The architect should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test. This knowledge is the child of practice and theory. Practice is the continuous and regular exercise of employment where manual work is done with any necessary material according to the design of a drawing. Theory, on the other hand, is the ability to demonstrate and explain the productions of dexter...

The only full treatise on architecture and its related arts to survive from classical antiquity, the De Architectura libri decem (Ten Books on Architecture) is the single most important work of architectural history in the Western world, having shaped humanist architecture and the image of the architect from the Renaissance to the present. This new, critical edition of Vitruvius' Ten Books of Architecture is the first to be published for an English-language audience in more than half a cen...

The architect should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test. This knowledge is the child of practice and theory. Practice is the continuous and regular exercise of employment where manual work is done with any necessary material according to the design of a drawing. Theory, on the other hand, is the ability to demonstrate and explain the productions of dexterity on the...

This translation was first published in 1692. According to Wikipedia: "Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (born c. 80–70 BC, died after c. 15 BC) was a Roman author, architect, and engineer during the 1st century BC perhaps best known for his multi-volume work entitled De Architectura. By his own description Vitruvius served as a ballista (artilleryman), the third class of arms in the military offices. He likely served as chief of the ballista (senior officer of artillery) in charge of doctores balli...

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, a Roman architect and engineer flourishing in the first century B.C., was the author of the oldest and most influential work on architecture in existence. For hundreds of years, the specific instructions he gave in his "Ten Books on Architecture" were followed faithfully, and major buildings in all parts of the world reveal the widespread influence of his precepts. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, he was "the chief authority studied by architects, and in e...

Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius..

The Roman engineer Vitruvius is the author of the celebrated treatise ‘De architectura’, a handbook for ancient architects. Vitruvius studied Greek philosophy and science and gained experience in the course of his professional work. Appointed to be an overseer of imperial artillery and military engines, he was architect of at least one unit of buildings for Augustus in the reconstruction of Rome. ‘De architectura’ is the only treatise on architecture to survive from antiquity and i...

An entertaining and enlightening collection of ancient Roman writings about home design and decorationThe idea that our homes can communicate professional as well as personal identities may seem as new as the work-from-home revolution. But it was second nature to the ancient Romans, for whom the home was in many ways the center of public and private life. Roman authors saw infinite practical and symbolic value in houses, and they have much to say about them. Ho...

In De architectura (c.40 BC), Vitruvius discusses in ten encyclopedic chapters aspects of Roman architecture, engineering and city planning. Vitruvius also included a section on human proportions. Because it is the only antique treatise on architecture to have survived, De architectura has been an invaluable source of information for scholars. The rediscovery of Vitruvius during the Renaissance greatly fuelled the revival of classicism during that and subsequent ...

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio's "Ten Books on Architecture" is the most complete treatise on the subject of architecture from antiquity and for hundreds of years influenced major buildings around the world. Dating to the first century B.C., the "Ten Books on Architecture" are not only an excellent historical reference into ancient construction methods and aesthetics but also a manual providing much that can be applied to modern architecture. Today's architect will find much of interest in this f...

The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio is a foundational text in the field of architecture, written in the 1st century BC. This comprehensive work provides insights into Roman architectural practices and principles, as well as the cultural and scientific knowledge of the time. Vitruvius, a Roman architect and engineer, aimed to establish a systematic approach to architecture, integrating design with functionality and aesthetics.The text is divided into ten books, each focusing o...

In 'The Ten Books on Architecture,' Vitruvius Pollio meticulously explores the principles of architecture, intertwining practical knowledge with philosophical insights. This seminal work is notable for its structured approach, dividing its teachings into ten distinct books that cover topics ranging from materials and construction techniques to the ideal proportions and aesthetic considerations of buildings. Written in the 1st century BCE, Vitruvius's treatise stands out not only for its te...