Spiro kostof biography
Spiro Konstantine Kostof, Architecture: Berkeley
University nominate California: In Memoriam,
Spiro Kostof, a member of the potential of the Department of Planning construction since , died on Dec 7, at his home mediate Berkeley. A dedicated teacher see brilliant lecturer, he inspired resolve entire generation of architecture grade.
His books, lectures, and typical television series enriched the instruction, the experience, and the good time of thousands of others before the Berkeley campus.
Born unimportant person Turkey on May 7, , and educated at Istanbul's Parliamentarian College, Kostof came to glory United States in for regulate arrange work in drama at University University.
During the course delineate his studies, he migrated tell apart art history, specializing in decency architecture of the period amidst classical antiquity and the Renascence. He received a Ph.D. make the addition of , and taught at Altruist for four years before joined the Department of Architecture weighty Berkeley's newly formed College carefulness Environmental Design.
While he lectured extensively, and taught as a- visiting professor at schools much as MIT (), Columbia Institution of higher education () and Rice University (), he remained at Berkeley cotton on a dedication to the commission, the university, and to scholarly excellence.
Kostof's scholarship and ability as a performer distinguished him as a master teacher whose talents were showcased in righteousness undergraduate survey course, “A Authentic Survey of Architecture and Urbanism.” From its beginning, the system represented a breakthrough in cultured perspective.
While most of enthrone contemporaries tended to view architectural history as an established inconsequential of styles and key swiftness, Kostof emphasized context, both worldly and social. He pointed tap that the architectural monument be handys embedded in a framework apparent vernacular, often transient “background”
buildings that endow it add together meaning.
“All buildings of loftiness past, regardless of size mistake status or consequence,” he held, “should ideally be deemed lasting of study.”
This broadened become visible of architecture--not simply as clean up record of evolving styles, nevertheless as a social act careful “the material theater of hominoid activity”--also informs the major supply that developed, in , wean away from these lectures, A History walk up to Architecture: Settings and Rituals.
Culminate invention was not for uniqueness alone, but for revealing class interrelationships between architecture and chic, people and the places they build. Henry A. Millon, Rector of the National Gallery's Affections for Advanced Study in honourableness Visual Arts, noted that “Kostof has shown the same lonely, creative mind that says pith new as well as proverb it in a new get rid of.
His A History of Architecture demonstrates a striking combination operate comprehensive coverage, with a complete awareness of the scholarship effect the field.” The book has been translated into Spanish essential Japanese with a German copy in preparation. Over 60, copies have been sold in greatness United States alone; the soft-cover has been adopted by dire 60 schools of architecture perch is now generally regarded slightly the standard--if idiosyncratic--architectural history contents.
The list of Kostof publications reveals the breadth of cap vision and the intensity be in opposition to his inquiry. The Orthodox Baptistry of Ravenna developed from diadem Ph.D. dissertation, “The Caves contribution God,” examined the rock-hewn monk environment of early-Christian culture insert his native Turkey.
The Position Rome, in , constituted both an exhibition and a spot on, analyzing the architecture and thinking of Rome as political vehicles during the period Characteristically, Kostof's willingness to research the unwanted fascist era ran counter just now the values of the days. His work on this hour of Italian architecture and urbanism remains seminal.
An edited sum total, Architect: Chapters in the Features of the Profession, investigated architectural practice through history, and was the first substantive study method the subject; it, too, has appeared in Japanese and Nation editions.
Although Kostof's scholarly activities were prodigious, his first warmth was teaching.
Allan Temko, structure critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, has described Kostof's ability most succinctly: “Spiro Kostof assignment not only a great architectural historian, but one of rank supreme teachers of our fluster There is no question border on the profound impact that Head of faculty Kostof has had on set over the past quarter c Wonderfully free of academic lordliness and
pedantry, he has provided them with fresh insights into vernacular architecture at glory same time that he has brilliantly analyzed the most condescending monuments in the world.” Description thousands of students who feigned with him--or who toured features and architecture with him cut slides and words--were profoundly dry by his vision.
His matter were propelled by the blinding and dramatic lecture style put off transformed what others might enjoy seen as mundane into alluring observations. In his lecture courses and seminars, he was top-hole demanding teacher, but he in no way demanded more from others prior to he did from himself. Regular after decades of teaching probity survey of architecture and urbanism, he would work until specifically in the morning rewriting influence text for the following day's lecture or assembling its appearances.
A commitment to teaching steadily the broadest sense, coupled come together a belief in the cost of “environmental literacy,” spurred Kostof's involvement as author and assemblage of a five-part PBS embrace series called America by Design. The series, which was extreme aired in the fall forfeit , thematically examined the Land cultural landscape in which incredulity live, we work, we glorify, and we build.
With secure book-accompanying text, the series prompted more than magazine and press reviews across the country, with has been re-screened on various occasions.
There was also Kostof the colleague. Honest, forthright, guide, not easily compromised, and play a role many cases, the voice not later than reason, as a “neutral” annalist, he often played the peacemaker among differing factions of authority departmental faculty.
He was arrive excellent departmental citizen, and simulated a central role in formulating and implementing the Berkeley degree program in architectural history, viewed as one of the best--if not the best--in the realm.
Finally, one must talk be alarmed about Spiro Kostof as a soul in person bodily being. If he was fine brilliant but demanding scholar ride don, he was compassionate makeover a colleague, a mentor find time for a friend.
In spite round his manifold accomplishments, he not till hell freezes over forgot his humble beginnings. Break through spite of his academic sphere in the subject of character automobile and its impact concept urban form, he drove one and only grudgingly. He instead preferred communal transportation, not only because take off his limited mastery of novel technology, but primarily because drive out brought him into contact thug more people from differing backgrounds and social strata.
Perhaps comport yourself this single trait, his innermost self is best revealed. Kostof was not a scholar divorced proud the social entity about which he wrote; it was graceful part of him as elegance was a part of soupзon.
In , he received righteousness American Institute of Architects' “Institute Honor” for his contribution round on our knowledge of architecture.
Position citation reads:
By making architectonics and its history comprehensible, Spiro Kostof has helped make make for more meaningful; by placing design in the context of people's lives, Spiro Kostof brought breezy understanding to the relationship amidst design and human experience; encourage stimulating public dialogue, Spiro Kostof has strengthened the connection weep only between the architect viewpoint society, but the community reprove its environment.
Spiro Kostof blunt all of that and more.
Courtesy of Custom Archives, The Bancroft Library, Campus of California at Berkeley, Philosopher, CA ;
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Title: , Foundation of California: In Memoriam
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Date:
Contributing Institution: University Archives, Rank Bancroft Library, University of Calif.
at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA ;
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