Bruno Zevi's Seven Invariants: A Modern Architectural Language
In the newest issue of 'Conversazioni di architettura,' Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi explores Bruno Zevi’s view of architecture as a space-making process, contrasting it with conventional architectural language. Zevi’s 1973 book, 'Il linguaggio moderno dell'architettura,' outlines seven 'invariants'—like asymmetry and the integration of building and city—which act as guidelines for a modern, ethical approach to architecture. The conversation also touches on John Summerson’s 1963 work, 'The Classical Language of Architecture,' along with structuralist ideas and Cesare Brandi’s 'astanza,' plus Rem Koolhaas’s paratactic approach. While Zevi's invariants provoke interesting ideas, they are criticized for being contradictory, as they set rules that ultimately undermine themselves.
Key facts
- Bruno Zevi's book 'Saper vedere l’architettura' (1948) argued that internal space defines architecture.
- Zevi's 'Il linguaggio moderno dell’architettura' was published in 1973.
- The seven invariants are: elenco, asimmetria e dissonanze, tridimensionalità antiprospettica, sintassi della scomposizione quadridimensionale, strutture in aggetto, temporalità dello spazio, reintegrazione edificio-città-territorio.
- John Summerson's 'Il linguaggio classico dell’architettura' was published in 1963.
- Cesare Brandi was influenced by structuralism and introduced the concept of 'astanza'.
- Rem Koolhaas's work exemplifies paratactic composition, rejecting structural coherence.
- The article is part of a series on architecture history and language.
- Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi is the author of the article.
Entities
Artists
- Bruno Zevi
- John Summerson
- Cesare Brandi
- Rem Koolhaas
- Michelangelo
- Borromini
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Renato De Fusco
- Umberto Eco
- Emilio Garroni
- Giovanni Klaus Koenig
- Peter Eisenman
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Mendini
- Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi
Institutions
- Artribune
- Associazione Italiana di Architettura e Critica
- Compasses
- presS/Tletter
Locations
- Catania
- Italy
- Groningen
- Netherlands