Mathematical Excursions to the World's Great Buildings

Mathematical Excursions to the World's Great Buildings
Author: Alexander J. Hahn
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 336
Release: 2012-07-22
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 1400841992


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How mathematics helped build the world's most important buildings from early Egypt to the present From the pyramids and the Parthenon to the Sydney Opera House and the Bilbao Guggenheim, this book takes readers on an eye-opening tour of the mathematics behind some of the world's most spectacular buildings. Beautifully illustrated, the book explores the milestones in elementary mathematics that enliven the understanding of these buildings and combines this with an in-depth look at their aesthetics, history, and structure. Whether using trigonometry and vectors to explain why Gothic arches are structurally superior to Roman arches, or showing how simple ruler and compass constructions can produce sophisticated architectural details, Alexander Hahn describes the points at which elementary mathematics and architecture intersect. Beginning in prehistoric times, Hahn proceeds to guide readers through the Greek, Roman, Islamic, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and modern styles. He explores the unique features of the Pantheon, the Hagia Sophia, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the Duomo in Florence, Palladio's villas, and Saint Peter's Basilica, as well as the U.S. Capitol Building. Hahn celebrates the forms and structures of architecture made possible by mathematical achievements from Greek geometry, the Hindu-Arabic number system, two- and three-dimensional coordinate geometry, and calculus. Along the way, Hahn introduces groundbreaking architects, including Brunelleschi, Alberti, da Vinci, Bramante, Michelangelo, della Porta, Wren, Gaudí, Saarinen, Utzon, and Gehry. Rich in detail, this book takes readers on an expedition around the globe, providing a deeper understanding of the mathematical forces at play in the world's most elegant buildings.


Mathematical Excursions to the World's Great Buildings
Language: en
Pages: 344
Authors: Alexander Hahn
Categories: Architecture
Type: BOOK - Published: 2012-07-22 - Publisher: Princeton University Press

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Describes the mathematics behind the design of famous buildings, including the Parthenon, the Sydney Opera House, and the Bilbao Guggenheim.
The Illustrated Atlas of the World's Great Buildings
Language: en
Pages: 192
Authors: Philip Bagenal
Categories: Architecture
Type: BOOK - Published: 1990 - Publisher: Tiger Books

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Illustrated Atlas of the World's Great Buildings
Language: en
Pages:
Authors: Philip H. Bagenal
Categories:
Type: BOOK - Published: 1991-04-01 - Publisher:

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Mathematical Excursions
Language: en
Pages: 1076
Authors: Richard N. Aufmann
Categories: Mathematics
Type: BOOK - Published: 2003-03 - Publisher:

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A new text for the liberal arts math course by a seasoned author team, "Mathematical Excursions, is uniquely designed to help students see math at work in the c
Masters of the Structural Aesthetic
Language: en
Pages: 141
Authors: Derek Thomas
Categories: Technology & Engineering
Type: BOOK - Published: 2017-09-05 - Publisher: Springer

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This book highlights aesthetics as pertaining to the structural component in architectural design. This less explored aspect of architecture is discussed and ex