Book Review Of The Study Of Architecture By Kostof

This book is a general survey of architectural history that tries to restore the traditional grand monuments with a broader, more embracing view of the built environment. Kostof emphasizes on the study of architecture as a whole and said, “All buildings of the past, regardless of size or status or consequence, should ideally be deemed worthy of study.”

The book is divided into three segments:

-The first reveals the origin and development of early cities with reference to Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and other relevant civilizations.

-The second part discusses the medieval period, studying the urbanization of European countries until the 18th century and

-The third part discusses the influences of modernism.

Kostof shares four points which he has followed in his study:

• The oneness of architecture

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Most interesting facts were illustrated such as –the romans appropriated the geometrical schemes of greek and Etruscan colonies in various ways:

-one way was the roman practice of locating new towns

-second is, the practice of emphasizing this crossing by placing public buildings.

-also, romans preferred square city blocks over the elongated ones in greek towns.

Army encampments played a major role in determining the roman town planning. But standard buildings of early roman towns-the forum, the temple, the basilica, the single family dwelling were enriched by the influence of the Hellenistic east.

Components of a roman town was discussed in detail with help of two examples-pompeii and Rome.This gives the reader the basic understanding of the easy phase of roman architecture and urbanism.

The world at large:Roman concurrences

It is the time; the Roman Empire attained the zenith of its material prosperity and the outermost limits of its growth. In thi chapter, the Roman Empire was discussed at the time of