Description
Urban squares are one of the greatest anthropological devices of the Western world, marvelous historical documents of towns and cities, the stratified evidence of passing centuries, the material testimony of the lay, religious and artistic actions of a population. Squares, the quintessential synonym of public and collective space, are described in the volume from those of the Middle Ages, in other words the time when the "piazza" began to specialize for its end purpose, up to the most contemporary of design.A fundamental element of the wide-ranging history of Western civilizations and metropolises, the square is here examined in relation to transformation of the urban structure in which it is installed, expressing evolution and demonstrating even today, in the era of globalization, that it is capable of conveying social and economic changes. There are 43 famous examples, several now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Scheme, and which illustrate the evolution of the square and its typologies in four continents, Europe, America, Asia and Oceania.
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Combining an authoritative text with hundreds of superb photographs, this richly illustrated volume presents a comprehensive survey of the historical development of the square through a selection of striking examples. Organized geographically, this presentation of the most important city squares and squares in smaller towns worldwide offers a concise overview of the Italian and European conception of public space, along with its export and reinterpretation elsewhere. The book retraces the pivotal moments in the history of the square, from the 14th century to the 21st century, ranging from the austere Gothic style to the harmonious proportions of the Renaissance, from the Baroque quest for the spectacular to the restraint of Neoclassicism, and from 19th-century to modern day urban planning. The squares the author presents are those that have most significantly served as models–both in their own times and in subsequent centuries. Spotlighting St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, Red Square in Moscow, Place Vendôme in Paris, New York City’s Times Square, and Pershing Square in Los Angeles, this book features some of the world’s best known and most influential public spaces.This important resource belongs on the bookshelf architecture students, architects, urban planners and anyone else interested in global architecture.
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