Mathematical excursions to the world's great buildings (Q2897221)

This is an appealing book that deals with the relation of architecture and mathematics. There are two historical narratives in the book: the primary focuses on architecture and structure of the great buildings, the second develops mathematics. The book starts with the megalithic Stonehenge and Egyptian great pyramids of Giza. The story smoothly transits to the Greek and Roman Period. Golden rectangle and ratio is the main theme of Chapter 2. Christian Romanesque and Gothic, mostly Italian and German, and medieval Islamic temple architecture are the main subjects of Chapters 3 and 4. Central plans of Eastern churches and Islamic mosques are contrasted with rectangular colonnaded Western basilicas. The problem of a shape of the vault of the central and rectangular naves is discussed, an explanation of superiority of Gothic to Roman arches is given, many geometrical properties of cubics are recalled. Chapter 5 -- ``The Renaissance'' -- focuses on proportion; especially the golden ratio, in art and architecture is discussed. The designs of churches by Leonardo da Vinci, Donato Bramante and Michelangelo, which combined the symbolism of cross and centralized symmetric geometry, are splendidly illustrated. The last two sections of the chapter, about mathematical properties of projections, are slightly technical.NEWLINENEWLINEA new architecture of the era of the Industrial Revolution in Europe and America is the subject of Chapter 6. The evolving materials results in a change of geometric structure of buildings. The history of designs of domes from St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Panthéon in Paris, St. Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg and the Capitol in Washington are perfect illustrations of collaborations of architectures and scientists, Robert Hooke, Giovanni Poleni, Pierre Varignon. The chapter ends with contemporary project of Sydney's Opera House by Jørn Utzon. Some basic knowledge of calculus and mechanics is required for the study of Chapter 7. Volumes and weights of spherical domes, moments and centres of mass are calculated. The method of determinations of the precise shape of an ideal arch made of homogeneous material is shown and illustrated by the photo of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. Many exercises contained in the book are a great material for interdisciplinary courses and teacher's training. Compass and ruler construction are presented as a basic motive for the designs of: theatre of Epidaurus, Roman Colosseum, Bernini colonnade and shells for major hall of Sydney's Opera House. The book is richly illustrated. There are 24 colour plates and more than two hundreds black and white copies of original drawing and illustration of mathematical phenomena.