Experiencing Architecture by Steen Eiler Rasmussen

But indeed, external appearance is just one of the parts consist architecture and it is not enough to judge an architectural design. Generally, people evaluate a building from its external appearance and think that external appearance is one and only necessity for a judgement. Obviously, these are painting, sculpture and architecture. All the arts consist “eye”, “the beautiful” in the first place have named as “fine arts” for centuries. Rasmussen begins architecture’s some possible definitions.

Besides, Le Corbusier, Palladio and Frank Lloyd Wright are the names who tried and achieved important examples of the notions which are stated by Rasmussen. While the book is being read, it can be seen that “harmony”, “order”,“rhythm” and “functionality” are the backbones of architecture according to the author.

There are many times repeated words and names in the whole book: “harmony” and “functionality” Le Corbusier, Palladio and Frank Lloyd Wright. Every chapter has its own conclusion, also the book has a conclusion which has the same approach with the preface. These adjectives give an idea on how and what people should try to experience. In the book, there are some special adjectives which are used in a different way from everyday use such as “reposeful, slack lines” or “cold, reserved and dignified umbrella”. Every notion is expressed and supported with clear examples which are given verbally and visually. These chapters divide architecture to main parts and express one or more than one, related notions. After he wrote in 1959, the MIT Press (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) took copyright of the book and published in 1962.

For the book, Rasmussen uses his instructing skills to express architect’s instrument and architecture’s width to people in an understandable way. One of these books is “Experiencing Architecture”. He was author of the books which approach architecture from different perspectives. He also lectured most of the universities in Europe and United States. Steen Eiler Rasmussen was an architect and Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen and Visiting Professor at M.I.T, Yale, Pennsylvania, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Experiencing Architecture by Steen Eiler Rasmussen