Introducing Architectural Theory

Building on the success of the first edition, an engaging and reader-friendly work on complex ideas, Introducing Architectural Theory: Expanding the Disciplinary Debate, broadens the range of themes, voices, and geographies represented to provide a more comprehensive and contemporary theory book. This book presents major discourses in architectural theory and design in a debate-like format, integrating a series of edited texts across architectural history with context and newly written commentaries by the authors. This new edition has been fully revised, updated, and expanded to include long-standing debates, such as simplicity vs. complexity or the relationship between form and function, as well as newer discussions on innovation, globalization, and social equity. Authors Smith and Guitart provide a comprehensive means and conceptual framework for readers to compare multiple points of view. The chapter structure, discussion questions, and additional resources allow teachers to facilitate in-class discussions and writing assignments. This book remains the most accessible architectural theory textbook, written for beginning architecture students and those outside the discipline. Its reflective and critical approach will equally engage the minds of upper-level students and experts.

Presents common architectural subjects as though they were conversations across history between theorists by providing you with the original text, a reflective text, and a philosophical text. This is the most accessible architectural theory book that exists. Korydon Smith presents each common architectural subject – such as tectonics, use, and site – as though it were a conversation across history between theorists by providing you with the original text, a reflective text, and a philosophical text. He also introduces each chapter by highlighting key ideas and asking you a set of reflective questions so that you can hone your own theory, which is essential to both your success in the studio and your adaptability in the profession. These primary source texts, which are central to your understanding of the discipline, were written by such architects as Le Corbusier, Robert Venturi, and Adrian Forty. The appendices also have guides to aid your reading comprehension; to help you write descriptively, analytically, and disputationally; and to show you citation styles and how to do library-based research. More than any other architectural theory book about the great thinkers, Introducing Architectural Theory teaches you to think as well.