Arleen Pabón-Charneco - Architecture History, Theory and Preservation: Prehistory to the Middle Ages

Architecture History, Theory and Preservation

Architecture History, Theory and Preservation critically explores the historic development, theoretical underpinnings and conservation practices of architecture. Complete with 170 full color images, this volume presents architectural and urban examples, from Prehistory to the Middle Ages, chronologically and thematically examining contextual issues that provide each period with distinctive expressions. The special features, structural systems, materials and construction technologies are analyzed, as well as how the international community deals with the task of interpreting and preserving certain historic properties.

This publication provides professors and students of architecture, art history, historic preservation and related fields with an integrated view of architecture using historical, theoretical and conservation perspectives. As an architect, architectural historian and preservationist herself, Dr Pabn-Charneco weaves a field of relationships regarding each building, creating a silent yet empowering bridge between past and present.

Arleen Pabn-Charneco holds a PhD from Northwestern University, as well as a JD, MArch and BED from the University of Puerto Rico. With the highest GPA of her graduating class, she obtained the Henry Adams AIA Medal in 1974. Since 1979 she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Puerto Rico and Florida A&M University in the areas of architectural history, architectural theory and philosophy, architectural design and historic preservation. At both institutions she served as assistant and associate Dean. Dr Pabn-Charneco was Puerto Ricos State Historic Preservation Officer twice. She is a member of the Washington DC Bar, as well as a trustee emeritus of both the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust. In addition, she is a corresponding academician of the St Jordi Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Catalonia. A consultant in architectural history, historic preservation and cultural interpretation, she is also an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida State University.

This is a revealing journey through the history of architecture from Prehistory to the Middle Ages. Far from a conventional theoretical view, Dr Arleen Pabn-Charneco shares with the readers her comprehensive and profound understanding of the essence and evolution of the human thinking behind the development of the built environment, since the first artifact was built. Understanding the principles and origins of architecture, from this non-linear view of history, will give present and future generations of architects a unique opportunity to learn from architectural precedents by understanding the complexity of humankind aspirations throughout time.

Carlos A. Rubio-Cancela, Architect,
Puerto Rico State Historic Preservation Officer

Architecture History, Theory
and Preservation

Prehistory to the Middle Ages

Arleen Pabn-Charneco

First published 2021

by Routledge

52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017

and by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2021 Taylor & Francis

The right of Arleen Pabn-Charneco to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice : Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this title has been requested

ISBN: 978-1-138-32676-7 (hbk)

ISBN: 978-1-138-32677-4 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-429-44135-6 (ebk)

Typeset in Times New Roman

by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India

To FJR

Contents

Eons ago, during my second year of architectural studies, I took my first course in the history of architecture. I distinctly remember that first morning, when semester topics were introduced by means of an image of the Giza Pyramids, as the moment when I fell in love with my profession. Right there and then, in Room #201 of the School of Architecture of the University of Puerto Rico, I decided I was going to follow Dr Rafael A. Crespos steps and teach for the rest of my life. Having been my professor and colleague for decades, he is first in my list of acknowledgements.