Vitruvius
Author of De Architectura, foundation of Western architecture
Most quoted
"Therefore, since this art is such a one, and so rich in the number of its studies, I think that men have no right to profess themselves architects unless they have climbed with the greatest diligence from boyhood up the steps of all these studies, and, having been nourished by the knowledge of many arts and sciences, have reached the highest temple of architecture."
— from De Architectura, Book I, Chapter 1, Section 12
"The architect should be a man of good education, a skilful draughtsman, versed in geometry and optics, expert at figures, acquainted with history, informed on the principles of natural and moral philosophy, able to play and understand music, having some knowledge of medicine, knowing the opinions of the jurists, and of astronomy and the rules of the heavens."
— from De Architectura, Book I, Chapter I, Section 3
"The architect must be a man of letters, a skillful draughtsman, versed in geometry and optics, expert at figures, acquainted with history, and diligent in the study of philosophy; he must understand music, have some knowledge of medicine, know the opinions of lawyers, and be acquainted with astronomy and the theory of the heavens."
— from De Architectura, Book I, Chapter 1
All quotes by Vitruvius (367)
Harmony in architecture reflects the order of the universe.
Select sites away from marshes to avoid unhealthy air.
The entablature should be one-fifth of the column height.
Winds should be studied for proper orientation of buildings.
Well building hath three conditions: Commodity, Firmness, and Delight.
Without symmetry and proportion there can be no principles in the design of any temple; that is, if there is no precise relation between its members, as in the case of a well-formed human body.
For a building to be beautiful, it must be well-proportioned, and its parts must be in harmony with each other and with the whole.
The architect must be a man of letters, a skillful draughtsman, a mathematician, acquainted with history, a diligent student of philosophy, acquainted with music, not ignorant of medicine, learned in the law, and master of astronomy and the theory of the heavens.
For it is not by strength, nor by swiftness, that great actions are achieved, but by counsel, by authority, and by good judgment.
Nature has so planned the human body that the face, from the chin to the top of the forehead and the lowest roots of the hair, is a tenth part of the whole height.
For no work can be done with due regard to economy, unless the architect himself knows how to calculate the cost of the materials and the labor.
The architect must be a man of integrity, not greedy for gain, but devoted to his art.
The site chosen for a building should be healthy, well-drained, and free from noxious vapors.
The arrangement of the parts of a building should be such that they are convenient for use and pleasing to the eye.
The materials used in construction should be durable and suitable for their purpose.
The architect should be familiar with the different types of foundations and how to construct them properly.
The walls of a building should be strong enough to support the roof and resist the forces of nature.
The roof should be designed to protect the building from rain and sun, and to provide adequate ventilation.
The columns should be proportioned according to the order to which they belong, and their spacing should be appropriate.
The decoration of a building should be appropriate to its purpose and its style.