World’s Great Architecture Tells Something about Philosophy

Story of Architecture, written by Jonathan Glancey, translated by Gang Ju-heon. 240 pages, published by Sigong-sa, 29,000 won

`Animals can build houses, too…. Yet, it was humans that created something called architecture. Simply put, architecture is a work of science and art. It’s magic that turns sublimated the technique of building a shelter in art.`

This book helps understand the history of the magic with ease at a glance. The author begins the story in Mesopotamia around in 7,000 B.C. and traces the remains of the history back to the 21st century. It’s not a mere extensive collection of data, but a book about a passionate architect’s travel throughout the world’s great sites of architecture.

In this respect, this book is `an account of trip to historic cities and buildings that is based on human science` and an `odyssey of architecture.`

The authors begins his journey with the birth of cities, and elaborates on remains of ancient Greece and Rome, Gothic and New Classic before moving over to the Industrial Revolution, the age of machines and modern architecture.

Greece and Rome marked the birth of structures in the west. Throughout Gothic Age, people tried hard to communicate with God, and came the Renaissance Age where people were set free from the religious fetters. Classicism, then, became a symbol of the power and ambition sought by newly born states. Industrialization and development of machines changed the way people built structures as well as the way they lived.

The author continues to talk about great architects who changed the world with their insight into the future. `Straight lines are human’s, but curves are God’s.` (Gaudi), `Winding roads are for donkeys and straight roads are for men.` (Le Corbusier) and `The fewer we have, the better off we become.` (Mies van der Rohe)

You will never get tired of watching some 400 pictures and drawings containing the Parthenon Marbles, gorgeous temples in Mahabalipuram and Gothic cathedrals from the Middle Age.

Watching the book, you will come to sympathize with the author as he says, `For the last few centuries, architects have been as dexterous as they can be, with ever-evolving technology in hand, but they have made a lot more mistakes than their predecessors did in the age of Pyramid or Stone Hedge.`

He also pay attribute to great structures in China and Japan. We cannot but feel sorry, however, that he forgets to mention something about Korea.

mskoh119@donga.com