THEMATIC THEORIES

o Aim at the fulfillment of one principal goal, often at the cost of other customary goals of building

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURAL SYNTHESIS

o Are examples of theories which aim at fulfilling simultaneously several goals, usually all the goals that are known.

THEMATIC THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

MARCUS VITRUVIUS POLLIO
author of the oldest research on architecture Ten Books on Architecture ( De architectura libri decem) Laws of Symmetry - modern terminology mostly mean The systems of Module Measuring Durability (Firmitas), Practicality or Convenience (Utilitas), Pleasantness (Venustas) A building is beautiful if its appearance was pleasant, it was in accordance with good taste, and its parts follow proportions and the symmetry of measures

Present the concise, fast and easily applicable rules of the five column systems. Based his design instructions on: a) idea of Pythagoras that proportions of small integers mean harmony b) proportions and other instructions provided by Vitruve c) example set by earlier buildings d) general good taste, whatever that meant when interpreted by each writer

ANDREA PALLADIO (1508-80)

Father of Modern picture books of architecture I quattro libri dell architecttura contains little theory but all the more pictures on buildings skillfully designed by Palladio.

PHILIBERT DE LORME
French theorist proved that in the Pantheon, the Corinthian columns were dimensioned according to as many as three different proportions. Principle of perceptive psychology

MIDDLE AGES
Monastery Institution Buildings are only defined by stating the size and it shall be made according to the traditional model. Theres no accounting for tastes was the rule of thumb of Scholastics, which did not favor the development of the theory of arts Practice of architecture was based on tradition Sketchbook by Villard de Honnecourt (1235) Booklet on the Right Way of Making Pinnacles (Bchlein von der Fialen Gerechtigkeit )by Roritzer Traditional knowledge was learned by doing, in the guidance of the Old Masters In the beginning of the 13th century, craftsmen in the building trade started forming guilds (German :Bauhtte)

RENAISSANCE THEORISTS THAT PROVIDED GENERAL PRESENTATIONS OF THE CLASSICAL RULES OF ARCHITECTURE:
a) b) c) d) e) f) g) FRANCOIS NICOLAS BLONDEL: Cours darchitecture (1675) CLAUDE PERRAULT: Ordonnace des cinq espces de colonnes (1683) JEAN LOUIS DE CORDEMOY: Nouveau trait de toute larchitecture (1706) MARC-ANTOINE LAUGIER : Essai sur larchitecture (1753) JACQUES - FRANCOIS BLONDEL : Cours d architecture (1770) J-N-L. DURAND : Prcis des lecons (1802-05) JULIEN GUADET : Elements et theories de larchitecture (1902)

CLASSICAL THEORY OF FORMS

Renaissance brought about a new interest in the feats of antiquity, especially in Italy Classical System of the Orders became the most visible contents of architectural theory Classical Style - Mannerism Writers complemented their works with still richer illustrations. Theory books of architecture started resembling fashion magazines. The purpose of the works was usually to present the rules of art to designers.

CONSTRUCTION THEORY
Used shapes that resembles or duplicates that of a catenary curve Use of Mechanical Analogous model instead of those Mathematical algorithms that we use in modern construction

LEON BATTISTA ALBERTI (1404-72)

De re aedeficatoria (On Building) Developed a clever system of classical pilasters and architraves which could be superimposed on any smooth surface Used the name ornamentum (equipment, decoration) for these architectural elements.

MATHURIN JOUSS
Le Theatre de lart charpentier (1627) deals with wooden constructions Le secret darchitecture decouvrant fidelement les traits metriques (1642) deals with stone vaults Both treatises describe mainly traditional structures and do not yet present a tangible theory for their design.

SEBASTIANO SERLIO
Regole generali di architectura

GIACOMO (JACOPO) BAROZZI DA VIGNOLA

Regola delle cinque ordini (1562)