Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Vico and the 'new science' of history -- 2. After Vitruvius : the search for a new fundamental ground -- 3. Aesthetics and questions of style -- 4. In what style should we build? -- 5. Nietzsche and the 'history beyond history' -- 6. Approaches to modernism -- 7. Modernism against history -- 8. Le Corbusier : for or against history? -- 9. Regional resistance to the international style -- 10. Late modernism and critical histories -- 11. From post-modernism to meaning in architecture.

"Beginning from the rise of modern history in the eighteenth century, this book examines how changing ideas in the discipline of history itself has affected architecture from the beginnings of modernity up to the present day. It reflects upon history, tradition and memory, in order to encourage and assist the reader in finding well-founded principles for architectural design. This is not simply another history of architecture, nor a 'history of histories'. Setting buildings in their contemporaneous ideas about history, it spans from Fischer von Erlach to Venturi, and beyond, to architects working in the fallout from both the Modern Movement - such as Aalto, Louis Kahn and Aldo van Eyck - and Post-modernism - such as Rafael Moneo and Peter Zumthor. This is not an armchair history but a lively discussion of our place between past and future that promotes thinking for making"-- Provided by publisher.

Also available in print edition.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.