Author: Hollis Edward
Place: London
Publisher: Portbello Books Ltd
Year: 2010
Pages: 387
ISBN: 978-1-84627-128-1
Subject: Architecture
Sub-Subject: Architecture Design
Keyword: Building Structure
Shelf: C4R5
Accession No: B1254
Contents: Acknowledgements Illustrations Introduction: The Architect’s Dream In Which a Virgin is Ruined In Which a Prince Steals Four Horses and an Empire In Which a Sultan Casts a Spell and Moves the Centre of the World The Wondrous Flitting of the Holy House In Which a Dead Body Brings a Building to Life In Which Two Cousins Marry One Another In Which a Scholar Translates a Temple In Which Nothing Nothing Happens at All In Which the Temple of Reason is Restored In Which the Propbecies of the Future are Fulfilled In Which History Comes to an End In Which Nothing, and Everything, Has Changes Notes Bibliography Illustration Credits Index
Abstract: The Secret Lives of Buildings uncovers the hidden stories, myths, and histories within architecture across different cultures and eras. It presents buildings not just as physical structures but as living entities intertwined with human experiences of love, power, betrayal, and transformation. Each chapter reads like a parable, showing how architecture both shapes and reflects historical events and cultural shifts. From enchanted rulers to resurrected temples and prophetic visions, the book invites readers to view buildings as dynamic characters influencing the passage of time, challenging the idea of them as mere static monuments.