Sigfried Giedion Book order

Focusing on the origins of art, this work reevaluates paleolithic creations through a modernist lens, emphasizing abstraction, transparency, and simultaneity. The author, an esteemed historian, contrasts traditional materialistic views by exploring how concepts of constancy and change manifest in paleolithic paintings, engravings, and sculptures. He highlights the significance of symbols and the representation of animals, suggesting they embody a primordial unity between humans and nature. This study presents a fresh and vital perspective on prehistoric art.

The book explores the relationship between architecture and transitional phenomena, delving into how built environments influence human experiences during periods of change. It examines various architectural responses to transitions, considering both physical and emotional dimensions. Through theoretical insights and practical examples, it highlights the importance of design in facilitating movement, adaptation, and transformation within spaces.

"A classic first published in 1941, translated into half a dozen languages, and now in a fifth edition, Space, Time and Architecture is an unparalleled work on the shaping of our architectural environment. The discussions of leading. architects - Wright, Gropius, Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Aalto, Utzon, Sert, Tange, and Maki - are accompanied by over 500 illustrations."--Cover

First published in 1948, Mechanization Takes Command is an examination of mechanization and its effects on everyday life. A monumental figure in the field of architectural history, Sigfried Giedion traces the evolution and resulting philosophical implications of such disparate innovations as the slaughterhouse, the Yale lock, the assembly line, tractors, ovens, and "comfort" as defined by advancements in furniture design. A groundbreaking text when originally published, Giedion's pioneering work remains an important contribution to architecture, philosophy, and technology studies.