITNET@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
(MICHELLE) on
> HOW DO THE PEOPLE FROM EGYPT COULD CONSTRUCT THE
>MAGNIFICENT PIRAMIDS
>I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT GOTIC ARQUITECTURE
>WHICH IS THE LARGEST TOWER IN THE WORLD AND HOW LARGE IS IT
Michelle,
Firstly, the question on pyramids is very long-lived and has
been answered voluminously, but never satisfactorily, some
experts say. But for a pleasant start, take a look at David
Macaulay's excellent "Pyramid", one of a series of very expert
graphic descriptions of the built environment.
But in another view, in "The Ancient Engineers", Sprague de
Camp writes:
Although the ziggurats of Mesopotamia look a little like
the pyramids of Egypt,
there is no reason to think that there is any real
connection between the two types
of structures. The ziggurats evolved from temple
platforms, whereas the Egyptian
pyramids were never anything but tombs.
The seeming similarity of Mesopotamian ziggurats to
Egyptian pyramids, and for
that matter to the pyramids of Central America, is
explained by the state of
engineering in these lands when these structures were
made. If you set out to
build and edifice several hundred feet high when
architecture is in its infancy,
the arch and vault are practically unknown, and meatl
reinforcement is undreamed-of,
you have to adopt the pyramidal form for the sake of
stability.
Thus, you may wish to research the various explanations of the
construction of your own Pre-Columbian pyramids in Central
America, make field visits (here I envy your accessibility) and
then cultivate your own career-blossoming theory.
Secondly, and similarly, because Gothic architecture,
culminated, some scholars say, in the New Land cathedrals, you
may wish to examine the oldest European-Mexican structures to
stimulate your own thoughts. To help, I suggest another of
David Macaulay's books, "Cathedral, the Story of Its
Construction" (1973). Beyond that easy reading, take a very
deep breath and peruse Viollet-le-Duc's "Dictionnaire de
Raisonne de L'Architecture Francaise du 11e au 16e Siecle", 10
volumes, for more information than you will ever absorb. Also
read "The Age of the Cathedrals: Art and Society, 980-1420" by
George Duby (1981).
Thirdly, forgive me, but does it really matter which is the
world's largest tower? I suspect that this banal male-oriented
architectural ephemeral might be cut in favor of one more
responsive to tender ministrations.
On your career aspirations, and to make your transition easy
from business school to architecture (and don't neglect other
equally compelling design fields), get an eyeful with other
David Macaulay books besides the two above (this series is
superior to a great many scholarly tomes):
City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction (1974)
Underground (1976)
Castle(1977)
Great Moments in Architecture (1978)
Unbuilding (1980)
Mill (1983)
Electricity (1983)
Way Things Work (1988)
But, in the end, no list of books will ever match the knowledge
gained by spending time studying buildings first hand, of all
sorts, grand and humble, wherever you find them, on earth or in
your imagination. And start sketching, sketching, sketching,
of everything you see.
And, keep in mind that every generation seems to try a new
(usually male until now) approach to architecture and its
history, so take courage and imagine that yours might be novel
for your genderation.
That would be a great step to prepare for studying design in
the US, at any school of your choosing. Due to the
inflammation potential of making school recommendations on this
list I will refrain. Perhaps others will dare.
John
(MICHELLE) on
> HOW DO THE PEOPLE FROM EGYPT COULD CONSTRUCT THE
>MAGNIFICENT PIRAMIDS
>I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT GOTIC ARQUITECTURE
>WHICH IS THE LARGEST TOWER IN THE WORLD AND HOW LARGE IS IT
Michelle,
Firstly, the question on pyramids is very long-lived and has
been answered voluminously, but never satisfactorily, some
experts say. But for a pleasant start, take a look at David
Macaulay's excellent "Pyramid", one of a series of very expert
graphic descriptions of the built environment.
But in another view, in "The Ancient Engineers", Sprague de
Camp writes:
Although the ziggurats of Mesopotamia look a little like
the pyramids of Egypt,
there is no reason to think that there is any real
connection between the two types
of structures. The ziggurats evolved from temple
platforms, whereas the Egyptian
pyramids were never anything but tombs.
The seeming similarity of Mesopotamian ziggurats to
Egyptian pyramids, and for
that matter to the pyramids of Central America, is
explained by the state of
engineering in these lands when these structures were
made. If you set out to
build and edifice several hundred feet high when
architecture is in its infancy,
the arch and vault are practically unknown, and meatl
reinforcement is undreamed-of,
you have to adopt the pyramidal form for the sake of
stability.
Thus, you may wish to research the various explanations of the
construction of your own Pre-Columbian pyramids in Central
America, make field visits (here I envy your accessibility) and
then cultivate your own career-blossoming theory.
Secondly, and similarly, because Gothic architecture,
culminated, some scholars say, in the New Land cathedrals, you
may wish to examine the oldest European-Mexican structures to
stimulate your own thoughts. To help, I suggest another of
David Macaulay's books, "Cathedral, the Story of Its
Construction" (1973). Beyond that easy reading, take a very
deep breath and peruse Viollet-le-Duc's "Dictionnaire de
Raisonne de L'Architecture Francaise du 11e au 16e Siecle", 10
volumes, for more information than you will ever absorb. Also
read "The Age of the Cathedrals: Art and Society, 980-1420" by
George Duby (1981).
Thirdly, forgive me, but does it really matter which is the
world's largest tower? I suspect that this banal male-oriented
architectural ephemeral might be cut in favor of one more
responsive to tender ministrations.
On your career aspirations, and to make your transition easy
from business school to architecture (and don't neglect other
equally compelling design fields), get an eyeful with other
David Macaulay books besides the two above (this series is
superior to a great many scholarly tomes):
City: A Story of Roman Planning and Construction (1974)
Underground (1976)
Castle(1977)
Great Moments in Architecture (1978)
Unbuilding (1980)
Mill (1983)
Electricity (1983)
Way Things Work (1988)
But, in the end, no list of books will ever match the knowledge
gained by spending time studying buildings first hand, of all
sorts, grand and humble, wherever you find them, on earth or in
your imagination. And start sketching, sketching, sketching,
of everything you see.
And, keep in mind that every generation seems to try a new
(usually male until now) approach to architecture and its
history, so take courage and imagine that yours might be novel
for your genderation.
That would be a great step to prepare for studying design in
the US, at any school of your choosing. Due to the
inflammation potential of making school recommendations on this
list I will refrain. Perhaps others will dare.
John