The Wise Master Builder by Nigel Hiscock
This title was first published in 2000: Did the plan of medieval churches have any underlying symbolic meaning? This work re-opens the debate about the importance of geometry and symbolism in medieval architectural design and argues the case for attributing an intellectual meaning to the planning of abbeys and cathedrals. In challenging prevailing claims for the use of arithmetical rations in architectural design, notably those based on the square root of two, Dr Hiscock advances a perspective consisting of proportions derived from the figures of Platonic geometry - the square, the equilateral triangle and the pentagon - and provides evidence for the symbolic interpretation of these figures. The investigation further reveals whole series of geometric relationships between some of England's most celebrated Norman cathedrals, such as Norwich or Durham, together with a wide sample from the Continent, from Old St Peter's in Rome to Chartres Cathedral, and sets out a comprehensive design method in each case.
Nigel Hiscock was a principal lecturer in Architecture at Oxford Brookes University until his retirement, and is now a Visiting Research Fellow there; he is also an architect. His previous monograph is The Wise Master Builder, Platonic Geometry in Plans of Medieval Abbeys and Cathedrals, also published by Ashgate, which achieved considerable critical success. In addition, he is the editor of The White Mantle of Churches, Architecture, Liturgy and Art around the Millennium, and has published a series of articles on medieval architecture and design.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781138715813 |
| ISBN 10 | 1138715816 |
| Title | The Wise Master Builder |
| Author | Nigel Hiscock |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis Ltd |
| Year published | 2019-01-17 |
| Number of pages | 462 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |