Witold Rybczynski book talk: THE STORY OF ARCHITECTURE

1218 Arch Street,Philadelphia PA 19107

13 December, 2022

Description

Award-winning writer and critic Witold Rybczynski will address one of the themes that emerged from his latest book, THE STORY OF ARCHITECTURE, published recently by Yale University Press. We take it for granted that buildings have long useful lives, but this has had some unexpected and significant effects on the practice of architecture, as Rybczynski explains using examples drawn from many historical periods. In this sweeping history, from the Stone Age to the present day, Witold Rybczynski shows how architectural ideals have been affected by technological, economic, and social changes—and by changes in taste. The host of examples ranges from places of worship such as Hagia Sophia and Brunelleschi’s Duomo to living spaces such as the Katsura Imperial Villa and the Alhambra, national icons such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Sydney Opera House, and skyscrapers such as the Seagram Building and Beijing’s CCTV headquarters. Rybczynski’s narrative emphasizes the ways that buildings across time and space are united by the human desire for order, meaning, and beauty. Professor Rybczynski will speak, take questions, and sign books for attendees.