3D Thinking In Design and Architecture – From Antiquity to the Future

Introducing, ‘3D Thinking in Design and Architecture – From Antiquity to the Future,’ by Roger Burrows to be published by Thames and Hudson Ltd Spring 2018

The foundations, forms and patterns in architecture, design and decorative arts throughout the world have been deeply influenced by the geometries of past cultures. From the first path-like doodles on cave walls through to the higher abstractions developed to make accurate measurements and predictions, the three-dimensional forms we design and build are dependent upon available materials, human needs and the limitations of our imaginations.

The product of decades of teaching and research, this unique and inspirational design resource presents a history of the intimate relationships between geometry, mathematics and design throughout human history, from the Neolithic period through the Indian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Chinese, Greek, Celtic, Islamic, pre-Columbian and Renaissance cultures, to the present and the possible future. Explaining key principles that can be applied across all design disciplines, Roger Burrows reveals fresh insights into how geometry as a visual language has evolved to meet our needs, initiated new technologies, solved problems and changed the way we think about the world around us.

• An essential sourcebook for design and architecture students and professionals.

• Covers humankind’s approaches to design and architecture across the entire range of human history and culture.

• Stimulates new ways of thinking about the pressing design challenges of our present and future.

• Illustrated with hundreds of specially created diagrams and artworks.

3D Thinking – 320 pp, trim 11” x 8” 205 x 280 mm, soft cover, over 1000 illustrations and over 300 photos. Prepared 4c.

 ‘3D Thinking is like Keith Critchlow’s, ‘Order In Space,’ on steroids.’ – John Martineau.

‘Keith Critchlow has one of the century’s rare conceptual minds. He is continually inspired by the conceptioning of both earliest and latest record. He lauds the work of others while himself pouring forth, in great modesty, whole vista-filling new realizations of nature’s mathematical structuring.… He is one of the most inspiring scholar-teachers I have had the privilege to know’  – Buckminster Fuller.

John Martineau studied under Keith Critchlow whilst taking his MA at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts. John is also the publisher of Wooden Books and the first prizewinner of the Best Book Series at the New York Book Show in 2008.

 ‘Roger developed a series of books (with Dr. Ensor Holiday) called ALTAIR …They were a huge sensation of the time. He’s now come up with a book called 3D THINKING! that aims to show how geometry has helped to shape human society and culture. It’s such an extraordinary work, and Roger is such a magician in describing complex stuff simply… This seems to me to be an entirely new way to consider the world.’ – Tahir Shah.

Tahir Shah is the author of fifteen books, many of which chronicle a wide range of his journeys through Africa, Asia and the Americas.