Anti-rationalists and Rationalists (Translation Series of Foreign Architectural Theory)

Author: (English) Nicholas Pevsner et al. (editors), Deng Jing et al. (translators)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-12-01
Features: The book The Anti-Rationalists and The Theorists collects opposing statements from some prominent architectural theorists in one volume, with the theme of modernism, which was a highly debated issue in the 20th century. The publication of this book provides a timely and comprehensive review of arguments for and against this issue. The book is an integration of two works by renowned authors. The Anti-Rationalists argues that the rigid and serious rationalism of the modernist movement is fading. Nicholas Pevsner and James Richards believe that a new generation of architects is turning toward colorful, malleable, and personalized styles, beginning to resist the phenomenon of industrialized society—namely, the skyscrapers made of glass and steel that dominated cities from the 1950s to the 1960s. Conversely, Dennis Sharp reviews arguments supporting the opposing view in The Rationalists, focusing on collecting articles from the most respected architectural critics of the era. In the preface to this anthology, Dennis Sharp states that it is both delightful and highly necessary to republish these important chapters on 20th-century architecture, as the book provides a new generation with the major architectural trends and ideas of the century. The selection is unique, primarily drawn from Architectural Review between 1959 and 1968, along with a large number of contemporary commissioned essays. As a compilation of source materials, the book not only retains the relevance of the information but also gives a fresh perspective, with its effectiveness remaining unchanged over time.