How To Be A Successful Architect - Vitruvius ( 1/2)

00:03:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DIJfkV1II8

Summary

TLDRThe video discusses how the story of the Maidens of Caria reflects the significance of history in architecture, as narrated by Vitruvius in his works. Following the defeat of the Carian men by Greeks, their wives were captured and marked as reminders of their fallen state. Vitruvius, serving during the Roman Empire, proposed that successful architecture is built on several pillars such as history, art, philosophy, physics, music, law, medicine, and astronomy. Each pillar contributes to the architect's ability to create meaningful and functional designs. Vitruvius emphasizes that while expertise in these fields is vast, understanding just enough is crucial for architects to foster the creation of beautiful cities and a strong society.

Takeaways

  • 🏛️ The story of the Maidens of Caria illustrates the historical burden in architecture.
  • 📜 Vitruvius emphasized the role of history in representing culture.
  • 🎨 Art transforms ideas into architectural forms.
  • 🧠 Philosophy adds deeper meanings to architectural designs.
  • ⚖️ Understanding physics is crucial to interact with natural forces.
  • 🎶 Music embodies harmony in architectural design.
  • 📚 Vitruvius suggested knowledge of multiple fields is essential for architects.
  • 🏛️ Well-rounded architects contribute to society's beauty and functionality.
  • 🌟 Good architecture should foster happy and strong communities.
  • ☀️ Astronomy helps in aligning buildings with the sun's path.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:03:00

    The historical narrative explores the aftermath of the Persian defeat by the Greeks, highlighting the tragedy of the Carian townsfolk whose men perished, leaving their wives enslaved. The women, referred to as the Maidens of Caria, are symbolically represented in architecture, particularly through the work of a Greek architect who immortalized their burden in statues that support his buildings. This architectural reflection serves as a reminder of the town's downfall, encapsulating the importance of history in architecture as argued by Vitruvius, a Roman architect and consultant. He identifies several pillars essential for successful architecture: history to represent culture, art for transformation of ideas, philosophy for deeper meanings, physics for understanding nature, music for harmony, law for societal compliance, medicine for health considerations, and astronomy for spatial awareness. Vitruvius emphasizes the necessity for architects to gain a foundational understanding of these elements, allowing them to design aesthetically pleasing and functional structures that contribute positively to society.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • Who were the Maidens of Caria?

    They were women from the town of Caria, whose husbands were defeated in battle and were taken into slavery.

  • What did the triumphant army do to the women of Caria?

    They forced the women to keep their robes as a mark of shame for the wrongdoing of their state.

  • Who was Vitruvius?

    Vitruvius was a Roman architect and consultant for Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus, known for his foundational texts on architecture.

  • What are the pillars of architecture according to Vitruvius?

    The pillars include history, art, philosophy, physics, music, law, medicine, and astronomy.

  • Why is history significant in architecture?

    History presents the culture and social behavior of the crowd, state, and civilization.

  • What role does philosophy play in architecture?

    Philosophy helps architects understand higher meanings and purpose in their designs.

  • How does physics contribute to architecture?

    Physics allows architects to interact with natural elements and forces such as wind and gravity.

  • What is the importance of music in architecture?

    Music represents harmony and mathematical interpretation, important for architectural design.

  • Why did Vitruvius believe a lifetime is needed to master architecture?

    Because each pillar of architectural knowledge—history, art, science, etc.—requires extensive study and understanding.

  • What did Vitruvius want architects to achieve?

    He wanted architects to express judicious understanding of various disciplines to create beautiful cities and societies.

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  • 00:00:02
    after the defeat of the Persians by the
  • 00:00:05
    Greek army all of the men of a town
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    called car guy who fought on the side of
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    the Persians were killed their town
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    ruined and their wives were took into
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    slavery to mark these women as wives of
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    the Fallen men the triumphant army
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    forced them to keep their robes to be
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    shamed and burdened by the wrongdoing of
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    their state the car you tides or the
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    maidens of Caria
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    as they were called are still remembered
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    to this day by the work of a Greek
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    architect that reflected the sin of
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    Caria
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    and burden of these women in his
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    architecture he placed them as statues
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    to hold the weight of his public
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    building currently visited by more than
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    a million tourists each year the fall of
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    car guy is still remembered to this day
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    due to the work of an architect that
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    truly understood the importance of
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    history this story is taken from the
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    first book on architecture written by
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    Vitruvius who lived in the Roman Empire
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    and was the architect consultant for
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    both Julius Caesar and Emperor Augustus
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    in his book he argued that the path of a
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    successful architect should be based on
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    several pillars the first pillar is
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    history it's used to present the culture
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    in the social behavior of the crowd the
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    state and the civilization as a whole as
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    with the story of the car guy
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    architecture is filled with long lasting
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    buildings designed by architects who
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    truly understood history art drawing and
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    geometry is the second pillar to
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    transform ideas into architectural
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    shapes philosophy is another tool in the
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    toolbox the architect that studies
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    philosophy can understand higher
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    meanings and introduced even higher
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    purpose to his shapes at the time of the
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    writing understanding the ways of the
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    Gods was essential to build temples
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    however the loss we can also help the
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    architect to shape his own personality
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    and to be honest in his designs physics
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    give the architect the ability to
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    interact with the elements and forces of
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    nature such as wind earth and gravity
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    music to represent a vocal
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    interpretation of math and harmony both
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    are pillars of architectural design da
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    de to show the architect knowledge to
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    sound behavior and propagation law to
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    follow the state's rules and to avoid
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    unnecessary conflict
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    with neighboring Lots medicine to
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    understand the human anatomy and the
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    elements of our health that are crucial
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    for the well-being of the buildings or
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    city's occupants and astronomy to map
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    out the Sun path and to direct it into
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    his buildings
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    Vitruvius was wise and clearly
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    understood that any person will need a
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    full lifetime to be an expert on any of
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    these topics however as the architect
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    that may have shaped architecture
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    forever
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    Vitruvius asks his readers to know just
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    enough to express the right judgement so
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    they can create beautiful cities and to
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    play a positive role in the creation of
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    a happy and strong Society
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    [Music]
Tags
  • Architecture
  • Vitruvius
  • Maidens of Caria
  • History
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Art
  • Astronomy
  • Design Philosophy
  • Roman Empire