Origins of Form is about the shape of things. What limits the height of a tree? Why is a large ship or office building more efficient than a small one? What is the similarity between a human rib cage and an airplane or a bison and a cantilevered bridge? How might we plan for things to improve as they are used instead of wearing out? The author has chosen eight criteria that constitute the major influences on three-dimensional form. These criteria comprise the eight chapters of the book: each looks at form from entirely different viewpoints. The products of both nature and man are examined and compared.This book will make readersmdash;especially those who design and buildmdash;aware of their physical environment and how to break away from previously held assumptions and indifference about the ways forms in our human environment have evolved. It shows better ways to do things. The authorrsquo;s practical; no-nonsense approach and his exquisite drawings; done especially for this volume; provide a clear understanding of what can and cannot be; how big or small an object should be; of what material it will be made; how its function will relate to its design; how its use will change it; and what laws will influence its development.The facts and information were gathered from many sources: the areas of mechanics; structure; and materials; geology; biology; anthropology; paleobiology; morphology and others. These are standard facts in these areas of specialization; but they are also essential to the designerrsquo;s overall knowledge and understanding of form. The result is an invaluable work for students; designers; architects; and planners; and an informed introduction to a fascinating subject for laymen.
#3209923 in eBooks 2012-01-01 2012-01-01File Name: B00CYA2N7W
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. When Communism was coolBy Red ReeThis book gives an interesting and vivid portrait of the left-wing dance scene in New York City in what was perhaps my grandparents time. A confluence of all kinds of dancers; ranging from modern to agitprop; from fine art to mass street sensibility; from ballet to ethnic; existed in the same small area. They learned at each others studios and performed in each others shows. There was an atmosphere of political idealism and perhaps insurrection; that permeated much of the dance scene as well as other art worlds. Many of the artists portrayed in this book were themselves Jewish immigrants; as were my grandparents (although mine werent into dance at all).I recognized only a few names like Martha Graham... she had her own approach and yet also worked with many other artists of quite a different stripe.Written in a clear and readable style; this book appears to be very well-researched and sympathetic but not biased either politically or artistically. The descriptions of the very different aesthetic inspirations and the general creative approaches used by each of the dancers presented really made the descriptions come to life. Lots of archival photos; too.It was a window peeking into another world; one that I previously had no knowledge of.