CLASSICAL THEORIES

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE “ RATIOCINATIO ”-used by Vitruvius

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio- Roman Engineer, author of the treatise De Architectura (On Architecture)

Vitruvian Triad

 Firmitas- Durability/strength
 Venustas – Beauty or pleasantness
 Utilitas - practicality or Utility

Leon Battista Alberti- “Universal Man”. “Florentine Vitruvius”

DE Pictura –importance of painting as base for architecture

De Re Aedificatoria- “ Ten Books on Architecture ”

Fundamentals

 First, Is the Stability and Usefulness of a structure.

 Next, Are the Aesthetic elements of lines, angles and Proportions
 Finally, are the Elements of Beauty and Ornamentations

Sebastiano Serlio- Italian Mannerist architect, painter and theorist

- Principles of ancient Roman Architecture into France

Pioneered the use of high quality illustrations into an architectural handbook using
drawings of PERUZZI and BRAMANTE as well as his own.

Tutte L’ Opere D Archittetura, Et prospetiva - “ Complete Works of Architecture and Perspective ”

- First architectural handbook that emphasized the practical rather than the
theoretical aspects of architecture
- First to catalog the “ FIVE ORDERS”
- Written also by Sebastiano Serlio
EstraOrdinario Libro- last book of the treatise to be published in his lifetime, contains 50 fanciful
designs for doorways

Regola delle cinque ordini D’ architettura- Canon of the Five Order in Architecture

- “One of the most successful architectural textbooks ever written”

- One of the most published architectural treatises

Subdivided into 5 parts

- Colonnade
- Arcade
- Arcade with pedestal individual pedestals
- entablature and capital
GIACOMO BAROZZO DA VIGNOLA – Italy’s great architects during the 16th Century Mannerism

Due regola della prospettiva pratica – “ Two rules of practical perspective ”

( He favors one point perspective rather than two point methods such as the bifocal construction.

Andrea Palladio-“ The Father of Modern Picture Books”

- one of the most influential individuals in history of architecture (western

architecture) PALLLADIAN ARCHITECTURE

I QUATTRO LIBRI DELL’ ARCHITETTURA

( FOUR BOOKS OF ARCHITECTURE )

IT CONTAINS PALLADIO’S OWN DESIGNS CELEBRATING THE PURITY AND SIMPLICITY OF CLASSICAL
ARCHITECTURE

BOOK 1 : MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES AND THE FIVE ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE, tUSCAN,
COMPOSITE, DORIC, IONIC AND CORINTHIAN

BOOK 2 : DESIGNS FOR PRIVATE HOUSES AND MANSIONS SUCH AS HIS RENOWNED “ THE ROTUNDA”

BOOK 3: PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE SUCH AS STREET PLANS, BRIDGES, PIAZZAS AND BASILICAS, LARGELY OF
ANCIENT ROMAN INSPIRATION OR ORIGIN

BOOK 4: DESIGNS FOR TEMPLES INCLUDING THE PLANS AND SKETCHES OF THE PARTHENON. IMAGES
INCLUDE FLOOR PLANS, CAPITALS OF COLUMNS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF SPIRALS, FACADES,
ORNAMENTATION, BALUSTRADES AND A RANGE OF ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL.