A Theory of Pure Design: Harmony, Balance, Rhythm by Denman Ross Waldo, first published in 1907, is a rare manuscript, the original residing in one of the great libraries of the world. This book is a reproduction of that original, which has been scanned and cleaned by state-of-the-art publishing tools for better readability and enhanced appreciation. Restoration Editors' mission is to bring long out of print manuscripts back to life. Some smudges, annotations or unclear text may still exist, due to permanent damage to the original work. We believe the literary significance of the text justifies offering this reproduction, allowing a new generation to appreciate it.
Looks at Wright's formal and philosophical debt to Japanese art and architecture. Eight areas of influence are examined in detail, from Japanese prints to specific individuals and publications, and are illustrated with text and drawn analyses.
Teaches the principles behind the successful planning and creation of inspired built forms and urban places This book offers an integrated understanding of both the principles and the perception of the design of built environments and public spaces. It outlines the fundamental characteristics that are evident in the creation of built form and illustrates how they determine the experience of resultant places. It also consolidates the key criteria that need to be taken into consideration in the development of these areas. All of the above-mentioned aims to provide designers with a solid understanding of the implications of their decisions on perception and behavior during the creation of new spaces. Design and Order: Perceptual experience of built form - Principles in the Planning and Making of Place starts by examining the designing of natural environments and the affect that they have on humans. It teaches readers how people experience and are shaped by a space—via their eyes, brain, and overall perception. It then instructs on proper grammar of form and syntax so that designers can understand how to pursue design processes systematically. The book then takes readers through this process of designing, informing them on the principles of form, function, configuration, communication, organization, color and contrasts, building structures, good practice and more. Seeks to improve the methodological approach to the planning and design of buildings Broadly address all of the functions that impact the realization of new built and urban form Outlines the fundamental characteristics that are evident in the design of built forms and illustrates how these characteristics determine the experience of the resultant places Comprehensively covers the ideas, principles, and the perception of design Teaches designers to make informed decisions about applying or discarding principles when creating spaces. Design and Order is a unique book that will appeal to students and professionals in architecture, urban design and planning, as well as designers and developers.
The work of the Dutch Benedictine monk and architect Hans van der Laan (1904–1991) offers important insights into the ways in which artifacts address the complexity of human physical, cognitive, and social needs. Van der Laan developed a number of powerful lines of thought, three of which are introduced here: the search for a theory of architecture; the establishment of a three-dimensional system of proportions named Plastic Number; and analogy as the mainspring of human thinking. This triad of deeply interconnected intellectual strategies represents his most important ‘instruments of thought’ and is rooted in the careful observation of phenomena as they are presented to us rather than relying on conventional beliefs. Van der Laan's instruments of thought lead us to reconsider the origins of human creation, urging a deeper examination of our perceptual and cognitive response to the limitlessness of the surrounding environment. On this basis, Van der Laan develops a unique philosophy of culture and design that includes considerations on the relationship between nature, culture, and religious ritual. Although this book is informative, its principal aim is to be formative. On the basis of Van der Laan’s instruments of thought, the authors develop a methodology to explore the Plastic Number theory and the many ways in which we perceive and interpret proportion. Reintroducing playful creativity and intellectual exploration into architectural pedagogy and design practice, this book is a gateway for a deeper understanding of the effects of the built environment on human behavior and the various ways in which the human mind perceives and decodes artifacts.
