Grace Under Pressure: Classical Architecture and the Aesthetics of Kindness, with Nathaniel Walker

Professor Nathaniel Walker, Ph.D., presents an engaging talk about design features from classical traditions around the world, and how architecture should be seen as a language of kindness.
This course is presented by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, a national nonprofit promoting the practice, understanding, and appreciation of classical design. To watch more online classes like this one, or to become a member and support our educational mission, visit www.classicist... .
About the Course:
Many of the core elements of classical design-including, for example, column capitals, keystones, pedestals, and acroteria-are designed to articulate the key points in a building where the opposing forces of weight and structure begin, meet each other, and terminate, in the delicate frozen dance which is architecture. These forces might be seen as enemies locked in a perpetual conflict that threatens to eventually end in ruin, but classicism works tirelessly to visibly reconcile them with poetic, ornamental expressions of structural diplomacy. Columns do not merely impose themselves upon lintels, but soften their engagement with pillows, or else compromise their verticality with horizontal gestures such as scrolls and brackets, and even present bouquets to their structural partners. This is the language of kindness-of politeness and consideration-that is also required for humans to maintain their social and political structures.
By considering the thoughts of a number of past architects such as Alexander “Greek” Thomson and Louis Sullivan, this course traces the interpretation of classical architecture as an artistic building system dedicated to the aesthetics of affection and respect; this idea is also superimposed over the forms of several different buildings that were designed and built in different places, at different times and for different functions, in search of one of classicism’s greatest virtues: the expression and celebration of grace under pressure.
About the Instructor:
Dr. Nathaniel R. Walker is Assistant Professor of Architectural History at the College of Charleston. He earned his Ph.D. at Brown University in the History of Art and Architecture, an MA in Architectural History from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and a BA in History (with a minor in German) at Belmont University.
Nathaniel specializes in the history of public space such as squares and streets, particularly in the United States and Europe, but he has also worked with the urban forms of the Classic Maya and with Chinese Daoist architectural representations. He has focused many of his studies on the relationships between architecture, urban planning, and utopian dreams of progress and futurity that proliferated in nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature, film, advertising, and other media.
Nathaniel’s upcoming book Victorian Visions of Suburban Utopia has entered the production phase for publication later this year with Oxford University Press. In addition his co-edited book with Elizabeth Darling, Suffragette City: Women, Politics, and the Built Environment, has just been nominated for the Colvin Medal, one of Britain’s highest honors for architectural history books.
2020 Summer Studio Retrospective:
This course was presented as part of the 2020 Summer Studio Retrospective, a four-week series of daily online content inspired by the ICAA's Summer Studio in Classical Architecture program and the many students who have been impacted through its unique course of study. You can find additional programs in this series, and discover more of the ICAA's educational offerings, by visiting www.classicist... .

[@williamrossarchitecture3219]

Buildings talk. As an architecture student who is generally surrounded by modernism in studio, this is such a refreshing perspective on the how important design decisions are because of the messages they convey and the story they tell. I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture as a great reminder to design "kind" and peaceful buildings for a kind and peaceful society.

[@RonDell1935]

Magnificent lecture. Thank you very much Mr (Prof) Walker

[@danfaggella9452]

One of the finest videos on architecture that I've ever seen. Eye-opening on many fronts.

[@heinrichklaus1268]

Wow! What a coincidence, i was watching some old videos yesterday, i'm glad there is new content

[@voice4good]

Outstanding! I could write a million books connecting architecture to earth, humanity, intimacy, the life of Jesus the cornerstone carpenter & the cross, symbiosis, music, an orchestra…

[@alexandreg1828]

I didn’t have professor’s name in mind. I gasped when I saw him! He gave me a very good impression in the “Universal language in stone and steel”. 45:29 on this video and so far so good. I am glad I found this Channel

[@PioneerBuildersInc]

I absolutely loved this. Thank you for sharing these beautiful, kind ideas.

[@kutenkovpro]

Great! Thanks!

[@utilitymaxxing]

This lecture is fucking feral. It's like. I want people to describe me like this. Wow. At first I was like "wtf why" but now I'm like "absolutely I completely agree."

[@mansardmanor3869]

Architect's must retain the knowledge...
*the Beauty is in the Eye's of the beholder*
Therefore the world is a splendid canvas to set your eye's upon 🤓

[@spelcheak]

That statement is as correct as your use of apostrophes.

[@EmanoelGCA]

about the barista: do you really need to expose someone like that, just because you probably didn't like the service or for any other reason? would you like to see your face around being an example of something negative? don't you think this is a complete lack of kindness? sorry, but for me it was very arrogant.

[@LamiNalchor]

Calling the Romanians barbarians in contrast to the Türks is highly racist. I hope he has been made aware of that.

[@mansardmanor3869]

News
Davidic Capital found in good condition
Looks like a scroll design

[@billrugg-easey4764]

Looks like an aeolitic capital to me not uncommon all over the middle East

[@KenDanieli]

Fake accent

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

The capitals are odd and ugly compared to rest of the building. Why put such work so high were the details can't be fully observed. Putting such capitals above all others reminds of government elites putting themselves at top. The decoration on Arc above the cornice makes it look fat. It's about the ratio. The Mayan building is built with cardinal directions in mind, but looks off without vegetation growing on it. The Mayan temple kind of reminds me of the capitals on columns. Should not the decoration be lower for common peoples to enjoy not just those at top. Actually a vector pattern not a flower. The vector pattern shows up in many Native American and Aztec crafts. The Japanese wood triglyph makes more sense than stone Greek triglyphs. Cosmetic vs function is age old construction debate. I go with function over cosmetic. No the Capital is the head the cornice is the crown look at the words used. Go back to Egyptian priest and their hats and the shapes like the pope wears that cornette really matches to the cornice. The capital and cornet seems to lume over you thus symbolizes rule over people or those above others. Clearly made to impose rule over people. I see the arch as many coming together hold something up. One little speck of iron will make a masonry wall or chimney bleed. Without function you don't have a building just a sculpture. The catenary arches do make great tree looking supports. The capital at base of column makes more sense like the column has grown out of the basket. That many came together and built something. Not those heads at top wearing a crown ruling over others and building upon their rule.