Xenotheka_92
The title “Recueil elementaire d’architecture” Translates into the elementary collection of architecture in English. So, for the first book search in Xenotheka Library I typed into Alice: « Architecture Collection » with the topic set to « Architecture ». After scrolling through the first few books, I stumbled upon “Van Eck – Eighteenth Century Architecture II” I downloaded the pdf and went through some pages and figured out it is much more text heavy than Recueil elementaire d’architecture. But it also has similarities in the type of pictures and drawings it holds. The book itself describes the architecture of the Eighteenth Century as a period. It talks about the changes of the knowledge, building types, approach of design and training of architects.
But the biggest reason I think the books could be connected is, that Recueil elementaire d’architecture starts with the ancients and finishes in the middle of the 18th century. And Van Eck’s Book continues right there.
For my second book I changed the settings for Alice that it searches for: “modern architecture collection” with the Xenotheka Library as brain. So, I found out about “Koolhaas – Elements of Architecture”. The first connection between Recueil elementaire d’architecture and Koolhaas’ book are in the title. Both are understood as a lexicon. While Recueil elementaire d’architecture talks about architecture elements from the past, Koolhaas – Elements of Architecture is much more modern and talks mostly about contemporary architecture. It also focuses on the fundamentals of buildings, such as doors, windows, stairs, ceilings, walls, chimneys and balconies. It is understood as solid basic research for understanding the essential architectural elements and regularities of buildings around the world in our time.
It has lots of pictures with an explanatory text. But is also much more text heavy than Recueil elementaire d’architecture.
In my Opinion this makes Jean-François de Neufforges – Recueil elementaire d’architecture unique, and interesting. Because it tells us so much about architecture with just engravings and a few words.