The persistent search for the is a testament to the book’s enduring relevance. In an age of Instagram architecture and disposable design, Watkin reminds us that buildings are the most permanent form of human expression. They record our beliefs in God, our trust in reason, our desire for power, and our longing for beauty.
Watkin begins not with Greece, but with the fertile crescent. He traces the "Minoan-Mycenaean" thread, showing how the column and lintel evolved. His treatment of the Greek orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian) is meticulous, but he excels at explaining why the Parthenon looks perfect to the human eye (entasis, optical refinements). The PDF version of these chapters is especially valuable for zooming in on site plans and comparative diagrams. david watkin a history of western architecture pdf
The book is structured chronologically but organized thematically around key cultural shifts: The persistent search for the is a testament
The book spans from the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt to the glass-and-steel skyscrapers of the 21st century. Key areas covered include: Watkin begins not with Greece, but with the fertile crescent
The physical book is a heavy "coffee table" style volume. A digital version allows for study on the go.
A history of Western architecture : Watkin, David, 1941-2018
