Cover of The Ten Books on ArchitectureFree online

The Ten Books on Architecture

by Vitruvius Pollio

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The oldest and most influential book ever written on architecture, this volume served as a guide to Bramante, Michelangelo, Palladio, Vignola, and countless others. It describes the classic principles of symmetry, harmony, and proportion as well as the ancients' methods, materials, and aesthetics. Authoritative translation by a distinguished Harvard professor.

Subject
philosophyphilosophyMore like thisLess of thishistoryhistoryMore like thisLess of thissciencescienceMore like thisLess of this
Themes
artartMore like thisLess of thisarchaeologyarchaeologyMore like thisLess of thiscreativitycreativityMore like thisLess of this
Setting
ancient historyancient historyMore like thisLess of thisancient Romeancient RomeMore like thisLess of thisantiquityantiquityMore like thisLess of thiscollegecollegeMore like thisLess of thisItalyItalyMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 368 pages

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Liked The Ten Books on Architecture? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked The Ten Books on Architecture. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Free onlineFree
    The Seven Lamps of Architecture John Ruskin · 1849 Shares architecture, art, nonfiction
  2. Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture Robert Venturi · 1966 Shares architecture, nonfiction, art
  3. 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School Matthew Frederick · 2006 Shares architecture, nonfiction, design
  4. Towards a New Architecture Le Corbusier · 1923 Shares architecture, nonfiction, art
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“People who read The Ten Books on Architecture tend to reach for these next.”

  1. The Four Books of Architecture Andrea Palladio · 1570
  2. Modern Architecture: A Critical History Kenneth Frampton · 1980
  3. Thinking Architecture Peter Zumthor · 1998
  4. Modern Architecture Since 1900 William J.R. Curtis · 1982

“If you want more of the same (philosophy about art), start with these.”

  1. This Is Modern Art Matthew Collings · 1999
  2. Chromophobia David Batchelor · 2000
  3. Pictures & Tears: A History of People Who Have Cried in Front of Paintings James Elkins · 2001
  4. The Elements of Drawing John Ruskin · 1857

“If it was the architecture that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. Googie Redux: Ultramodern Roadside Architecture Alan Hess · 2004
  2. The Look of Architecture Witold Rybczynski · 2001
  3. Case Study Houses Elizabeth A.T. Smith · 2002
  4. Learning from Las Vegas: The Forgotten Symbolism of Architectural Form Robert Venturi, Steven Izenour, Denise Scott Brown · 1972

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The Geometry of Art and Life Matila Ghyka · 1946
  2. Symmetry Hermann Weyl · 1956
  3. Why Architecture Matters Paul Goldberger · 2009
  4. Story of Architecture Jonathan Glancey · 2000

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