| Title | 23. Polytropos |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | Iannis Xenakis, Engineer in Music and Architecture |
| Contributor | Panayotis Tournikiotis (author) |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0390.25 |
| Landing page | https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0390/chapters/10.11647/obp.0390.25 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Panayotis Tournikiotis |
| Publisher | Open Book Publishers |
| Published on | 2024-10-09 |
| Long abstract | Xenakis's contribution to architecture intertwines the work of Le Corbusier with his own musical explorations but has a special dimension. It is experimental. It combines morphogenesis with structural design and construction. It is created, not born, and seeks a cosmic relation with the earth. Starting from his civil engineering studies in Athens, he developed a mathematical way of thinking that fertilized the morphological search of Le Corbusier and gave an unprecedented material and spiritual dimension to buildings that are now landmarks and part of the world cultural heritage. Xenakis's subsequent autonomous architecture is a small but special chapter on the borders of his musical creation, which highlights the contemplative and highly personal character of his thought and work. |
| Page range | pp. 375–398 |
| Print length | 24 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
Panayotis Tournikiotis is now a Professor Emeritus at the National Technical University of Athens, where he taught Theory of Architecture for more than thirty years. His research focuses on critical theory and history, and the way understanding the past contributes to the interdisciplinary formation of design strategies in architecture and urban planning. He has published and edited books, including Adolf Loos (1991, Éditions Macula), The Parthenon and Its Impact in Modern Times (1996, Melissa), The Historiography of Modern Architecture (1999, MIT Press), Architecture in Modern Times (2006, Futura), and The Diagonal of Le Corbusier (2010, Ekkremes). He organized many architectural events and actively participates in institutional boards and committees. Le Corbusier’s relationship with Greece and his collaboration with Greek architects and engineers in Paris is an ongoing chapter in his most recent research. He is the president of the European Architectural History Network (EAHN).