PREFACEⅠ
序言一

Catherine Knight, AIA, Principal Knight Architects, LLC凯瑟琳·奈特 美国建筑师协会会长奈特建筑有限责任公司

The Parthenon in Athens or the Pantheon in Rome are considered as two greatest buildings of the true “classical” style of architecture. The Parthenon, built in the 5th century B.C. is a stunning example of the Doric style, a rectangular building with Doric columns (simple with rounded tops) across the front. The Pantheon was built in 126 A.D. It is a round building with a square front having Corinthian columns (fancier than the Doric column in that it has more ornate carvings or images at the top) again across the front and the full height of the building. This “classical” style was revived in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and America and became known as the “Neo-classical” style of architecture.

The word “Neo-classicism” is defined in Webster's Dictionary as“relating, or constituting a revival or adaptation of the classical especially in literature, music, art or architecture”. The Neo-classical style is not one singular style but incorporates a variety of styles (Greek Revival, Federalist, Anti-Bellum and Beaux Arts). Although these styles were different, they all shared some common elements: columns, pediments, domes, and a symmetrical balance in the design. In England in the 18th century, the Greek Revival style became the dominant force for architecture and is visible today in many of Britain's most important public buildings, including the Theatre Royal, Covent Gardens, the British Museum and the National Gallery, to name a few.

In the United States, the Greek influence caught on in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and can be seen in many of our public buildings (The White House and The Supreme Court) but became very popular for residential buildings. One of the most famous examples of neoclassical architecture in a residence is that of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Virginia. It is symmetry on a grand scale. If you look at a picture of Monticello, you can see many of the elements of Neo-classical style: the dome, columns, the balance of each wing and the essence of style. Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, also in VA, is another good example of the Neo-classical style.

Particularly in the Southern and Eastern United States, the neoclassical influences abound in residential, public and private buildings, particularly institutions of higher learning. In residential buildings, this style does seem to symbolize wealth and success, but the beauty of the style is in the symmetry of both the front and rear of the home. You will typically see the columns in the front with a doorway which may have a decorative surround and a pediment above the door, evenly spaced windows divided into 6 or 8 panes and the rear of the home may have a porch again with columns and a feeling of balance. As you review the homes in this book, you will note many of these qualities and sense the grandness, the simplicity of balance and how the elements all work together to create a timeless and extraordinary design.

雅典的帕特农神庙和罗马的万神庙可谓“古典主义”建筑的代表作。帕特农神庙建于公元前5世纪，是典型的多利克式建筑，长方形的建筑，前部饰有多利克石柱（简单的石柱，顶部为圆形）。万神庙建于公元126年，为圆形建筑，前部饰有科斯林柱（比多利克柱更繁复，顶部雕有装饰花纹或图形）。古典主义在18世纪和19世纪的欧洲得到了复兴，被建筑界称为“新古典主义”。

在韦氏词典中，“新古典主义”一词被定义为“在文学、音乐或建筑等领域复兴或者改进古典主义的内容”。新古典主义不止一种风格，它包含一系列的风格（希腊复兴、联邦风格、战前风格、美术风格），虽然它们不尽相同，但都具有一些共同的元素，如石柱、山墙、穹顶以及建筑设计中的对称结构。在18世纪的英国，希腊复兴建筑成为主流建筑，许多英国重要的公共建筑物得以保存至今，如皇家剧院、科芬花园、大英博物馆和伦敦国家美术馆等。

在美国，希腊复兴建筑的流行始于18世纪末19世纪初，从许多公共建筑上（白宫、最高法院）都可以窥见一斑，后来该风格开始在民间流行。新古典主义最著名的例子是托马斯·杰弗逊在弗吉尼亚为自己设计的故居——蒙蒂塞洛庄园，它是整体对称的。如果你看一下蒙蒂塞洛的照片，就会发现很多新古典主义的核心元素：穹顶、石柱、两边侧翼的平衡等。弗吉尼亚州的另一著名建筑——弗农山庄，乔治·华盛顿的故居，也是新古典主义的典型范例。

新古典主义建筑对美国公共建筑和民居的影响主要是在南部和东部地区，尤其是高等学府。在民居中，这样的风格代表着财富和成功，但其美感却在于建筑物的前后对称。在门廊处饰有石柱，柱身有装饰，正门上方有山墙。作为平衡，窗户大多有6或8个窗格，房子的后部也有带柱子的门廊。当看到这些房子的图片时，你会发现很多这样的特征，会感受到它们气势恢宏、简洁对称。所有这些元素结合在一起，成就了恒久流传、超凡脱俗的建筑风格。