In this episode we discussed the idea of ‘The Primitive Hut’ in 18th and 19th century architectural theory. A vision of the first building was used by texts dating back to Vitruvius to imagine architecture’s origins. We started with Marc-Antoine Laugier, author of Essai sur l’architecture (1753), which used the image of the Primitive Hut to call for a return to austere and structurally declarative classicism after the excesses of the baroque. We also discussed the idea of the Primitive Hut in the work of Viollet-le-Duc, who was influenced by ethnographic racism and eugenics in his depiction of the origin of architecture. We strongly recommend Joseph Rykwert’s book On Adam’s House in Paradise: The Idea of the Primitive Hut in Architectural History for an even more in-depth commentary on this subject.
La Capanna Primitiva
In this episode we discussed the idea of 'The Primitive Hut' in 18th and 19th century architectural theory. A vision of the first building was used by texts dating back to Vitruvius to imagine architecture's origins.