Architectural History

[djswan]

noble profession?

How important is it? We don't know if a future exist, it's just a theory. History is the only thing.

PC Glossy mag architecture is a symptom of the disease.

[P.C.]

Has history before offered the wonderfull delivery of jobs, new technology, fine houses that will last 500 years, at the same moment the computer was develobed. Has we anything to learn from history ?

[djswan]

Order works

[ahmeds]

[quote="djswan"]noble profession?

How important is it? We don't know if a future exist, it's just a theory. History is the only thing.

Let us not just simply try to evade the past. Actually it gives us the path human being went through, it is not a must that history should offer good jobs or come up with new technology but that will help us know what was there before good jobs came, and new technology too, isn't it wonderful to know that the first computer was abacus? and the first houses were built simple materials? why should we therefore forget the past.
let us not also escape or divert form the author's question here we are trying to bring into picture the importance of existance of architectural history, and why should it be studied.
let us come up with architectural related answers and facts that will give us a fine or almost fine conclusions.

[ahmeds]

If toy makers have history why shouldn't architects or architecture

In africa, architecure didn't exist. There was only vernacular or primitive architecture, that was almost similar to each other as african tribes and cultural interacted with each other. Using simple materials they built their houses, and that was the only point that could differantiate one tribe from another as eachand every tribe has it's own type of construction or house.
architecture was intoduced to africa when settlers,and sailing merchants, arrived.............

anyone with more? please let's talk history of architecture it is very intresting.

[ahmeds]

Further south, the growth of Muslim influence, and the development of ports saw the birth of Swahili architecture. An early example is the Palace of Husuni Kubwa lying west of Kilwa, built about 1245. As with many other early Swahili buildings, coral was the main construction material, even the roof consisting of coral on timbers. Contrastingly, the palace at Kilwa was a two-story tower, in a walled enclosure. Other notable structures from the period include the pillar tombs as Malindi and Mnarani in Kenya, and elsewhere, originally built from coral but later from stone. Later examples include Zanzibar's Stone Town, with its famous carved doors, and Kilwa's.

swahili architecture is ours and Kenya (very proud to be a Kenyan ) is where I come from, so isn't wonderful to at least know where we came from?

[P.C.]

What you tell is very interesting, see if architecture has a future that maneage to reflect our history , then it is very important if architects are alianiated towerds architecture or, if architects belong the quality and thruout knowleage about how architecture hole it all together, culture, origine refinement, all the things that make our houses --- I grew uo in houses varying from round 1680 to 1740 , these houses their function , proportion of the rooms ,the craftmanship and architecture will follow me that I know, and with these qualities everything I make wil reflect these --- there the qualities you describe will conform just as well into the architecture you destill from your values --- so knowing the influence post modern architecture had when vorse, when houses realy was mashines to live in, and realising your own values , understanding the structure of the houses and their limitations but also their strength, now that would point to some nice houses , still adding only the technology only even bigger mashines to live in, becaurse you don't share these basic experiences , the wisdom --- that's what I fear, even I know what you mean, by other but just as genuine experiences.

[chris.e]

Order works yes and we have a lot to learn from history. Architectural history is unlike no other historical discipline because we live our lives in it. Unlike fashion and dress history – you don’t see people walking around in turn of the century fashions but many live in turn of the century homes. It can be astounding to think about the number of decades of architecture we experience on a daily basis. From an arts and crafts home, to the brutalism of an office complex, to the schizophrenia of an 1980s shopping mall to the present day Disneyland phenomenon of anywhere but here - like the architecture of a grocery store modeled after a Tuscany Village which makes every attempt to give an “authentic” Italian experience even though we live in North America. To study and appreciate architectural history is to put our lives into context and gain a better understanding of our experiences on a daily basis.

[ahmeds]

........we have a lot to learn from history chris.e

Particulary architectural history, basically buildings are part of our lives,and thus understanding them better and more, gives us a sense of understanding the importance of that.
Architectural history becomes very intersting when it reveals about the past architectural eras, and expalins what caused that, their advantages, and disadvantage of each era.
And that's not all architectural history is a witness of camparison of the past and present. It will cleary show how advanced people have been,how architecure is now playing it's role and how technology has changed.

[P.C.]

--------- but there, in the future with all these brand new possibilities, it is very difficult to find paralells in history, so what can we learn from history when everything in building construction can now profit from yet unknown tools, new thinking, new production, compleatly different building materials ,a brand new world where case we try "learn" anything from history, then we so easily miss the chance of something new.
There was no computers before, how can we then learn anything about them from history and no, calcus is not computing.

[ahmeds]

do you now that the present and future will also be past? do you know that, new thinking,new technology and all what is here now will go to history books too?
So even with architectural new thinking still history will gather that. I don't see if there is any conflict between architectural history and new thinking....or please tell what is there that may prevent new thinking to be new thinking and architectural history to be architectural history.
one makes developments (architecture) and the other (history) will record that. right? or should we do away with history?

[P.C.]

Yes I seriously think so --- the old will allway's fight the new, "this is how we build a house" is a serious barrier much more fiercefull than you would think.

The decor ,the style, it's acting of the old all came from hands-on skills and craftsmanship ; what of that is relevant with these new way's, and why shuld old fasion form languages force their influence upon the new, any reson at all ?

Except that old bad exchouse that things has to progress slowly why ; did Darvin make that as a new natural force, or is it bound in protectivism.

Nepotism , how will you get rid of that, the most harmfull natural force in architecture, a force that allow the most stupid to stay glued to the chair, while the world progress.

[JonBailey]

why waste input on history when it surrounds us everyday. there is no way to deny history, we live in it. rather than looking to the past we should be looking to the future.

[djswan]

How many species went extinct while this thread is debated, how many evolved to a new species?

What does the crystal ball say about our future?
Way too many dreamers out there, dreaming up kooky cartoon glossy mag archictecture not enough rational thinkers solving problems.

Look to the future, riiiiiight, blind leading the blind. The world must suck so bad now, that people want to escape in dreams and live in a make believe computer world. Can I get that extra inch or two in Second life?

Historians are teachers. Where's my stick ruler to rap some daydreamers on the knuckles while not paying attention to their lesson.

Bio architect a tree.

[JonBailey]

unfortunatley there may have been a few species gone extinct. evolution takes millions of years.

i guess you would call leonardo divinci a day dreamer...

he should be reprimanded...


some of the most innovative ideas and inventions come from those which do not have precedent.