On Architecture, Volume I: Books 1–5

Vitruvius was a First century BC architect who wrote the oldest extant book [Decem Libris]on architecture. These 10 Books have been interpreted and studied on a nearly daily basis since [see for example, VITRUVIUS WRITING THE BODY OF ARCHITECTURE, MIT 2003 by Indra McEwin]. The VITRUVIUS PROGRAM was founded in 1988 by my wife and myself as a research curriculum for student Pre-school to Post-Graduate. It is named for a quote from Vitruvius, Book One Chapter One: "The Architect should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for in the architectural judgment all of the work of other arts is brought to a test. This knowledge is the child of practice and theory. One who professes to be an architect should be well-versed in both directions, being both naturally gifted and amenable to instruction. Therefore let our architect to be educated, skillful with the pencil, instructed in geometry, knowledgeable in history, follow the philosophers with attention, understand music, have some knowledge of medicine, know the opinions of jurists, and be acquainted with astronomy and the theory of the heavens. Since this study is so vast in extent, embellished and enriched as it is with many kinds of learning I think that no one has a right to proclaim oneself an architect hastily, without having climbed from childhood the the steps of these studies, and thus, nursed by the knowledge of many arts and sciences, having reached the heights of the sacred ground of architecture. But perhaps to the inexperienced it will seem a marvel that human nature can comprehend such a great number of studies and keep them in memory. Yet the observation that all studies have a common bond of unification and relationship with one another will lead us to the conviction that this can be realized. For a liberal education forms a single body made up of these members. Those, therefore, who from tender years receive instruction in the various forms of learning, recognize the same stamp on all the arts, and an integration of all fields of study, so that they can more readily comprehend them all." Teaching preschoolers to diagram and color drawings, learning the stories told by myth and science through design projects, studying how art, architecture and design can descibe new worlds - this is what Vitruvius taught. The 1929 Granger translation (Loeb) is more literal than the more literary 1914 Morgan translation (Dover), which is substantially cheaper. Eugene Kupper Professor Emeritus of Architecture, UCLA

Great translation. Easy to read. Book is full of gems. Don't build anything without reading these.

These English and Latin volumes are printed in small books, which is very convenient for carrying. Scholars of ancient Roman classics will need the original comprehensive annotated versions of the “On Architecture” volumes. The great Vitrivious is one the most important, influential, and most often referenced authors in the education of art history, culture, classics, and humanities.

After 80-odd years, Granger's translation still remains unsurpassed. Although not seen in modern Loeb printings, the translator's credentials to take on such a work are seen rarely - an eminent Classicist and also an ARIBA, making him eminently qualified in both the ancient languages and architecture. There are more recent translations, but none can equal this. My own vol. 1 is a recent replacement for one last seen on a train some time ago. The only missing item being the frontispiece of the facade of the temple at Dougga. Still the standard translation - and one can stuff it into a pocket! P :-)

This text is a reproduction of the original series. I just want to point out that on every page there is at least one line of text that is slightly pulled/distorted, making the line look as though it is set in faux-italic type.(It is not italic text--just distorted.) I expect these distortions/flaws are artifacts of the printing/reproduction process used. FYI. The content is as expected and a good read, if you're interested in a good translation of Vitruvius.

I purchased both Volume I and Volume II. Both are manufactured with the text mis-aligned so that the outer margins of the pages are too great, and the text towards the spine is crammed in making it hard to read the book easily. The book is not "printed", but instead it is a photocopy, and this is seen by the frequent mis-alignment of letters in a way so that the bottom 1/3 or so of a letter is 1/10-3/10th mm to the left or right from the top parts of the letter, for an entire line. This is the type of effect one achieves if the original is moved while it is being scanned.