Vitruvius' Ten Books on Architecture (Chapter 1 & 2)
Vitruvius: The Ten Books on Architecture
The first chapter of the book comprises of the aspects of an Architect, the principles of Architecture and its departments. Even the idea of choosing the right site or location for a structure is also covered in this chapter. The second chapter, on the other hand, touches the origin of the very first dwelling, and the methods of building up a wall. The substances and materials cast upon structures during the early times, which are still used nowadays, are also stated as well. “The architect should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test”, was the very first sentence mentioned in the chapter. Yet, it is as if it has thoroughly explained the paragraphs that followed it. This subchapter is entitled as “The Education of the Architect”. Just by reading that title, it already gives you a hint on the topic. This is literally about the knowledge and skills that one architect should uphold. He should be knowledgeable in many fields; geometry, history, optics, drawing, arithmetic, philosophy, music, theatre, medicine and a lot more. It is necessary for him to be educated in these fieldsbecause of the very reason that, everything involved with architecture will rely on the architect’s judgement, plan and theories. He need not excel on all these fields; neither should he be ignorant of it all. It is so, because an individual cannot be a master of each and every one of it. It is hardly anybody’s capacity and ability to be able to conceive and understand all of the speculation and principles of these studies. The second subchapter is “The Fundamental Principles of Architecture”. There are 6 principles, namely: Order, Arrangement, Eurythmy, Symmetry, Propriety, and Economy. The first is Order; it is defined as the adjustment of certain substances according to quantity. Secondly is Arrangement. It is the idea
The first chapter of the book comprises of the aspects of an Architect, the principles of Architecture and its departments. Even the idea of choosing the right site or location for a structure is also covered in this chapter. The second chapter, on the other hand, touches the origin of the very first dwelling, and the methods of building up a wall. The substances and materials cast upon structures during the early times, which are still used nowadays, are also stated as well. “The architect should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test”, was the very first sentence mentioned in the chapter. Yet, it is as if it has thoroughly explained the paragraphs that followed it. This subchapter is entitled as “The Education of the Architect”. Just by reading that title, it already gives you a hint on the topic. This is literally about the knowledge and skills that one architect should uphold. He should be knowledgeable in many fields; geometry, history, optics, drawing, arithmetic, philosophy, music, theatre, medicine and a lot more. It is necessary for him to be educated in these fieldsbecause of the very reason that, everything involved with architecture will rely on the architect’s judgement, plan and theories. He need not excel on all these fields; neither should he be ignorant of it all. It is so, because an individual cannot be a master of each and every one of it. It is hardly anybody’s capacity and ability to be able to conceive and understand all of the speculation and principles of these studies. The second subchapter is “The Fundamental Principles of Architecture”. There are 6 principles, namely: Order, Arrangement, Eurythmy, Symmetry, Propriety, and Economy. The first is Order; it is defined as the adjustment of certain substances according to quantity. Secondly is Arrangement. It is the idea