Robert Chitham
Encyclopedia
Robert Chitham is a British architect and writer. He is the author of The Classical Orders of Architecture published in 1985 discussing modern applications of classical order
s and redefining and editing the orders as a way to understand them in a contemporary context. A revised edition was published in 2005. He draws from the diagramming and harmony of proportions of classical forms starting from Vitruvius
, to Palladio, and foremost to James Gibbs
. Chitham is the most recent architect to spell out extensively a more updated, modern, and refined version of classical architecture. In reply to criticism of classicism, Chitham wrote in 2002, "Classicism is not an architectural style but an architectural discipline based on criteria such as symmetry and axiality, and as such is timeless." Chitham is also the author of Measured drawing for architects, published in 1980.
Chitham is a consultant architect to Chapman Taylor, a London-based architectural practice. In this capacity he was responsible in the early 1980s for a scheme to save a large number of historic buildings in Bloomsbury
, near the British Museum
. He served as chairman of the Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation, and was head of the historic buildings division of English Heritage
.
Classical order
A classical order is one of the ancient styles of classical architecture, each distinguished by its proportions and characteristic profiles and details, and most readily recognizable by the type of column employed. Three ancient orders of architecture—the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—originated in...
s and redefining and editing the orders as a way to understand them in a contemporary context. A revised edition was published in 2005. He draws from the diagramming and harmony of proportions of classical forms starting from Vitruvius
Vitruvius
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He is best known as the author of the multi-volume work De Architectura ....
, to Palladio, and foremost to James Gibbs
James Gibbs
James Gibbs was one of Britain's most influential architects. Born in Scotland, he trained as an architect in Rome, and practised mainly in England...
. Chitham is the most recent architect to spell out extensively a more updated, modern, and refined version of classical architecture. In reply to criticism of classicism, Chitham wrote in 2002, "Classicism is not an architectural style but an architectural discipline based on criteria such as symmetry and axiality, and as such is timeless." Chitham is also the author of Measured drawing for architects, published in 1980.
Chitham is a consultant architect to Chapman Taylor, a London-based architectural practice. In this capacity he was responsible in the early 1980s for a scheme to save a large number of historic buildings in Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, near the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
. He served as chairman of the Register of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation, and was head of the historic buildings division of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.