The Dynamics of Architectural Form

Rudolf Arnheim has been known, since the publication of his groundbreaking Art and Visual Perceptionin 1974, as an authority on the psychological interpretation of the visual arts. Two anniversary volumes celebrate the landmark anniversaries of his works in 2009. InThe Power of the Center, Arnheim uses a wealth of examples to consider the factors that determine the overall organization of visual form in works of painting, sculpture, and architecture.The Dynamics of Architectural Formexplores the unexpected perceptual consequences of architecture with Arnheim's customary clarity and precision.

Rudolf Arnheim (1904-2007) was Professor Emeritus of the Psychology of Art at Harvard University and the author of many books, including Art and Visual Perception, Film as Art, Power of the Center, and Visual Thinking.

Introduction	p. 1
Elements of Space	p. 9
Space created by things	p. 9
Architectural implications	p. 13
The fields in between	p. 16
Empty and forlorn	p. 20
The dynamics of surrounding space	p. 25
Vertical and Horizontal	p. 32
Asymmetrical space	p. 32
Vision takes to the upright	p. 35
Piercing the ground	p. 39
Horizontality	p. 44
Weight and height	p. 46
Dynamics of the column	p. 48
The plan and the section	p. 53
The second and third dimensions	p. 57
The mind adds the meaning	p. 64
Solids and Hollows	p. 67
Buildings in context	p. 67
Boundless ground	p. 68
The interplay of spaces	p. 69
The street as figure	p. 76
Crossings and squares	p. 81
Crossings in churches	p. 87
Inside and outside	p. 91
Concavity and convexity	p. 94
Interiors interrelated	p. 100
Looking from both sides	p. 101
As It Looks and As It Is	p. 110
Perceiving a solid	p. 110
Perspective deformations	p. 112
The thread of Ariadne	p. 114
The reading of vistas	p. 117
Models and sizes	p. 122
The range of images	p. 127
The parts of the whole	p. 130
The building made visible	p. 134
Obliqueness and depth	p. 138
Mobility	p. 144
The autonomy of containers	p. 144
Dignified immobility	p. 146
Shelter and burrow	p. 148
Motor behavior	p. 151
The dynamics of the channel	p. 155
Order and Disorder	p. 162
Contradiction is a flaw	p. 162
The constraints of order	p. 164
Three modifications of order	p. 165
How to make noise	p. 169
Disorder, its causes and effects	p. 171
Levels of complexity	p. 178
The Porta Pia	p. 183
Interaction of shapes	p. 188
Balancing elements	p. 193
The range of orders	p. 198
Different functions, different orders	p. 201
Symbols Through Dynamics	p. 205
Visual labels	p. 206
Symbolism	p. 207
Inherent expression	p. 210
The artifact in nature	p. 213
Is it sculpture?	p. 217
Dynamic proportions	p. 220
The openness of buildings	p. 225
Expansion from a base	p. 233
Cefalù in three dimensions	p. 239
The dynamics of arches	p. 242
Expression and Function	p. 248
Ornament and beyond	p. 248
Expression from dynamics	p. 252
Function cannot make form	p. 254
What vessels express	p. 257
Spontaneous symbolism: Mies and Nervi	p. 262
Buildings mold behavior	p. 268
How ideas gain shape	p. 270
Alt thoughts take to building	p. 272
Notes	p. 275
Bibliography	p. 279
Acknowledgments	p. 284
Index	p. 285
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

The Dynamics of Architectural Form

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials