Leon Battista Alberti (Book 1) review
In this essay I will be discussing the first book out of a group of ten written by Leon Battista Alberti. Alberti (1404-1472) was in fact no architect but rather a schooled humanist educated in the arts of rhetoric, poetic and philosophy. It was however an interest and high consideration of architecture which led him to pursue it further and transform himself from a writer to a practicing architect.
In his first book entitled "Plans", Alberti examines the parts that make up every building. It is from a utility point of view that he explores such components which must therefore be considered at the very beginning of any consideration of architecture. As he also mentions in the opening of his book, the whole art of building consists in a balanced interconnection between design and structure. And it is exactly this unity which will dictate to the Edifice and all its parts their proper places with factors such as the surroundings, the ground on which the building is to be erected, the ground plan, walls, roof and openings.
The very first thing Alberti introduces in his book regarding a consideration of architecture is the region with its climate and air. He makes it quite clear throughout this chapter that air plays a crucial role in the health of people and thus in deciding where a building must be placed. Considering as Alberti was very active in the daily legal and political life of his time, it comes as no surprise his deep interest in the wellbeing of the people. For him, architecture appears to have been an eminently political activity, since he considered architects to be the providers and safe-keepers of culture, who could offer a civic community security and protection. His belief is also made clear when he talks about the importance of the Architect in times of war, as the general who needs lose no men but some stones in order to win a war. So, going back to the conditions of the region on which to build, Alberti emphasizes the importance of avoiding heavy thick vapors and powerful clouds as well as water which rots for want of motion.
On the next chapter, Alberti goes even deeper in the subject or regions explaining the importance of easily accessed places with a kindly and temperate weather. He hints that a somewhat cold and dry composition would be much more preferable over a warm and moist one. What is however an absolute mistake according to Alberti, is to place a building in a valley down between two hills. Moreover, regardless of the location of the building it is of utter importance to open and test the springs for there may be a mixture in it of crude particles that could affect the constitution of the inhabitant.
If we are to observe a region in respect for its appropriateness and goodness, a starting point would be to look out at the good fruits the land produces, the number of men in a good old age as well as the natural births. If the trees are all being on one side, it does serve as a sign of high rough winds which are in no way desirable for a building location. Another interesting factor included by Alberti is of a more superstitious disposition. There are mentionings of spirits, fortune or even more down to earth arguments such as religion.
On the seventh chapter, we finally leave the region behind and move on to the platform which is described as a certain determinate part of the region taken up by the building. The work we are to take in hand requires certain consideration in order to have regard to the quality and use of every Edifice in the determining of its situation and form. Alberti than goes on to enlighten us on geometrical knowledge of lines and angles of different sorts and how they come to be. It is after such explanation has been made that he passes to a more specific use of this geometry in relation to the platforms and its types which are angular and circular. He classifies the platforms in detail, talking about attributes each of them are in possession of. The obtuse angles for instance have been thought very convenient while the circular platform is esteemed to be the least expensive.
Moreover, there are many advices present on how to position and construct a house in a complex relation to the hill. Alberti concludes that all the plains made which are under any covering, must be laid exactly level, while those which are to be left open, should have just slope enough for the rain to fall over.
To move on to the origin of building we must be clear of its birth of necessity which was nursed by convenience and embellished by use. It is with this notion in mind that we are aware of the importance that we ought to imitate the modesty of nature which will lead to a proportioned building that may appear to be an entire and perfect body.
In the chapter to follow we can easily observe Alberti's interest or even infatuation with Vitruvius and his ten books of architecture. As a matter of fact, it was exactly Vitruvius and his books, which Alberti was discussing in a noble social circle with friends, which lead him to try and reintroduce these books in a more modern and eloquent manner. And in this very chapter there is an evident similarity between the two architects; their preference of columns. However even though their approach to the subject is similar, Alberti keeps his information in the first book quite short and introductory.
Furthermore, another matter of importance is the covering of the building. It is the coverings which provide defensive arms for the building against the assaults and violence of storms and tempests. The coverings are divided into the roof or ceiling and the areas which shall be modified according to the weather conditions of the region the building is placed in.
When it comes to the apertures of the building there are two main functions they serve; Admission of light and air as well as Entrance and Passage. Windows belong to the first one while doors, stairs and spaces between the column belong to the second one. The windows should be mad large if they are facing the north and low and small if they are facing the south to provide protection from the sun rays. As for the doors, they should always be more high than broad.
In this last chapter, Alberti briefly touches the subject of stairs as he explains they are quite complex because they come in contact with three apertures which are the door, window and opening in the ceiling. There are also two staircases mention in this book; the one with no steps and a sloping Ascent and the other which is mounted by steps.
Lastly, in this first book on architecture by Leon Battista Alberti we get a good idea of what components serve the necessary requirement for beginning a building project. The book is well paced and quite eloquent with enough information to capture a thriving mind and stimulate it to dig more.
