The Architect as Magician
Kendra Schank Smith author Albert C Smith author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:28th May '20
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The Architect as Magician explores the connection between magic and architecture. There is a belief that a greater understanding of the meaning of magic provides insights about architecture and architects’ design processes. Architects influence the effects of nature through the making of their buildings. In an analogous condition, magicians perform rituals in an attempt to influence the forces of nature. This book argues that architects could gain much by incorporating ideas from magic into their design process.
The book demonstrates through historical and current examples the important influence magic has had on the practice of architecture. The authors explain how magic helps us to understand the way we infuse architecture with meaning and how magic affects and inspires architectural creation.
Aimed at architects, students, scholars and researchers, The Architect as Magician helps readers discover the ambiguous and spiritual elements in their design process.
"In this work, Kendra Schank Smith and Albert Smith provide a compelling critical reflection on the intertwined histories of architecture and magic. In focusing attention on the transformative capacities of each, their work sheds new light on fundamental practices of interpretation. Their exploration discloses persistent yet ambiguous processes capable of sustaining architectural meaning across cultures and epochs."
- Mike Christenson, AIA, NCARB, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies School of Architecture, University of Minnesota
"Once it is understood that even the simplest building has an intimate and mostly hidden relationship to Infinity, architects can become the new priests and shamans of our society, since they are speaking to and with Cosmos, recording its magnificent presence. It is my very strong belief, that architecture will encompass more esoteric aspects in the future! That is why I greatly recommend this book from Kendra and Albert who write about these mysteries of the past with the greatest poetic insights and disciplined scholarship."
- Peter Magyar, FRIBA, AHA, Professor Emeritus of Architecture
ISBN: 9781138326712
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 600g
208 pages