Auftritte Scenes: Interaction with Architectural Space, the Campi of Venice [Hardcover]

Alban Janson (Author), Thorsten Bürklin (Author), Thorsten Burklin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 1998

Is it possible to interpret the urban spaces in ancient Venice as we would analyse those in Los Angeles or Rotterdam? This book is the attempt to analyse Venice's campi in the same way we would consider public space today. It focuses on those places so essential to public life and which offer an endless number of variations in our urban surroundings. We are actors on the stages of the city. The continual fascination with Venice's campi shows that this feature of urban architecture still has a significant role to play in modern life and they have a great creative potential to offer today's architects and planners. This publication documents Venice's squares in detail, analysing them precisely. Extensive visual material including plans, photographs of models, and photo sequences of the actual squares complement the texts to provide a comprehensive reference on this topic.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alban Janson and Thosten Bürklin led this research project from the University of Karlsruhe in Venice.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Birkhäuser Architecture; 1 edition (April 30, 1998)
• Language: German, English
• ISBN-10: 3764365854
• ISBN-13: 978-3764365851
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,011,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scenes: the Campi of Venice, January 1, 2003

By 

Michael Webb (London, England > Los Angeles, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Auftritte Scenes: Interaction with Architectural Space, the Campi of Venice (Hardcover)

A joyful interpretation of a city that evolved organically in response to its topography and the everyday needs of its population. The piazza of St Mark's was elaborated over the centuries as a stage for ceremony; the campi were unplanned neighborhood squares, and they still serve that role even though Venice has lost half its population over the past few decades.

This exemplary study, illustrated with plans, models and bw photos, illuminates the spatial relationships and the patterns of use of these urban oases. Architects and designers should ponder the lessons they offer: that public spaces work best when they are simple and deeply rooted in the community.