ABC of Architecture
During the first year in FAMU, we were studying basics of classic photography including architecture. From that moment I became more and more deeply interesting in an architecture. Especially living in Prague which is a sort of “museum of architecture under the open sky.” The largest urban historical centre listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Prague’s architecture is spellbinding. Many architectural gems from the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque era remain intact because the city was not rebuilt like most European capital cities during the 18th or 19th centuries, when it was only a provincial town in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Also, Prague was spared the tragic fate of cities such as Dresden during World War II. Architecture is one of most complicated types of art with has own specific language. To understand and feel the architecture, to fully appreciate the variety the heritage of different eras and peoples, it is necessary to know and understand the language of architects. For understanding the architectural language, I decided to create a book ABC of architecture which would included most common architecture terms. The huge variety of architecture, I decided to apply to the archetypes of architecture - Romanesque architecture. North of Prague in the small Czech town Holubice is located Romanesque rotunda that was built in 30s of XVIII century. First Rotunda had one apse, but later were added to the second apse, Gothic bell tower and the Baroque sacristy. In the church there are frescoes of the XIV century. Especially for thev book I created illustrations that shown a schematic description of the element. Next to this description you can see a photograph of this element. On the one hand the book is created to explore the architecture but also there are photographs of the unique architectural heritage of the Czech Republic which is brings history of architecture.