History of Architectural Theory: From Vitruvius to the Present

Author: [German] Hanno-Walter Kruft
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This pioneering critical survey of the most important architectural theory concepts in Europe and North America will be well-received for its coherent expression of such a grand thematic scope. Architectural theory is defined as "any system of architecture, either complete or partial, expressed in writing based on aesthetic standards." Professor Kruft's interpretations of each significant architectural theorist are grounded in his personal readings of original texts, including Vitruvius's works, as well as treatises, practical manuals, and exemplary pattern books by Renaissance Italian authors, utopian philosophical or broader aesthetic, archaeological, or literary works, and later self-expressions by architects. Citations of foreign literature are presented in English translation, with the original texts of the quoted passages provided in footnotes. The author reveals the richness and diversity of themes in architectural theory over many centuries: the origins of the orders and their correct proportions; concepts such as "individuality," "truth to materials," "function," and the provision of popular housing, as well as the pursuit of material forms for the happiness of individuals in a just society. Illustrations are an essential component of any architectural theory treatise, and the book includes over 200 carefully selected, pivotal plate examples. It also features substantial and credible footnotes, as well as an extensive bibliography. Since its debut in German in 1985, this book has established itself as a key international work in the field. The current English translation version is timely from a philological perspective. "This book may preserve the history of architectural theory for us forever. Its rich, comprehensive style provides a fundamental reference tool for scholars and researchers." – Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland) Starting in 1982, Hanno-Walter Kruft served as a professor of art history at the University of Augsburg until his death in 1993. He is particularly renowned for his works on Italian sculpture history, German art, Goethe's aesthetic theory, and 20th-century architecture and architectural theory.
Introduction: Writing such a book primarily relies on expertise in the field rather than naivety or enthusiasm. Only when some manuscripts took shape on paper—thankfully—did a glimpse of this historical overview of architectural theory history begin to emerge for a modern with immature knowledge, and perhaps this already exceeded the scope of a single author. During the writing process, I felt as if I were running a relay race, leaving questions for more knowledgeable individuals to resolve, having bypassed certain obstacles, or failing to even see others. The publication of this book was driven by a simple motivation: the questions reflected by architecture students in their studies—beginning to raise theoretical questions and historical questions in their courses. I could only provide imperfect answers to these questions and could not offer a historical definition for their entirely justified inquiries. Since 1972, I have given a series of lectures on the history of architectural theory and conducted a seminar at the Technische Hochschule in Darmstadt, where I increasingly desired to undertake this historical overview. This book is a crystallization of that process. My initial idea was to outline the range of secondary literature for each specific historical period, but this proved impossible, as I was surprised to find that much of the literature on this topic did not exist. The closer I got to the source material, the more deeply I realized the need to trace back to the original sources. Repeated readings of these texts only deepened my doubts and suspicions about the existing secondary material. Thus, I concluded that any acceptable general description of this topic must be based on the original sources. From this point, I set myself the principle of "speaking without creating"—if I could do anything, it would be to avoid commenting on the source material. Without the generous support of many libraries, I would have had to abandon valuable but difficult-to-access manuscript sources, as they rarely appear in research, yet they form the foundation of this entire study. In the end, with the support of authoritative sources from institutions such as the Hessische Landesbibliothek in Darmstadt, Germany; the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome; the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana in Rome; the Zentralinstitut für Kunstgeschichte in Munich; the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich; the Oettingen-Wallerstein Library in Augsburg; and other authoritative sources, I was able to trace the earliest versions and original materials of these texts. The first thanks should go to these libraries and institutions. In individual chapters of this book, I consulted experts and colleagues and asked them to read parts of the manuscript. I greatly benefited from their criticism and suggestions, especially from the scholars at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome. A particular challenge was determining how to describe these original materials in a concise yet not overly simplified manner that remains accessible.