As read in one of the books of Taschen, Alberti has been portrayed to have laid out "One of the most important architectural theories of early modern times".
In his first book entitled "Plans", Alberti examines the parts that make up every building. It is from a utility point of view that he explores such components which must therefore be considered at the very beginning of any consideration of architecture. As he also mentions in the opening of his book, the whole art of building consists in a balanced interconnection between design and structure. And it is exactly this unity which will dictate to the Edifice and all its parts their proper places with factors such as the surroundings, the ground on which the building is to be erected, the ground plan, walls, roof and openings.
The very first thing Alberti introduces in his book regarding a consideration of architecture is the region with its climate and air. He makes it quite clear throughout this chapter that air plays a crucial role in the health of people and thus in deciding where a building must be placed. Considering as Alberti was very active in the daily legal and political life of his time, it comes as no surprise his deep interest in the wellbeing of the people. For him, architecture appears to have been an eminently political activity, since he considered architects to be the providers and safe-keepers of culture, who could offer a civic community security and protection. His belief is also made clear when he talks about the importance of the Architect in times of war, as the general who needs lose no men but some stones in order to win a war. So, going back to the conditions of the region on which to build, Alberti emphasizes the importance of avoiding heavy thick vapors and powerful clouds as well as water which rots for want of motion.
On the next chapter, Alberti goes even deeper in the subject or regions explaining the importance of easily accessed places with a kindly and temperate weather. He hints that a somewhat cold and dry composition would be much more preferable over a warm and moist one. What is however an absolute mistake according to Alberti, is to place a building in a valley down between two hills. Moreover, regardless of the location of the building it is of utter importance to open and test the springs for there may be a mixture in it of crude particles that could affect the constitution of the inhabitant.
If we are to observe a region in respect for its appropriateness and goodness, a starting point would be to look out at the good fruits the land produces, the number of men in a good old age as well as the natural births. If the trees are all being on one side, it does serve as a sign of high rough winds which are in no way desirable for a building location. Another interesting factor included by Alberti is of a more superstitious disposition. There are mentionings of spirits, fortune or even more down to earth arguments such as religion.
On the seventh chapter, we finally leave the region behind and move on to the platform which is described as a certain determinate part of the region taken up by the building. The work we are to take in hand requires certain consideration in order to have regard to the quality and use of every Edifice in the determining of its situation and form. Alberti than goes on to enlighten us on geometrical knowledge of lines and angles of different sorts and how they come to be. It is after such explanation has been made that he passes to a more specific use of this geometry in relation to the platforms and its types which are angular and circular. He classifies the platforms in detail, talking about attributes each of them are in possession of. The obtuse angles for instance have been thought very convenient while the circular platform is esteemed to be the least expensive.
Moreover, there are many advices present on how to position and construct a house in a complex relation to the hill. Alberti concludes that all the plains made which are under any covering, must be laid exactly level, while those which are to be left open, should have just slope enough for the rain to fall over.
To move on to the origin of building we must be clear of its birth of necessity which was nursed by convenience and embellished by use. It is with this notion in mind that we are aware of the importance that we ought to imitate the modesty of nature which will lead to a proportioned building that may appear to be an entire and perfect body.
In the chapter to follow we can easily observe Alberti's interest or even infatuation with Vitruvius and his ten books of architecture. As a matter of fact, it was exactly Vitruvius and his books, which Alberti was discussing in a noble social circle with friends, which lead him to try and reintroduce these books in a more modern and eloquent manner. And in this very chapter there is an evident similarity between the two architects; their preference of columns. However even though their approach to the subject is similar, Alberti keeps his information in the first book quite short and introductory.
Furthermore, another matter of importance is the covering of the building. It is the coverings which provide defensive arms for the building against the assaults and violence of storms and tempests. The coverings are divided into the roof or ceiling and the areas which shall be modified according to the weather conditions of the region the building is placed in.
When it comes to the apertures of the building there are two main functions they serve; Admission of light and air as well as Entrance and Passage. Windows belong to the first one while doors, stairs and spaces between the column belong to the second one. The windows should be mad large if they are facing the north and low and small if they are facing the south to provide protection from the sun rays. As for the doors, they should always be more high than broad.
In this last chapter, Alberti briefly touches the subject of stairs as he explains they are quite complex because they come in contact with three apertures which are the door, window and opening in the ceiling. There are also two staircases mention in this book; the one with no steps and a sloping Ascent and the other which is mounted by steps.
Lastly, in this first book on architecture by Leon Battista Alberti we get a good idea of what components serve the necessary requirement for beginning a building project. The book is well paced and quite eloquent with enough information to capture a thriving mind and stimulate it to dig more.
As read in one of the books of Taschen, Alberti has been portrayed to have laid out "One of the most important architectural theories of early modern times".
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