Chapter 1
Gravity-defying structural magic
Chapter 2
Mud, turf, and volcanic ash
Chapter 3
Mind-bending optical illusions
Chapter 4
The modern steel and glass revolution
Ch 3 · Mind-bending optical illusions
schopenhauer Architectural Illusions
Look at that deep golden hall— (Whoa, whoa!) / It's just a flat painted wall! (Oh, yeah!)
schopenhauer Master painters used perspective to trick churchgoers into seeing soaring, open skies.
Fun Fact
Leaning towers: The minarets of the Taj Mahal lean slightly outward so that in the event of a devastating earthquake, they would fall away from the central tomb.
schopenhauer Honeycomb-like corbels turn flat ceilings into three-dimensional, star-filled skies.
Glossary
entasis (noun)
A slight convex curve in the shaft of a column, introduced to correct the visual illusion of concavity. Ancient Greek builders applied this technique to the Parthenon's columns in Athens during the fifth century BCE.
A slight convex curve in the shaft of a column, introduced to correct the visual illusion of concavity. Ancient Greek builders applied this technique to the Parthenon's columns in Athens during the fifth century BCE.
BETA
schopenhauer Match iconic landmarks to their design eras to master the secrets of architectural history.
Quiz
How does Borromini's Spada Gallery in Rome make a 9-meter corridor look 37 meters long?
Quiz
How do modern theme parks use 'forced perspective' on their fairy-tale castles?
Quiz
What architectural shape creates a 'whispering gallery' where quiet whispers travel clearly along walls?
Quiz
What is the geometric and decorative function of 'muqarnas' in Islamic architecture?