4(13) 2010

Article	NUMBER AND GEOMETRY IN THE ARCHITECTURAL THEORY. To history of the term
Authors	M. Gorodova, Gallery Art Deco, Institute of Russian painting, Moscow, Russia
Abstract	In this paper the question of the Number in Architectural theory is discussed. From the very beginning of its history architecture was tightly linked to Mathematics, though from the point of contemporary views Maths was represented by its elementary forms. Architecture has been profiting most from knowledge of Geometry. Through centuries Architects be it Vitruvius, Violet Le Duc or Le Corbusier have understood and mastered Euclidian concept of Geometry. Euclid’s influence upon architectural thinking is considered to be the most important and constructive (structural) till the seventeenth century. The Medieval consciousness reflected the fundamental principles of the Antique architectural tradition till the fifteenth century. This period seems to combine three leading points of view on theory of architecture: 1. Neo Pythagorean one, mystically celebrating the science of numbers; 2. Of geometry treated as the Art of tracing lines; 3. Of algebra (arithmetic) as the science of calculating. Further on Architectural theory demonstrates a fusion of the science of numbers (the Number is considered to be the Image’s Image) with the science of calculating making the Number only a tool. While Architecture split separating its secular and ecclesiastic branches, knowledge in Church architecture had frozen in shape of oral tradition. Starting with Classical time and to this day Euclidean geometry and Pythagorean numerology have represented two overlapping and interwining lines of thought.
Keywords:	Science about number, Geometry of space, Pythagorean in architecture, Proportion, symbolical language
	Article (RUS)
References	Daye, John (John Dee). 1570. The elements of Geometrie...of Euclide of Megara...translated into English Toung by H.Billingsley...with a very Fruitfull Preface made by M.J.Dee Specyfying the Chief Mathematicall Sciences, What They are, and Whereunto Commodius. London. Dzhakomo Baroccio da Vin'ola. Pravilo pjati orderov arhitektury. Izd. Akad. Arh. M., 1939. Gilbert, Neil Ward. 1960. Renaissance Concept of Method. New York. Mueller, Ian. Date. Euclid's Elements and the Axiomatic Method. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science XX:289-309. Mueller, Ian. 1981. Philosophy of Mathematics and Deductive Structure in Euclid's Elements. Cambridge MA. and London. Ong, Walter J. 1958. Ramus Method and the Decay of Dialogue. Cambridge MA. Plooij, Edward B. 1950. Euclid's Concept of Ratio. Rotterdam. D. Petrovich. Teoretiki proporcij. M., 1979. Rykwert, Joseph. 1985. On The Oral Trasmission of Architectural Theory. Architectural Association Files 6:15ff. Wittkower, Rudolph. 1949. Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism. London. Wittkower Rudolph. 1974. English Architectural Theory. Pp. 94-112 in Palladio and English Palladianism. London. Field, Judith. 1984. Kepler's Rejection of Numerology. Pp. 273-296 in Occult and Scientific Mentalities in the Renaissance, Brian Vickers, ed. Cambridge.